“The army will, as usual, march in three columns by lines.  The first column will consist of the first line; the second, of the second line; and the third, of the reserve.  The wagons, and hospital wagons, of regiments, will follow their corps.  The batteries of heavy calibre will follow the infantry brigades to which they are assigned.  On passing woods, the regiments of cavalry will march between two infantry corps.”

“Each column will have a vanguard of one light battalion and ten squadrons of hussars or dragoons.  They will be preceded by three wagons carrying plank-bridges.  The rear-guard is charged with taking up these bridges after the army has defiled over them.”

“The parks will be divided among the columns, to avoid the embarrassment resulting from a great many wagons being together in a body.”

“If any thing should happen to the second and third columns, the king will be instantly apprized of it; he will be found at the head of the first column.  Should any thing occur to the rear-guard, the same will be instantly communicated to Lieutenant-general Zeithen, who will be with the rear-guard of the first column.”

“The officers will take care that the soldiers march with equal step, and that they do not stray to the right or left, and thus uselessly fatigue themselves and lose their distances.”

“When orders are given to form the line, the wagons will file out of the columns to the left, and will march to be parked,” &c.

The position of the baggage, when near the enemy, will depend on the nature of the march.  If the march be to the front, it will be in rear of the column; if the march be by the flank, and the enemy be on the outer flank, the baggage will be on the inner one, most remote from danger; if the march be in retreat, the baggage will be in advance of the army.  In either case it should be strongly guarded.

It was in direct violation of this rule that General Hull, in the campaign of 1812, on reaching the Miami of the Lake, (Maumee,) embarked his baggage, stores, sick, convalescent, and “even the instructions of his government and the returns of his army,” on board the Cuyahoga packet, and dispatched them for Detroit, while the army, with the same destination, resumed its march by land.  The result of thus sending his baggage, stores, official papers, &c., without a guard, and on the flank nearest the enemy, was just what might have been anticipated:—­in attempting to pass the British post of Malden the whole detachment was attacked and captured, “by a subaltern and six men, in a small and open boat.”

To prevent a surprise, detachments of light troops should be always thrown out in front, on the flanks, and in rear of the column, denominated from their position, Advanced-Guard, Flankers, and Rear-Guard. These scan the country which is to be passed over by the column, watch the enemy’s motions, and give notice of his approach in time to allow the main force to choose a suitable field of battle, and to pass from the order of march to that of combat.  The strength and composition of these detachments depend upon the nature of the ground, and the character and position of the enemy.  In case of an attack they retire slowly, and on joining the main body, take their assigned position in the line of battle.