Chapter 41 Crossing the River
According to the content of the handbook distributed to the officers, a well-established field camp must include trenches, walls, drainage ditches, stables, toilets, two entrances and exits, must have a readily accessible water source, and must be situated in terrain conducive to defense.
But the reality was that the quality of the camps along the supply line varied, typically guarded by one to two soldiers, and never more than three.
Some could accommodate two full-strength legions, complete with robust walls and trenches, built as temporary military camps by the passing army a few months ago;
the rest were much simpler, deemed complete after digging a circular trench in a flat clearing.
The selection of camp locations was mostly near rivers, established on the west bank of fords and floating bridges. One reason was to secure a water source; another reason was to ensure the safety of the floating bridges and fords.