irement and eventually withdrew
his own forces unmolested after beating off several attacks with
close-range musket fire.

Jean Victor Moreau, one of the greatest generals of the French
Republic, became a general of division at the age of 33, and by his
skill in extricating his forces from apparently certain disaster
established in retreat a far greater reputation for generalship than
his brilliant victories secured for him. In the spring of 1796 he
defeated Latour at _Rastatt_ and the Archduke Charles at _Ettlingen_,
and drove the Austrians back to the Danube, but owing to the defeat and
retreat of Jourdan he was compelled to regain the Rhine in a desperate
and apparently hopeless effort. Yet he not only preserved his army
intact but brought with him over 5,000 prisoners. In 1798 he again
saved his army from destruction when hard pressed by the Russians and
Austrians in Italy. Retreat was by no means his only or favourite
manoeuvre, as he subsequently gained victory after victory over the
Austrians in the campaign of 1800, drove them back behind the River
Inn, and won the decisive victory of _Hohenlinden_ (December 3, 1800),
where the Austrians and their Bavarian allies lost 17,000 men and 74
guns against a total loss of 5,000 on the side of the French.

{129}

OUTPOSTS

Opposing forces come into conflict through the encounter of the
Advanced Guards of moving columns; through the approach of a pursuing
force to the Rear Guard of a retreating enemy; through the attack of a
moving force on an enemy in position; and through the renewal of an
engagement which has died down between opposing forces.

Every commander will endeavour to prevent interference with his plans
and future movements, and while striving to surprise and outwit the
enemy he will exert every endeavour to prevent the application of this
vital principle by the enemy. The commander of a force that is at rest
will require security for that force in order that its rest may be
undisturbed, and he will require the security to be assured in order
that his plans for the overthrow of the enemy may be developed. He
will, therefore, detach a portion of his force to ensure this security
by observation, to prevent the secret occupation of localities the
hostile possession of which will interfere with his plans; and by
resistance to hostile movements he will secure the rest of the Main
Body.

The force detailed to protect troops at rest is known as O