halt he is to go and view the Posts of the Vedettes having the Quarter-Master and the Vedettes that he is to place with him and causing the Quarter-Master observe their Posts to the end he may go relieve and visit them during the night The Captain shall inform himself by the other Captain who is to dismount the Guard of the Orders which he must observe and of what he is to do inquiring exactly into all things and whilst he goes to Post the Vedettes the Lieutenant of the Guard ought to remain on Horseback at the head of the Squadron which is drawn up in Battallia expecting the return of the Captain and Quarter-Master The Captain when he places the Vedettes should inform them how they ought to carry themselves that they should never leave their Posts nor alight from Horseback to have always the Carabin or Pistol in hand to let none whosoever come near them either from the Quarters or from without and in a word to let none pass without making them stand and giving notice to the Court of Guard The Captain should place two Vedettes in one important Post to the end that the one may with diligence come and give notice to the Court of Guard when they have made any to stand or have seen or heard men and that the other in the mean time keep close to his Post and for that effect the Captain ought to command the Vedettes that in case they hear or see men at a distance the one should draw off from the other some twenty or thirty paces towards the Court of Guard to the end that if the Vedette that shall abide at his Post should not stop these men and that on the contrary he should be by them beaten from his Post the other may have time to come at full speed and give notice to the Court of Guard discharging his Carabin or Pistol by the way to make himself be heard and to give the Alarm The Captain should not only recommend all these things to the Vedettes but likewise that they should take heed if in the night time they discover any fire or by day smoke or dust raised by the marching of Horse if they hear Dogs bark more than usually and if they hear the report of Fire-arms and give notice of it to the Court of Guard to the end the Commander may send out Scouts to that side to learn intelligence of what the Vedettes have seen or heard If the Vedettes be far separated that they may possess the avenues there must be a small Court of Guard consisting of twenty or twenty five Troopers less or more placed according to the strength of the Forces betwixt the Vedettes and the great Court of Guard nearer or farther according as the Vedettes are posted at distance as it happens frequently they are that they may possess the avenues of several cross ways or the pass of some River Bridge or narrow passage or else of some eminence or height at the foot of which the Vedette is usually placed and that little Court of Guard is to be commanded by the Quarter-Master who should relieve the Vedettes at the end of every two hours and now and then visit them He is likewise to go with his men or part of them and examine those whom the Vedettes have made to stand making only him to advance who has the word and to tell it him in his ear holding the point of his Sword to his Breast who hath advanced to give the word and from whom he is to take it that he may know if they be Friends or Foes and so stop or let them pass When the Vedettes shall give notice to the Quarter-Master he shall instantly send off a Trooper to acquaint the Captain that the Vedettes have made some to stand and that he is going to examine them to the end that the Captain may have time to cause his men Horse and to put themselves in condition not to be surprised by their Enemies He should send out Scouts to a great distance to beat the Country on all hands and the ways by which the Enemies may come He is to take so great a care because all the Quarter or the whole Army confides in him and therefore he should trust no body but himself seeing there is so great a confidence reposed on him and his Guard that obliges him to all imaginable care in the discharge of his duty for the Enemies coming in great number might beat back the Vedettes surprife and overthrow the little Court of Guard and enter the Quarter or Camp if it happened that the avenues of it were not cut or barricado'd and guarded by some considerable Guard of Foot for if the Enemies met with no other Forces than the Vedettes the little and great Guard of Horse they might make themselves Masters of the Quarter or Camp surprised or afleep for want of timely Alarm given and leisure to take Arms that they might make head against the Enemies As to the manner of sending out these Scouts The Captain is to detach the best mounted and boldest Troopers of his Guard to go out a scouting giving them a word or fignal by which they may know one another when they chance to meet and he is to command them to divide themselves one by one or two by two according to the divers ways and avenues some to the right and some to the left marching always with great silence and stopping and making halt now and then that they may hearken if they can hear the marching of men and to advance a league more or less according as it may be expedient for the security of the Guard by all the avenues by which the Enemies may approach and he is to order them that if any of them find or hear the Enemies that if it be possible they should without being discovered know their number as near as they can and without losing of time return at full speed to give notice to the Court of Guard and Captain that he may with all diligence cause his men to mount and being in readiness in his Court of Guard send immediately notice of the matter to the Generals He is moreover to order his Scouts that if they be at so great distance when they discover the Enemies that they cannot in a long time return to the Court of Guard or that the Enemies march with so much diligence that they may come in as soon as themselves or a little after they should draw aside out of the Enemies way and with all expedition set fire to some House from whence the Vedettes and Court of Guard might see the Fire and even the Enemies for they would not fail to make a halt that they might send and know the reason of that fire and that if they can find no opportunity to make fire soon enough they should propose to themselves to come to some place where their firing and clashing of arms may be seen or heard
by the Vedettes or Court of Guard who hearing the signal may instantly give notice to the Captain and Court of Guard that the Enemies are at hand and by that means he may have time to put himself and men in posture acquaint the Generals with the matter and give the Alarm to the Quarter or the whole Army expecting more certain news In the mean time he shall Command the Quarter-Master with his little Court of Guard to advance to the Posts of the Vedettes or farther if need be that he may view the Enemies and make head against them keeping them in play in some narrow pass to the end all may get on Horseback and put themselves in Arms in the Camp or Quarter The Captain in the mean time shall be with the rest of his Guard on Horseback and in good order not quitting his Post upon any account without the Generals Orders he should stay there until he be attacked by the Enemy against whom he is to make head to stop them and if he can to beat back their charge with the danger of his life and the loss of all his men When a Captain Commands the Cavalrie in a Quarter then he is exempted from mounting the Guard though his Troop be to mount it in turn because many inconveniences might happen if the Captain should be upon the Guard when Orders came from the Generals and that he who was to execute them should not be in the Quarters for the Captain that is on the Guard cannot quit his Post and the Enemy might attack the Quarter upon another side than that of the Court of Guard so that if the Captain who Commanded the Cavalrie were upon the Guard he could not give the necessary Orders in an Alarm of that nature nor in any other accident that might happen but except on that occasion he ought without pretext or excuse mount the Guard as often as his Standard is commanded for that effect If the Captain Command the Cavalrie in a Quarter and have notice of the march of the Enemy and that the quarter be in danger of being attacked he ought to Command all the Horse to mount and draw them up in Battallia without the quarter in some advantagious Post according to the Orders of the Officer General who Commands in the quarter ordering the Troopers to carry with them Forage for their Horses during the time that they are to be in Arms. If that Alarm happen in rainy and tempestuous weather so that the Horse cannot go out and lie in the Fields without great dammage and that the necessitie be not so extream as that they should expose themselves in that manner then the Captain by Orders from the General needs do no more but having caused sound to Boots and Saddle go through all the quarter and send where he cannot go himself Commanding all the Bodies of Horse to keep together in as few Houses and Coverts as they can to the end they may be the more conveniently joined to march out in good order against the Enemy in case of necessitie and in the mean time he shall go the round and send about Officers to keep the men awake He shall send out men towards the Courts of Guard that are without the quarters that he may have exact intelligence of all that happens These are cautions very necessary in a quarter to prevent a surprise Cautions that are to be taken in forceing of a Quarter In all the service of Horse there is no occasion wherein the Captain ought to be so circumspect as in the enterprise of forcing an Enemies Quarter for there is not any from which he can reap greater advantages either for his honour or profit and on the other hand there is no occasion wherein he runs greater risk of ruining his reputation by losing himself and his men and therefore he ought to be a man of much experience good judgment and high resolution otherways he can never well succeed in such enterprises for in War there are none more difficult nor harder to be atchieved And that is the reason that few Captains run the hazard of such undertakings Experience has made always appear that it is more easy to force the Enemies Quarters when they are at a good distance than when they are near because the more the danger is remote the less vigilant are men to avoid it And therefore I say that the most usual cause of a surprise is too much confidence for men are never sooner defeated than when they least apprehend it When a Captain has a design to force a Quarter he ought to be assured of the nature of the Enemies Post with all its circumstances if the avenues be barricado'd or not if the flanks be better barricado'd than the avenues and if there be marshes or other things that hinder an approach in what place is their field of Battel or place of Arms if any River or Brook run through the Quarter or any thing else that divides it but above all things he should be informed by his spies of the number and quality of the Forces that are in the Quarter and of the temper of the Commander if he be a man of experience vigilant and resolute or if he have any contrary qualities to the end that the Captain according to the instructions that he has of these things may take the best measures for accomplishing his design Being well informed of all and having laid down his measures he is to march with all his men in great diligence that he may come up with the Enemies and surprise them a little before day on his march he is to observe the cautions that we have hinted at before that is to say that he is to make sure of good guides and send Out-riders before him until he come near the Quarter he is also to avoid marching by inhabited places or from which he may be discovered or in the night time on the great Rodes but cross the Countrey because some body may discover him or his tract and give speedy notice of it to the Enemy for it often happens that the Enemy having intelligence of the design and march of the contrary party do take so good measures that the Commander of the party with all his men become a prey to those against whom they were marching And therefore the Captain ought to make use of his prudence and consider the inconveniences that may befal him and as he ought to march resolutely and without fear so likewise should he neglect no care and circumspection and therefore he should take the best measures he can to facilitate his retreat by Posting some Horse and Foot Commanded by an Officer in the middle or some part of the way to guard some passage or some advantagious Post When the Captain has laid his design and has all his men mounted if for instance he intend with four hundred Horse to go and attack eight hundred of the Enemies Cavalry and beat
up their Quarters he is to dispose his men in this manner Being come near the Quarter he shall divide them into six Squadrons of sixty Troopers a piece and shall divide the fourty remaining into two Plotons or small parties of twenty a piece under good Commanders and shall give to each of them one or two Trumpeters to the end that when he shall set upon the place by which he hath proposed to himself to enter the Quarter these little bodies with their Trumpets may give the Alarm on all hands some on the right and some on the left and at the places which are strongest and best guarded by that great noise to perswade the Enemies that the Assailants are very numerous and stronger than they and by that means to put them into confusion and hinder them from escapeing or drawing out that they may rally and put themselves in defence And therefore he shall prohibit these little Bodies to enter the Quarter commanding the one to keep on the avenues the others to ride always round the Quarter with prohibition to make Prisoners of any that would come out to save themselves or to rally but on the contrary they are to be ordered to kill all without quarters until they receive new Orders The Captain having so disposed his men an hour before day in the order that we have said and having Commanded them all to put white Paper in their Hats that they may know one another he shall order the little bodies to march without makeing of noise towards the flanks of the quarters and in the mean time he shall march with the six other Squadrons each according to their ranks in good order with great silence and without Out-riders that he may not be so soon perceived nor heard by the Vedettes and so soon as he is discovered he ought instantly without the least hesitation or pause make the first Squadron fall in and beat back the Vedettes with great diligence the other five following close behind and in good order and all if it be possible should be in with the Court of Guard as soon as the Vedettes that they may desperately fall on surprize and force the Court of Guard and enter all together into the quarter and when the Captain is entered with his six Squadrons he shall cause one of them seize the place of arms and in the mean while without losing of time shall cause the other five to advance as far as the extremities of the quarter and to all the sides of it with order to kill and destroy all they meet with and prohibition to make any other Prisoners but the Commander of the quarter if they find him that the Enemies may not mount on Horseback and rally to put themselves in defence and that is to be continued so long till the Captain be absolutely Master of the quarter and that he shall find the Enemies no more in a condition to draw out nor to gather together to make resistance and then he shall make as many of his men as he thinks convenient to alight that they may enter into the Houses make Prisoners take Horses set on fire and force the Houses that are refused to be opened and where the Enemy would make resistance and in the mean he shall keep a body of men moving up and down through the quarter because part of the Enemy may perhaps rally together in some places and all this while the other little bodies shall keep still without the quarter exactly obeying their orders and by this means the Captain may render himself Master of the quarter force the Enemies and bring off a considerable booty When the Army leaves the Field to go into Winter Quarters the King sends as many of the Cavalry as is requisite into the frontier places there to lie in Garison during the Winter by reason of the great advantages that arise therefrom for by that means the Countrey about is preserved the Enemies not daring to make courses and inroads to waste and pillage it without running great risk of being lost By that means the Cavalry have occasion to keep themselves in exercise having daily opportunity of seeing the Enemy making frequent Courses into their Countrey and subsisting at their cost so that the places are in far greater security against the Enemies attempts than if there were no Horse in them There is nothing truer than that the General of the Army during the next Campagn finds a great deal of difference betwixt the Horse that have had their Winter Quarters on the Frontiers and who have kept themselves in Warlike exercise and those that have spent the Winter in idleness and in Quarters remote from an Enemies Countrey When a Captain of Horse is in Garison in a frontier place and that there are other Troops in Garison with his own all which he commands yet he cannot go out with the Cavalrie nor part of them without giving notice to the Governour of the place and receiving his approbation as likewise the Governour cannot dispose of them without acquainting the Captain who Commands them and without his permission But if the Captain be in Garison in any Frontier Town where there is no Governour but that the Magistrates keep the Keys and give the word which happens but seldom though it may happen Then may the Captain dispose absolutely of the Horse without acquainting the Magistrates of the Town or asking their consent and approbation Of the duties of the Horse in a frontier place A Captain being in Garison in a Frontier place ought to keep continually two Troopers in the Governours Court of Guard or in the Court of Guard of the place of Arms who are to be relieved from time to time that these Troopers may be always ready to give him notice so soon as they have any news of the Enemy and of the least Alarm and to bring to him also the Governours Orders with all expedition Moreover the Captain shall appoint daily twenty or five and twenty Troopers for a guard in the place of Arms or near the Gate that looks to the avenues of the Enemies to the end that being always ready to mount on Horseback they may sally out in diligence in case the Enemy does appear or that they send a small body as far as the Gates of the place to make Prisoners or to carry away bootie or cattel which the Enemies do commonly to oblige all the Horse to sally out upon them and to engage them to pursue them in hopes of great booty or rewards from the Prisoners whom they might retake and by that means to draw them into some ambush But if these Troopers of the Guard sally out in time and with diligence they will be sufficient to hinder the Enemies design though they should even come in great number because these twenty five sallying out upon them with diligence under a good Leader may amuse and keep them in play and give leisure to all the Horse that
are in the place to mount and come out that will give time also to all that are abroad to retire and carry off their Cattel And if the place may be surprised by Scalade or otherways the Captain shall appoint the same Court of Guard or part of them to keep all night long without the Gate that looks to the Enemy yet so as they be posted under covert of the half Moon or barrier which covers the Gate commanding them to Scout all night to the right and left two and two or four and four according as it shall be necessary and successively one after another by all the avenues by which the Enemy may come to surprise the place which will be hard to be done if these Troopers do their duty It will be also requisite that these Troopers before any come out of the place go and view the neighbourhood about the place to a quarter of a Leagues distance or more and see if there be no ambush of the Enemy and they be not posted in some place to carry away all that is to come out or enter into the place by such care and diligence the Horse will secure the place from all kinds of surprise Of the duty of a Captain being in Garison in a Frontier Town during the Campagn When it is time to begin the Campagn and when the King sends Orders for the marching of the Troops to their Rendezvous to make up the body of an Army there is always left in the Frontier places a sufficient number of Horse to guard the Gonvoys and those that are to go and come daily from the Army and likewise to be a curb to the Enemies that are in the neighbouring Frontier Garisons If the Captain who remains in Garison in a Frontier place during the Campagn perceive that the Enemy has a neighbouring Frontier Garison stronger in Horse than his own he is to make use of ambushes and courses and to keep the Enemy in fear If in the first courses that he shall make he cause assemble the Troops of the Auxiliary Cavalry of other neighbouring Garisons that are of his party to such a competent number as may fight the Enemies Garison in case they come out upon him and for that end if he shall assign to these Auxiliary Troops a place of rendezvous on the rode with such requisite circumstances as may prevent the mistaking of the place and shall join them with his men at the hour prefixed that so he may effectuate his design without inconvenience If I say he come out two or three times in that manner there is great probability that afterward he may hazard out with his Garison alone for the Enemy's being terrified by his first courses will not easily come out against him believing that he may have the same Forces with him still And if the Captain remain in Garison and have notice given him by faithful spies that the Enemies are to lay an ambush on some great rode to fall upon the Convoys or those of his party that are going to join the Army or are coming from thence and that he be not commanded out for a Guard in that case he may go out in the night time and lay himself in ambush on the way by which the Enemies are to go to put themselves in their usual place of ambush The Captain knowing the Map of the Country may chuse an advantagious Post on the way if he have good guides that know it for in all Rodes there are places which must of necessity be passed over as some narrow passages or between two woods distant from one another two hundred paces or otherways between a Wood and a Village and other such like The Captain should set forth seasonably that he may come in good time to the Post where he is resolved to expect the Enemy and enjoin his Guides not to lead him by places inhabited for the reasons mentioned before and being come to the Post that he intends to possess expecting until the Enemy pass if it be near a Wood he is to have it viewed before he draw near and being assured that there is no body there then he is to approach with his men and shall place his Squadrons at a just distance from one another along the side of the Wood without entering into it facing to the way that the Enemy is to take He shall always keep his men on Horseback in good order and in the mean time place some Out-Vedettes with order that if they see or hear the Enemy coming to retire without being discovered and without noise to their Squadrons haveing first given him an account of what they have heard or seen and with orders also on the other hand that if they be surprised by the Enemies Scouts they advance some steps towards them to view them and having fired upon them fly with all speed and in their flight to pass beyond and fourscore or a hundred paces wide of the Ambuscade that the Enemies Scouts may pursue them who will not fail to follow their Scouts close without perceiving the Ambuscade by reason of the darkness of the night Then the Captain may charge them in the flank as they pass by him or in the rear when they are passed according as he shall judge convenient It is not enough to place Out-Vedettes he must be careful likewise to send off Scouts well mounted with order to halt now and then and even sometimes to alight and lay their ear to the ground to hearken if they hear the march of men giving them also the same order that he gave to the Vedettes if they meet with the Enemies Out-riders and to fly as the Vedettes having made a shew of viewing them and having fired upon them and to pass by the Ambuscade at the forementioned distance that so they may draw the Enemy after them on the same rode and if the Scouts can view the Enemy without being discovered they are to be ordered to return with all speed and without noise that they may give the Captain an account of what they have seen and heard and to the end there happen no inconvenience when the Scouts are upon their return and pass by the Vedettes the Captain shall give both a night-signal whereby the Vedettes may at a distance know that they are the Scouts who are returning back If the Captain Post himself at the entry or coming out of some narrow passage he may use the same circumspection in a manner it is of importance also that if the Captain upon his march or when he is come to his Post hear an extraordinary noise in some Village he detach four or six Troopers whom he knows to be discreet ordering them without noise to go round the Village if it be small to see if they can find any tract of the Enemy and to hearken if they can hear them and when they shall have gone round the Village without knowing the cause of the noise that
place shall do the same and then ought to double on the left of the Troop which hath advanced and in the same Front that the Squadron may be formed by two Troops but if the one march in the Rear of the other by the same orders the Captains severally shall reduce their Troops into three in depth and thereafter the last ought to double to the left and in the same Front with the first that the Squadron may be composed of two Troops A Regulation made by the late King Lewis XIII concerning the disputes that arose among the Officers of the Army in the year 1635. We shall in the first place declare what is to be done betwixt the French Officers and the strangers It is a thing past all doubt that a Master deâ— Camp of Horse ought to Command a stranger Colonel provided the Colonel and Master de Camp be one and the same thing The Colonel shall command all the French Captains and the French Captains shall command the Lieutenant-Colonels of strangers as likewise all the French Captains who Command not a body of men and if a stranger Lieutenant be with a French Corner the Lieurenant shall command him but a stranger Cornet shall command a French Quarter-master and wheresoever French and strangers are together the French have the right hand but if the Captain be a stranger he shall take the right hand of the French Lieutenant though his Troop be on the left Wing of the Squadron As to the disputes that happen between the Horse and Foot for the Command in the Field and in Quarters that are not walled which are called places of Approach the Horse ought to Command there but in all places that are inclosed with walls having Gates that lock and draw-bridges and are invironed with Ditches in such places it belongs to the Foot to Command The Master de Camp of Cavalrie in places that are open shall Command the Colonels of Foot but the Colonel of Foot ought to Command the Master de Camp of Horse in Towns and Walled places Now the Charge of Master de Camp of Horse being above that of a Captain if he be in a walled place where the Foot have no Officers above Captains the Master de Camp of Horse should Command the Captains and in all open Quarters the Captain of Horse should Command Lieutenant Colonels and Captains of Foot and the Captains of Foot should Command the Lieutenants of Horse and in close places where there are none but Lieutenants of Foot and a Captain of Horse the Captain must Command because the Captains have their Commissions from the King and not the Lieutenants and in open places the Lieutenant should Command the Cornets of Horse and in walled places the Lieutenant is to Command the Ensign and the Cornet the Serjeants so that the one has no advantage of the other it is but only ambition for the persons who discharge these Offices are rather to be considered than any difference that is between the Charges and therefore they ought to make a right choice There is also a regulation between the Serjeants of Battel and the Masters de Camp of Cavalrie and Colonels of Foot who pretend not to be obliged to obey the Serjeant of Battel but seeing it is true that he Commands in absence of the Mareschals de Camp his Charge is above the other Officers There happen many times some contests between the Captains of the Gend'arms and the Master de Camp of Horse The Captains of the Gend'arms and the Master de Camp of Horse meeting together the Captain of the Gend'arms is to Command the Master de Camp the Master de Camp the Lieutenant of the Gend'arms the Lieutenant of the Gend'arms the Captain of the Light Horse the Captain the Ensign of the Gend'arms the Ensign the Lieutenant of the Light-Horse the Lieutenant of the Light-Horse the Guidon of the Gend'arms the Guidon of the Gend'arms the Cornet of the Light-Horse the Cornet of the Light-Horse the Quarter-masters of the Gend'arms and the Quarter-master of the Gend'arms the Quarter-master of the Light-horse There hath been heretofore great dispute between the Masters de Camp of Foot and the Captains of the Guards which dispute was thus decided by the King That the Masters de Camp of Picardie Piedmont Champagne Navarre and Normandie should command the Captains of the Guards and the Captains of the Guards all other Masters de Camp and that the other Masters de Camp should Command all Lieutenant Colonels and the Captains of the old Regiments should Command the Lieutenant Colonels of other Regiments and that the Lieutenants of the Guards should obey the Captains of the old Regiments All these regulations were made to prevent the disorders that might happen amongst Officers the King hath very well provided against them and by his sage conduct obliges the Officers to discharge their duties and to have no other passion but of doing good service and for that end his Majesty gives them an example making the Troops of his Houshold do their exercises frequently he hath made injunctions to all the Officers of his Armies to see his forces well exercised and made dextrous in handling of their Arms to wit the Pikes to manage their Pikes aright whether by themselves or in Battallions the Musketeers to use their Muskets skillfully by giving quick fire It is a thing very necessary that a Musketeer know to hit a mark to the end that on occasion he may be able to fire to purpose Musketteers may be taught to shoot well in Garisons especially the Officers giving some reward to those that shoot best at a mark that encourages and obliges them to shoot well which makes a Musketeer very considerable on several occasions and especially in fighting against Horse How Foot are to Fight against Horse If Foot march in Battallia in an Enemies Country and some Body of the Enemies Horse be discovered then shall the Foot make a Batrallion with four strong Plotons or parties for skirmish and double ranks of Pikes to resist the Horse whilst three ranks of Musketeers shall prepare to give their Vollee at the first Pistol-shot which is ten or twelve paces from the Foot then if the Pikes with swords in hand pursue them vigorously without doubt the Squadron will be put into great disorder and all by the means of good Musketeers who have had the right art of pitching on their men and have made as many fall as they have fired shot being thereto taught by their good discipline so ought all the Officers study to be capable of their Charges and by that means the Commanders may make good use of their Troops in what place soever the Army be and especially when the Enemies are in a condition to fight Horse are very necessary in an Army on them depends the good success of all enterprises by them an Army becomes master of the field if it be stronger in Cavalrie than the Enemy by them the Forces and
all Garison-places have daily their Provisions by means of Convoyes and Forrages which cannot be securely brought without Guards of Horse they reduce the Enemy to great streights by intercepting their Convoys and Foragers ravaging their Country by continual Parties beating up their Quarters and making frequent courses and inrodes amongst them In so much that there is hardly any Enterprise wherein Horse are not with great profit employed Now seeing the Cavalrie is composed of several Regiments and the Regiments of several Troops that they may render the service and advantage that is expected from them either in general or particular it is necessary that the Troops be made up of good riders and that they be led and Commanded by Officers of note and expert in the Art of War It is most important for the service of the King that the Troops which make up the Forces of his Majesties Cavalrie be not only compleat and furnished with men well mounted well armed and in good Equipage but that they be also led and commanded by Officers of experience and merit that so they may be better obeyed by their Troopers who will have a far greater esteem for them when they know their valour and good conduct CHAP. III. Of the duties of the Officers of Horse and in the first place of the Captain THE Captain ought to chuse Officers who understand aright the Art and Duty of their Charges as being the chief members which he is to use in making the Body act whereof he is the head Especially a Lieutenant and Quarter-master as being the most important as shall be shewed hereafter Now to fill the charge of a Lieutenant well he ought to seek out for a discreet man experienced in the profession of Cavalrie and who hath for several Campagnes served with care and assiduity That being known the Captain may be assured that the Lieutenant in his absence may very well take the care and conduct of his Troop and discharge the same duty that himself is obliged to perform Of the principal duties of a Lieutenant The Lieutenant ought to know all the men of the Troop by name he ought to punish the swearers quarrellers drunkards and the otherwayes debauched conniving at no vice in them he ought to be kind to those that have merit and upbraid such as fail in their duty punishing them rigourously if they continue to be negligent that is the way to become both beloved and feared of the Troopers He should procure himself esteem by his conduct having the qualities of a man of honour wise and discreet sober in his diet prudent in his discourse and above all valiant and stout which makes the brave Souldiers in imitation of him emulous to be men of worth and to serve their King well He ought sometimes to visit their Horses and Arms recommending to them the care of them publickly and smartly rebuking those that are negligent of either and severely punishing them if they abuse his goodness and patience Of a March. In a March the Lieutenant ought to march at the Rear of the Troop or Squadron to make the Troopers keep close taking heed that none stay behind obliging them to follow their File-leaders suffering none to quit their ranks nor leave the Standard without permission When there is an opportunity of fighting the Enemies the Lieutenant ought to be at the rear of the Squadron with his Sword in hand obliging the Troopers to do their duty making the last rank well closed and in good order follow the other two punishing him that would flie and turn his back and by that example oblige the rest to do their duties When the Captain on such an occasion is absent as at any other time the Lieutenant is to take the Captains Post and march at the head of the Squadron placing at the rear and in his own Post the Quarter-Master and in the Post of the Quarter-Master on the Wings the first Brigadeer filling up all the places of the Officers that no disorder may happen by the Captains absence Of the Guard of a Camp When the Captain is Commanded out for the guard of the Camp or of a Quarter or to relieve it and is come to his Post the Lieutenant is to put the Troop into Battallia keeping at the head of the Squadron expecting till the Captain be informed of what he has to do and that he go with the Quarter-Master to place the Vedettes instructing them in the mean time what they are to do until the Captain return and give the other necessary Orders for the security of his Guard Of the duties of the Cornet The Captain ought to chuse a man for Cornet to his Troop who is of the same integritie and hath the like qualities as we have assigned to the Lieutenant because he is often obliged to mount the Guard and perform the other duties in absence of him A young Gentleman who hath seen and served in a Campagn and sometimes by favour is commonly placed in that charge his Function is to carry the Standard on a day of entry or muster that he may salute the King or in his absence the General of the Army His Post is at the Captains left hand the length of his Horse or about seven foot more backward towards the Squadron In day of Battel he ought to carry the Standard and preserve it with the danger of his life Moreover the Cornet ought to have a great respect for his Captain He should likewise behave himself towards his Lieutenant with marks of esteem and submission whereby he will gain the good will and esteem of his Superiour Officers He should have a regard to the Quarter-Master and be civil to the Brigadeers in a word he should strive to procure the love and esteem of the Troopers and interpose amongst them to take up their quarrels and make them friends but if he find difficultie in the matter and that the authority of the Captain or Lieutenant be requisite he shall inform them of the business representing to them the ground of the quarrel and the reasons of either party that they may do Justice and by their authority kill the resentments which either may entertain against other that so the troublesome accidents may be avoided which contests produce in a Troop when the Officers prevent them not Of the Quarter-Master The Captain should chuse for his Quarter-Master an active and experienced man who is wise and well affected to the service for the management of the subsistance and service of the Troop is performed by his order He ought to know to read write and cast account as far as the rule of Society for he ought to keep the Roll and Catalogue of all the Troopers with their Names Sirnames places where they were born and their Countrey as also of their casual goods booties and prizes gained from their Enemies It is his duty likewise to go daily and receive the word He ought to be exact when he has
has been heard two or three of them to alight giving the rest their Horses to hold and enter softly into the Village that they may hearken if the Enemies by chance or otherways be there to refresh themselves and in all haste bring him back news of what they have seen or heard if the Village be great it will be enough to send some Troopers to the entry of it ordering them to go in with the circumspection abovesaid As to spies the Captain ought to know if they be persons of wit good judgment and faithful for otherways he ought not to trust in them There is nothing of greater importance in an Army than to be able to dive into the designs of the Enemy and to know their Posts their goings and comings for by that means many troublesome rancounters are avoided many surprises both made and prevented and likewise many ways found to do them prejudice For that effect it is necessary to have good and faithful spies whom the Captain should gain by money and rewards that by interest he may engage and win them to expose themselves to all kind of dangers and do what seems even impossible to learn the enterprises of the Enemies and without delay to come and give notice of all The Captain ought to chuse the most dextrous of those whom he knows to have the best conduct and most of fidelity and judgment to employ them as good and faithful spies who dextrously pretending to be weary of his service should go to the Enemy and so order matters that they might be listed amongst the Horse because that being made Troopers they may have better opportunities of giving intelligence whether they be in the Field or Garison But it is likewise necessary to have some in divers Regiments and in divers of the Enemies Garisons who are not acquainted together with whom the Captain should be in terms and condescend on the place whither they should carry their Letters of intelligence as to leave them at the root of some tree or at a certain cross or under some great stone or other places that are remarkable and easy to be found These Spies should be obliged themselves to bring the intelligence of great consequence as the Enemies designs of surprising some place or forcing a Quarter and other like enterprises The Captain may likewise make use of some Souldier disguised into the habit of a Peasant or into some other fashion who speaking the language of the Countrey or of the Enemies may under some pretext go to their Camp or Quarter to view their Posts with all the circumstances and to get information of the actions of the Enemy that he may be able to give notice of the same He may likewise employ Peasants because they are free to go every where being but little suspected and less observed by the Enemies especially in conquered Countreys where they have the liberty to enter into the Enemies Camp and all their places and to travel by night so that they may easily bring news and give good intelligence but above all things he ought to have Spies who insinuate themselves or have access into the quarters of general persons and of the Governours of places that he may more easily have thereby knowledge of the Enemies designs He may also make use of double Spies but they must be such as are very affectionate and faithful to him who that they may gain credit and obtain access to the Quarters of general persons may give them sometimes true intelligence of the marches of those of the contrary party but only in matters of small consequence and at such a time as the Enemy can make no advantage of them The Captain ought also to be upon his Guard against the double Spies of the Enemy And therefore if he intend to march out against his Enemies upon the report that hath been made to him and upon the intelligence that some Spies of whom he is not assured hath brought him he ought to detain the Spies under pretence of shewing them kindness and recompensing them and in the mean time he shall give order to his servants to treat these Spies kindly but withal to have a care that they make not their escape nevertheless the Spies must not have occasion given them to think they are distrusted to the end that if their intelligence be true he may largely recompense them at his return and so oblige them to persist in giving him faithful advices and these Spies being well rewarded will not only rest satisfied but will also for the future expose themselves to every thing being allured by the profit which may likewise draw in others upon hopes of the like rewards If the Captain be advertised by Spies of whose fidelity he is not fully assured that the Enemies are abroad or that he hath some fair opportunity offered him He will do well before he march out of his Garison or Quarter to send out three or four Pietons or Footmen towards the quarter and place designed to him by the Spies who knowing the Countrey shall go an hour before him to some narrow pass or some certain place that he shall tell them wherein he may suspect that the Enemies wait for him in ambush lest that the Spies may have given him false intelligence This circumspection is especially to be taken in a close and covered Country wherein he may be surprised before he can discover the Enemies at a distance and in such places also where the ways are narrow and where his men cannot march but by Files because in such a case if the Pietons have wit they cannot be lost nor be taken by the Enemy and the Captain shall appoint them a place where they may meet him to inform him of what they have learnt When he is upon a march against the Enemy he ought likewise to Command his Troops to have a care of their Arms and to keep them in a condition of doing service These are the principal Maximes that a gallant Captain ought to observe in his charge of Horse let us now proceed to the duties of the Serjeant Major CHAP. V. Of the charge of a Serjeant Major THE charge of Serjeant-Major ought to be possessed by an old Officer of Foot a man of middle age of virtue and good example and most affectionate to the service of the King consummated in the experience of War and especially in the conduct of infantry The Major is a Demi-Governour and though of himself he hath no Command over the Troops yet it is his duty to watch over all that concerns his Majesties Interests He carries about the Governours Orders and all the Officers are obliged to receive and obey them as if they had been given by the Governour himself for he is as it were the Kings Proctor General in the matter of War and in that his Office is gentile and of importance but of great fatigue If he be Major of a Town or Citadel he ought every Morning
to buy rotten and spoil'd Corn which might be destructive to the Souldiers as also in the entertaining of honest and faithful Bakers such as can resist the temptations which might be made to them by the Enemies money The Commissary ought to know the weight that a Bushel of good Wheat should weigh and by consequent all the other measures that are in use In the first place he ought to know what weight of bread so much Wheat will yield and how many men that Bread is sufficient to feed in a day and then how much Wine or Water according to the usual proportion is sufficient for the same number of men and what weight it weighs These things should be known to the Commissary General and his Clarks that they may take their measures to prepare the necessary Provisions for the Body of an Army during a Campagn How an Army made up of Horse and Foot is to be Encamped To Camp an Army aright it must be always put into two lines with a Body of reserve provided the ground be fit for it so disposing them that between the two lines there be two hundred paces distance All the Squadrons of Horse of each line are to possess thirty five paces of ground a piece and there must be as much void betwixt them that a Squadron may march by the intervals when there is occasion of fighting The Batallions of Foot who Camp commonly in Batallia six men deep have about eighty paces of ground allotted to them more or less according to the scituation of the place Between the Squadrons of Horse and Batallions of Foot of the same line there is usually left a distance of fourty or fifty paces As to the Artillery the Cannons are placed in the first line of the Foot at such places as shall be thought most advantagious The Waggons and Ammunition are to be Camped between the second line and the body of reserve on the right hand and the Provisions on the left or near the Tent of the Commissary General The Officers as well of Horse as Foot Camp at the head of their Squadrons and Batallions The place of Arms and chief Court of Guard are always at the head of the Camp where the Arms Standards and Colours are lodged A General marching in an Enemies Country and having on his march met with a Post which we suppose to be a Bridge before which there are some Courtins Bastions and demy-Bastions flanked by some heights or little Castles he is to take care to view it or to send some Ingeneers to observe if the Bridge be for resistance divided by little draw Bridges or united and entire and at the same time shall detach a small party to try if the River be fordable for in such a case the General may make some Horse pass over carrying Foot behind them and by that means attack the Bridge at both ends But if the Bridge be defended by some eminence whereon Cannon is planted a cross Battery is quickly to be raised in such a manner that the pieces may be out of aim and that those of the height cannot bear against them from which they cannot fire but out of the openings or Gun-holes which look against and defend only that which is opposite to them on the Front from the Battery they must fire constantly until the Embrasures or Gun-holes be broken down and the Enemies Cannon dismounted If the entry of the Bridge be fortified with some Bastions without spending time to attack it by Trenches some Cavalier must in haste be raised to make a breach which must be assaulted with Sword and Pistol that so the Bastion may be carried in a trice That is a vigourous way of attack the truth is the Souldiers are much exposed thereby but it is the surest way for such Posts which by a long delay might consume more men and occasion the loss of opportunity of effectuating the design if it were set upon by Trenches When an Army on a march meets with Villages heights or other like Posts which the Peasants have fortified to defend themselves and to secure their goods in The General shall observe if the Post deserve that the Army should halt or that if proceeding in his march a detachment will be sufficient to reduce these Mutineers to reason If he find it convenient to make a halt the Mareshal de Camp attended by the Ingeneers is to search for the most convenient ground for encamping the Army such as places where are Rivers Waters or Fountains The Quarter-Masters of Horse and the Brigadeers of Foot of the Army shall distribute the ground for the Camping of their Forces according to the Orders of the Quarter-Master-General The Law of War forbids Peasants upon pain of death to shut themselves up within bare Walls without Cannon to give thereby stop to a Royal Army If the General causes them to be summoned to render it is an extraordinary favour shewed them but if he resolve to force them he is to name the Officers who should begin the attack that with their men and those that are to back them they may warmly ply them with fire some furnished with short Arms others with Petards Granadoes Bosses fire Pots and some others shall carry Ladders the first by the help of Mantelets or portable defences shall approach the Gates and apply the Petard whilst others scale the Walls every one making use of Fire-works and continuing the action with vigour until the Post be gained The success is fatal to the Commanders of the Post who are rigourously to be punished for so insolent a piece of rashness In the attacking of places so many different accidents and subjects do occur wherein the General of an Army ought to employ the best of his Judgment and make use of his experience and conduct in War that as we have said in our first part and as may be with good reason averred the most part of the actions of War are no more but continual consequences of occurrences that many times depend more on chance than on the Conduct of a Commander Of the continuance of a Siege It is very difficult to find two Towns of the same scituation and force it is likewise a hard matter to make two Sieges of a like disposition and much more still to determine the continuance thereof for if there be some Towns to which the Besiegers without opening or carrying on of Trenches may the first day of the Siege approach and lodge themselves on the Counterscarps of their Fossé by means of a Rideau or some hollow way sometimes of a River or some ill fortified Suburbs There are likewise other Towns where the ground about is so well ordered that within Cannon shot of their Ramparts or at greater distance from their Out-works there is neither any ruinous place nor hollow way that may facilitate an approach to them To such kind of places there is no coming but by Trenches or by gaining ground piece and piece and