how did people always know where to meet for battles?

[SweetTart]

when they discuss great battles of wars in history books, they always say that people met on the battlefield (usually in an actual field), but how did they know when to when and were to meet? i mean all throughout history, even in the ancient world. did they send messages to one another letting them know they planned to fight? it always seen that sneak attacks and surprises are very rude. what are the general codes of conduct when fighting a battle? the rules of engagement seem to be so varied throughout the history of the world, but what are the ones that have the real staying power?

 

[Numbat]

A good general decides where he wants to fight and sets up his troops there. It is no accident. Intelligence is the major factor and the armies leader would send out scouts which if they were good (and had a bit of luck) would be able to find just where the other side was. Very hard to hide a foraging army. They used to totally rely on foraging to supply the army and that meant sending foragers to provide victuals. There presence was always much greater than the armies, so it wasn't hard to find the other side without actually blundering in to them (which might have meant a very short life for the scouts).

Of course, sometimes Generals would set up the battlefield then send an invitation to the other side, which might just take them up on it if the commander thought he had the numerical advantage.

As for sneak attacks and surprises are very rude...haven't you heard the expression 'All's fair in love and war'?