Being retired and having a bit more unobligated time than those of you still working, it’s possible to get involved in inconsequential searches for irrelevant information.  The search turned up nil so the question will be tossed to people who probably should have been approached about it in the first place.  The topic is advance parties.  Knowing full well a Civil War era military organization did not blindly move into an unoccupied position, a procedural question is presented to you gentlemen.  After disregarding differences in technology, weapons capability, NBC threats, etc, etc, what would be the similarities between an 1860’s advance party (or whatever it was called then) and those of the present generation as far as initial site security is concerned?

Curtis

Do mean like an advance party like a cavalry detachement that is out in front of the army a few miles in advance.

Then there are the skirmishers and flankers that form the box around the column.

Mahone's outpost is a good manual about setting up a grand guard and videttes and pickets to protect the army in any location.  Typically you furthest point out is about 1 mile from the main body to give them plenty of warning.

Yes, Greg, that is part of it, but I’m asking about a bit more than flank, rear, or point security while a unit is moving or doing it as a mounted vidette or even part of a grand guard.  I’m asking about the nuts and bolts procedures a unit would use to, first, reconnoiter, and, secondly, establish initial security on a new  position.  Then, once it has been determined the bad guys are no longer present, decision have to made about what goes where before it arrives?  Who lays out the site?  Who and how do you determine how much space would be needed for occupancy and between component parts?  Who serves as guides to get the individual component parts of the overall unit to their correct spot in this position?  In other words, once a change of base had been accomplished, how did the lead personnel (advance party) go about managing the site to which they have relocated so the rest of the unit will smoothly maneuver onto it without providing the enemy a nice bunched up target?  

Would this be handled in the Civil War equivalent of the modern day SOP (Standing Operating Procedure) published by the unit or its parent organization?

Curtis,

You really do ask a great question.  I use to be the NCOIC of my quartering party in the modern Army.  It is a very time consuming process indeed.  However, I have never seen or read of such a thing during the CW period.  I think the Cav scouts were truly the eyes and ears of battalion commnders.  Booby traps really didn't exist.  NBC was a non-issue.  Greg is probably right no target with the soldiers probing ahead a bit early.  But, that is not to say there was an actual ordinance on the issue.

Anyone else?

A lot depends upon the size force you are speaking about.

For a larger force, you'd have the advance guard, rear guard, and flankers.  The advance and rear guards would have a smaller body of men either forward/behind their main group.

Cavalry scouts, when available, would be out, mostly on the forward flanks and ahead of the infantry.

Often times, the Chief Engineer, when present, or command staff, would send out men to find appropriate camp and water locations, and to map the territory the main body would be traversing soon.

The first brigades/divisions/corps to arrive at the camp would be positioned and guards set, and its members making up the advance guard be recalled.  The remainder of the force would set up behind and post its guards.  Next day, new units would make up the advance/rear guards, taking position before the other units moved out between them.

Should opposition of any substance be encountered along the way, the column was deployed to the extent deemed necessary.  If you encountered significant artillery fire, you kinda knew you weren't going much further that day.

How detailed do you want to get?

Due to the much shorter ranges of the period weapons compared to modern day, the nuts and bolts of it will vary in some aspects, while be fairly similar in others.

From the Bedford Officers School last year we received a manual: Instructions for Officers and Non Commissioned Officers on Outpost and Patrol Duty and Troops in Campaign.  Washington 1863.

This manual explains how an army is to travel on campaign in terms of movement.  

According to the 1862 Army Officers Pocket Companion, there is a camping party that determines where camps should be made.  This consists of:
Regimental QM
QM Sgt
(1)Corporal
(2) Men per company

Also there is a Police guard if deemed necessary.  This is from Article 50 of the manual.