neers may be attached. If there is no
advance cavalry, some cavalry should be attached to the support for
reconnoitering duty.

As the support moves out it sends forward an advance party several
hundred yards, the distance varying with the terrain and the size of the
command.

The advance party supplements the work of the advance cavalry,
reconnoitering to the front and flanks to guard the support against
surprise by effective rifle fire. The patrol preceding the advance party
on the line of march is called the point, and is commanded by an officer
or an experienced noncommissioned officer.

With the advance cavalry in front but little reconnoitering by infantry
is necessary, and the advance party is relatively small--one eighth to
one third of the support. If there is no advance cavalry, the advance
party is made stronger (about one half of the support) and the flanks
are guarded, if necessary, by additional patrols sent out from the
support and even from the reserve.

The support commander ordinarily marches with the advance party, but
goes wherever needed. He sees that the proper road is followed; that
guides are left in towns and at crossroads; that necessary repairs are
made to roads, bridges, etc., and that information of the enemy or
affecting the march is promptly transmitted to the advance-guard
commander. He endeavors promptly to verify information of the enemy.

RESERVE

The reserve follows the support at several hundred yards' distance. It
consists of the remainder of the infantry and engineers, the artillery,
and the ambulance company. The artillery usually marches near the head
of the reserve, the engineers (with bridge train, if any) and special
troops at the rear.

RECONNAISSANCE

In conducting the reconnaissance the patrols are, as a rule, small--from
two to six men. If additional protection is necessary, a flank guard
covers the threatened flank. The flanking patrols, whether of the
advance cavalry or advance party, are sent out to examine the country
wherever the enemy might be concealed. If the nature of the terrain
permits, these patrols march across country or along roads and trails
paralleling the march of the column. For cavalry patrols this is often
possible; but with infantry patrols and even with those that are
mounted, reconnaissance is generally best done by sending the patrols to
high places along the line of march to overlook the country and examine
the danger points