CASTRAMETATION. The art of lay ing out camps and of placing the troops so that the different arms shall afford support to each other in the best manner. No definite rules can be laid down, but the proper exercise of the art of encamping is so to place the troops that they can quickly form line of battle on the position they are to occupy. In the presence of the enemy the troops bivouac in line of battle; if safety permits, the tents may be pitched im mediately in rear of the line of stacks, the tents of the company officers in rear of their com panies, the tents of the Field and Staff in rear of the centre of the line of company officers. When not in the presence of the enemy, each bat talion usually camps in column of divisions. The tents of each division are arranged in two lines facing each other; those of the right company face to the rear; those of the left company face to the front. The company officers' tents are arranged in line parallel to the flank of the column, facing the division streets; the tent of the captain of the right company of each division is to the right (or left) of the line passing through the centre of the street, according as the officers are on the right (or left) flank of the column; his lieu tenants are on his right (or left); the captain of the left company is on the left (or right) of the captain of the right company, the lieuten ants of his company on his left (or right). The first sergeant's tent is on the flank of the com pany toward the officers' tents. The tents of the Field and Staff, when practicable, are in line parallel to those of the company officers, the colonel is opposite the centre of the column, lieutenant-colonel and major are on his right, the adjutant is on the left of the colonel; the other staff officers are on the left of the adjutant. The tents of the non-commissioned staff are in rear of the tents of the staff ; they may be assigned to tents in the divisions.
The kitchens of the men are in line on the flank opposite the company officers; the sinks for the men are outside of the line of kitchens. The kitchens of the officers are in rear of their tents, the sinks for the officers are in rear of the line of tents of the Field and Staff. The positions of the color-line, guard-tents, sutlers' store, officers' horses and baggage wagons are prescribed by the colonel. The width of the division-streets, and the streets in front of the company officers, varies with the nature of the ground and the strength of the battalion. When the companies are large, the camp may be formed to the above principles, in column of companies, the tents of each com pany being in one line, or in two lines facing each other.
A battalion of cavalry being in line with the usual intervals, to encamp, the men dismount, and, without forming rank, unsaddle and place their arms and equipments in line 10 yards in front of the horses; the blanket is placed on the equipment, moist side up. The picket-line is stretched between posts about six feet high, or is stretched on the ground, the ends being firmly secured; the horses are tied to the picket line by the halter at intervals of a yard; if the picket-line be on the ground, they may be fastened to it by a strap about two and a half feet long, the strap being provided with a collar which is buckled around the pastern of the left fore-foot. The tents of the men are
pitched in line about 15 yards in front of the picket-line, the intervals between companies being left free; the tent of the first sergeant is on the right; the arms and equipments are kept in the tents of the men. The kitchens of the men are in line in front of their tents; the sinks in front of the line of kitchens. The tents of the company officers are in line about 30 yards in rear of their tents.
When artillery camp, the pieces and caissons are parked at. 14 yards interval. The harness of the team of each carriage is on a rack on the right, and close to the carriage, so that the paulin can cover the harness. Horse equip ments are kept on the racks or in the tents. The picket-line is 15 yards in rear of the cais sons; it is stretched between posts about six feet high, the ends being firmly secured; the horses are tied to the picket-line by the halter at intervals of a yard. The men's tents are pitched in line about 30 yards in rear of the picket line; the first sergeant's tent covers the car riages of the right section; the left guard-tent covers the carriages of the left section; the tents of each section are in the order of their pieces in park, and are closed on the centre, or to the right, so as to have a vacant space be tween the guard-tents and the tents of the left section. The men's kitchens are in line 10 yards in rear of the guard-tents, which may be faced to the right so that No. 1 can overlook the kitchen. The officers' tents are in line 30 yards in rear of the battery-tents; the captain's tent is on the right, covering that of the first sergeant. The officers' kitchens are 10 yards in the rear of the officers' tents; the battery wagon covers the captain's tent; the forge covers the left guard-tent. The sinks are 50 yards in rear of the wagons; the officers' sink on the right, the men's sink on the left.
The preceding order may be modified if cir cumstances require it. The battery wagon and baggage wagons may be in line with the pieces, the interval between the battery wagon and nearest piece being 14 yards, that between the battery wagon and left baggage wagon about 30 yards; the guard-tents half-way between the battery wagon and baggage wagons, facing to the rear,• the forage pine between the guard tents and the baggage wagons, the forge in line with the caissons and covering the right bag gage wagon, the men's kitchens in line with the caissons, and covering the left baggage wagon, the officers' tents on a line perpendicular to the men's tents, facing them, and on the prolonga tion of one of the baggage wagons; the officers' kitchen in rear of the officers' tents, and on the prolongation of the forge. In a horse battery, if but one picket-line be used, it may be turned equally to the front around the flanks of the park; the battery wagon, forge and baggage wagons may be divided equally and placed on the flanks of the men's tents, facing inward, and so as to be on the prolongation of the bent portions of the picket-lige. The picket-line may also be in one straight line, in which case the baggage wagons should be equally divided upon lines to the rear of its extremities. The horses are sometimes picketed in two lines, in which case the second line is 14 yards in rear of the first, and the wagons are placed in line 30 yards in rear of the men's tents. See Cams.