De velitatione bellica

 combative, not because we single this out from the other stratagems and practices of tactics, but because for the best generals it has become the best

 going out. 1.5 And to send out faithful and most experienced men to watch over them, to see if they are guarding their posts well and vigilantly. 1.6

 to hold and block with shield-bearing hoplites and javelin-men, and behind these, those who throw stones by hand, and with them also archers and sling

 It is less suitable, and perhaps the effort happened to be in vain because the infantry army cannot be assembled so quickly in a few days and be well

 having endured. 7.t Concerning the gathering and movement of an army and concerning allowing merchants to enter and spy 7.1 Upon hearing of the prepar

 high, where the enemy camped, on one or even two sides near their encampment, they will keep watch in that place without difficulty for having dismou

 he will station squads behind the three pairs of scouts, the first squad to watch the third pair of scouts, and the second squad likewise to watch the

 to have [someone] behind the cavalry watching and observing the battle line of the emir and matters concerning it, and, as it marches, to report to hi

 let him set up an ambush, guarding the places situated near the enemy's passage. And the general himself must stand concealed in a suitable place with

 fame for even if the Roman army does not find the winning hand in the war against them, at any rate it will suffer no harm. 10.10 But if they remaine

 despising death for the seizure of the spoils because of the hope of gain and they will easily overcome these by the grace of Christ. But if he does

 will be made successful by cooperation. 11.4 But if it should happen that these are pursued by the enemy, it is necessary to go out to meet them with

 they will by no means dare to sally forth completely, and then only a few for the majority, suspecting war from the general, will not desert the emir

 the day's army and those stationed in the tetradia, as we have said above, to take from the general two of the most experienced and brave men from tho

 of those sent out, in the place where the battle line of the enemy is that has their commander, the general, taking a few men with him and going up to

 among them prisoners of ours or even to become deserters and to learn from them in what place he is encamped. 15.2 So that they do not, taking up thei

 having followed the raiding party negligently and not having searched the ambushes well, has unexpectedly fallen into the hiding place. And so that su

 they hasten unexpectedly to pursue and overcome them, you yourself must also display every precaution so as not to be found unexpectedly by them, but

 they may prepare then, by slackening the reins of their horses, they may with a charge distance themselves a little from their pursuers, so that they

 from long experience, we have written. It is fitting for you to act against the likely impending circumstance for not as the counsels of men, but as

 so that, if enemy multitudes should attack those in the ambush, the night, having fallen and having broken off the battle, you may keep the people und

 the strategos possessed authority over the theme, judging those bringing charges in military matters and administering the affairs arising in the them

 entering into their lands, sometimes they themselves, and sometimes sending some of their people, as was possible they would inflict heavy casualties

 of all other things, whatever are able to defend and help the besieged. For we will omit setting these forth in detail in the present writing on accou

 citizens of the country, and to urge them and to prepare them to save all their belongings in castles and fortified places, and to continuously wound

 by his grace. 23.2 When you have identified the road by which the enemy has set out, four stages, or camps, away, it is fitting for you, the leader of

 profitable according to what seems best to them, and when they perceive you have arrived, they will encamp for the night, having pitched their tents,

 they will break camp, having pitched their tents, and it is not easy for a night battle to be arranged in such a place, the general must again get ahe

high, where the enemy camped, on one or even two sides near their encampment, they will keep watch in that place without difficulty; for having dismounted from their horses and going up the mountain on foot, two or even three men, and approaching the encampment, from those high and very secure mountains, which are not able to provide an easy ascent to the enemy, to see the army and hear the voices of the host and the neighing of the horses and mules. And to send out another four squads of four to stand mounted, themselves on this side and that of the army, separated from each other, so that they too may hear the neighing of the horses and mules and the clamor of the host. 8.6 But if in the place of the encampment there is no such very secure mountain, likewise four squads of four are to be sent out to stand quietly on this side and that of the army, and to give each other signals indicating a withdrawal, if it should be necessary, either by whistling, or by speech and hailing. And they are to be relieved by others, either a second time in the night or even once, so that both they and their horses may rest. And a tourmarch—or some other commander—is to go to their relief, and to oversee where and how they stand, and having properly set up their replacements, to return to where he was also stationed before. 8.7 When a disturbance is heard indicating the movement of the raiding party, let the four squads of four fall back a little, but let them not get too far away, and let them report the departure of the enemy to the tourmarch. And let him report to the general by what road they made their sally and at what hour, so that the general, learning the time and hour of their departure, may be able to estimate in what places they will arrive by morning. 8.8 And those sent by the tourmarch to report to the general, in the place where the general was camped, the departure of the raiding party, if they should not find him there but the reception party left behind by him, it is necessary that, having arrived in that place, they should call out; and the reception party, carefully watching, when they hear the call, are to join up and with speed bring them to the general or lead them to another reception party, the general having perhaps moved again. For it is necessary for him, either once or even twice in the night, to change encampment for great security, so as not to be ambushed by the enemy, and for him to have double, secure watches for his guard. 9.t Concerning the movement of the raiding party and the pursuit 9.1 When the general, therefore, learns of the movement of the raiding party, immediately another commander with picked cavalrymen, subordinate to the tourmarch who is following the raiding party, is to be sent to him, the one being sent having with him one of those sent by the tourmarch to report the raiding party's movement to the general, in order to be guided by him to join up easily. 9.2 And the general himself should depart behind the commander who was sent with the host under him and should hasten to catch up with the tourmarch, so that he himself also behind the tourmarch may follow the raiding party of the enemy; for the accurate and unerring pursuit from behind the enemy ought to be done according to their tracks and their route. 9.3 And the tourmarch, when the raiding party of the enemy departs, taking three pairs, experienced and suitable men, let him arrive at the road of the enemy; and having instructed the first and second and third pair how they ought to proceed and follow the enemy, let him return to his host. And let the first pair proceed near the enemy, hearing both the clamor of the host and the neighing of the horses; and the second, following the first, let it travel at such a distance as they are able to see the one in front of it and be seen by it, and neither to get too close, nor to fall so far behind as not to be seen. 9.4 And three

ὑψηλός, ἐν ᾧ ηὐλίσαντο οἱ πολέμιοι, ἐξ ἑνὸς μέρους ἢ καὶ ἐκ δύο πλησίον τοῦ ἀπλήκτου αὐτῶν, ἀπόνως τὴν παραμονὴν ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ τόπῳ φυλάξουσιν· ἀποβάντες γὰρ τῶν ἵππων καὶ πεζῇ ἐν τῷ βουνῷ ἀνερχόμενοι ἄνδρες δύο τῷ ἀριθμῷ ἢ καὶ τρεῖς καὶ πλησιάζοντες τῷ ἀπλήκτῳ, ἀπὸ τῶν ὑψηλῶν ἐκείνων καὶ ὀχυρωτάτων βουνῶν, τῶν μὴ δυναμένων ἄνοδον εὐχερῆ παρέχειν τοῖς πολεμίοις, ὁρᾶν τὸ φοσσᾶτον καὶ τὰς φωνὰς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐνωτίζεσθαι καὶ τοὺς τῶν ἵππων καὶ ἡμιόνων χρεμετισμούς. Ἀποστέλλειν δὲ καὶ ἕτερα τέσσαρα τετράδια ἵστασθαι ἐφίππους καὶ αὐτοὺς ἔνθεν κἀκεῖθεν τοῦ φοσσάτου ἀπ' ἀλλήλων διακεχωρισμένα, ὥστε καὶ αὐτοὺς ἀκούειν τοὺς χρεμετισμοὺς τῶν ἵππων καὶ ἡμιόνων καὶ τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ ὀχλαγωγίαν. 8.6 Εἰ δὲ ἐν τῷ τοῦ ἀπλήκτου τόπῳ τοιοῦτος ὀχυρώτατος βουνὸς οὐκ ἔστι, καὶ ὡσαύτως τέσσαρα τετράδια ἀποστέλλεσθαι τοῦ ἔνθεν κἀκεῖθεν τοῦ φοσσάτου ἡσύχως ἵστασθαι, καὶ σύσσημα παρέχειν ἀλλήλοις σημαντικὰ ὑποχωρήσεως, εἴγε δεήσοι, εἴτε διὰ συρισμοῦ, εἴτε διὰ λόγου καὶ ἐπιλαλιᾶς. Ὑπαλλάττεσθαι δὲ αὐτοὺς παρ' ἑτέρων, εἴτε δεύτερον τῇ νυκτὶ ἢ καὶ ἅπαξ, πρὸς τὸ καὶ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἵππους αὐτῶν διαναπαύεσθαι. Ἀπέρχεσθαι δὲ τουρμάρχηνεἴτε ἑτέρα τις κεφαλήεἰς τὴν τούτων ὑπαλλαγήν, καὶ ἐπιβλέπειν ποῦ καὶ πῶς ἵστανται, καὶ τοὺς ἀντ' ἐκείνων πάλιν καλῶς ἐφιστῶν ὑποστρέφειν ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἵστατο πρότερον. 8.7 Ταραχῆς δὲ ἐξακουομένης κίνησιν δηλούσης τοῦ κούρσου, τὰ τέσσαρα τετράδια μικρὸν ἀναποδιζέτωσαν, μὴ μέντοι δὲ μακρόθεν γινέσθωσαν, τῷ δὲ τουρμάρχῃ μηνυέτωσαν τὴν τῶν πολεμίων ἀποκίνησιν. Αὐτὸς δὲ μηνυέτω τῷ στρατηγῷ δι' οἵας ὁδοῦ τὴν ὁρμὴν ἐποιήσαντο καὶ ἐν οἵᾳ ὥρᾳ, ἵνα τὸν καιρὸν καὶ τὴν ὥραν τῆς ἀποκινήσεως αὐτῶν ἀναμανθάνων ὁ στρατηγὸς δύναται στοχάσασθαι ἐν οἵοις χωρίοις καταλάβωσιν ἄχρι πρωΐας. 8.8 Οἱ δὲ ἀποστελλόμενοι παρὰ τοῦ τουρμάρχου καταμηνῦσαι τῷ στρατηγῷ, ἐν ᾧ τόπῳ ὁ στρατηγὸς ηὐλίζετο, τὴν τοῦ κούρσου ἀποκίνησιν, ἐπὰν οὐχ εὑρήσωσιν ἐκεῖσε αὐτὸν ἀλλ' ὑποδοχαρίους τοὺς παρ' αὐτοῦ καταλειφθέντας, δέον ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ τόπῳ γενομένους φωνῆσαι· τοὺς δὲ ὑποδοχαρίους ἀκριβῶς διασκοπουμένους, ἡνίκα τῆς φωνῆς αἴσθονται, ἑνωθῆναι καὶ διὰ τάχους τῷ στρατηγῷ τούτους προσάξαι εἴτε εἰς ἑτέρους πάλιν ἀγαγεῖν ὑποδοχαρίους, τοῦ στρατηγοῦ ἴσως πάλιν μετακινήσαντος. Χρὴ γὰρ αὐτόν, εἴτε ἅπαξ, εἴτε καὶ δὶς ἐν νυκτὶ μεταπληκεύειν διὰ πολλὴν ἀσφάλειαν, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων ἐνεδρευθῆναι, ἔχειν δὲ αὐτὸν καὶ βίγλας διπλᾶς εἰς φυλακὴν αὐτοῦ ἀσφαλεῖς. 9.τ Περὶ τῆς κινήσεως τοῦ κούρσου καὶ ἀκολουθήσεωσ 9.1 Τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τοίνυν τὴν κίνησιν τοῦ κούρσου ἀναμανθάνοντος, παραυτίκα καὶ ἕτερον ἄρχοντα μεθ' ἱππέων ἐκλεκτῶν, ὑποτασσόμενον τῷ τουρμάρχῃ τῷ ἀκολουθοῦντι τῷ κούρσῳ, ἀποστέλλειν πρὸς αὐτόν, ἔχων μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ ὁ ἀποστελλόμενος ἕνα τῶν παρὰ τοῦ τουρμάρχου πεμφθέντων καταμηνῦσαι τὴν τοῦ κούρσου κίνησιν τῷ στρατηγῷ τοῦ παρ' αὐτοῦ ὁδηγηθῆναι εἰς τὸ εὐχερῶς ἑνωθῆναι. 9.2 Καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ στρατηγὸς ὄπισθεν τοῦ ἀποστελλομένου ἄρχοντος ἀποκινησάτω μετὰ τοῦ ὑπ' αὐτὸν λαοῦ καὶ σπευσάτω καταλαβεῖν τὸν τουρμάρχην, ὅπως ὄπισθεν καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ τουρμάρχου τῷ κούρσῳ τῶν πολεμίων ἀκολουθῇ· ἡ γὰρ ἀκριβὴς καὶ ἄπταιστος ἀκολούθησις ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν τῶν πολεμίων ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι κατὰ τὰ ἐκείνων ἔνιχνα καὶ τὴν ὁδοιπορίαν. 9.3 Ὁ δὲ τουρμάρχης, ἡνίκα τὸ κοῦρσον τῶν πολεμίων ἀποκινήσει, τρία ζευκτά, ἐμπείρους καὶ ἐπιτηδείους ἄνδρας, ἀναλαμβανόμενος παραγινέσθω τῇ ὁδῷ τῶν πολεμίων· καὶ τυπώσας τὸ πρῶτον καὶ δεύτερον καὶ τρίτον ζευκτὸν πῶς ὀφείλουσι περιπατεῖν καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις κατακολουθεῖν, ὑποστρεφέσθω πρὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ. Τὸ δὲ πρῶτον ζευκτὸν πλησίον τῶν πολεμίων περιπατείτω, ἀκοῦον καὶ τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ ὀχλαγωγίαν καὶ τοὺς χρεμετισμοὺς τῶν ἵππων· τὸ δὲ δεύτερον, τὸ τοῦ πρώτου ἀκόλουθον, ὁδοιπορείτω ὅσον δύνανται ὁρᾶν τὸ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁρᾶσθαι ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ μήτε πλησίον γίνεσθαι, μήτε μακρύνεσθαι ὥστε μὴ ὁρᾶσθαι. 9.4 Τρία δὲ