CASTRAMETATION, is the art of measuring or tracing out the form of a camp on the ground ; yet it sometimes has a more extentive signification, by in cluding all the views and designs of a ge neral ; the one requires only the know ledge of a mathematician, the other the experience of an old soldier. The an cients were accustomed to fortity their camps by throwing up entrenchments round them. The Turks, and other Asia tic nations, fortify themselves, when in an open country, with their waggons and other carriages. The practice of the Europeans is quite different ; for the sure ty of their camp consists in the facility and convenience of drawing out their troops at the head of their encampment : for which reason, whatever particular order of battle is regarded as the best disposition for fighting, it follows, of course, that we should encamp in such a manner as to assemble and parade our troops in that order and disposition as soon as possible. It is therefore the or
der of battle that should regulate the or der of encampment ; that is to say, the post of each regiment in the line of bat tle should be at the •head of its own en campment : from whence it follows, that the extent of the line of battle from right to left of the camp should be equal to the front of the troops in line of battle, with the same intervals in the camp as in the line. By this means every battalion co vers its own tents, and they can all lodge themselves, or turn out in case of neces sity at a minute's warning.
If the front of the camp is greater than the line, the troops must leave large intervals, or expose their flanks; if less, the troops will not have room to form with the proper intervals.
The front or principal line of the camp is commonly directed to face the enemy.