the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

RECONNAISSANCE OF BATTALION POSITION
a scout private, the latter as a general practice being used as
agent to, or signaller with, the sergeant major or adjutant.
Whenever necessary, reconnaissance officers use their
orderlies as agents for carrying information or messages to or
from the adjutant.
27. The battalion sergeant major, assisted by the signal
corporal and the signal private, establish communication with
the batteries. The sergeant major then assists the adjutant or
major by taking charge of all the details in connection with
sending and receiving messages by flag or courier. He assists
the scouts in sending or receiving flag messages to or from
reconnaissance officers, auxiliary observers, agents with
friendly troops, and so forth.
28. The signal corporal, assisted by the signal private or
recorder, acts as operator at the battalion station. These two men
learn from the adjutant what artificial cover if any is necessary at
the battalion station, and, assisted by the agents and the battalion
musician, construct the same at the first opportunity. The Major
or Adjutant may direct one of the batteries to furnish a caisson
for the purpose of affording cover. When wire communication is
established between the higher commander and the major, the
signal private is the operator on the wire.
29. One of the agents, acting in turn, remains in an
unexposed position within range of the voice from the station.
The other agents remain with and are giving their attention to
their horses at the post of the horses belonging to the detail.
These men, as indeed all members of the battalion detail, must
be well mounted. All members of the detail must be made to
understand that their efficiency depends to a very great extent
upon their ability as horsemen. Equitation, care of the horse,
how to condition him, and how to ride him so as best to save his
strength, are very important parts of the training of the detail.
30. At the position selected the battalion musician is in
general charge of the horses of the detail. He locates their
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