At 6.45 a.m., 1 Feb., 17, your battalion and the machine gun company are hurriedly assembled, pieces are loaded, and the column, your company in the lead, is marched out of town, over the southeast road.  Your captain calls the officers and non-commissioned officers to the head of the company and gives the following verbal order: 

A Blue force, estimated at one battalion with machine guns, is marching north from Granite Hill Sta.  Blue patrols have been reported in vicinity of Henderson meeting house (700 yards north of Hunterstown).  There are no Red troops south of here.  Our battalion and the machine gun company are going to take up a position on the 712-707 hills, which flank this road, about 3 miles south of here.  This company will be the advance guard.  The main body, which is the rest of our column, follows at 600 yards.  Lieutenant Allen, your platoon (1st) and the second platoon will constitute the ADVANCE PARTY. The third and fourth platoons will form the SUPPORT, and will follow the advance party at 300 yards.  Here is a map for you.  Follow this road (pointing and indicating on map) through J. Fohl—­554-534—­Bridge S.H., to crossroads 666, where you will halt and establish a MARCH OUTPOST. I will be with the support.  When we reach the outguard at J. Fohl the column will halt and the advance guard will move out.  Posts.

The column halts at the outguard.  You are Lieutenant Allen.

Required: 

Your instructions, and dispositions in detail.

Situation II: 

The advance party has just cleared roadfork 534 when it is fired upon from the woods along the stream about 500 yards southeast.  There are probably 20 rifles firing upon you.  The enemy’s fire is well-directed.  The point has crossed the first bridge, 300 yards south of 534.  The support has halted; but is not under fire.

Required: 

Your instructions and dispositions.

Second Problem:  An Advance Guard Point—­Situation I: 

The situation is the same as in the First Problem.

You are the commander of the point.

Required: 

Your instructions and dispositions as the point clears the outguard.

Required: 

The point has just crossed the first bridge 300 yards southeast of 534, when you hear firing and observe that the advance party is being fired upon from the woods directly east of you.  A few moments later you note a few dismounted men crossing the island about 400 yards to the east.  The firing has ceased.

Required: 

Your instructions and dispositions.

Situation III: 

The advance guard has resumed its march.  When the point reaches Bridge S.H., it is fired upon from the woods 400 yards to the east.  About ten cavalrymen are hurriedly mounting, others are already riding into the woods.