716. DETACHMENTS AND POSTS.—A Military Post is a place where troops are stationed for any purpose whatever, either for defence, subsistence, instruction, or recruitment; in the sense, however, that is here intended, it is a station for troops which is isolated and constituting a separate command, and designated under a particular name by the War Department; usually such places are designated Forts, although frequently not at all fortified. A Military Post is, therefore, the point at which a Detachment is permanently stationed; vice versa, a Detachment is the troops of a post operating in the field, and the Senior Officer of the line of the Army serving with it is the Commanding Officer. (Reg. 7, and Art. 62.) It is the duty of a Commanding Officer so situated that will be here considered in general terms.

717. The Post, Fort, or Detachment, in its general character, is administered very much as a Regiment, without reference to the size; that is, it constitutes one command, and must be provided with a Quartermaster, Commissary, and Surgeon, or someone acting in these capacities. It may happen that there may not be more than a small portion of a company under one officer, in which case it becomes necessary for him to act in all the foregoing capacities, except Surgeon; but he is authorized under the regulations to employ a civilian, in case of sickness. (Reg. 1304.)

718. It may be a small army all stationed together, and composed of portions of all arms in the service. Large or small, the commands located at the various Forts and Cantonments on the Frontier, or the Forts, Barracks, Recruiting Rendezvous, Schools of Instruction, etc., on the sea-coast, harbors, and in the vicinity of our large cities, are all administered and directed in the same general way, and with the same general limitations.

719. The main distinctive feature of a Post or Detachment is, that there is generally a Department or Army Commander between its Commander and the Headquarters of the Army at Washington, and possibly other intermediate Commanders, as when a Detachment is sent out from a Post, or when the Department has also the division of "Districts," subordinate to the Department Commander.

720. The different Posts, Forts, etc., having different objects in view, which have caused their being established, materially influence the duties of their respective Commanders; but the mode of supply, the system of accountability, and the authority in reference to and growing out of the maintenance of a Post, is of the same general character in all. The Regulations and Orders of the War Department, invest such a Command with all the elements and means of taking care of itself.

721. First of all, a Quartermaster and Commissary are designated by the Commanding Officers, if none are provided for the Command by higher authority. Where the Command does not exceed more than two or three Companies, one officer is usually required to do both duties, as it is more convenient, and obviates conflicts between these two branches of Administration.

722. The mode of supplying the Post is much influenced by the locality, the facilities of the country in the vicinity, and the capacity of the markets near by. Those articles which can be obtained at prices that will save transportation, authority is usually given to contract for Forage, Flour, and Beef are the usual articles of this description. The regulations provide how contracts are made and executed. The orders governing the mode and quantity of supply are given from Department Headquarters. 

723. It is the duty of the Commanding Officer, through his officers, to obtain all the information he can concerning the means and cost of supplying the Post, and the resources of the surrounding country, and keep the Headquarters of the Department notified. Timely requisitions and estimates must be made to these Headquarters, to anticipate the wants of the Post. Unusual expenses are not incurred without authority from the Department Commander, except in cases of evident necessity.

724. Expeditions involving outlays beyond the current expenses, are not made by the Commanding Officer, without authority from the Commander of the Department. In cases of necessity, where there is no time to communicate with Department Headquarters, the Commanding Officer of the Post does what his judgment suggests in the case, and trusts to subsequent approval; and so long as no law is violated, either Military or Civil, there is not much responsibility connected with it pecuniarily; but there is always the risk of failing to meet the views of superiors.

725. The law of necessity, in Military Service as elsewhere, is a sufficient excuse for any act or measure, provided the necessity can be made apparent to others. But so long as an expenditure is in accordance with law, which means in our service that Congress has appropriated funds for the purpose, there is not much pecuniary risk; but there is always the risk of violating existing orders or instructions in every act or measure for which there is no special provision.

726. Within the means placed at his disposal for administering the affairs of a Post or Detachment, there is no limit to the powers and acts of the Commanding Officer, except what regulations and law provide, and the requirements of his orders and instructions. He directs the daily routine of Camp or Garrison duty, selects his staff for the Post, directs what duties shall be performed, and who by; or in time of field service, he directs when the march shall begin, and when it shall end, what direction it shall take, and how it shall be conducted. To him belongs the responsibility of fighting or retreating, of success or defeat.

728. The routine of duty at a Post is confined to the daily exercises; the issues of rations and clothing; the preservation of order, by keeping up proper guards, directing the rest, and providing for legal punishment of offenders; the preservation, repair, and improvement of the Post; the care of the sick; all these, and many more minor duties, are involved in the location of a Military Command at any point, nor do they change very materially when operating as a Detachment. 

729. Each Post has its Adjutant’s office (which is also the Commanding Officer’s office), a Quartermaster’s office, a Commissary’s office (these two, if the Post is small, may be in one), a guard house, quarters for officers, barracks for men, store houses for quartermaster, commissary, and ordnance stores, stables for horses and mules, and an hospital for the sick. These vary in their character, from the tent to the perfected house, from the rudest shelter to the most perfect fortress, and it is as necessary to have method and system in governing them, as it is necessary to have municipal regulations in a town or village.

730. Military Posts in our country are mainly the Forts on the sea-coast, and those on the Indian frontier. The former are generally fortified places, whilst the latter are rarely so; occasionally they possess a block house or two, but are seldom, if ever, entrenched. Indians have not been known to attack a Garrisoned Post, for many years past. The necessity of reducing the troops to a very small number, when Detachments are sent out, makes it wise to provide a block house, which has been found quite sufficient against any means possessed by Indians. 

731. A strategic post requires qualifications to command independent of Administration; such are the outposts in connection with the operations of an army, and is usually a Post of observation, to be held for a shorter or longer period, or perhaps only for a few hours, either to watch the enemy, or to hold him in check, or to prevent him from seizing the position. How to defend, and when to surrender, are the grand questions for the Commander to solve; to give up without a blow, and to hopelessly sacrifice life, are both to be avoided. 

732. As a rule, it is safest to err fighting, and to hold a post to the last extremity, to exhaust ammunition, subsistence, and men; beyond the hope of relief, and overwhelmed by numbers, and yet whilst yielding the post, to cut through the enemy’s lines and escape, is to the survivors the satisfaction of the highest achievement that troops are capable of. But when a Detachment is posted to hold a point at all hazards, there is no alternative but to fight to the last; no circumstances can excuse the abandonment of it—the only thing is to fight and win, or fall before the enemy.

733. The different arms may all be represented at the Post, or in the Detachment; and whilst the Commander administers his duty with reference to the whole command, the different subordinate commanders should be permitted to command their respective arms, without interference in the details; thus the Infantry would be under the command of the senior officer of Infantry; he would administer all the duties pertaining to his arm in the details under the general supervision of the Commander of the whole; he would consolidate all the reports and returns of the Infantry, and make estimates and requisitions for the whole. So, in like manner the senior officer of Cavalry and Artillery would direct the troops of his arm respectively.

734. The Commander of the Post or Detachment, in turn, consolidates all the reports, returns, estimates, and requisitions of the different commanders; he gives his orders and directions through these subordinates, and thus simplifies his own duty, and that of all other officers under him, very much. Each officer must be required to attend to his own duties, and be held strictly responsible for the performance or failure of them. A Commanding Officer who undertakes to do the duty of all the officers under him, by personal supervision and direction of the details, will find the task very arduous, the work badly done, and incur the ill-will of his command; his duty mainly is to make his subordinates do theirs. 

735. The Tabular List on page 178 shows the papers that are required of Post Commanders, and also of Commanders of Detachments in the field, as far as they are applicable. (Reg. Art. XXXV.) The Post Adjutant is an officer specially detailed for the duty, who has the preparation and care of these papers. Through him all orders to the command are published and transmitted. He has charge of the Rosters for duty, and makes the various details required. (Par. 277.) Office hours are usually from eight to ten o’clock, A.M., during which time the official duties of the Commanding Officer of the Post are transacted with his subordinates. 

736. The Commanding Officer of a Post or Detachment is the Ordnance Officer of the Command; and like the Regimental Commander, is accountable for the Ordnance pertaining to the Post or Detachment, not in the hands of other Officers of the Command. (Reg. 1420.) Under the law, each Military Post is entitled to an Ordnance Sergeant (Reg. Art. XIV), who has the immediate charge of the Ordnance Stores, receives and issues, and makes out the papers and returns pertaining thereto, under the direction of the Commanding Officer. This is the only kind of property that the Commanding Officer of the Post or Detachment, as such, is accountable for, although he may be responsible for all kinds of government property in other capacities. 

737. In time of peace, the powers of a Commander of a Post or Detachment are limited to the arrest of Military offenders, and to punishments through a Garrison or Field Officer’s Court-Martial; all matters, whether of Administration or other duty, are governed by either law, regulations or customs of service; the arbitrary exercise of power is neither allowable nor  creditable. An offense requiring a General Court-Martial must be reported to the Department Commander, by sending up a copy of the charges; he will direct a General Court-Martial, if he deems it necessary. In time of war, the Commander of a Division or separate Brigade may order General Courts-Martial, as provided by the Act of December 24, 1861. 

738. A frontier post bordering on a foreign state may become invested with the greatest importance, requiring great diplomacy and knowledge of state affairs. Every officer so situated should inform himself thoroughly on General and International Law.

740. Where the title to the site of the Post is not invested in the United States, there is nothing to relieve the officers or men of a Military Command from the operations of the Local Law, and a soldier is as liable as a citizen to arrest for all criminal offenses, and with but very few exceptions in civil cases. In this country it is exceedingly unfortunate for a Military Commander to come in contact with the civil authorities in his official capacity, and it is wise to avoid such collisions, if possible. 

741. In time of war, and particularly in case of insurrection, Martial Law takes the place of Civil Law, and the Military Commander may, to a certain extent, become invested with all the duties of Judge, Juror, and Executioner. To preserve order, to punish crimes, and administer in civil as well as Military affairs, adds greatly to his labors, and taxes his capacity to the highest extent.

742. In the absence of an Indian Agent, Military Commanders are ex-officio Indian Agents. In this capacity the law confers the power of arrest of offenders against the "intercourse act" of June 30th, 1834, sections 20 and 21 (Reg., page 503), and March 3d, 1847, sections 2 and 3. Co-operation on the part of Military Commanders and Indian Agents is essential. It is unfortunate that the Indian Bureau did not remain in the War Department, as the duties of officers and Indian Agents are often such as to make it unfortunate that they are directed and instructed from different offices.

743. Indian troubles arise most frequently from acts of injustice perpetrated by unprincipled whites; and justice often demands that the troops should protect, as well as punish the savage. Much embarrassment to the Commanders arises in the vicinity of remote Military Posts, in the absence of Civil Courts; and a wise foresight and just dealing with the savage and white man alike will often save the country from an Indian War, with its vast expense, and loss of life. 

744. The selection of sites for Military Posts belongs properly to the Engineer Corps, and is generally entrusted to some officer of this Corps, particularly if the place is selected for a permanent fortification. But it often occurs that an Officer of the Line, in Command of a Detachment, is compelled to do the duty. The selection of a strategic point during active operations, is often entrusted to the Commanding Officer of the Detachment, and may require to be rapidly and quickly determined; such a duty would almost invariably expose the officer’s fitness or unfitness for the duty; no definite rules can be given for making such a selection, as each case would be invested with peculiar conditions.

746. The march of a Detachment calls forth special qualities in the Commander, in the selection of the route, the camps, the hours for marching, and the order and conduct of the march. The greatest comfort and security of the command, compatible with the object for which the Detachment has been made, are the most desirable ends to be obtained. In proportion as the Commanding Officer gives attention to the details of the march, so will the comfort of the officers and men be secured; many times a command has failed and broken down for want of attention to the details of the march, on the part of the Commanding Officer.

747. Nearly every work on the Art of War gives general principles as to the disposition of the forces of a Detachment on the march. The objects to be attained are such a disposition of the forces as will best preserve the organization during the march, and will admit of the speediest formation for attack or defence. The general principles for the march of large Detachments is given under the head of "Advance Guards," paragraph 105; the diagram on page 63 illustrates the general arrangement, which, of course, is always modified by the number and kind of troops.

748. A Detachment is a small army in miniature. It is, on the march, almost invariably divided into an advance guard, main body, and rear guard. The composition of these different parts is subject to all sorts of modifications, depending upon the kind of troops, the character of the country, the proximity of the enemy, and the object of the expedition. When in camp, or occupying a position, the Commander seeks to protect himself by the natural features of the country, as much as possible, and throws out his guards and advance posts with the same precaution and system, as if he commanded a large army.

749. During active operations against an enemy, Detachments are most frequently made to create a diversion. To be selected for such a command is often a great distinction, and places an opportunity within the reach of the fortunate officer that will enable him to demonstrate his capacity. To believe in the feasibility to the last moment, and to push on against every obstacle towards the end, content with nothing but success, is the highest merit of a Detachment Commander. But to be compelled by unforeseen contingencies to modify the original plan, and yet to keep the end in view, and attain success by the merit of new plans promptly conceived and executed, is perhaps a greater distinction than to realize success on the original plan.

750. To provide for the safety of the supply train, and other necessary encumbrances, is the most difficult end to attain in arranging the order of march. On the Advance, the train is generally placed in rear of the main body; on the Retreat, it is near the head; the troops should always be placed between the train and the danger On detached expeditions, however, the train should always be reduced to a minimum, for the danger of loss is in proportion to its size.

751. Every Detachment Commander should provide himself with the means of communicating; and keeping the next highest in authority as well informed of his operations as the importance of the occasion demands; and nothing is more creditable to an officer than to be always able to render the regular returns. A prompt "Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing," with the details of the affairs, after an engagement, should always be rendered, for it is the information most desired, at such a time..

752. To conduct a Detachment properly reveals the true traits necessary to command a larger force, and the fact of having successfully commanded a small command on a trying expedition is sufficient reason for entrusting the successful officer with a more responsible command, for this kind of ability is only discovered by actual experience. The men who command at the close of war are seldom those selected in the beginning.