"Mitchell Smith - Kingdom River" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Mitchell)

Heavy Infantry: Two regiments — each one thousand men and a small number of women.
The fighting formations above are to some extent based on Warm-time copybook models. (See that
most valuable Kipling, Rudy. Back shelves, Great Lord, and perfectly alphabetical.) All the army is
uniformed in plain dark-brown wool or leather, black cloaks, and black boots — high-topped in the
cavalry, cut low for the infantry.
In each cavalry regiment, one hundred persons serve as farriers, armorers, remount herders and
fodderers. The nine hundred fighting men and women are divided into three squadrons, first, second, and
third. Each squadron then divided further into three troops of one hundred, A, B, and C.
The infantry regiments are each made up of two battalions of four hundred men and women, the
battalions then being divided into four companies. The two extra companies in each regiment are assigned
special duty as engineer-laborers, assault formations, headquarters detachment, scouts, and cooks.
It should be noted that while the other units often consist of both full-time paid regulars and veteran
reservists serving annual duty, Supply is always fully maintained. And noted also, that the structure of
'Supply' includes the army's intelligence, police, and security functions as well as its field medical
personnel.
Originally organized by Catania Olsen, the army's medical service is also available to any citizens
nearby and in need, a useful component of Monroe's administration, which still tends to be a
government-in-the-saddle, to be found alongside units of the army as often as in their capital, the
undistinguished small town of Better-Weather, south of Chihuahua City.
Finally, I understand there exists a competent volunteer militia of well-armed men and women
organized in each of the five states — and in each, numbering approximately a thousand — intended as
the cadre around which a much greater force of irregulars would be organized at need. Since almost all
men, and many women, go habitually armed in this country, with weapons play and archery their habit,
this irregular force would likely prove formidable.
Military History: Elements of the army have fought five major battles, seventeen to nineteen minor
battles and skirmishes. They have, until very recently, never been defeated. This single loss — and only
two days ago — has been of more than three hundred Light Cavalry from a regiment unwisely sent down
unsupported to meet a weightier imperial force venturing north. An extremely unusual misjudgment by
Monroe, and something of a shock to his army, perhaps more disturbing than the casualties resulting from
it. In this battle, Ned Flores lost his left hand, but is expected to survive.
A note of interest: Monroe's army is required to submit payment vouchers for any food, fodder, or
materiel requisitioned, and the soldiers' behavior on maneuver or campaign is strictly governed. By this,
the army's popularity with the people — and Monroe's popularity as well — is preserved.
The army is known for fighting in silence. No cheers, shouts, or battle cries. No sounds but infantry
bugles or cavalry trumpets, then the clash of arms when the enemy is met.
And no crying out after, not even by the wounded, a custom apparently descending from the silence
and sudden ambushes of mountain banditry, once a principal occupation here.
Commerce: North Map-Mexico is an agricultural and stock-raising area. With a seven-week
summer so far south of the ice-wall, they grow cabbage, kale, broccoli, and onions... and trade with the
Empire for the tomatoes, planted potatoes, yams, cotton-wool, tobacco and corn grown farther south.
Livestock are sheep, goats, chicken-birds, and to a lesser extent, pigs and spotted cattle.
For trade, as well as convenience, the Empire's silver peso and copper penny are allowed to
circulate as North Map-Mexico's currency.
Intentions: Sam Monroe's probable long-term intention: a reasonable and well-administered peace
— with local officials now elected every five years by those locals they rule. Territorial defense being
sustained by a compact, capable, and veteran army, with the east and west Sierras flanking any invading
force.
My Opinion: If placed under sufficient pressure — as for instance by the Khanate — Monroe will
certainly seek alliance with either the Empire or Middle Kingdom... and more likely the latter. All New
Englanders are despised here, perhaps in some cases unfairly, because of those ruling few who use their