Part 406

In an offensive position it is absolutely necessary that the army should not be too much confined by obstacles, but be at liberty to act in every direction; but in a defensive position, the fewer accessible points there are the better: and if the natural difficulties in front and flank are not sufficient to render an enemy’s attack dangerous, they must be increased by redoubts, intrenchments, abbatis, inundations, &c. The obstacles on the flanks, should also be of such extent that they cannot be easily turned, without the enemy makes a very great circuit; and consequently expose his own flank, and weakens his line of communication. In case the enemy detaches a body to attack a defensive position in the rear; the front must be sufficiently strong to enable the general to oppose the enemy’s detachment, by a strong body from his own army. In short, the enemy must not be able by any manœuvre to force the army to quit its position. The want of wood or water, or other supplies absolutely necessary for an army, renders every other advantage of a position useless; nor, can a position be long tenable, that is far removed from its depots; and has not its intermediate posts perfectly secure from the attacks of an enemy. These principles like all others in the ordinary affairs of war, are subject to those exceptions which the creative genius of the general may devise. Thus the first campaign of Bonaparte in Italy, was undertaken by an inferior force without magazines; the general determination was to seize those of the enemy; the same took place in the campaign in 1809, the force hastily collected had no magazines, but by the first battle he penetrated the centre, and cut off two of the corps of the Austrians, and took magazines adequate to six months subsistence from the Austrians. The general principles are nevertheless to be constantly regarded. For further remarks upon positions, see ARTILLERY IN THE FIELD, and Amer. Mil. Lib. Article RECONNOITRING.

To RECOVER arms, a position of the firelock when the piece is held with the lock in front of the left shoulder, and the sling to the front. The steadiness of soldiers is frequently proved by bringing them to the recover, after the word take aim.

To bring to the RECOVER. See RECOVER ARMS.

RECRUITS, (Recrues, Fr.) men raised for military purposes on the first formation of corps, or to supply the places of such as are disabled, or have lost their lives in the service. For particulars respecting the enlistment of recruits, see REGULATIONS.

RECRUITING, a term prefixed to certain corps and districts, which are specifically established for the recruiting service. Hence recruiting districts.

All recruits made for the regular army of the U. States, are inlisted for five years. In almost every service in Europe men are enlisted for a certain number of years, except the British, who inlist for life. Experience has convinced the powers upon the continent of Europe, that the system of binding a man during the whole course of his life to military subjection, is contrary to every sound principle of œconomy, and effective service.

The following are the established forms and instructions for the recruiting service, established by the United States.

Instructions to Recruiting Officers, respecting the rendering and settlement of their accounts of bounties and premiums for recruits.

I. Every recruit shall be inlisted, and receive the first payment of his bounty according to the form marked (A.)

II. Every officer employed in recruiting, shall, at the expiration of each calendar month, make musters according to the form marked (B.) embracing all the recruits inlisted by him; one set of which muster rolls he is regularly to transmit to the office of the paymaster of the army of the United States, at the seat of government.

III. Every officer on quitting the recruiting service, or before, if it is by proper authority required of him, shall state his accounts according to the form marked (C.) (D.) and transmit the same without delay to the office of the paymaster of the army of the United States, at the seat of government, or to the paymaster of the district in which he held his rendezvous; who shall with all possible dispatch examine and adjust them.

(A.)

STATE I ____________ born in ________ aged years, __ feet __ inches high, of ___ complexion, ____ eyes, ______ hair, and by profession a __________ do hereby acknowlege to have this day voluntarily inlisted as a soldier in the army of the United States of America, for the period of five years unless sooner discharged by proper authority; do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing as is, or may be established by law. And I ___________ do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war.

Sworn and subscribed to, ___________ at __________ this _______ day of __________ 18__ before ___________

Received of ___________ of the United States army, this ______ day of __________ 18__ dollars, in part of my bounty for inlisting into the army of the United States for five years_.

Signed duplicate receipts.

DOLLS. --- 100

Witness,

(B.)

MUSTER ROLL of a Company of under the command of

in the of the United States, commanded by

from when last mustered, to

---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | Dates of | To what | |Remarks and | | | appoint- | time en-| |alterations | | | ment or | gaged or| NAMES | since the No.| NAMES. |RANK.|inlist-m’t.|inlisted.|Present.|last Muster. ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | ---+-------------+-----+-----------+---------+---------+-------------

RECAPITULATION.

-------------------+------------------------------------------------+ |Captain. | | |Lieutenants. | | | |Ensigns. | | | | |Serjeants. | | | | | |Corporals. | | | | | | |Musicians. | | | | | | | |Privates. | | | | | | | | |TOTAL.| -------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+ Present fit for | | | | | | | | | duty, | | | | | | | | | Sick present, | | | | | | | | | Sick absent, | | | | | | | | | On detachment, | | | | | | | | | On command, | | | | | | | | | On extra service,| | | | | | | | | On furlough, | | | | | | | | | In confinement, | | | | | | | | | Missing, | | | | | | | | | Deserted, | | | | | | | | | Dead, | | | | | | | | | -------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+

(C.)

RECRUITING ACCOUNT of in the

------+---------+-------+-------+--------+---------------+ | Names of| | | | | | recruits| | | | | |(arranged| | | | | Number| in | Dates |Periods| Bounty | Bounty | of | alpha- | of | of |allowed.| paid. | vouch-| betical |inlist-|inlist-+--------+---------------+ ers. | order.) | ment. | ment. |dolls.|dolls.|cts.| ------+---------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------+---------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+