I
d
COL. GEORGE WASHINGTON FLOWERS MEMORIAL COLLECTION
DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY DURHAM. N. C.
PRESENTED BY
W. W. FLOWERS
THE ONLY COPY-RIGHT EDITION.
RIFLE
INFANTRY TACTICS,
REVISED AND IMPROVED
COL. W. J. HARDEE, C. S. ARMY
SECOND EDITION.
Vol. II.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION.
M0BI1>E: S. H. GOETZEL & CO.
FIRST YEAR OF THE CONFEUi RACY.
Y.ntcfrA, according to Act of Congrees, in the year 1861, by S. H. GOETZEL & CO.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Alabama, for the Confederate States of America.
77S92
RIFLE AND INFANTRY TACTICS.
TITLE FOURTH.
" SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION.
Formation of the Battalion.
1. Every colonel will labor to habituate his bat- talion to form line of battle, by night as well as by day, with the greatest possible promptitude.
2. The color-company will generally be de.signated as the directing company. That, as soon as formed, will be placed on the direction the colonel may have determined for the line of battle. The otlier compa- nies will form on it, to the right and left, on the prin- ciples of successive formations which will be herein prescribed.
3. The color-bearer may have received the color from the hands of the colonel ; but if there be day- light, and time, the color will be produced with due solemnity.
Composition and march of the color escort.
4. When the battalion turns out under arms and the color is wanted, a company other than that of
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6 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PAPtT L
the color, will be ])ut in march to receive and es- cort it.
5. The march will be in the following order, in quick time, and without music ; the field music, fol- lowed by the band; the escort in column by platoon, right in front, with arms on the right shoulder, and the color-bearer between the platoons.
6. Arrived in front of the tent or quarters of the colonel, the escort will form line, the field music and band on the right, and arms will be brought to a shoulder.
7. The moment the escort is in line, the color-bear- er, preceded by the first lieutenant, and followed by a sergeant of the escort, will go to receive the color.
8. When the color-bearer shall come out, followed by the lieutenant and sergeant, he will halt before the entrance ; the escort will present arn»s, and the field nmsic will sound to the color.
9. After some twenty seconds, the captain will cause the sound to cease, arms to be shouldered, and then break by platoon into column; the color-bearer will place himself betw-een the platoons, and the lieu- tenant and sergeant will resume their posts.
10. The escort will march back to the battalion to the sound of music in quick time, and in the same order as above, the guide on the right. The march will be so conducted that when the escort arrives at one hundred and fifty paces in front of the right of the battalion, the direction of the march \\\\\ be par- allel to its front, and when the color arrives nearly opposite its place in line, the column will change di-
SCHOOL OF TFIE BATTALION— PART I. 7
rection to the left, and the riglit guide will direct himself on the centre of the battalion.
Honors paid to the color.
11. Arrived at the distance of twenty paces from the battalion, the escort will halt, and the music cease; the colonel will place himself six paces before the centre of the battalion, the color-hearer will ap- proach the colonel, by the front, in quick time; when at thf distance often paces, he will halt: the colonel will cause arms to be presented, and to the color to be sounded, which being executed, the color-bearer will take his place in the front rank of the color-guard, and the battalion, by command, shoulder arms.
12. The escort, field music, and band, will return in quick time to their several places in line of battle, marching by the rear of the batt.ilion.
13. The color will be escorted back to the colonel's tent or quarters in the above order.
General Rules and Division of the School of the Battalion.
14. This school has for its object the instruction of batt.ili<Mis singly, and thus to prepare them for manoeuvres in line. The harmony so indispensable in the movements of many battalions, can only be at- tained by the use of the same commands, the same principles, and the same means of execution. Hence, all colonel's and actual commanders of battalions will
8 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION -PART L
conform themselves, without addition or curtailment, to what will herein be prescribed.
15. When a battalion instructed in this drill shall manoeuvre in line, the c<ilonel will regulate its move- ments, as prescribed in the third volume of the Tac- tics for heavy infantry.
16. The school of the battalion will be divided into five parts.
17. The first will comprehend opening and closing ranks, and the execution of the ditlerent fires.
18. The second, the different modes of passing from the order in battle, to the order in column.
19. The third, the march in coliunn, and the other movements incident thereto.
20. The fourth, the difterent modes of passing from the order in column to the order in battle.
21. The fifth will comprehend the march in line of battle, in advance and in retreat; the passage of de- files in retreat; the march by the flank; the forma- tion by file into line of battle; the change of fnmt; the column d(tubled on the centre; dispositions against cavalry; the rally, and rules for mananivring bv the rear rank.
SCHOOT. OF TIIK BATTALION— PART I.
PART FIRST.
Opening and closing ranhs, and the execution of the different fires.
Articlk First.
To open and to close ranks.
22. Tlio colonel, wishing the ranks to be opened, will command :
1. Prepare to open ranhs.
23. At this command, the. lientenant colonel and major will place themselves on the right of the bat- talion, the tirst on the tlaiik of the file closers, and the second four paces from the front rank of the bat- talion.
2.4. These dispositions being made, the colonel will command :
2. To the rear, open order. 3. MARCH.
25. At the second command, the C(»vering ser- geants, and the sergeant on the left of the battalion, will place themselves foJir paces in rear of the front rank, and oj)posite their ])laces in line of battle, in order to mark the new alignment of the rear rank; the)' will b'' aligned b.v the major on the left sergeant of the battalion, who will be careful to place himself
10 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART L
exactly four paces in rear of the front rank, and to hold his piece between the eyes, erect and inverted, the better to indicate to the major the direction to be given to the covering sergeants.
26. At the command march, the rear rank and the file closers will step to the rear withont counting steps; the men will pass a little in rear of the line traced for this rank, halt, and dress forward on the covering sergeants, who will align correctly the men of their respective companies.
27. The file closers will fall back and preserve the distance of two paces from the rear rank, glancing eyes to the right; the lieutenant colonel will, from the right, align them on the file closer of the left, W'ho, having placed himself accurately two paces from the rear rank, will invert his piece, and hold it up erect between his eyes, the better to be seen by the lieutenant colonel.
28. The colonel, seeing the ranks aligned, will com- mand :
4. Front.
At this command, the lieutenant colonel, major, and the left sergeant, will retake their places in line of battle.
20. The colonel will cause the ranks to be closed by the commands prescribed for the instructor in the school of the comjjany, No. 28.
scfiool of the battalion— part i. 11
Article Second.
Manual of Arms.
30. The ranks ho'iufr closod, the colonel will cause the following times and pauses to be executed :
Present arms. Shoulder arms.
Order arms. Shoulder arms.
Support arms. Shoulder arms.
Fix bayonet. Shoulder arms.
Charge bayonet. Shoulder arms.
VnJxT bayonet. Shoulder arms.
Article Third.
Loading at tcill, and the Firings.
31. The colonel will next cause to be executed loading at will, by the commands prescribed in the school of the company No, 45; the officers and ser- geants in the ranks will half face to the right with the men at the eighth time of loading, and will face to the fr(»nt when the men next to them come to a shoulder.
32. The colonel will cause to be executed the fire by company, the fire by wing, the fire by battalion, the fire by file, and the fire by rank, by the commands to be herein indicated.
33. The fire by company and the fire by file will
12 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART L
always be direct; the fire by battalion, the fire by \vin<j, and the fire by rank, may be either direct or oblique.
'M. When the fire ought to be oblicjue, the colonel will give, at every round, the caution right for left) oblique, between the connnands ready and aim.
35. The fire by company will be executed alter- nately by the right and left companies ot" each divi- sion, as if the division were alone. The right com- pany will fire first; the captain of the left will not give his first command till he shall see one or two pieces at a ready in the right comi)any ; the captain of the latter, after the first discharge, will observe the same rule in respect to the left company; and the fire will thus be continued alternately.
3G. The colonel will observe the same rule in the firing by wing.
37. The fire by file will commence in all the com- panies at one, and will be executed as has been i)re- scribed in the school of the company No. 55 and fol- lowing. The fire by rank will be executed by each rank alternately, as has been prescribed in the school of the company No. 58 and following.
38. The color-guard will not fire, but reserve itself for the defence of the color.
The fire hj company.
39. The cohmel, wishing the fire by comi)any to be executed, will command :
1. Fire by company. 2. Commence firing.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART L 13
40. At the first conimaiul, the captains and cover- ing sergeants will take the positions indicated in the school of the company No. 49.
41. The color and its gnard will step back at the same time, so as to bring Ui<* front rank (»f the gnard in a line with the rear rank of the battalion. This rule is general for all the different firings.
42. At the second command, the odd numbered companies will C(»mmence to fire ; their captains will each give the commands prescribed in the school of the company No. 50, observing to precede the com- mand company by that of first, third, fifth, or seventh, according to the nmuber of each.
43. The captains of the even numbered com- panies will give, in their turn, the same commands, observing to precede them by the number of their respective companies.
44. In order that the odd numbered companies may not all fire at once, their captains will observe, but only for the first discharge, to give the command fire one after another ; thus, the captain of the third company will not give the command ^rc until he has heard the fire of the first company ; the captain of the fifth will observe the same rule with respect to the third, and the captain of the seventh the same rule with respect to the fifth.
45. The colonel will cause the fire to cease by the sound to cease firing; at this sound, the men will execute what is prescribed in the school of the com- pany No. 63; at the sound, for officers to take their places aft^er firing, the captains, covering sergeants >
14 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART I.
and color-guard, will promptly resume their places in line of battle: this rule is general for all the firings.
The fire by wing.
46. When the colonel shall wish this fire to be executed, he will command:
1 . lire by icing. 2. Right icing. 3. Ready. 4. Alm. 5. Fire. 6. Load.
47. The colonel will cause the wings to fire alter- nately, and he will recommence the fire by the com- mands, 1. Right icing; 2. AiM ; 3. FiRE ; 4. Load. 1. Left icing ; 2. AiM ; 3. FiRE; 4. Load; in con- forming to what is prescribed No. 35.
The fire by battalion.
48. The colonel will cause this fire to be executed by the commands last prescribed, substituting for the first two, L Fire by battalion; 2. Battalion.
The fire by file.
49. To cause this to be executed, the colonel will command :
1. Fire by file. 2. Battalion. 3. Ready. 4. Commence firing.
50. At the fourth command, the fire will commence
SCHOOL OF TIIK BATTALION— PART L 15
Oil the right of each company, as prescribed in the school of the company No. 57. The colonel may, if be thinks proper, cause the fire to commence on the right of each platoon.
The fire by rank.
51. To cause this fire to be executed, the colonel will command :
1. Fire by rank. 2. Battalion. 3. Ready. 4. Rear
rank. 5. AiM. 6. FiRE. 7. Load.
.52. This fire will be executed as has been exo plained in the school of the company No. 59, in fol- lowing the pnigression prescribed for the two ranks which should fire alternately.
To fire by the rear rank.
53. When the colonel shall wish the battalion to fire to the rear, he will command :
]. Face by the rear rank. 2. Battalion.
3. About— Fac^.
54. At the first command, the captains, covering sergeants, and file closers will execute what has been prescribed in the school of the company No. 69; the color-bearer will pass into the rear rank, and for this purpose, the corporal of his file will step be-
16 tfCIlOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART I.
fore the corpiinil next on his right to let the color- bearer pass, and will then take his place in the front rank ; the lieutenant colonel, adjutant, major, ser- geant major, ami the nmwc will place themselves be- fore the front rank, and face to the rear, each oppo- site his place in the line of battle — the first two pass- ing around the right, and the others around the left of the battalion.
55. At the thii-d C(»nnnand, the battalion will face about; tlu^ ca[)tains and coverintf serg<'ants obseiT- ing what is prescribed in the sehixd of the c(>mpany No. 70.
56. The battalion facing thus by the rear rank, the colonel will cause it to execute the diiferent fires by the same commands as if it were faced by the front rank.
57. The right and left wings will retain the same designati<»ns, although faced about; the companies also will preserve their former designations, as Jirst, second, third, 6cc.
58. The fire by file will commence on the left of each company, luiw become the right.
59. The fire by rank will commence by the front rank, now become the rear rank. This rank will preserve its denomination.
60. The captains, covering sergeants, and color- guard will, at the first command given by the co- lonel, take the places prescribed for them in the fires, with the front rank leading.
61. The colonel, after firing to the rear, wishing to face the battalion to its proper front, will cmnmaiul :
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART L 17
1. Face by the front rank. S. Battalion. 3. About — Face.
G'2. At these commands, the battalion will return t(i its proper fnmt by the means prescribed Nos. 54 and 55.
G3. The fire by file being that most used in war, the colonel will give it the preference in the prepara- tory exercises, in order that the battalion may be brought to execute it with the greatest possible re- gularity.
64. When the colonel may wish to give some re- laxation to the battalion, without breaking the ranks, he will execute what has been prescribed in the school of the company Nos. 37 and 38 or Nos. 39 and 40.
65. "When the colonel shall wish to cause arms to be stacked, he will bring the battalion to ordered arms, and then command :
]. Stack— Arms. 2. Break ranks. 3. March.
66. The colonel wishing the men to return to the ranks, will cause attention to be sounded, at which the battalion will re-form behind the stacks of arms The sound being finished, the colonel after causing the stacks to be broken, will command :
Battalion.
18 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART 11.
67. At this command, the men will fix their atten- tion, and remain immovabie.
PART SECOND.
Different modes of passing from the order in battle to
the order in column.
Article First.
To break to the right or the left into column.
68. Lines of battle will habitually break into column by company ; they may also break by division or by platoon.
69. It is here supposed that the colonel wishes to break by comi)any to the right ; he will command :
1. By company, right ichcel. 2. Marcji (or double quick — March).
70. At the first command, each cjiptain will place himself rapidly before the centre of his company, and caution it that it has to wheel to the right ; each cov- ering sergeant will re-place his captain in the front rank.
71. At the command march, each company will break to the right, according to the principles pre- scribed in the school of the company No. 173; each captain will conform himself to what is prescribed f A l1;«' chiefs of platoon; the left guide, as soon as he can pass, will phice himself on the left of the
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART II. 19
front rank to conduct the marching flank, and when be shall have approached near to the perpendicular, the captain will command: 1. Such company. 2. Halt.
72. At the second command, which will be given at the instant the left guide shall be at the distance of three paces from the perpendicular, the company will halt ; the guide will advance and place his left arm lightly against the breast of the captain, who will establish him on the alignment ofthemanwho has faced to the right ; the covering sergeant will place himself correctly on the alignment on the right of that man; which being executed, the captain will align his c(»mpany by the left, command Front, and place himself two paces before its centre.
7.3. The captains having commanded Front, the guides, although some of them may not be in the di- rection of the preceding guides, will stand fast, in order that the error of a company that has wheeled too much or t(»o little may not be propagated ; the guides not in the direction will readily come into it when the column is put in march.
74. A battalion in line of battle will break into column by company to the left, according to the same princij)les, and by inverse means; the covering ser- geant of each company will conduct the marching flank, and the left guid'e will place himself on the left of the front rank at the moment the company halts.
75. When the battalion breaks by division, the in- dication (/ivisioti will be substituted in the commands for that oi' company ; the chief of each division (the senior captain) will conform himself to what is pre-
20 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IL
scribed for the chief of company, and will place him- self two paces before the centre of his division ; the junior captain, if not already there, will place him- self in the interval between the two companies in the front rank, and be covered by the covering ser- geant of the left company in the rear rank. The right guide of the right company will be the right guide, and the left guide of the left company, the left guide of the division.
76. When the battalion shall break by platoon to the right or to the left, each first lieutenant will pass around the left of his company to place himself in front of the second phitoon, and for this purpose each covering sergeant, except the one of the right com- pany, will step, for the moment, in rear of the right file of his company,
77. When the battalion breaks by division to the right, and there is an odd company, the captnin of this company, (the left), after wheeling into column, will cause it to oblique to the left, halt it at company distance from the preceding division, place his left guide on the direction of the column, and then align his company by the left. When the line breaks by division to the left, the odd company will be in front ; its captain, having wheeled it into column, will cause it to oblique to the right, halt it at division distance from the division next in the rear, place his right guide on the direction of the other guides, and align the company by the right.
78. The battalion being in column, the lieutemant colonel and major will place themselves on the di- recting flank, the first abreast with the leading sub-
SBHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART II. 21
division, and the other abreast with the hist, and both six paces from the flank. The adjutant will be near the lieutenant colonel, and the sergeant major near the major.
70. The colonel will have no fixed place as the tn- s<r«f^or of his battalion ; but in columns composed of many battalions, he will place himself habitually on the directing flank fifteen or twenty paces from the guides, and abreast with the centre of his battalion.
80. When the colonel shall wish to move the column forward without halting it, he will caution the battalion to that effect, and command :
1. By company right tchecl. 2. M.\RCH (or double quick — March j.
81. At the first command, the captains of the com- panies will execute what is prescribed for breaking into column from a halt.
82. At the second command, they will remain in front of their companies to superintend the move- ment ; the companies will wheel to the right on fixed pivots as indicated in the school of the company No. 185 ; the left guides will conform to what is prescribed above ; when they shall arrive near the perpendi- cular, the colonel will command :
3. Forward. 4. M\RCn. 5. Guide left.
83. At the third command, each covering sergeant will place himself by the right side of the man on
22 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IL
the right of the front rank of his conipnnj-. At the ft>urth ooinmiuul, which will he given at the instant the wheel is cjunpleted, the companies will cease to wheel and march straight forward. At the fifth, the men will take the tonch of elbows to the left. The leading guide will inarch in the direction indicated to him hy the lieutenant colonel. The guides will im- mediately conf(»rm themselves to the principles of the march in column, school of the company. No. 200 and foUoW'ing.
84. If the battalion be marching in line of battle, the colonel will cause it to wheel to the right or left, by the same ccmimands and the same means ; but he should previously caution the battalion that it is to continue the uiarch.
85. A battalion in line of battle will break into column by company to the left, according to the same principles and by inverse means ; the covering ser- geant of each company wmII conduct the marching flank, and the left guides will place themselves on the left of their respective companies at the command fonrard.
86. When a battalion has to prolong itself in column tow^ards the right or left, or has to direct its march in column perj)endicularly or diag(nially in front, or in rear of either flank, the colonel will cause it to break by company to the right or left, as has just been prescribed ; but when the line breaks to the right, in order to march towards the left, or the re- verse, the colonel will command : Break to the right to march to the left, or break to the left to march to the right, before giving the c(mimand, by compaiuj, right (or left) wheel. As soon as the battalion is broken, the lieutenant colonel w-ill place a marker abreaat with
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART II 23
the right j^uido of the leading company. The inst^iut the eoliirnn is put in motion, this company will wheel to the left (<tr right) march ten paces to the front without changing the guide, and wheel again to the left ((»r right j The second wh«'el being comi)leted, the captain will immediately command guide left (or rifr/it.) The guide of this company will march in a direction parallel to the guides of the column. The lieutenant colonel will be careful to place a second marker at the point where the first company is to change direction the second time.
Article Second.
To break to the rear, hy the right or left, into column, and to advance or retire by the right or left of companies.
87. When the colonel shall wish to cause the bat- talion to break to the rear, by the right, into column by company, he will command :
1. By the right of companies to the rear into column. 2. Battalion right — FACE. 3. MARCH for double quick — M\RCh;.
>^. At the first command, each captain will place himself before the centre (»f his company, and cau- ti<tn it to face to the right ; the covering sergeants will step into the front rank.
24 SCHOOL OF THE HATTAMON— PART H.
89. At tbe second coniniand, the battalion will face to the right ; each caj)tain will hasten to the right of his ccnnpany, and break two files to the rear; the first file will break the whole depth of the two ranks ; the second file less ; which being executed, the captain will place himself so that his breast may touch light ly the left arm of the front rank man of the last file iu the company next on the right of his own. The captain of the right company will place himself as if there were a company on his right, and will align himself on the other captains. The covering sergeant of each company will break to the rear with the right files, and place himself before the front rank of the first file, to conduct him.
90. At the command march, the first file of each company will wheel to the right ; the covering ser- geant, placed before this file, will conduct it perpen- dicularly to the rear. The other files will come suc- cessively to wheel on the same spot. The captains will stand fast, see their ciuupanies file past, and at the instant the last file shall have wheeled, each cap- tain will command :
1. Such company. 2. Halt. 3. FiiOXT. 4. Left — Dress.
91. At the instant the company faces to the front, its left guide will place himself so that his left arm may touch lightly the breast of his captain.
92. At the fourth command, the company will align itself on its left guide, the captain so directing it,
SCHOOL UK THE BATTALION— PART IL 25
that the new alignment may be perpendicular to that which the company had occupied in line (»f battle, and, the better to judge this, he will step back two paces from the flank.
93. The company being aligned, the captain will command: FRONT, and take his place befor% its centre.
1)4. The battalion marching in line of battle, when the coh)nel shall wish to break into column by com- pany, to the rear, by the right, he will command :
1. Bif the riirht of companies to the rear into column. 2.' Battalion, by the right flank. 3. MarCII for double quick— MmiCH).
95. At the first command, each captain will step briskly in front of the centre of his company, and caution it to face by the right flank.
96. At the command march, the battalion will face to the right ; each captain will move rapidly to the right of his company and cause it to break to the right; the first file of each company will wheel to the right, and the covering sergeant placed in front of this file will conduct it perpendicularly to the rear; the other files will wheel successively at the same place as the first. The captains will see their com- panies file past them ; when the last files have wheel- ed, the colonel will command :
3. Battalion, by the left flank— ^IaRCH. 4. Guide Uft.
23 SCHOOL ON THI-: BATTALION— PART IL
97. At tlip coimnand march, the companies will face to the left, and inarch in cctlnmn in the new di- rection. The caj)tains will place themselves in front of the centres of their resnective companies. At the fourth command, the guides will conform to the prin- ciples of the march in column ; the leading one will move in the direction indicated to him by the lieu- tenant colonel. The men will take the touch of el- bows to the left.
98. To break to the rear by the left, the colonel will give the same commands as in the case (»f break- ing to the rear by the right, substituting the indica- tion left for that of right.
99. The movement will be executed according to the same principles. Each captain will hasten to the left of his comyjany, cause the first two files to break to the rear, and then place his breast against the right file of the company next on the left of his own, in the manner prescribed above.
100. As soon as the two files break to the rear, the left guide ()f each company will place himself before the front rank man of the headmost file, to conduct him.
101. The instant the companies face to the front, the right guide of each will place himself so that his right arm nuiy lightly touch the breast of his captain.
102. The battalion may be broken by division to the rear, by the right or left, in like manner; in this case, the indication divisions will be substituted, in the first command, for that of companies; the chiefs of division will conform themselves to what is pre- scribed for the chiefs of company. The junior cap- tain in each division will place himself, when the di-
PCIIOOL OF THE HATTALI' N— PART II. 27
vision faces to a flank, by tlie side of tin- covering ser- geant of the left company, who steps into tlie front rank.
103. If tliere be an odd number of c(»mpanies, and the battalion l)reaks by division to the rear, whether by the right or left, the captain of the left company will conform to what is prescribed No. 77.
104. This manner of breaking into column being at once the most ])ronipt and regular, will be preferred on actual service, unless there be some particular reason fttr breaking to the front.
105. If the battalion be in line and at a halt, and the colonel should wish to advance or retire by the right of companies, he will command:
1. By the right of companies to the front (or rear). 2. Battalion, right— Face. 3, March (or double quick — March). 4. Guide right (left) or cen- tre.)
106. At the first command, each captain will move rapidly two paces in front of the centre of his com- pany, and caution it to face to the right; the cover- ing sergeants will replace the captains in the front rank.
107. At the second command, the battalion will face to the right, and each captain moving quickly to the right of his company will cause files to break to the front, according to the principles indicated No. 89.
108. At the command march, each captain placing himself on the left of his leading guide will conduct his company perpendicularly to the original line. At
28 SCUJOL OF THE BATTALION— PART II.
the fourth cominHnd, the guide of each company will dress to the right, left, or centre, according to the in- dication given, taking care to preserve accurately his distance.
109. If the colonel should v^'ish to move to the front, or rear, by the left of companies, the move- ment will be executed by the same means and the same commands, substituting left for right.
110. If the battalion be in march, and the colonel should wish to advance or retire by the right of com- panies, he will command :
I. By the right of companies to the front (or rear) 2. Battalion, by the right flank. 3. MARCH (or double quick — MauCH). 4. Guide right {left) or (centre).
111. Which will be executed according to the principles and means prescribed Nos. 95 and follow- ing, and lOG and following. At the first command, the C(dor and general guides will take their places as in column.
112. If the colonel should wish to advance or re tire by the left of companies, the movement will be executed by the same means and the same com- mands, substituting left for right.
113. If the battalion be advancing by the right or left of companies, and the colonel should wish to form line to the front, he will command :
1. By companies into line. 2. Mauch (or double quick — March). 3. Guide centre.
SCHOOL OF THE RATTALI N— PART H. 29
114. At the conimnnd viarch, briskly repeated by the cai)t}iins, each conipany will be formed into line, as prescribed in the school of the compaDy, No. 154.
115. At the third coniniand, the color and general guides will move rapidly to their places in line, as will be hereinafter prescribed No. 405.
116 If the battalion be retiring by the right or left of comjiauies, and the c<donel shoJild wish to form line facing the enemy, he will first cause the companies to face about while marching, and imme- diately form in line by the commands and means pre- scribed Nos. 113 and following.
Article Third.
To ploy the battalion into dose column.
117. This movement may be executed by company or by division, on the right or left subdivision, or on any other subdivision, right or left in front.
118. The examples in this scho(d will suppose the presence of four divisions, with directions for an odd company; but what will be prescribed for four, will serve equally for two, three or five divisions.
110. To ploy the battalion into close column by division in rear of the first, the colonel will command:
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30 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART H.
1. Close column, hy dirision. 2. On the Jirst dici-
sion, right in front. 3. Battalion, right — Fack.
4. March (or double quick— }^1\rcu).
120. At the second command, all the chiefs of division will place themselves before the centres of their divisions; the chief of the first will cantion it to stand fast; the chiefs of the three t»thers will re- mind them that they will have to face to the right, and the cdveriiig sergt'ant of the right Cdmjjany of each division will replace his captain in the front rank, as soon as the latter steps out.
121. At the third connnand, the last three divi- sions will face to the right; the chief of each division will hasten to its right, and cause files t(» be broken to the rear, as ijidicated No. iid; the right guide will break at the same time, and place himself before the front rank man of the first file, to conduct him, and each chief of division will place himself by the side of this guide.
122. The moment these divisions face to the right, the junior captain in each will place himself on the left of the covering sergeant of the left company, who will place himself in the tnmt rank. This rule is general for all the ploymcnts by division.
123. At the command march, the chief of the first division will add, guide left ; at this, its left guide will place himself on its left, as soon as the move- ment of the second divisicm may permit, and the file closers will advance one pace upon the rear rank.
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SCHOOL OF THE liATTALr N— PART H. 31
124. All the other divisions, each conducted by its chief, will step off together, to tnlie their places in the column; the second will gjiin, in wheeling by file to the rear, the space of six paces, w hich ought to separate its guide from the guide of the first di- vision, and so direct its march as to enter the column on a line paral]«'l to this division ; the third and fourth divisions will direct themselves diagonally towards, but a little in rear of, the points at which they ought, respectively, to enter the column ; at six paces from the left flank of the column, the head of each of these divisions will incline a little to the left, in order to enter the column as has just been prescribed for the seccuid, taking care also to leave the distance of six paces between its guide and the guide <tf the pre- ceding divisicui. At the moment the divisicuis put themselves in march to enter the c<dumn, the file cbtsers of each will incline to the left, so as to bring tlu-niselves to the distance tif a pace from the rear rank.
125. Each chief of these three divisions will con- duct his division till he shall be up with the guide of the directing one; the chief will then himself halt, see his division file past, and halt it the instant the last file shall have passed, commanding: 1. Such di- vision; 2. Halt; :5. Front: 4. Left — Dkess.
126. At the second command, the division will halt; the left guide will place himself jnomptly on the di- rection, six paces from the guide \\ Inch precedes bin), in order that, the column being formed, the divisions may be separated ihe distance ol' four paces.
32 SCHOOL (IF THE BATTALION— PART IL
127. At the third command, the division will face to the front; at the fourth, it will be aligned by its chief, who will i)liic(! himself two yiu-va outside of his guide, and direct the alignment so that his division may be parallel to that which precedes — which being done, he \\\\\ command. Front and place himself before the centre of his division.
123. If any division, after the c<muiiand//-o«^ be not at its proper distance, and this can only happen through the negligence of its chief, such division will remain in its place, iu order that the fault may not be propagated.
129. The colonel will superintend the execution of the movement, and cause the prescribed principles to be observed.
130. The Lieutenant colonel, placing himself in suc- cession in rear of the left guides, will assure them ou the direction as they arrive, and then move to his place outside of the left flank of the column six paces from, and abreast with, the first division. In as- suring the guides on the direction, he will be a mere observer, unless one or more should fail to cover ex- actly the guide or guides already established. This rule is general.
131. The major will follow the movement abreast with the left of the fourth division, and afterwards take his position outside of the left flank of the col- umn, six paces from, and abreast with, this division.
132. To ploy the battalion in front of the first divi- sion, the C(donel will give the same commands, sub- stituting the indication left for that of right in front.
tiCIIouL OF THE 15ATTALKN— PART II. 33
133. At the srcdiul niid third coiiiniaiuls, tin* chiefs of division Hiid the junior cajitains \\ ill conform theni- selves to what is prescribed, Nos. 1*20, 121, 1*22; \mt the chiefs (d' the last three (livisions, instead of caus- ing the first two files to break to the rear, will caupe them to break to the front.
134. At the fourth cianniand, the chief of th(! first divisi(»n will add : (tuide right.
r'.ri. The three other divisions w ill step off together t<» take thfir places in the C(dnnin in front (»f the di- recting division ; each will direct itstdf as ])rescribed, N<> 1*24, and will enter in such manner that, when halted, its guide may find himself six paces from the guide of the division next previously established in the C(dunin.
13C. Each chief of these divisions will conduct his division, till his right guide shall be nearly up with the guide of the directing one; lie will then halt his divisicui, and cause it to face to the front; at the in- stant it halts, its right guide will (ace to the rear, place himself six i)aces from the preceding guide, and cover him exactly — which being done, the chief will align his division by the right.
]'A7. The lieutenant colonel, placed in front of the right guide of the first division, will assure the guides on the direction as the\ successively arrive, and then move outside of the right flank <»f the cidumn, to a ])oint six paces fr<tm, and abreast vvilh, the fourth di- vision, now in front.
138. The major will conform himself to what is prescribed, ^o. 131, and tlun move < utside of the right flank ol the column, six paces from, and abreast with, the first division, now in the r« ar.
.14 sen >"L <iF THE HATTALI N-PART II.
]:V.y Tlic iiiovt'iiu'iit bciiif; oiidcd, tl;*' Cdlmiel will coiiiiiiiiiitl :
(iiiidcs, about — Fack.
14<». At this, tlie guides, \\\u) are faced to tiie rear, will face to the front.
141. To ploy the battalion in rear, or in front of the fourth division, the colonel will command :
I. Close column by dicision. 2. On the fourth dici- rision, left (or right) in front. 8. Battalion, left — Fack. 4. March (or double quirk— yi.MiCu).
142. These movements will be executed according to the i)rinci|)les of those which precede, but by in- verse ni«'ans: the fourth division on which the bat- talion ]>lo}s will stand fast; the instant the nntvement commences, its chief will connnand, truidc right [or leftl
14".^. The fon'^oinfj examples embrace all the prin- ciples: thus, when the c<doiiel shall wish to phty the battalion on an interior division, he will command:
1. (lose column by division. 2. On such dicision, right (or left in front. I?. Battalion imcards — Fact,. 4. Maiich (or double quick — March).
114. The instant the movement commences, the chief of the directing division will counnand, guide lift {ov right).
145. The divisioTis which, in the order in battle,
SCH ' L ('F THE BATTALI'N— PART II. .'15
are to the right of the directing division, will face to the left; those which are to the left, will face to the right.
146. If the right is to be in front, the right divi- sions will ploy in front of the directing division, and the left in its rear; the reverse, if the left is to be in front. And in all the foregoing suppositions, the di- vision or divisions c<tntigtions to the directing one, in wheeling by file to the fr<)nt or rear, will gain the space of six i)aees, which ought to separate their guides from the guide of the directing division,
147. lu all the ploynients on an interior division, the lieutenant colonel will assure the positions of the guides in front, and the major those in the rear of the directing division.
148. If the battalion be in march, instead of at a halt, the movement will be executed by combining the two gaits of quick and diuible quick time, and al- ways in rear of one of the flank divisions.
149. The battalion being in march, to ploy it in rear of the first division, the colonel will command:
1. Close column by diiision. 2. On the first division. 3. Battalion — by the right flank. 4. Double quick —March.
150. At the second command, each chief of division will move rapidly before the centre of his division and caution it to face t(» the right.
151. The chief of the first division will caution ife to continue to march to the front^ and he will com- mand: Quick march.
36 SCH'X L OF THE BATTALION-PART II.
152. At the coniniiiiul inarch, tlio chiof of the first division will coiuiiuiiul : (hiidc left. At this, the left guitk' will m(»ve to the Irft fijiiik of the division and direct himself on the j)oiiit indicated.
153. The three other divisions -will face to the right and move oif in double quick time, breaking to the riglit to take their jtlaces in column ; each chief of division will nM)ve rapidly to the right of his division in order to conduct it. The files will be careful to preserve their distances, and to march with a uniform and decided step. The ctdor-bearer and general guides will retake their places in the ranks
154. The second division Avill immediately enter the C(dumn, marching paralk'l to the first division; its chief will allow it to file past him, and when the last file is abreast of him, will c«imnuind : 1. Second division, hy the left flank — March 2. Guide left, and place himself in front of the centre of his divi- sion.
155. At the command march, the division will face to the left; at the second command, the left guide will march in the trace of the left guide of the first division ; the men will take the toucli of elbows to the left. When the second division has closed to its proper distance, its chief will conmiand: Qiiicli time — March. This division will then change its step to quick time.
156. The chiefs of the third and fourth divisions will «'xecute their nu)vements according to the same principles, taking care to gain as much ground as possible towards the head of the column.
157. If the battalion had been previously marching in line at double quick tinu', when the fourth division
3CEIOOL OF TIIK BATTALION— PART 111. 37
shall have gained its distanco, tlio colonel will eom- raaiul : Douhlr quick — MARCH.
158. In tliis movement, the lieutenant colonel will move rapidly t(» the side of the leading guide, give him a point of direction, and then follow the move- ments of the first division. The ni;ijor will follow the movement abreast with the left oi" the fourth di-
Rcmarlis on ploying the battalion into column.
150. The battalion may be ployed into c<dumn at full, or half distance, on the same principles, and by the same commands, substituting for the first com- mand: Column at full (or half) distance by division.
160. In the ployments and movements in column, when the subdivisions execute the movements suc- cessively, such as — to take or close distances ; to change direction by the flank of subdivisions, each chief of subdivision will cause his men to support arms after having aligned it and commanded, Front.
PART THIRD. Article First.
To inarch in column at full distance.
161. When the colonel shall wish to put the col- umn in march, he will indicate to the leading guide two distinct (tbjects in front, on the line which the guide ought to follow. This guide will immediately
3« .SCHOOL OF THE HATTAl.ION— I'AIIT IM.
put bis shoulders in a 8(]U!ire \\itb tlint line, take the more distant ol)jeet as the point of direction, and the nearer one as the intermediate point.
162. If only a sinsle prominent object present itself in the direction the guide has to follow, he will face to it as before, and immedi;itely endeavor to catch on the ground some intermediate ])oint, by which to give steadiness to his march on the point of direction.
103. There being no ])rominent object to serve as the i)(»int of direction, the citlonel will dispatch the lieutenant c(»lonel (»r adjutant to place himself forty paces in advance, facing the column, and by a sign of the sword establish him on the direction he may wish to give to the leading guide; that officer being thus placed, this guide will take him as the point oi direc- tion, conforming himself to what is prescribed in the school of the company. No. 87.
164. These dispositions being mad<', the colonel will c<Mnmand:
1. Ci'lnmn fonrnrd. 2. Guide left (oYri'^ht). 3. Maiu:h (or double quick— MaRCU).
105. At the command march, briskly repeated by the chiefs of sulxlivision, the column will i)ut itsell'in march, conforming to what is prescribed in the school of the conii)any No. '200 and lollowing.
100. The leading guide may always maintain him- self correctly on the direction by keeping steadily in view the two ])oints indicated to bin), or chosen by
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SCIIOOI- OF TIIK BATTALION— PART III. 33
liimsclf; if th«*se jxtints havci ji certain ol«'Viition, he iiiiiy b«* iissuivd he, in on the tni direction, \\ L»mi the nciiivr masks tho nv>ro distant point.
]()7. Tlio folWtwing yuidcs will proservt' \\itli ex- actness both step and (listaiMM^ ; each will inarch in the trace of th(^ guide who ijimiediately precedes bim, without occupying himself with the general di- rection.
]C)!^. The lieutenant colonel will hold himself, ha- bitually, abreast with the leading guide, to sec that he diK's not deviat<' from the direction, and will (»b- serve, also, that the next guide inarches exactly in the trace of the first.
109. The major will generally be abreast with the last subdivision; he will see that each guide marehcB exactly in the trace (»f the one immediately preced- ing; if either deviate trom the direction, the major will pr«»m])tly rectify the ernu', and prevejit its being propagated: but he need not interf<M"e, in this way, unless the deviation has become sensible, or material.
170 The column being in march, the colonel will frci^uently cause the about to be executed while marching: to this effect, he will command :
1. Battalion, right about. 2 MARCH. 3. Guide right.
171. At the second command, the companies will fice to the riglit about, and the column will then march forwanl in an opposite^ direction; the chiefsof 6ubdivisi(»n w ill remain behind the front rank, the file
40 SCriOOL OF TllK RATTALION— PART III.
closers in front of the rear rank, and the pruides will place themselves in the same rank. The lieutenant colonel will remain abreast of the first division, now in rear ; the major will give a ]ioint <»f direction to the leading guide, and march abreast of him.
J72. The colonel will hold himself habitually on the directing flank ; he \Nill look to tlie step and to the distances, and see that all the princijjles prescrib- ed for the march in column, school vi' the company, are observed.
173. These means, which the practice in that 8cho(d ought to have rendered familiar, will give suf- ficient exactness to the direction of the ccdumn, and also enable it to i'm-m forward or faced the rear, on the right, or on the left, into line of battle, and to close in mass.
174. But when a column, arriving in front, or in rear of the line of battle, or, rather, on one of the extremities of that line, has to ])rolong itself on it, in order to form to the left or to the right into line of bat- tle, then, as it is essential, to prevent the column from cutting the line, or sensibly deviating from it, other means, as follows, will be employed.
The column arriving in front of the line of battle, to prolong it on this line.
175. If the column right in front arrive in front of the line of battle, as it should cross it and find itself four paces beyond it after having changed direction, the colonel will cause to be jdaced, in advance, a marker on the line to indicate the point at which the
SCHOOL OF TIIH RATTAMON— PAItT III. 41
column oupht to cross it, find anotbcr miirkor to indi- cate the point where thi; tirst subdivision shduhl com- mence to wheel; he will he so placed that when the wheel is executed, the h'f> ^Miide will find hiins<'lf f(»nr paces within tho line of battle. The chief of the leading subdivision, when the head of the colunni ghall have arrived lu^ar the line, will take the guide to the right, and this guide will immediately direct himself on the sectuid marker. On arriving abreast of him, this subdivision will be wheeled to the left, and when the wheel is completed, the guide will be clianged again to the left; this guide will then march parallel to the line of battle by the means to be here- inafter iudicated.
176. The instant the first subdivision wheels, the right genoral guide, who, by a caution from the lieu- tenant C(»lonel, will before have placed himself on the line of battle at the point where the column crosses it, and who will have faced to the two points of di- rection in his front, indicated by the colonel, will march forward correctly on the prolongation of those points.
177. The color-bearer will place himself in like manner <»n the line of battle; and, at the instant the color subdivision wheels, he will i)rolong his march on that line, abreast with this subdivisi(ui, taking care to carry the color-lance before the centre of his per- son, and to maintain himself exactly in the direction of the general guide who precedes him, and the point of dirt'ctiou in front which will have been indicated to him.
178. Finally, the left general guide will place him- self in the sauie manner on the line of battle ; and,
42 SCHOOL OF THE BAITALION— PART HI.
at tbe instant the last subdivision of the battalion wheels, he will march correctly in the direction of the color-bearer, and the other general guide.
179. The guide of the first subdivision will march steadily abreast with the right general guide, and about four jiaccs to his right; each of the guides of the following subdivisidiis will march in the trace of the guide who immediately precedes Lim, as pre- scribed, No. 167.
180. The c(»lonel, ])laced outside of the general guides, will see thiit the c(»lumn marches nearly par- allel to, and about four paces within these guides.
181. The lieutenant colonel and major will lo()k to the direction <»f the geneial guides, and to this end, place themselves souietimes in rear of the cohu'-bear- er, or the left general guide.
182. If the column be composed of several l)attal- ions, the general guides of each will successively place themselves on the line of battle to prolong their march on this line, as the leading subdivision, that of the col(»r, aiul the one in the rear of their battalion, shall wheel into the new direction ; these guides will coutorm themselves respectively, as will also the colo- nel, lieutenant colonel, and major, to what is pre- scribed above for those of the leading battalion.
183. In the case of several ])attalioiis, the lieuten- ant colonel of each will n)aiMtain steadily the guide of his leading subdivision about four paces within the line of general guides, even should the last subdivi- sions (»f the battalion inuuediately pieceding deviate from the pai-allelism, in order that the false directum
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION -PART III. 43
of one battiili(»n niny iu»t iiifluonco that of tlio Imttal- ioiiB which follow.
The column arriving behind the line of battle, to pro- long it on this line.
]r'4. If the column, right in front, arrive behind the line of battle, as it ought to find itself four pacoH within this line, after having changed direction, the colonel will cause a inarker to be placed at the point where, according to that conditi(ui, the first subdivi- sion ought to commence whcM'liug. Another marker will be established on the line of battle, to indicate the point at which the general guides ought, in suc- cession, to begin to prolong themselves on that line; he will be so placed that each subdivision, having finished its wheel, may find itself nearly in a line with this marker.
J 85. At the instant the first subdivision, after hav- ing wheeled to the right, begins to prolong itself, parallelly to the line of battle, the leading genera] guide, i)laeed in advance on that line, will direct him- self on the two points taken in bis front; the color bearer and the other general guide will successively plice themselves on the same line the instant that their respective subdivision shall have finished their wheel.
186. If the column be comiK)sed of several bat- talions, the general guides <tf the following battalions will successively execute what has been just pre- scribed for those of the leading battalion, and the whole will conform themselves, as well as the guides of subdivisions, and the field officers of the several
44 SCHOOL OF TIIK BATTALION— PART IIL
battalions, to what is indicated, above, for a column arriving in front of a line of battle.
187. In a column, left in front, arriving in front or in rear of the line of battle, these movements will be executed on the same i)riuciples, and by inverse means.
The coliiDin arriving on the right or the left of the line
of battle, to prolong it on this line.
188. If the column, instead of arriving in front «>r in rear of the line of battle, arrive on its right or left, and if it have to prolong itself on that line, in order afterwards to form to the left or right into line of battle, the colonel will bring the color and general guides on the flank of the column by the command color and general guides on the line : and these guides will prolong themselves on the line of battle, con- forming to what is prescribed above.
Manner of prolonging a line of battle by markers.
189. When a column pndongs itself on the line of battle, it being all-important that the general guides march correctly on that liu •, it becomes necessary that c<donels, lieutenant colonels, and majors, whose duty it is to maintain the true direction, should be able to see, as far as practicable, the two objects, on which the march of the geneial guides ought to be directed; consequently, when no prominent objects present themselves in the desired direction, the chief of the column will supply the want of them in ad-
SCIJCOL OF TIIK I'.ATTALION— PAirr HI. 45
vance by aids-de-cjimp, or other motintcd officers, and in such number as may be necessary.
190. Three such officers may prolong a line as far as may be desired in the following manner: they will place themselves in advance on th«' line <»f bat- tle, the tirst at the point where the head of the column ought to enter; the second, three or four hun- dred paces behind the tir^t, and the third, a like dis- tance behind the second The first of these officers will remain in position till the leading general guide shall have entered on the line of battle, and then, at a gallop, place himself at a convenient distance be- hind the third. The second will do the like in re- spect to the tirst, when the head of the column shall be near him, and so on in continuation. These officers, without dismounting, will face to the colunu), and cover each other accurately in file. It will be on them that the general guitlcs will steadily direct their march, and it will be so much the more easy for the latter to maintain themselves on the direction, as they will always be able to see the mounted officers over the heads of the preceding guides; thus the de viation from the direction, by one or more general guides, need not mislead those whotolhjw.
191. A single mounted officer may suffice to assure the directi«»n of a column, when the pt>int of direc- tion towards which it marches is very distinct. In this case, that officer will place himself on the line of bat le within that point, and beyond the one at which the head of the column wiH halt, and remain in posi- tion till the column halts; serving thus as the inter mediate p<»int f<u' giving steadiness to the march of the general guides.
4G SCHOOL OF TIIK BATTALION-PART III.
192. For a column of one or two battalions, mark- ers on foot will sntfiee to indicate the line to be fol- lowed by the general guides.
licinarks on the march in column.
10:V Altbough the nncad<Miced step be that of colunnis in route niarebes, and also that wliieli ought to be habitually employed in the Evolutions oj the Line, because it leaves the men mcu'e at ease, and, consequently, is better adapted to movements on n large seale and to ditTicult gr unds, nevertheless, as it is of paramount importance to confirm soldiers in the measure and the movement of the cadenced pace, the route step will be but little practised in the ex- ercises by battalion, except in g«»iug to, and return- ing from, the ground of instruction, and for teaching the mechanism and movements of columns in route.
]94. It is highly essential to the regulaiity of the march in column that each gui ie iollow exactly in the trace of the one immediately jjreceding, without occupying his attention with the general direction of the guides. If this principle be steadily observed, the guides will find themselves aligned, provided that the leading one march exactly in the direction indi- cated to him; and even should obstaeles in his way force him into a momentary deviation, the direction of the column would not necessarily be changed ; whereas, if the following guides endeavor to conform themselves at once to all t e movements of the lead- ing one, in order to cover him in file, such endeavors would necessarily cause corresponding fluctuations
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.SCHOOL OK TilK RAITAF, ION— PART III. 47
... the (•(('uinn from right to left, and from left to right. ;iii<l render the preservation of distanees ex- tremely diflieult.
lO.j. As a eons<'<iuenee of the principh*, that each Suhlc shall rmrthj follow in the (race of the one irho iinmciliatily precedes, if, pending tiu; march (tfthe cohimn, the co one! shall give a new point of direc- tion, t(»o near to the first to require a formal change «»f directitdi, the leading guide, advancing the one or the <»ther shouider, wi:l immediately direct himself on this point; the other guides will only conform themselves to this movement as each arrives at the pi'int at which the first had executed it. Each sub- livi.^itin will conform itself to the movement of its guide, the men insensih'y lengthening or shortening tin' stej), and advancing or refusing (throwing back) tin' shou der <»pposite to the guide, but without losing the touch of the eibow towards his side.
196. The column, by company, being in march, the !(»nel will cause it to diminish front by platoon, Irom front to rear, at once, and to increase front by platoon in like manner, which movements will be commanded and executed as prescribed in the school of the company, Nos. 282 and 27:3 and following, changing the command /orm company to form compa- nies. 8o may he increase and diminish, or diminish and increase front, according to the same principles and at once, by company, changing the command form companies to form divisions, and the command break into platoons, to break into companies. In this case, the companies and divisions will execute wh.it
48 SCHOOL < F TUK nATTAl-K'N-rAUT III.
is prescribed for platoons and companies respectively.
]07. Tlie column being at a bait, if the colonel 8hou!d wish to march it to the rear, and the distance to be gained be so inconsiderable as to render a coun- termarch a dispro])«»rtionate lo^s of time, he will cause the column t(t face about, and then put it in march by the commands prescribed No. 1(54; the chiefs of the subdivisions will remain behind the front rank, the file closers before the rear rank, and the guides will step into the rear rank, now in front. In a column, l)y divisi<in, the junior captains, in the intervals between companies, will replace their cov- ering sergeants in tlie rear rank, and these sergeants will step into the line of file closers in front of their intervals.
Akticlk Second. Column in route.
198. A colunm in route, like a column in ma- noeuvre, ought never to have a depth greater than about the front it had occupied in the line of battle, less the front of a subdivi6ic»n.
199. The observance of this principle re(}uire8 no particular rule for a column in manoeuvre: but, as a colunm in route may have hourly to pass narmw ways, bi-idges, or other defiles, rendering it necessniy to diminish the front of subdivisions, it becomes im- portant to give rules and means bv wbicli the column may, for any length of march, prestu've the ease of
SCII'>()L OF THE BATTALION— PART III. 49
the route step \viih(»ut elongation from front to rear.
200. A coluiun in route will be habitually formed by comi^any.
201. When a eolumii in route shall arrive at a pass too ^arro^^' to receive the front of a company, the column will diminish front by platoon before enter- ing. This movement will be executed successively, or by all the conipanies at once.
202. If, however, the deiile be very short, and it may be passed by the diminution of a few files, it will be preferable to break to the rear the limited number of files.
203. The column being by platoon, and the want of space rendering a further diminution of front ne- cessary, it will be diminished by section, if the pla- toons be of twelve or m()re files.
204. The column being by section, will continue to march by that front as long as the defile may permit.
205. If the platoons have less than twelve files, one or two files will be broken to the rear, according to the narrowing of the defile, and the route step con- tinued as long as six files can march abreast.
206. What has just been explained for breaking files to the rear in a column by platoon, is equally ap- plicable to a column by section.
207. If the defile be too narrow to permit six men to march abreast, the subdivisions will be marched successively by the fl;mk, conf(»rming to what is pre- scribed NoF. :il4 and 3 J. 5, school of the company.
208. The battalion marching by the flank, will be
4
50 SCH >t'L «'F TilE RATTALloN— PART III.
formed into c<ilmnn, by soctidii, by platoon, or by C()n)piiiiy, as soon as tlio brcadtb of Ibo way may permit; tbo scvt'i'al movements wbicb tbese forma- tions inelude will b»' exeented by tbe eommands of the caj)tains, as tbeir eompanies sueeessively clear the defile, observing the following rules.
209, As soon as tbe way is sufticiently broad to contain »ix men al)reast. the captain will command :
1. Ihj srctivii (vvhy platoon) into line. 2. March.
21(1. At the command march, tbe subdivisions in- dicated will form themselves into line; the files which have not been able to enter, will follow (by the flunk) the last four files of their subdivision which have entered into line.
211. The column marching in this order, the files in rear will be caused to ent(>r into line as the in- creased bieadth of the way may permit.
212. The colunm marching by section or by pla- toon, platoons or conipanies will be formed as soon as the breadth of the way may permit.
21.'?. The leading subdivision will follow the wind- ings of the pass or defile ; the fullovving subdivisions will not occujjy themselves with tbe direction, but all, in succession, pass over the trace of the subdivi- sions which precede them respectively. The men will not seek to avoid the bad parts of the way, but pass, as far as practicble, each in the direction of bis file.
214. Changes of direction will always be made without comuiand ; if ILo change be important, a
SCHOOL OF THE BAITALION— PART III. 51
caution merely from the respective chiefs to their Bubdivisioiis will suffico, and the rear rank, as well as the tiles broken to the rear, will execute successively the movement where the front rank had executed it.
215. The colonel will hold himself at the head of the battalion ; he will regulate the step of the lead- ing subdivision, and indicate to its chief the instant for executing the various movements which the na- ture of the route may render necessary.
210. If the column be composed of several bat- talions, each will conform itself, in its turn, to what shall have been commanded for the leading battalion, observing to execute each movement at the same place, and in the same manner.
217. Finally, to render the mechanism of all those movements familiar to the troops, and to habituate them to march in the I'oute step without elongating the column, commanders will generally cause their battalions to march in this step, going to, and return- ing from, fields of exercise. Each will occasionally conduct his battalion through narrow passes, in order to make it perceive the utility of the principles pre scribed above ; and he will several times, in every course of instruction, march it in the route step, and cause to hfi executed, sometimes at once, and some- times successively, the divers movements which have just been indicated.
52 SCHOOL OF TlIK BATTALION— PART III.
General rcmarlis on tfie column in route.
218. The lesson relative to the eoliimn in route is, by its frequent ai)i)liciiti()n, one of the most important that can be ^iven to troops. If it be not well taught and established on right principles, it will happen that the rear of the C(»lumn in route will be obliged to run, to regain distances, or that the front will be forced to halt till the rear shall have accctmplished that object; thus rendering the march greatly slower, or greatly more fatiguing, generally both, than if it were executed according to rule.
219. The ordinarj' progress t>f a colunui in route ought to be, on good roads or good grounds, at the rate of one hundred and ten i)aces in a minute. This rate may be easily maintained by columns of almost any depth ; but over bad roads, ploughed fields, loose gauds, or mountainous districts, the progress cannot be so great, and must therefore be regulated accord- ing to circumstances.
220. The most certain means of marching well in route, is to preserve always a reguhir and equal movement, and, if obstacles oblige one or m<»re sub- divisions to slacken or to sh<u-ten the step, to cause the primitive rate of march to be resumed the mo- ment the difRcuties are passed.
221. A subdivisi«u) ought never to take more thau the prescribed distance from the subdivision im- mediately preceding ; but it is sometinu^s necessary to lessen that distance.
222. Thus: the head of the column encounters an obstacle which obliges it to rehix its march; all the
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IIL 53
following subdivisions will preserve the habitual step, and close up in mass; if necessary, on the subdivisi(»n nearest to the obstacle Distances will afterwards naturally be recovered as each subdivision shall suc- cessively have passed the obstacle. Nevertheless, if the ditficulty be too great to be overcome by one sub- division, whilst the next is closing up, so that dis- tances cannot afterwards be recovered without run- ning, the chief of the column will halt the leading subdivision beyond the obstacle, at a distance suffi- cient to contain the whole column in mass. He will then put the column in march, the subdivisions taking distances by the head, observing to commence the movement in time, so that the last subdivision may not be obliged to halt, after having cleared the ob- stacle.
223. When the chief of a column shall wish to change the rate of march, he will cause the leading battaliiui to (juicken or to relax the step insensibly, and send orders to the other battalions each to regu- late itself by that which precedes it.
224. The column being composed of several bat-* talions, the general-in-chief will always leave an aid" de-camp with its rear to bring him prompt informa- tion if it find a difficulty in following.
22.5. Subdivisions ought always to step out well in obliquing, both in breaking and f(»rming companies or platoons. When either is d(nie in succession, it is highly important that no subdivision slacken or shorten the step whilst that which precedes it is engaged in the movement. The observance of this principle can alone prevent an elongation of the column.
226. If the battalion, marching by the flank, en-
54 SCHOOL OF THE EAITALION— PART HI.
counter a pass so narrow as to oblige it to defile with a front «»f two men, the coh»nerwill order support arms, t;ike the cadenced step, and undouble the files, whicli will l»e executed as prescribed in the schocd of company, No. '.\26; the files will double again as soon as the bi-eadth of the way will permit.
227. If the defile be only sufficient to receive a front of one man, the colonel will cause the men to pass one at a time. The men of the same file should follow each other in their order as closely as possible, and without loss of time. As soon as the defile per- mits a front of two or f<»ur men, the battalion will be re-formed into two or four ranks, and will march in this order until there be space to form platoons or sections, as indicated No. 209.
228. In both cases, just supposed, the head of the battalion, after, having passed the defih% will march till sufficient space be left to contain the wh(»le of the subdivisions in mass ; afterwards it will be put in ^narch by the means indicated No. 222.
229. When a command has to move rapidly over a given distance, the movements prescribed in this article will be executed in double quick time ; if the distance be long, the chief o( the c(dumn will not allow the march at this gait to be continued for more than fifteen minutes; at the end of this lime, he will order the ordinary route step to be marched for five minutes, and then again resume the double quick. If the ground be uneven, having considerable ascents and descents, he will reserve the double quick for those parts of the ground most favorable to this march.
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HCIIOOL OK TIIK BATTALION— PART III. 55
230. A c<tliiniii inn veiling iiltrniiitel}' in dduble quick tiino and tiic (>i-(liii;iry r«»utp step, in the man- ner stated, can easily accomplish very lone; dis- tances in a very sliort space of time; but when the distance to l)e ])assed ttver l)e not great<"r than two miles, it (»Mirht to he aecomjilislied, when the ground is favorable, without changing the rate of march.
Article Third.
To change direction in column at full distance.
231. The column being in march in the cadenced stej), when the colonel shall wish to cause it to change directi<in, lie will go to the point at which the change ought to be commenced, and establish a marker there, presenting the breast to the flank of the col- umn ; this marker, no matter to which side the change of direction is to be made, will be posted on the opposite side, and he will remain in position till the last subdivision (»f the battalion shall have passed. The leading subdivision being within a few paces of the marker, the colonel will command :
Head of column to the left for right).
2'.>2. At this, the chief of the leading subdivision will immediately take the guide on the side opposite the change of direction, if not already there. This guide will direct himself so as to graze the breast of the marker; arrived at this point, the chief will cause his subdivisiou to change direction by the commands
56 SCHOOL OF TIIK ILATTALION— I^UIT III
and according to the principles prescribed in the Bchool of the company. When the wheel is com- pleted, the chief of this sulHlivision will retake the guide, if changed, on the side of the primitive direc- tion.
233. The chief of each succeeding subdivision, as well as the guides, will conform to what has just been explained for the leading subdivision.
234. The coh)nel will carefully see that the guide of each subdivision, in wheeling, does not throw him- self without or within, but passes over all the points of the arc of the circle, which he ought to describe.
235. As often as no distinct object presents itself in the new direction, the lieutenant colonel will place himself upon it in advance, at the distance of thirty or foi-ty paces from the marker, and be assured in this directitin by the colonel ; the leading guide will take, the moment he shall have cliangcd dii-ectiitn, two jxtints on tht; ground in the straight line which, drawn fn»m himself, wttuld pass between the heels of the lieutenant colonel, taking, afterwards, new points as he advances.
236. The major will see that the guides direct themselves on the marker posted at the point of change, so as to graze his breast.
237. If the column be ccmiposed of' several battal- ions, the lieutenant colonel (»f the second, will cause the marker of the first battalion, to be rephiced as soon as the last subdivision of this battalion shall have passed ; this disposition will be observed by bat- talion after battalion, to the rear of the column.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III r.T
Remarks.
238. It has been demonstrated, schocd of the Ciun- panj% how important it is.^r.s/, that each subdivision execute its change of direction pn'cisely at the point where the leading one had changed, and that it ar- rive in a s([uare with the direction ; second, that the wheeling pi.int <iught, always, to be cleared in time, in order that the subdivision engaged in the wheel may not arrest the movement of the following (»ne. The deeper the column, the more rigorously ought these principles to be observed ; because, a fault that would be but slight in a column of a single battalion, would cause much embarrassment in one of great depth.
Article Fourth.
To halt the column.
230. The column being in march, when thf colonel shall wish to halt it, he will command :
1. Column. 2 Halt,
240. At the second command, briskly repeated by the captains, the column will halt; no guide will stir, though he may have lost his distance, (>r be out of the direction of the preceding guides.
247. The column being in march, in double quick time, will be halted by the same commandB. At the
58 SCHOOL ON THE BATTALION— PART Hh
comiiiitiul halt, the men will halt in their places, and- will themselves rectify their positions in ihe ranks.
242. The column being halted, when the colonel shall wish to form it into line of battle, he will n)ove a little in front of the leading guide, and face t(t him; this guide and the folk>wing one will fix their eyes on the cdlonel, in order promptly to conform themselves to his directions.
243. If the colonel judge it not necessary to give a general direction to the guides, he will limit himself to rectifying the position of such as may be without, or within the direction, by the cnmmand truidc of (such) company, or guides of (such) companies, to the right, (or tu the left ; ) at this command, the guides desigmited will place themselves on the direction ; the others will stand fast.
244. If, on the contrary, the colonel judge it ne" cessary to give a general direction to the guides o^ the column, he will place the first two on the direc- tion he shall have chosen, and comnuind :
Guides, cover.
245. At this, the following guides will pnmiptly place themselves on the direction covering the first two in file, and each precisely at a distance equal to the front of his company, from the guide immedi- diately preceding ; the lieutenant colonel will assure them in the direction, and the colon*?] will command:
Left, Cor right)— BreS:'.
SBIIOOL OF THE BATTALION- PART 111. 69
246. At this command, each company will incline to the right or left, and dress forward or backward, 80 a8 to bring tlie designated flank to rest on its guide ; each captain will place himself two paces outside of his guide, promptly align his company parallelly with that which precedes, then command Fron^ and return to his place in column.
247. Finally, if the general guides march on the flank of the column, the colonel, having halted it, W'ill place himself in rear of the color bearer, to as- certain whether the leading general guide and the color-bearer be exactly on the direction of the two points in advance, and establish them on that direc- tion if they be not already ()n it; the major will do the like, in respect to the general guide in the rear ; which being executed, the colonel will command :
J. Gwirfcs— On the line.
248. At this cmnmaiid, the guide of each company of the directing flank will step promptly into the di- rection of the general guides, and face to the front. The lieutenant C(tlonel, placed in front of, and focing to, the leading general guide, and the major, placed in rear of the rearmost one, will promptly align the company guides.
249. The colonel, having verified the direction of the guides, will command :
Left (or nV/jf)— Dress.
250. This will be executed as prescribed, No. 246.
60 t^CIIOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III.
Rauarks.
251. The means indicated, No. 244, and following;, for ^iviii}! a general direction to the guides of « col- umn, ;it full distance, will apply only to a column composed of two, or, at most, three battalions. If the number be more numerous, its chief will cause the colors and general guides of all the battalions to step out and place themselves on the directi<m which he may wish to give to the column, as is explained in the evolutions of the line.
Article Fifth.
To close the column to half distance, or in mass.
252. A colutnn by company being at full distance right in front, and at a halt, when the colonel shall wish to cause it to close to half distance, on the lead- ing company, he will comm ind :
1. To half distance, close column. 2. MARCH Cor double quick — March J.
253. At the first command, the captain of the leading company will caution it to stand fast.
254. At the command march, which will be re- peated by all the captains, except the captain of the leading company, this cojupany will stand fast, and its chief will align it by the left ; the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
FCHOOL UK THE BATTALION— PyUrr III. 01
255. All the (ttber coinpnnies will cctutinup to inarch, and as each in sTiccosKion arrives at platoon tlistaiice from the one which precedes, its captain will halt it.
25(5. At tlie instant that each compnnv halts, its yuidc will phice hini.sclfon the direct ion oi" the guides who precede, and thec.iptain will align the company hytUeleft; the lile closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
257. No particular attention need be given to the general direction of the guides before they respec- tively halt; it will suffice if each follow iu the trace of the one who precedes him.
258. The c<»lonel, <m the side of the guides, will supciinlend the execution of the mcnemeiit, observ- ing that the c'iptains halt their companies exactly at ])latoon distance the one from the other.
250. The lieutenant ccdonel, a few paces in front, will face to the leading guide and assure the posi- tions of the following guides as they successively place themselves on the direction.
260. The major will follow the movement abreast with the last guide.
261. If the column be in march, the c(donel will cause it to close by the same commands.
262. If the column be marching in double quick time, at the first command, the captain of the lead- ing company will command quick time; the chiefs ot the other companies will caution them to continue their march.
263. At the c(»inmand march, the leading company will inarch in quick, and the other companies in double quick time ; and as each arrives at platoon
62 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III
distanco from the procediiig one, its cbiof will cause it to inarch in qnick time.
i>64. Wbe-i the rearmost company shall have gain- ed its distance, the colonel will command :
Donhlc quick— ISlxRCll.
265. When the colonel shall wish to halt the column and to cause it to close to halt distance at the same time, he will notify the captain of the leading com- pany of his intention, who at the command march will halt his ciimpany and align it by the lett.
2(5(5. If the column be marching in quick time, and the colonel should not give the c(»mmand double quick, the captain (»f the leading ci»nipany will halt his company at the connnand march, and align it by the left. In the case, where the coU»nel adds the command double quick, the captains of companies will conform to what is prescribed No. 262, and the movement will be executed as indicated No. 263.
To close the column on the eighth, or rearmost company.
267. The column being at a halt, if instead of caus- ing it to close to half distance on the first company, the colonel should wisli to cause it to close ou the eighth, he will command :
I . On the eighth company, to half distance close column. 2. Battalion about — Face. 3. Column forward. 4. Guide right. 5. March (or double quick — March).
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALI N— PART III. 03
268. At tin? second coinmand, all theconipaiiioH ex- cept tlie cijL^bth, will face a'lout, and their guides will remain in the front rank, now tbe rear.
269. At the fourth c()mmand, all the captains will place themselves two paces outside of their com- panies on the directing flank.
270. At the command march, the eighth company will stand fast, and its captain will align it l>y the lelt, the other companies will put themselves in march, and, as each arrives at platoon distance fmm the one established before it, its captain will halt it and face it lo the front. At the moment that each comp;niy halts, the left guide, remaining fa<'ed to the rear, will phice himself pmmptly on the direction of the guides already estal)lished. Immediately aft<M-, the captain will align his company by the left, and the file closers will close one pace on the rear rank. If this movement be executed in double quick time, each captain, in turn, will halt, and command ; Suck company, riirfit about — Halt. At this command, th*; company designated will face to the right about and halt.
271. All the companies being aligned, the colonel will cause the guides, who stand faced to the rear, to face about.
272 The lieutenant colonel, placing himself behind the rearmost guide, will assure successively the posi- ti(»ns of the other guides, as prescrilx'd No. 2')!) ; the major will remain abreast with the rearmost com- pany.
27;?. The c<dumn being in march, when the colonel shall wish to close it on the eighth company, he will command :
64 SCIl'.'OL (F THi: P,ATTALIi'N_PARl' HI.
1 . On the eighth company, to half distance, close column .
2. Battalion ri<rht about. '.). Makcm («r doiible
quick — March). 4. Guide right.
274. At tlu' fitst conimaiKl, the f;ii)t;iiii of the eightli c(»iiii)aiiy will caution bis eitiupauy that it \vill remain faced to the front; the captains of the other C(»mpanies will caution their companies that they will have to face about.
275. At the command march, the captain of the eighth c(mipany will halt his company and align it by the left; the file dof^ers will close one pace ujjon the rear rank.
276. The captains <»f the other companies, at the same command, will place themselves on the flank of the Cf^lunin ; the subdivisions will face about, and as each arrives at platoon distance from the company immediately preceding it, its chief will face it to the front and halt it as prescribed No. 270. The instant each company halts, the guide on the directing flank, remaining faced to the rear, will quickly place him- self on the direction of the guides alreai'y established. After whii-h, tlie captain will align the cismpany by the left, and the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
277. The lieutenant colonel will follow the move- ment abreast of the first company. The major will place himself a few paces in rear of the guide of the eighth comi)any, and will assure successively the position of the other guides.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III. 65
Remarks.
278. A column by division at full distance will close to half distance by the same means and the same commands.
279. A column by company, or by division, being at full or half distance, the colonel will cause it to close in mass by the same means and commands, sub- stituting the indication column, close in mass, for that of to hdlf distance, close column. Each chief of subdivision will conform himself to all that has just been prescribed, except that he will not halt his sub- division till its guide shall be at a distance of six paces from the guide of the subdivision next preced- ing.
280. In a column, left in front, these various move- ments will be executed on the same principles.
Article Sixth. To march in column at half distance, or closed in mass.
281. A column at half distance or in mass, being at a halt, the cobmel will put it in march by the com- mands prescribed for a column at full distance.
282. The means of direction will also be the same for a colunm at half distance or in mass, as for a col- umn at full distance, except that the general guides will not step out.
283 A C(dumn at half distance or in mass, being in march, when the colonel shall wish to halt it, he 5
66 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-PART IIL
will give the commands prescribccl for halting a eol- uum at full distance, and if, alterwaids, he judge it necessary to give a general direction to the guides of the C(dunin, he will employ, to this end, the com- maDds and iiie;ius indicated. No. '244 and following.
284. In columns at half distance or closed in mass, chiefs of subdivision will repeat the commands march and halt, as in columns at full distance.
285. The cohmel will often march the column to the rear, by the means and the commands prescribed Nos. 17Uandl7J.
286. A column by division or company, whether at full or half distance or closed in mass, at a halt or marching, can be faced to the right or left, and march- ed olf in the new direction.
Article Seventh.
To change direction in column at half distance.
287. A column at half distance, being in march, will change direction by the same connnands and ac- cording tt> the same principles as a column at full dis- tance ; but as the distance between the subdivisions is less, the j)ivot man in each subdivision will take steps of fourteen inches instead of nine, and of seven- teen inches instead of eleven, according to the gait, in order t(» clear, in time, the wheeling point, and the inarching flank will describe the arc of a larger cir- cle, tlie better to facilitate the movement.
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school of the battalion— part iii. 67
Article Eighth.
To change direction in column closed in mass.
]st. To change direction in marching.
283. A column by divlsictn, closed in mass, being in march, will change direction by the front of subdivi- sions.
289. "Whether the change be made to the reverse, or to the pivctt flank, it will always be executed on the principles of wheeling in marching; to this end, the colonel will first cause the batralion to take the guide on^ie flank opposite to the intended change of direction, if it be not already on that flank.
290. A column by division, closed in mass, right in front, having to change direction to the right, the colonel, aft«'r having caused a marker to be placed at the point where the change ought to oommeuce, will command :
U Battalion, right wheel. 2. March.
291. At the command marc/t, the leading division will wheel as if it were part of a column at half distance.
292. The instant that this division commences the wheel, all the others will, at once, conform them- selves to its movement; to this end the left guide of each, advancing slightly the left shoulder and length- ening a little the step, will incline to the left, and will
68 sen OL OF THE BATTALI N-PART IIF,
observe, at the same time, to gain so much ground to the front that there may constantly be an interval of four paces between his divisicm and that which pre- cedes it; and as soon as he sliall cover the preceding guide, he will cease to incline and then march exact- ly in his trace.
293. Each division will conform itself to the move- ment of its guide; the men will feel lightly the elbow towards him and advance a little the left shoulder the instant the movement commences ; each file in inclin- ing, will gain so nuich the less gniund to the front, as the file shall be nearer to the pivot, and the right guide will gain only so much as may be necessary to maintain between his own and the preceding division the same distance wliich separates their marching flanks. •
294. Each chief of division, turning to it, will regu- late its march, and see that it remains constantly in- cluded between its guides, that its alignment con- tinues nearly parallel to that of the preceding division, and that the centre bends only a little to the rear.
295. The colonel will superintend the movement, and cause the pivot of the leading division to length- en or to shorten the step, conforming to the principle established, school of the company. No. 227 — if eitlier be necessary to facilitate the movement of the other divisions.
296. The lieutenant colonel, placed near the left guide of the leading division, will regulate his march.
sen > L (IF THE BATTALIMN— PART III. (9
and take care, above all, that he does not throw him- self icifAin the arc he ought to describe.
297. The major, placed in the rear of the guides, will see that the last three conform themselves, each by slight degrees, to the movement of the guide im- mediately preceding, and that neither inclines too much in the endeavor to cover too promptly the guide in his front; he wiH rectify any serious fault that may be committed in either of those particulars.
298. The colonel, seeing the wheel nearly ended, will command:
1. Forrcnrd. 2. MARCH.
299. At the second command, which will be given at the instant the leading division completes its wheel, it will ri'sunie the direct march; the other divisions will conform themselves to this movemeat; and if any guide find himself not covering his immediate leader, he will, by slight degrees, bring himself on the trace of that guide, by advancing the right shoulder.
300. If the ccdumn, right in front, has to change dlrecti«ui to the left, the colonel will first cause it to take the guide to the right, and then command :
1. Battalion, left ichccl. 2. March.
301. At the command march, the battalion will change direction to the left, according to the princi- ples just prescribed, and by inverse means.
302. When the battalion shall have resumed the
70 yCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART HI.
direct march, the colonel wil! change the guide to the left, on seeing the last three guides nearly in the di- rection of the one in front.
30'A. The foregoing changes of direction will be executed according to the sauie principles in a col- umn, left in front.
304. A column by company, closed in mass, will change direction in marching, by the commands and means indicated for a column by division.
305. The guide, who is the pivot of the particular W'heel, ought to maintain himself at his usual distance of six paces from the guide wln» precedes him ; if this distance be not exactly preserved, the divisions would necessarily become confounded, which must be care- fully avoided.
2d. To change direction from a halt.
30C. A column by company, or by division, closed in mass, being at a halt, when the colonel shall wish to give it a new direction, and in which it is to re- main, he will cause it ti» execute this movement bj the flanks of subdivisions, in the following manner:
307. The battalion having the right in front, when the colonel shall wish to ctuse it to change direction by the right flank, he will indicate to the lieutenant colonel the point of direction to the right; this oflicer will immediately establish, (»n the new direction, two markers, distant from each other a little less than the front of the first subdivision, the first marker in front of the right file of this subdivision ; which being exe- cuted, he will command :
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION -PART III. 71
1. Change direction hy the risht flank. 2. Battalion, right— Face. 3. March [_or , double quick — March.]
303. At the second command, the column will face to the right, and each chief of snhdivision will place himself hy the side of his right guide.
300. At the comniand march, all the subdivisions will sti^p off together: the right guide of the handing one will direct himself from the first step, parallelly to the markers placed in advance on the new direc- tion ; the chief of tho subdivision will not follow the movement, but see it file past, and as soon as the left guide shall have passed, he will command :
1. First company \_or flrst division'\. 2. HALT. 3. Front. 4. Left— Dress.
310. At the fourth command, the subdivision will place itself against the two markers, and be prompt- ly aligned by its chief.
311. The right guide of each of the following sub- divisions will conform hitiiself to the direction of the right guidf* of the subdivisi(»n preceding his own in the c(»lumn, so as to enter on the new direction par- allelly to that subdivision, and at the distance of four paces fr(un its rear rank.
312. Each chief of subdivision will halt in his own person, on arriving oppctsite to the left guides already placed on the new direction, see his subdivision file past, and c(»nform himself, in hajtiug and aligning it, to what is prescribed No. 309.
72 SCHOOL OF THE BATl^ALION— PART III.
313. If the change of direction be by the left flank, the colonel will cause markers to be established aa before, the first in front of tlie left file of the lead- ing subdivision, and then give the same connuands, substituting tlie indication left for right.
314. At the second command, all the subdivisions will face to the left, and each chief will place hinfi- self by the side of his left guide.
315. At the command march, all the subdivisions will step off together, each conducted by its chief.
316. The guide of the leading subdivision will di- rect, himself, from the first step, parallely to the markers ; the subdivision will be conducted by its chief; and as soon as its left guide shall have passed the second marker, it will be halted and aligned as prescribed above; and so of each of the following subdivisions.
317. The colonel will hold himself on the designa- ted flank, to see that each subdivision enters the new direction parallelly to the leading one, andatthepre- scrib'^l distance from that which precedes.
318. The lieutenant colonel will place himself in front of, and facing to, the guide of the leading sub- division, and will assure the positions of the follow- ing guides, as they successively arrive on tlie new di- rection.
319. The major will follow the movement abreast with the last subdivision.
320. In order that this movement may be executed with facility and precision, it is necessary that the leading subdivision should entirely unmask the col
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART HI. 73
nmn; for oxample, the movemont boing iiindo by the right flank, it is necessary before halting the leading subdivision, that its left guide shall, atle.ist, have ar- rived at the place previously occupied by its right guide, in order that each folhtwitig subdivision which has to pass over a space at least equal to its frcuit to put itself in the lunv directi(ui, and whose left ought to pass the point at which the right had rested, may, at the command halt, find itself in its whole front, parallel to the leading subdivision.
321. By.this method there is no direction that may not be given to a column in mass.
Article Ninth.
Being in column at half distance, or closed in ynass, to take distances.
322. A column at half distance will take full dis- tances hy the head of the column when it has to pro- long itself on the line of battle. If, on the contrary, it has to form itself in line of battle on the ground it occupies, it will take distances on the leading or on the rearmost subdivision, according as the one or other may find itself at the point where the right or left of the battalion ought to rest in line of battle.
1st. To take distances hy the head of the column.
323. The column being by company at halfdistance and at a halt, when the colonel shall wish to cause it
74 SCFIOOL OF TIIP: BATTALION— PART III.
t(» take full distances by the head, he will cuinmand : By the head of column, take ic/tccling distance.
324. At this comniand, the captain of the leading company will put it in march ; to this end, he will command:
1. First company, forward. 2. Guide left. 3. March [or double quick — March.]
325. When the second shall have nearly its wheel- ing distance, its captain will command:
1. Second company, forward. 2. Guide left. 3. March [or double (pnck—^lARCU.']
32G. At the command march, which will be pro- nounced at the instant that this company shall have its wheeling distance, it will step otl smartly, taking the step from the preceding company. Each of the other c«»mpanies will successively execute what lias just been prescribed for the second.
327. The colonel will see that each company puts itself in march at the instant it has its distance.
328. The lieutenant colonel will hold himself at the bead of the column, and direct the march of the lead- ing guide.
32S). The major will hold himself abreast with the rearmost guide.
330. If the column, instead of being at a halt, be
SCHOOL OF THK BATTALION— PART IIL 75
in march, the colonel will give the same commands, and add:
March (or douMc quick — March).
331. If the column be marching in quick time, at the command vnirch, the captain of the leading com- pany will cause double quick time to be taken; which will also be done by the other captains as the com- panies successively attain their proper wheeling dis- tance.
332. If the column be marching in double quick time, the leading company will continue to march at the same gait. The captains of the other companies will cause quick time to be taken, and as each compa- ny gains its proper distance, its captain will cause it to retake the double quick step.
2d. To take distances on the rear of the column.
333. If the colonel wish to take distances on the rearmost company, he will establish two markers on the direction he shall wish to give to the line of bat- tle, the first opposite to the rearmost company, the second marker towards the head (»f the column, at company distance from the first, and b(»th facing to the rear; at the same time, the right general guide, on an intimation from the lieutenant col(»nel, will m(»ve raj)idly a little beyond the point to which the head of the column will extend, and place himself correctly on the prolongation of the two m <rkers. These dispositions being made, the colonel will com- mand :
76 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IIL
1. On the eighth company, take tcheeling distance. 2. Column forward. 3. Guide left. 4. March (or double quick— Marcu).
334. At the third command, the captains will place themselves two paces (lutside of the directing flank ; the cajjtain of the eighth company will caution it to stand fust.
335. At the command march, repeated by all the captains, except the captain of the eighth company, this latter company will stand tiist; its chief will align it by the left on the first marker, who is oppo- site to this company, and place himself before its centre, after commanding : Front. At this com- mand, the marker will retire, and the left guide will take his place.
336. All the other companies will put themselves in march, the guide of the leading one directing him- self a little within the right general guide ; when the seventh c(mipany has arrived opposite the second marker, its captain will halt, and align it on this marker, in the manner prescribed for the eighth com- pany.
337 When the captain of the sixth company shall see that there is, between his company and the seventh, the necessary space for wheeling into line, he will halt his company; the guide facing to the rear will place himself promptly on the direction, and the moment he shall be assured in his pt)silion, the captain will align the company by the left, and then place himself two paces bef(»re its centre ; the other companies will successively conform them-
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III. 77
selves to what has just been prescribed for the sixth company.
338. The colonel will follow the movement, and see that each company halts at the prescribed distance; he will promptly remedy any fault that may be com- mitted, and as soon as all the companies shall be align- ed, he will cause the guides, who are faced to the rear, to face about.
330. The lieutenant colonel will successively as- sure the left guides on the direction, placing himself in their rear, as they arrive. ^
34U. The major will hold himself at the head of the column, and will direct the march of the leading guide.
2d. To take distances on the Iicad of the column.
341. The colonel, wishing to take distances on the leading company, will establish tv>o markers in the manner just prescribed, one abreast with this com- pany, and the other at company distance in rear of the first, but both facing to the front: the left general guide, on an intimation from the lieutenant colonel, will move rapidly to the rear and place himself cor- rectly on the i)r<tlongation of the two markers, a lit- tle beyond the point to which the rear of the column will extend: these dispositions being made, the colo- nel will command:
1, On the first company, take ucheding distance. 2. Battalion, aJwut — FACE. 3. Column, forward. 4. Guide right. 5 March (or double quick — March).
78 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III.
342. At the second command, all the companies, except the one designated, will face about, the guides remaining in the front rank, now become the * rear.
343. At the fouith command, the captains will j place themselves outside of their guides.
344. At the command march, the captain of the de- signated company will align it, as prescribed, No. 335, on the murker placed bv its side.
345. The remaining companies will put themselves in march, the guide of the rearmost one will direct himself a little within the left general guide; when the second company shall have arrived opposite the second marker, its captain will face it about, con- forming to what is prescribed. No. 270, and align it, as has just been prescribed for the first company.
340. The instant that the third company shall have its wheeling distance, its captain will halt it facing it about, as prescribed. No. 270, and align it by the left; the captains of the remaining c(»mpanies will each, in succession, conform himself to what has just been prescribed for the captain of the third.
347. The colonel will follow the movement, as in- dicated No. 338 ; the lieutenant colonel and major will conform themselves to what is prescribed, Nos. 339 and 340.
348. These various movements will be executed ac- cording to the same principles in a column with the left in front.
349. They will be executed in like manner in a column closed iu mass ; but, if it be the wish of the
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IIL 79
colonel to open out the column to half, instead of full distance, he will substitute in the commands, th«^ indication /ja//, for that of ichceling distance.
:>')(}. In a column by division, distances will be taken according to the same principles.
Article Tenth.
Countermarch of a column at full or half distance.
3.51. In a column at full or half distance, the coun- termarch will be executed by the means indicated, school of the company ; to this end, the colonel will command:
1. Countermarch. 2. Battalion right (or left — Face. 3. By file left (or right). 4. March for double quick — March).
To countermarch a column closed in mass.
3.')2. If the column be closed in mass, the counter- march will l)e executed by the commands and means subjoined.
353. The c<»lumn being supposed formed by a divi- sion, right in front, the colonel will command:
1. Countermarch. 2. Battalion, right and left — FACE. 3. By file left and right. 4. March (or double quick — March).
80 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IIL
354. At the first c(»miiian(l, the chiefs of the odd numbered divisions will caution them to face to the right, and the chiefs of the others to face to the left.
355. At the second command, the odd divisions will face to the right, and the even to the left ; the right and left guides of all the divisions will face about; the chiefs of odd divisions will hasten to their right and cause two files to break to the rear, and each chief place himself on the left of the leading front rank man of his division; the chiefs of even divisions will hasten to their left, and caus(^ two files to break to the rear, and each chief place himself on the right of his leading front rank man.
356. At the command inarch, all the divisions, each conducted by its chief, will step oft' smartly, the guides standing fast ; each odd division will wheel by file to the left around its right guide ; each even divi- sion will wheel by file to the right around its left guide, each division so directing its march as to arrive behind its opposite guide, and when its head shall be up with this guide, the chief will halt the division, and cause it to face to the front.
357. Each division, on facing to the front, will be aligned by its chief by the right; to this end, the chiefs of the even divisions will move rapidly to the right of their respective divisions.
358. The divisions being aligned, each chief will command, Front; at this, the guides will shift to their proper flanks.
359. In a column with the left in front, the couu-
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART lU. 81
tennarch will be executed by tlie same coiniTiands and means; but all the divisions will be aligned by the left: to this end, the chiefs of the odd divisions will hasten to the left of their respective divisions as soon as the latter shall have been faced to the front.
300. The colonel, placed on the directing flank, will superintend the general movement.
361. The countermarch being ended, the lieu- tenant colonel will always place himself abreast with the leading, and the major abreast with the rearmost division.
302. In a column by company, closed in mass, the countermarch will be executed by the same means and commands, ajjplying to companies what is pre- scribed for divisions.
363. The countermarch will always take place from a halt, whether the cobimn be closed in mass, or at full, or half distance.
Article Eleventh.
Being in column by company, closed in mass, to form (titisions.
364. The column being closed in mass, right in front, and at a halt, when the colonel shall wish to form divisions, he will command:
1. Form divisions. 'Z. Left companies, Irft — FACE. 3. March (or double quick — March). 6
82 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART HI.
365 At the first command, the captains of the left companies will caution them to face to the left.
366. At the second command, the left comi)anie8 will face to the left, and 4heir captains will pliice themselves by the side of their respective left guides.
367. The vi<fht companies, and their captains, will stand fast; hut the rij^ht and left guides of each of these companies will place themselves respectively before the right and left files of the conii);iny both guides facing to the right, and each resting his right arm gently against the breast oi' the front rank mau of the fiie, in order to mark the direction.
368. At the command mnrch, the left companies only will put themselves in march, their captains standing fast; as each shall see that his company, filing pjist, has nearly cleared the colunm, he will command :
1. Such company. 2. TTalt. 3. Fkont. '|
369. The first comniiind will be given when the company shall yet have four paces to march; the second at the instant it shall have cleared its right company, and the third innnediately after the second.
370. The comi)any having faced to the front, the files, if tlieie be intervals between them, will promptly inclini' to the right; the captain will pl.ice himself on the left of the right company of the divi- sion, and align himself correctly on the front rank of that company.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III. 83
371. The left guide will place himself at the same time before tme of the three left files of his company, face to the right, aud cover correctly the guides of the right company; the moment his captain sees him established on the direction, he will command:
Right — Dress.
372. At this, the left company will dress forward on the alignment of the right company; the front rank man, who may find himself opi)osite to the left guide, will, with<»ut preceding his rank, rest lightly his breast against the right arm of this guide; the captain of the left ctnnpany will direct its alignment on this man, and the alignment being assured, he will command, Front; but not quit his position.
373. The colonel seeing the divisions formed, will command :
Guides — Posts.
374. At this, the guides who have marked the fronts (tf divisions will return to their places in col- umn, the left guide of each right couipany passing through the interval in the centre of the division, and the captains will place themselves as prescribed No. 75.
37.'3. The colonel, from the directing flank of the column, will superinteud the general execution of the movement.
37C. If the column be in march, instead of at a
84 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-PART IIL
halt, when the colonel shall wish to form divisions, he will command :
1. Form divisions. 2. Left companies, by the left flank. 3. March (or double quick — March).
377. At the first command, the captains of the right companies will command, Mark time, the cap- tains of the left companies will caution their com- panies to face by the left flank.
378. At the third command, the right companies will mark time, tiie left conii)anies will face to the left; the captains of the left compnnies will each see his company file past him, and when it has cleared the column, w'ill command:
Such company by the right flank — MARCH.
As soon as the divisions are formed, the colouel will command :
4. Foncard. 5. March.
379. At the fifth command, the colunm will resume the gait at which it was marching previous to the commencement of the movement. The guides of each division will remain on the right and left of their respective companies ; the left guide of the right company will pass into the line of file closers, before the two companies are united; the right guide of the left company will step into the rear rank. The cap- tains will place themselves as prescribed No. 75.
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART III. 85
Being in column at full or half distance to form divisions.
380. If the coliimu be at a halt, and, instead of. being clnsod in mass, is at full or half distance, divi- sions will be formed in the same manner; but the captains (if the h^ft companies, if the movement be made in ([uick time, after connnandii g Front, will each place himself before the centre of his company, and c<»mmand, 1. Such company, foricard. 2. Guide right. 3. March. If the movement be made in double quick time, each will comma d as soon as his company has cleared the column :
1. Such company by the right flank. 2. March.
3^1. The right guide of each left company will so direct his march as to arrive by the side (»f the man on the left of the right company. The left company being nearly up with the rear rank of the right com- pany, its captain will halt it, and the movement will be Hnish -d as prescribed No. 371 and following.
382. If the left be in front, the movement will be ex«'cuted by inverse means : the right companies will conform themselves to what is presciibed above f<»r the loft ctmijianies ; and the two guides, placed res|)ectivc]y, iM-fure the right and left files of each left company, will face to the left. At the command. Guides posts, g'wvn hy thi' cohtnel, the guides, who have marked the front of divisions, and the captains, will quickly retake their places in the c<»lumn.
3S:{. Ifthe cjtlunni be marching at full distance, the divisions wi 1 be formed as prescribed No. J 96. If it be marching at half distance, the formatiim will
86 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IIL
take place by the comniauds and according to the principles indicated No. 'S76 ; if the column be niarcli- ing in double quick time, the companies which should ynirk time will march in quick time by the commands of their captains,
Revjarhs on the fornintion of divisions from a halt.
384, As this movement may be considered as the element of deployments, it ought to be executed with the utmost accuracy.
385. If companies marching by the flank do not preserve exactly their distances, th 're will be open- ings between the files at the instant of facing to the front.
I^Hfi. If captains halt their companies too early, tliey will want sp;ic<% and the files which have not clciired the thinks of the standing companies will not be able to dress into line without pushing their ranks latrnilly.
387, If on the contrary the companies be halted too late, it will be necessary for them to incline to the right or left in Iressing ; and in deploym -nts, either of these faults would lead to error in the fol- lowing comj)anies,
388. As often as a guide shall have to step out to place himself bef(»re his subdivision in order to mark th(^ direction, he will be particularly careful to place himself so as to 1)e opposite to one of the three outer files of the subdivision when they shall be aligned : if he take too much distance, and neither of those fil-es finds itself against liiin, the chiefs of the subdivision wmII have no assured point on which to direct the alignment.
SBIIOOL OF THE BATTALION- PART IV. 87
PART FOURTH.
Different modes of passing from the order in column to the order in battle.
Article First.
Manner of determining the line of battle.
389. The line of battle may be raarked or deter-' mined in three different manners: 1st, hy pLieing two markers eighty or a hundred paces apart, on the direction it is wisht-d to give to the line ; 2d, by placing a marker at the point at which it may be in- tended to rest a flank, and then choosing a second point towards, or beyond the opposite flank, and there posting a second marker distant frcun each other a little les^ than the L'ading subdivision ; 3^/, by choosing at first the points of direction for the flanks, and then determining, by intermediate points, the straight line between those selected points, both of which may sometimes be bejMtud reach.
Article Second.
Different modes of passing from colnmn at full dis- tance into line of battle.
1. To the left (or right) ^
2 On the right (or left) 1 • , ,. r i, ^^i
3. Forward, ^ > mto Ime of battle.
4. Faced to ihe rear, J
88 SCHOOL ON THE BATTALION— PART IV.
1st. Column at full <lii<tancc, right in front, to the Irft into line of battle.
390. A column, riglitin front, beiiifj at a hnlt, wheu the colonel shall witsb to form it to the left into line, he will iis8iire»the positions of the guides by the means previously indicated, and then command ;
J. Lift into line, ichccl. 2. Maucii (or double quick — Ma [I c II).
391. At the first command, the right guide of the leading company will hasten to place himself on the direction of the left guides of the C(dumn, face to them, and place himself so as to be opposite to one of the three right files of his company, when they shall be in line : he will be assured in this position by the lieiiteuant c<;l(niel.
392. At the command march, briskly repeated by the capliiins, the left front rank man of each com- pai y will face to the left, and rest his breast lightly against llie i-iglit arm of his guide: the companies will wheel t(» the left on the princii)le of wheeling from a halt, confoi'iniiig thiMuselves to what is pi'o- scribed, sclidol <»f tlu^ company. No. 2:?9: each cap- tain will tui'ii to his company, to observe the execu- tion of the; movement, and, when the right of the company shall arrive at three paces from the line of battle, he will command :
1. Such company. 2. Halt.
FCIIOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 89
303. The compnny being halted, the captnin will pi ice hiuiself on the'line by the side of the left front rank man of the company next on the right, align himself correctly, and command:
3. night— Brehs.
394. At this command, the company will dress up between the captain and the front rank man (»n its left, the captain directieg the alignment on that man , the front rank man on the right of the right company, who finds himself opposite to its right guide, will lightly rest his breast against the left arm of this guide.
395. Each captain, having aligned his company, will command, FiiONT, and tbe colonel will add :
Guides— rosrs.
396. At this command, the guides will return to their places in line of battle, each passing through the nearest captain's interval ; to permit him to pass, the captaiu will momentarily step before the first file of his company, and the covering sergeant behind the sanje file. This rule is general for all the Jor- matiuns into line of battle.
397. When companies fonn line of ba'tle, file closers will always place themselves exactly two paces from the rear rank, which will sufficiently as- sure their alignment.
398. The battalion l)eing correctly aligned, the colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major, as well as the adjutant and sergeant major, will return to their re- spective places in line-of battle. This rule is general
90 SCH) 'L OF TEIE BATTALI')N-PART IV.
for all the formations into line of battle; neverthe- less, the battalion being in the school of the elemen- tary instruction, the colonel will go to any point he may deem necessary.
399. A column, with the left in front, will form it- self to the ri<r/it into line of battle, according to the same principles; the left guide of the left company will place himself, at the first command, on the di- rection <tf the right guides, in a manner correspond- ing to what is prescribed, No. 39J. for the right guide of the right company.
400. At the command guides posts, the ca])tains will take their places in line of battle as well as the guides. This rule is general for all formations into line of battle in ichich the companies arc aligned by the left.
401. A column by division may form itself into line of battle by the same commands, and means, but observing whiit follows : if the right be in front, at the command halt, given by the chiefs of division, the left guule of each right company will pliice himself on the alignment opposite to one <»f the three files on the left of his company ; the left guide <if the first cempiiny will be assured on the direction by the lieu- tenant colonel; the left guides of the other right companies will align themselves correctly on the di- vision guides ; to this end, the division guides fou the alignment) will invert, and hold their pieces up per- pendicularly before the centre of their bodies, at the command left into line, tchcel. If the c<dumn by di- vision lie with the left in front, the right guides of left companies will conform themselves to what has just been prescribed for the left guides of right com-
SCHOOL OK THE BATTALI N— PART IV. 91
panics, and place themselves on the line opposite to one of the three right files of their respective com- panies.
40*2. A column in march will be foi-mod into line, without halting, by the same commands and moans. At the command march, the guides will halt in their places, and the lieutenant colonel will promptly rec- tify their positions.
403. If, in forming the column into line, the colonel should wish to move forward, without halting, he will command:
1. By companies left irhcel. 2. MARCH (or double quick— March).
404. At the command march, briskly repeated by the captains, each company will wheel to the left on a fixed j)ivot, as prescribed in the school of the com- pany, Xo. 201 ; the lelt guides will step back into the rank of file closers before the w^ieel is completed, and when the right of the companies shall arrive near the line, the colonel will command:
3. Foricard. 4. March. 5. Guide centre.
405. At the fnnrth c(»mmand, given at the instant the wheel is <'«»ni]»lrted, the compiiiiies will march di- rectly to the front. At the fifth command, the coh»r and the genoral guides will movQ rapidly six paces to the front. The c<donel will assure the direction of the color, the captains of comjianies and the men will, at once, conform themselves to the principles of the march in line of battle, to be hereinafter indi- cated, No. 587, and following.
92 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
406. The same principles are applicable to a col- uuju left iu frout.
By inversion to the light (or left) into line of battle.
407. When a column, light in front, shall be under the necessity of forming itself into line faced to the reverse flank, and the colonel shall wish to execute this formation by the shortest movement, he will com- mand :
1. By inversion, right into line, zchcel. 2. Battalion, guide right.
408. At the first connnand, the lieutenant colonel will place himself in tront, and facing to the right guide of the leading subdivision ; at the second com- mand, he will rectify, as promptly as possible, the direction of the right guides of the colunm ; the captain of the odd company, if there be one, and the column be by division, ;\ ill promptly bring the right of his company on the direction, and at company dis- tance fr m the division next in front; the left guide of the leading sulxlivision will i)lace himself <»n the direction of the right guides, and will be assured iu his positiim by the lieutenant colonel; which being executed, the colonel will command :
3. March (or double quicfc—MARCU).
409. At this, the right front rank man of each sub- division will face to the right, rest his breast lightly against the left arm of his guide, and the battalion
SCH«-OL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 93
will form itself to the right into line of battle, ac- cording to the principles prescribed ; which being executed, the colonel will command:
Guides — Posts.
410. If the colmnn be with the left in front, it will form itself, by inversion, to the left into line, accord- ing to the s:ime principles.
411. If the colonel should wish the battalion, when formed into line of battle, to be moved forward, the m(»v«'in('nt will be executed by the commands, and according to the principles indicated in No. 4():i; al- ways preceding the command, by companies right (or left) wheel, by the command, by inversion.
Successive Formations.
412. Under the denomination of successive forma- tions are included all those formations where the several subdivisitnis of a column arrive one after an- other on the line (»f battle ; such are formations on the right, or left, forward and faced to the rear into line of battle, as well as deployments of columns in mass.
413. The successive formations which may be or- dered when the c(»lumn is marching, and is to con- tinue marching, will be executed by a coujbinatiou (»f the two gaits, quick and double quick time.
94 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
2d. Column at full distance, on the right (or onJhe left), into line of battle.
414. A column by company, at full distance and right in front, having to form itself on the right into line of battle, the colonel will indicate to the lieuten- ant colonel a little in advance, the point of appui, or rest, for the right, as well as the point of direction to the left; the lieutenant colonel will hasten with two markers, and establish them in the following manner on the diiection indicated.
415. Tlie first marker will be placed at the pitint of appui for the right front rank man of the leading company ; the second will indicate the point where one of the three left files of the same company, will rest when in line; they will be placed so as to pre- sent the right shoulder to the battalion when formed.
41G. These dispositions being made, the cokuiel will command :
1. On the right, into line. 2. Battalion, guide right.
417. At the second command, the right will be- come the directing flank, and the touch of the elbow will be to that side ; the right guide of the leading company will march straight forward until up with the turning point, and each foHowing guide will march in the trace of the one immediately pre; eding.
418 The leading company being nearly up with the first marker, its ca})tain will connnaud; 1. Right turn, and w^hen the company is precisely up with this marker, he will add : 2. March.
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART VL 95
419. At the command march, the company will turn to the ripht; the right guide will so dirt-ct him- self as to bring the man next to him opposite to the right marker, and when at three paces Irum him, the captain will command:
1. First compnmj. 2. HALT.
420. At the second command, the company will halt; the files, not yet in line, will form promptly; the left guide will retire as u file closer; and the cap- tain will then command:
3. Righi — Dress.
421. At this command, the company will align it- self; the two men who find themselves opposite to the two markers, will each liglitly rest his breast against the right arm of his marker; the captain, passing to the right of the frcuit rank, will direct the aligmnent on thest; tw<t men. These rules are general for all successive formations.
422. The second company will continue to march straightforward; wln-n arrived oj)posite to the left flank of the jjreccdinn company, it will turn to ^he right, and be formed on th»' line of battle, as has just been prescribi-d ; the right guide will direct himself 8o as to come upon that liiu? by the side of the man on the left of the first company.
423. At the distance of three paces from the line of battle, the company will be halt«»d by its captain, who will place himseh I'r.Aly by the side of the man
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96 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
on the left of the precediiig coiupjinj-, and align Iiim self correctly on its front rank.
424. The left fjuide will, at the same time, place II himself before one of the tliree left files of liis com- pany, and facing to the right, he will })laee himself accurately on the divection of the two markers of the preceding company.
425. The captain will then command:
Right Dress.
42G At this command, the second company will dress forward on the line; the captain will direct its alignment on the front rank man who has rested his breast against the left guide of the company.
427. The following companies will thus come suc- cessively to form themselves on the line of battle, each conforming itself to what has just been pre- scribed for tluMMie next to the right; and when they shall all be established, the colonel will command:
Guides— FOSTS.
• 428. At this command, the guides will take their places in line of battle, and the markers placed be- fore the right company will retire.
429. If the column be marching in quick time, and the colonel should wish to cause the movement to be executed in double quick time, he will add the com- mand : Double quick — Makcm. At the command march, all the companies will take the double quick
SCFIOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 97
stop, and tlse movement will be executed as prescrib- ed, No. 417, and following.
■\:]0. The coloufl will follow up the formation, pas- sing along in front, and being alwa3s oi)p(»siteto the C(»mpany about to turn : it is thus that he will be the better able to see and to correct the error that would r<'.sult from a C(»uuuand given too soon or too late to the preceding company.
431. The lieutenant colonel will, with the greatest care, assure the direction of the guides; to this end, the instant that the markers are established for the lending company, he will move a little beyond the point at whicli the left of the next company will rest, establish himself correctly on the prolongation of the two markers, and assure the guide of the se- cond company on this direction; this guide being as- sured, tlie lieut«'nant C(donel will place himself far- ther to the rear, in order to assure, in like manner, the guide of the third company, and so on succes- sively, to the left of the battalion. In assuring the guides in their pssiticms on the line of battle, he will take care to let tliom first place thems<_*lves, and con- fine himself to rectifying their positions if they do not cover accurately, and at the i)roper distance, the preceding guide's or markers. This rule is gen- eral for all fsitccrssirc formations.
4:V2. A column, left in front, will form itself on the left into line <if battle according to the same princi- plrs: the Ciiptains will gi. to the left of their respec- tive compMiiies to align them, and shift afterwards to their prop<T flanks, as prescribed, No. 4!.0. 7
98 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
Remarks on the formation on the right, or left, into line of battle.
433. In order that this movement may be executed with refjularity, it is necessary to establisii the line of battle so that the guide of each company, after turn- ing, may have at least ten steps to take, in order to come upon that line.
434. In the first exercises, the line of battle will be established on a direction parallel to that of the column : but when the captains and guides shall com- prehend the mechanism of the movement, the colonel will generally choose (»bli(ine directions, in order to habituate the battalion to form itself in any direc- tion.
435. When the direction of the line of battle forms a sensible angle with that of tiie march of the column, the Cidonel, before beginning the movement, will give the head ol the column a new direction parallel to that line: to this end, he will indicate to the guide of the leading comj)any a point in advance, on which this guide will inunediately direct himself, and the Comi)any will conform itself to the direction of its guide, at the command, or on a mere caution, of the captain, according as tlie change ol direction nuiy re- quire : each following company will nuike the same movement, on the same ground, as it shall successive- ly arrive. ]iy this means the guides of all the com- panies in the column will have, after turning, nearly the same numlxir of paces t<» take in order to come upon the line of battle.
436. Every captain will always observe, in placing
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 99
himself on that lino, not to give the command dress, until alter the guide of his compaey shall have been assured on the direction by the lieutenant colonel. This rule is general for all successive formations.
437. Each captain will cause his company to sup- port arms, the instant that the captain, who follows him, shall have commanded /rowf. This rule is gen- eral for all successive formations.
438. When in the execution of this movement, the colonel shall wish to commence firing, he will give the order to that effect to the captain whose compa- ny is the first in line of battle: this captain will im- mediately place himself behind the centre of his com- pany, and as soon as the next captain shall have com- manded front, he will commence the fire by file, by the connnands prescribed, school of the company. At the command/rc by file, the marker at the outer file of this first company will retire, and the other will place himself against the nearest man of the Hext company. The captain of the latter will com- mence firing as soon as the captain of the third com- pany, in line, shall have conmianded//7>H<; the mark- er bef(»re the nearest file of the sec(»nd company, in line, will now retire, and the guide before the oppo- site tlank will place himself before the nearest file of the third company, in line, and so on, in continuation, to the last company on the left or rij,'ht of the battal- ion, according as the formation may have c(tmnienced with the right or left in front.
43). In all the successive formations, the same principles will be observed for the execution of the fire by file. This fire will always be executed by the command of each captain of company.
100 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-PART IV.
3d. Column at full distance, foncard into line of battle.
440. A column being by company, at full distance, right in front, and at a halt, wlien the colonel shall wish to form it forward into line, he will conform to what is prescribed Nos. 414 and 415, and then command :
1. Foncard into line. 2. By company, left Italf icheel.
3. March (or doiddc quick— ^L\KCU).
441. At the first comnuind, the captain of the lead- ing company will add — guide right, i)ut the company in march, halt it three paces fi-om the markers, and align it against the latter by the right.
442. At the command march, all the other Compa- nies will wheel to the lef!t on fixed pivots; and, at the instant the colonel shall judge, according to the direction of the line of battle, that the companies have suflficientty wheeled, he will comnuind:
4. Foncard. 5. Maucii. G. Guide right.
443. At the fifth command, the companies ceasing to wheel, will march' straight forward; and at the sixth, the men will touch elbows towards the right. The right guide of the second company, who is near- est to the line of battle, will march straight forward; each succeeding right guide will follow the file im- mediately before him at the cessation of the wheel.
444. The second company having arrived opposite
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to the left file of the first, its captain will cause it to turn to the right, in order to approach the line of bat- tle ; and wlien its right guide shall be at three paces from that line, the capiain will command:
1. Second company. 2. Halt.
445. At the second commaud, the company will halt; the files not yet in line with the guide will cniiie into it promptly, the left guide will place him- self on the line of battle, so as to be opposite to one of the three files on the left of the company; and as soon as he is assured on the direction by the lieuten- ant colonel, the captain, having placed himself accu- rately on the line of battle, will command :
3. Right— Dress.
410. At the instant that the guide of the second company begins to turn to the right, the guide of the third, ceasing to follow the file immediately before him, will march straight forward ; and, when he shall arrive opposite to the left of the second, his captain will cause the company to turn to the right, in order to approach the line of battle, halt it at three paces from that line, and align it by the right, as prescribed for the second company.
447. Each following company will execute what has just been i)rescribed (or tlie third, as the preced- ing company shall turn to the right, in order to ap- proach the hue of battle.
102 ycnooL of the battalion— part iv.
448 The formation ended, the colonel will com- mand :
Guides — POSTS.
440. The colonel and lieutenant colonel will ob- serve in this formation, what is prescribed for them on the ri<j;ht into line.
450. A column left in front, w^ill form itself for- ward into lijie of battle according to the same prin- ciples and by inverse means.
451. When a column by company at full distance, ripht in front, and in march, shall arrive behind the right of the line on whic^i it is to form into battle, the colonel and lieutenant colonel will conform them- selves to what is prescribed Nos. 414 and 415.
452. The head of the column having arrived at company distance from the two markers established on the line, the colonel will command:
1. Fonrard into line. 2. By coinpany, left luilf wheel. 3. March (or douhle quick — Mar(;ii).
45'.5. At the first connuand, the captain of the first company will command. Guide right, aiul caution it to nuirch directly to the front, the captains of the other companies will caution them to wheel to the left.
454. At the command march, briskly repeated by the captains, the first company will continue to march to the front, takijig the touch of elbows to the right. Its chief will halt it at three paces from the mark- ers, and align it by the right. The other companies will wheel to the left on fixed pivots, and at the in-
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 103
stant tlio cctloncl sIimII juflye that they have wheeled sufficiently, he will Cduunand :
4. Forward. 5. Marcr. 6. Guide risrht.
455. At the fifth eoimnaiid, the companies will cease to wheel and nmvc forward. At the sixth, they will take the touch of elbows to the right. The movement will be executed as previously explained.
4.")6. If the Colonel should wish to form the column forward into line, and to continue to march in this order, he will not cause markers to be established ; the movement w ill be executed in double r^uick time' by the same commands and means, but with the fol- lowing modifications.
457. At the first command, the captain of tlie first com])any will add quich time after the command ^wirfc right. At the sec(Mid command, the fiist company will Continue to march in quick time, and will take the touch of elbows to the right; its chief will im- mediately ))lac<' himself on its right, and to assure tli«,' march will take j)oints of direction to the front. 'Ihe captain of the second company will cause his company to take the same gait as po(m as it shall ar- rive on a line with the first, and will als(» move to the right of his oompany ; the captains of the third and fourth companies will execute successively what has just been preseribed for the second. The companies will jireserve tlie touch of elbows to the right, until tlie command, guide centre.
458. Wlieu the color comjiany shall have entered
104 SCHOOL OF TUV. BATTALION— PART IV.
the linf , tlie colonel will coinmand (riiide centre. At this eouniiaiKl, the color-bearpr ami the right general guitle \\[]\ move rapidly six paces in advance of the line. The colonel will assure the direction of the color-bearer. Tlie lieutenant colonel and the right coni])anies will ininiediately conform tliemselves to the i)rinciples of the march in line of battle. The left companies and the left general guide, as they ar- rive ou the line, will also conform to tlie same prin- ciples. If the column be marching in double quick time, when the last comjjany shall have arrived on the line, the colonel will cause the double quick to be resumed.
. 459. It is not necessary that the movement be en- tirely completed, before halting the battalion. As soon as the part of the battalion already formed shall have arrived on the line of battle, the colonel will halt tin* battalion; the companies not in line will each complete the movement.
Re
marks on t/ic formation foriranl , into line of battle.
400. The precision of this movement depends on the direction tli(^ companies have at the moment the cohuiel commands 7V;r»7//v/— Makcii. The colonel will judge nicely the point of time for giving this command, observing that, if the direction of the line of battle form with that of the colunm a right, or nearly a right angle, the com])ai)ies <»ught to wheel about the eighth of the circle, and that the more accu- rate the angle formed by the two directions, so much the
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION -PART IV. 105
more tbo compnnies ought to wheel before inarching straight forward. ^
401. It is impitrtant that each company in march- ing towards the line of battle should turn exactly oi)posite the point where its capt;iin ought to place himself on that line; if a company turn too soon, it will find it self masked, in part, by that which pre- ceded it on the line of battle, and be obliged to uu- m.isk itsi'lf by the oblique step; if it turn too late, it will leave an interval between itself and the pre- ceding company to be regained in like manner. In either cnse, the next company will be led into error, and the fault propagated to the opposite flank of the battalion.
402. The guide of each company ought so to regu- late himself in turning, as tobring his company to the halting point parallelly with tl;e line of battle.
403. If the angle formed by the liiie of battle and the primitive directicm of the column be so acute, that the companies on arriving o})posite to their respec- tive plares on the line of battle, find themselves near- ly ])arallol to it, the (•a])t;iins will not give the com- m;nid, riiiht (or Irft) turn, lint each h.ilt his compa- ny, ])lac»' himself on the line, and c<unmand:
Eight (or /f//)— Dress.
404. If, <»n the contrary, the angle f jmi-^d by the line of battle and the primitive direction of the cohnnn be much greater than a right angle, the for- mation should b(; executed, not by the movement /or- icard into line of battle, but by that of o« the right (or
106 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
left) into line of battle, and accoidiug to the princi- ples prescribed for this fori^ation.
465. If a company encounter an obstncle sufficient to prevent it from marching by the front, it will right (or left) face in marching, by the commnnds and means indicated in the school of the company, Nos. 314 and 315. The guide will continue to folh.w the same file behind which he was marching, and will maintain exactly the same distance from the compa- ny immediately preceding his own. The obstacle be- ing passed, the company will be formed into line by the command of its captain.
Ath. Column at full distance, faced to the rear, into line of battle.
466. A column being by company, at full distance, right in front, and at a halt, when the coh)uel shall wish to form it into line faced to the rear, he and the lieutenant colonel will conform themselves to what is prescribed Nos. 414 and 415, and the colonel will then command:
1. Into line, faced to the rear. 2. Battalion, right — Face. 3. March (or douhle quick — March).
467. At the first command, the captain of the lead- ing company wall cause it to face to the right, and put it in march, causing it to wheel by file to the left, and direct its march towards the line of battle which it will pass in rear of the left marker; the first file having passed three paces beyond the line, the com- pany will wheel again by file to the left, in order to
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 107
]'lice itself in rear of the two markers; being in this position, its captain will halt it, face it to the i'v'-mt, and align it by the right against the markers.
468. At the second command, all the other compa- iiiis will face to the right, each captain placing him- M li' by the side of his right guide.
4(59, At the command march, the companies will put themselves in movement; the left guide of the second, who is nearest to the line of battle, will hasten in advance to mark that line; he will place himself on it as prescribed above for successive formntions, and thus indicate to his captain the point at which he ought to pass the line of battle, by three paces, in order to wheel by file to the left, and then to direct his company parallelly to that line.
470, As soon as the first file of this company shall have arrived near the left file of the preceding one already on the line of battle, its captain will com- mand :
1. Second company. 2. Halt. 3. Front, 4. Riorht— Dress.
471. The first command will be given when the company shall yet have four paces to take to reach the halting point.
472. At the second command, the company will halt.
473. At the third, the company will face to the front, and if there be openings between the files, the latter will promptly close to the right ; the captain will immediately place himself by the side of the man
108 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
on the left of the preceding company, and align him- self on its frout rank.
474. The fourth command will be executed as pre- scribed, No. 426.
475. The following companies will be conducted and established on the line of battle as just prescrib- ed for the second, each regulating itself by the one that precedes it; the left guides will detach them- selves in time to precede their respective companies on the line by twelve or fifteen paces, and each place himself so as to be opposite to one of the three left files of his company, when in line. If the movement be executed in double quick time, the moment it is commenced, all the left guides will detach themselves at the same time from the column, and will move at a run, to establish themselves on the line of battle.
476. The fornuition ended, the colonel will com- mand :
Guides —TosTS.
477. The colonel and lieutenant colonel, in this formation, will each observe what is prescribed for him in that of on the right, into line of battle.
478. A column, left in front, will form itself faced to the rear into line of battle according to the same principles and by inverse means.
■ 479. If the column be in march, and should arrive in front of the right of the line on which it is to form into battle, the colonel and lieutenant colonel will conform to what is prescribed, Nos. 414 and 415.
480. When the head of the column shall be nearly
SCHOOr- OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 109
at oonipany distance from the two markers establish- ed on the line, the eoU>nel will command:
]. Into line, faced to the rear. 2. Battalion, hy the right fank. 3. Marcu (or douhlc quick — March).
4'^!. At the first command, the captains will cau- tion their companies to face by the right flank.
482. At the command march, briskly repeated by the captains of companies, all the companies will fiice to llie rijL'ht; the first company will then wheel by file to the left, and be directed by its captain a little to the rear of the left marker; then pass three paces beyond the line, and wheel agam by file to the left; havinc arriv.-d on the liue, the captain will halt the cf»mpany, and align it by the right. The remaining part of the movement will be executed as heretofore explained.
4H3. The foregoing principles are applicable to a column, left in frout.
484. As the companies approach the line of battle, it i/s necessary that their captains should so direct the march as t<> cn»s8 that line a little in rear of their re- spective L'uides, who are faced to the basis of the formation; lience each guide ought to detach himself in time to find himself correctly established on the directi<»n before his company shall come up with bim.
110 sen )0L UF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
Article Third. Formation in line of battle by tico movements.
485. If a column by company, riolit in front, and at a halt, find itself in part on the line of battle, and the colonel should think proper to foi ni line of bat- tle before all the companies enter the new direction, the fornnition will be executed in the foUowing man- ner.
486. It will be supposed that the colunm has ar rived behind the line of battle, and that five compa- nies have entered the new direction. The coU)nel having assured the guides of the first five companies on the direction, will command :
1. Left into line, wheel. 2. Three rear companies, forward into line.
487. At the second connnaiid, the chief of each of the rear companies wid c(uninand : By company, left half ichccl; and the colonel will add:
3. March ('or double quick — March).
488. At this command, briskly repeated, the first five companies will form themselves to the left, into line of battle, and the three last forward, into litie of battle, by the means presci-ibed for these respective formations; each captain of the three rear companies will, when his company shall have sufficiently wheel- ed, command :
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. Ill
1. Foncard. 2. March. 3. Guide right.
4S9. If the column be iu march, the c<ilonel will comma. :d :
1. To the left, and foncard into line. 2. March (or double quick — MARCH J.
490. At the first command, the captains of those companies which have not entered on the new direc- tion, will command: By company, left halfichccl. At the command march, briskly repeated, the first five companies will form left into line, and the last three forward into line, as prescribed for these respective formations. Tli«)se captains who foi m their companies forward iut<> line will conform to what is prescribed, No. 488.
491. If the colonel should wish, in forming the bat- talion into line, to march it immediately forward, he will command:
1. By company to the left, and forward into line. 2. March.
492. At the first command, each captain, whose company is not yet in the new direction, will com- mand: ]. By company, left half icheel; 2. Double quick. At the command march, briskly repeated by the cap- tains, the companies not in the new direction will execute what is prescribed above f(u-formi g forward
I into linr while marching; each of the other companies j will wheel to the left on a fixed pivot, and when the
]12 SCHOOL OF THE H ATT A LION -PART IV.
right of those coinpanies shall iirrive (Ui the line, the colonel will coininand:
3. Foricard. 4. March. 5. Guide centre.
493. The fifth comuiiind will be given when the color-bearer arrives on the line, if not already there.
494. If the battalion be inarching in donble quick time, the colonel will cause quick time to be taken before connnencing the niovemeut.
495. If, instead of arriving behind, the column should arrive before the line of battle, the colonel will command :
I. Left into line, ir/tcel. 2. Three rear companies into line, faced to the rear.
49C. At the second connnand, the cnptain of each of the three rear companies w'll connnand: ]. Such company; 2. Right — Fack. The coloiicl will then add:
3. March (or double quick — March).
497. At this command, briskly repeated, the first five companies \\\\\ form themselves to the left, into line of battle, and the three la^i faced to the rear, into line of battle, by the means prescribed for these re- spective formations.
498. If the column be in inarch, the colonel will command :
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 113
1. To the Ifft, and into line faced to the rear. 2. March for double quick — Marchj.
499. The movement will be executed as prescribed Nos. 391, 480, and following.
500. These several movements in a column, left in fnmt, will be exeeuted according to the same prin- ciples, and by inverse means.
Article Fourth.
Different modes of passing from column at half dis- tance, into line of battle.
1. To the left (or right) ^
2. On the right (or left) I- ^ v x- u i.i.i
3. Forward, bj%deployment, ^°*« ^"^« ^^ ^^^t^^-
4. Faced to the rear J
1st. Column at half distance, to the left ('or right) into line of battle.
501. A column at half distance having to form it- self to the left (((r right) into line of battle, the co- lonel will cause it to take distances by one of the means prescribed. Article IX., Part third, of this school; which being executed, he will form the col- umn into line of battle, as has been indicated, No. 390, and following.
502. If a column by company, at half distance, be in march, and it be necessary t<» form rapidly into line of battle, the colonel will command :
8
114 SCHOOL (»F THE BATTALION— PART IV.
1 By the rear of colinini left (ov right) into line, trhccl. 2. March Cor r/owWc quick — MarchJ.
503. At the first command, the ri<;ht iiciienil guide will move riipidly to the front, and jilace liiniself a little beyond the ])oint where tlie head of the eolumu will rest, and on the prolongation of the guides. The captain of the eighth company will command: Left into line, irltecl ; llie other captains will caution their companies to continue to mar^-h to the front.
504. At the command ninrch, briskly repeated by the captain of the eighth company, tiie ruide of this company will halt sliort, and the company will wheel to the left, contorming to the prin^ples prescribed for wheeling from a halt; when its right shall arrive near tlie line, the captain will halt the company, and align it by the left. Tiu^ oilier captains will place themselves briskly on the flank of the ct)liimn; when the captain of the seventh sees thei-e is sufticient dis- taiKM' bctwetMi his company and the eighth to form the latter into line, he will command : Left into line, trhel — March ; the left guide w ill lialt short, and facing to the rear, will j)lace himself on the line; the comiiaiiy will wheel to the left, the man on the left of the front rank \\\\\ f ice to the h'ft, and place his breast against the left arm of the guide; the captain will halt the company when its right shall arrive near the line, and will align it by the left. The other compa- nies will conform successively to what has just been prescribed for the seventh.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 115
505. Each captain will direct the alignment (»f his company on the left man in the front rank of the com- pany next on his right.
5UC. The lieutenant colonel will be watchful that the leading guide marches accurately qu the pro- longation of the line of battle, and directs himself on the right general guide. The major, placed iu rear of the left guide of the eighth company, will, as soon as the guide of the seventh company is established on the direction, hasten in rear of the guides of the other companies, so as to assure each of them in succession on the line
2d. Column at half distance, on the right (or left) into line of battle.
507. A column at half distance will form itself on the right (or left) into line of battle, as prescribed for a column at flill distance.
Sd. Column at half distance, foricard, into line of battle.
508. If it be wished to form a column at half dis- tance, forward into line of battle, the colonel will first cause it to close in mass and then deploy it on the leading company.
Ath. Column at half distance, faced to the rear, into line of battle.
509. A column at half distance will be formed into line of battle, faced to the rear, as prescribed for a column at full distance.
116 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
Article Fifth. Deployment of columns closed in inass.
510. A column in mass may be formed into line of battle :
1. Faced to the fi'ont, by the deployment.
2. Faced to the rear, by the countermarch and
the deployment.
3. Faced to the right and faced to the left, by a
change of direction by the flank, and the de- ployment.
511. When a column in mass, by division, arrives behind the line on which it is intended to depk)y it, the colonel will indicate, in advance, to the lieutenant colonel, the direction of the line of battle, as well as the point on which he may wish to direct the column. The lieutenant colonel will immediately detach him- self with two markers, and establish them on that line, the first at the point indicated, the second a little less than the front of a division from the first.
512. Deployments w^ill always be made upon lines parallel, and lines perpendicular to the line of battle : consequently, if the head of the column be near the line of battle, the colonel will commence by establish- ing the direction of the colunm perpendicularly to that line, if it be not already so, by one of the means indicated. No. 244 and following, or No. 307 and fol- lowing. If the column be in march, he will so direct
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SCHOOL
OF THE BATT
it that it may arrive exactly h peiitlicularly to the line of bat paces from that line.
513. The column, right in f supposed that the colonel wis! first division ; he will order tl go to a point on the line of bat at which the left of the battal ployed,, and place himself cor tiou of the markers establishe mn.
514 These dispositions bi will command :
1. On the first ditision, (hploy left— Fac
515. At the first command rrY'^'-'''-'^'"" it to stand
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^p4, first div?'^'f»»''^thr. hue ..fit...,'"^ "'Vision, and tij^,
r*" battle « f"' ""d thei
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALF 'N— PART IV. 117
it that it may arrive exactly behind the markers, per- pendieidarly to the line of battle, and halt it at three paces from that line.
513. The column, right in front, being halted, it is supposed that the colonel wishes to deploy it on the first division ; he will order the left general guide to go to a point on the line of battle a little beyond that at which the left of the battalion will rest when de- l^loyed. and place himself correctly on the prolonga tion of the markers established before the. first divi- sion.
514 These dispositions being made, the colonel will command :
1. On the Jii'st division, deploy column. 2. Battalion, left— Face.
515. At the first command, the chief of the first division will caution it to stand fast ; the chiefs of the three other divisions will remind them that they will have to face to the left.
516. At the second command, the three last divi- sions will face to the left; the chief of each division will place himself by the side of its left guide, and the junior captain by the side of the covering ser- geant of the left company, who will have stepped into the front rank.
517. At the same command, the lieutenant colonel will place a third marker on the alignment of the two first, opposite to one of the three left tiles of the right company, first division, and then place himself on the line of battle a few paces beyond the point at which the left of the second division will rest.
118 SCIIO L OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
518. The colonel will then coinmaud :
3. March {or double quick — Makciij.
519. At this command, the chief of the first divi- sion will go to its right, and command :
Eitrht— Dress.
520. At this, the division will dress up against the markers ; the chief of the division, and its junior cap- tain, will each align the company on its left, and then command :
Front.
521. The three divisions, faced to the left, will put themselves in march ; tlie ]eft guide of tlie second A^ill direct himself parallelly to the line of battle ; the left guides of the third and fourth divisions will march abreast with the guide of the second ; the guides of the third and fourth, each })reserving the prescribed distance between hill self and the guide of the divi- sion which preceded his own in the column.
522. The chief of the second division will not f<il- low its nujvement; he will see it file by him, and when its right guide shall be abreast with him, he will comnumd :
1- Seco7id division. 2. Halt. 2. Front.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV 119
523. The first comniaiiil will be given when the division shall yet hive seven oreight pnees t(» mareh ; the second, when the right guide shall be abreast with the chief of the division, and the third immedi- ately after the second
524 At the second connnand, the division will halt ; at the third, it will face to the front, and if there be openings between the files, the chief of the division will cause them to be promptly closed to the right ; the left guides of both companies will step upon the line of battle, face to the right, and place themselves on the direction of the markers established before the first division, each guide opposite to one of the three left files of his company.
525. The divisiim having faced to the front, its. chief will place himself accurately on the line of bat- tle, ou the left of the first division ; and when he shall see the guides assured on the direction, he will com- mand, 7^/^/t^ — Diu^ss. At this, the division will be aligned by the right in the manner indicated for the first.
526. The third and fourth divisions willccmtinue to inarch; at the connnand halt; given to the second, the chief of the third will halt in hi.s own pers(m, place himself exactly o]jposite to the guide of the second, after this division shall have faced to the front and closed its files ; he will see his division file past, and when his nght guide shall be abreast with him, he will c<mimand :
1. Third diviiiion. 2. Halt. 3. Front.
527. As soon as the division faces to the front, its
UO SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
chief will i)l;ic'e himself two paces before its centre, and comniaiid :
1. Third division, forward. 2. Guide right. 3. Maucii.
528. At the third coniniaiid,tbe division will march towards the line of battle ; the ri«,dit gnide will so di- rect himself as to arrive by the side of the man on the left of the second division, and when the division is at three paces from the line of battle, its chief will halt it and align it by the right.
529. The chief of the fourth division will conform himself (and the chief of the fifth, if there be a fifth) to what has just been prescribed for the third.
5:50. The d(;ployment end<?d, the colonel will com- ma nd :
Guides — Posts.
531. At this ccnnmand, the guides will resume their places in line of battle, and the markers will retire.
532. If the c lunni be in inarch, aiul the colonel shall wish to deploy it on the first division without halting the colunui, he will make the dispositi<ms in- dicated Nos. 512 and 513, and when the first division shall have ari'ived at three paces from the line, he will command :
1. On the first dicision, dt ploy column. 2. Battalion by the left flank. 3. INIarcii for double quick — March).
SBHOOL OF TPIE BATTALION- PART IV. 121
533. At the first command, the chief of the first division will caution it to halt, and will command, First division ; the other chiefs will caution their di- visions to face by the left flank.
534. At the command march, briskly repeated by the chiefs of the rear divisions, the chief of the first division will command, PIalt, and will align his divi- sion by the right against the markers ; the other di- visions will face to the left, their chiefs hastening to the left of their divisions. The second division will conform its movements to what is prescribed Nos. 522 and following. The third and fourth divisions will execute what is prescribed Nos. 526 and follow- ing; but the chief of each division will halt in his own person at the command march given by the chief of the division which precedes him, and when the right of his division arrives abreast of him, he will command :
Such division, by the right flank — March.
535. The lieutenant colonel will assure the position of the guides, conforming to what is prescribed No. 431. The major will follow the movement abreast with the fourth division.
536. If the colonel shall wish to deploy the column without halting it, and to continue the march, the markers will not be posted ; the movement will be executed by the same comuiands and the same means as the foregoing, but with the following modifica- tions :
537 At the first command, the chief of the first division will command, 1. Guide right. 2. Quick time. At the command, Double quick — March, given
122 .SCHOOL ON THE BATTALION— PAliT IV.
by the coloiu'l, t!ie first division will m;irch iu quick time and will t.iko the touch of elbows to the right ; the captiiins will i)lace themselves on tlie right of their respective companies; the captain on the right of the battalion will take points on the ground to as- sure the direction of the march. The chief of the second division will allow his division to tile past him, and when he sees its right -ibreast of him, he will command, 1. Second dirision by the right flunk. 2. Mauch. '^. Guide right, and when this division shall arrive on the alignment of the first, he will cause it to march in quick time. The third and fourth-di- visions will deploy according to the same principles at the second.
538. The c<donel, lieutenant colonel, major, ar.d co- lor-bearer will conform themselves to what is pre- scribed No. 458.
539. The c«donel will see, pending the movement, that the princii)lcsjust prescribed are duly observed, and particul.irly that the divisions, in deploying, be not halted t(to soon nor toi) hite. He \^■ill C(»rrect promptly and <piickly the iaults that may be commit- ted, and prevent their jtropagation. This rule is general for all dcploijnieuts.
540. The column being at a halt, if, instead of de- ploying it on llie first, the colonel shall wish to de- ploy it on the rearmost division, he will cause the dis- positions to be made indicated No. 5J1 and foUowiiig; but it will be the right general guide whom he will send to phice himself beyond the p<tint at which the right of the battalion will rest when deployed.
541. The colonel will then command:
SCHOOL OF THE RATTALI" N— PART IV. 123
1. On the fourth ('or sucL) division, deploy column. 2. Battalion, right— Face.
542. At the first coinuiand, the chief of the fourth division will caution it to stand fast ; the chiets of the other divisions will caution them that they will have to face to the right.
543. At the second command, the first three divi- sions will face to the right ; and the chief of each will place himself by the side of its right guide.
544. At the same command, thf^ lieutenant colonel will place a third marker between the first two, so that this marker may be opposite to one of the three right files of the left company of the division; the lieutenant colonel will then place himself on the line of battle a few paces beyond the point at which the right of the third division will rest when de- ployed.
545. The colonel will then command :
3. March (or douLlc quick — March j.
546. At this command, the three right divisions will put themselves in march, the guided of the first so di recting himself as to pass thi-ee paces within the line marked by the right general guide. The chief of the third division will not folhnv its movement ; he will see it file past, halt it when its l&ft guide shall be abreast with him, and cause it to face to the front ; and, if there be openings between the files, he will cause them to be promptly closed to the left.
124 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
547. Tho chief of the fourth division, when he sees it nearly unmasked by the three others, will com- mand :
1. Fourth division, forward . 2. Guide left. 3. March.
548. At the ctmimand march, which will be given the instant the fourth is unmasked, this division will approach the line of battle, and when at three paces from the markers on that line, its chief will halt it, and command:
Left— Dress.
549. At this command, the division will dress for- ward against the markers ; the chief of the division and the junior captain will each align the company on his right, and then command ;
Front.
550. The instant that the third division is unmask- ed, its chief will cause it to approoch the line of bat- tle, and halt it in the manner just prescribed for the fourth.
551. The moment the division halts, its right guide and the covering sergeant of its left company will step on the line of battle, placing themselves on the prolongati<m " of the markers established in frontof the fourth division ; as soon as they shall be assured in their positions, the division will be aligned as has just been prescribed for the fourth.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 125
552. The second and first divisions which will have continned to march, will, in succession, be halted and aligned by the left, in the same manner as the third; the chiefs of these divisions will conform themselves to what is prescribed, No. 5'2(3. The second being near the line of battle, the command will not b(; giv- en for it to move on this line but it will be dressed up to it.
553. The deployment ended, the colonel will com- mand:
Guides— FosTS.
554. At this command, the chiefs of division and the guides will resume their places in line of battle, and the markers will retire.
555. The lieutenant colonel will assure the posi- tions of the guides by the means indicated. No. 431, and the major will follow the movement abreast with the fourth division.
556. If the column be in march, and the colonel shall wish to deploy it on the fourth division, he will make the dispositions indicated. No. 511 and follow- ing; and when the head of the column shall arrive within three paces of the line, he will command :
1. On the fourth division, deploy column. 2. Battal- ion, by the right flank. 3. March (or double quick — March).
557. At the first command, the chief of the fourth division will caution it to halt, and will command. Fourth division; the chiefs of the other divisions will caution their divisions to face to the right.
12G SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-PART IV.
558. At the command march, briskly repented by the chiefs of the first three divisions, the. eliief of the fourth will command : Halt. Tlie first three divi- sions will face to the right, and be directed parallelly to the line of battle. The chief of eacli of these divisions will place himself by the side of its right guide. The chief of the tliird division will see liis division file past him, and when his left guide is abreast of him, he will halt it, and face it to the front. The chief of the fourth division, wlien he shall see it nearly unmasked, will command: 1. Fourth division foricard ; 2. Guide left; 3. MARfll (or double quick — March). Tliis division will nu)ve towards the line of battle, and when at three paces from this line, it will be halted by its chief, and align- ed by the left.
559. The chief of the third division will move his division forward, cojitorming to what has just been prescribed for the fourth.
560. The chiefs of the second and first divisions, after halting their divisions, will conform to what is prescribed. No. 552.
561 If the colonel should wish to deploy on the fourth division, without halting the column, and to continue to march forward, he will not have markers posted, and tlie movement will be executed by the same conuuandsaud the same means, with the follow- ing modificiitions: the iiuirth division, when un- masked, will be moved forward in quick tinu', and will Ctuitinue to nuirch, instead of being halted, and will take the touch of elbows to the left. The third division, on being unmasked, will be moved to the fyu:t in double quick time, but when it arrives on the
SCH OL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 127
'alignment of the fourth it will take the quick step, and dress to the left until theconinuind Guide centre, lis given by the colonel. The chiefs of the second and Hrst divisions will conform to what has been pre- scribed for the third. When the first divisiim shall arrive on the line, the colonel may cause the battal- ion to take the double quick step.
5G2. The colonel and lieutenant colonel will con- form to what has been'piescribed, Nos. 458 and 459.
563. To deploy the column on an interior division, the colonel will cause the line to be traced by the means above indicated, and the general guides will move briskly on the line, as prescribed, Nos. 513 and 54i>. This being executed, the colonel will com- mand :
1. On such division, deploy column. 2. Battalion outicards— Face. 3. March (or double quick — March.)
564. Whether the column be with the right or left in front, the divisions which, in the (trder in battle, belong to the right of the directing one, will face to the right ; the others, except the directing division, will face to the left ; the divisions in front of the lat- ter will deploy by the means indicated. No. 542, and following: those in its rear will deploy as is pre- scribed, No. 513, and following.
565. The directing division, the instant it finds it- self mimasked, will approach the line of battle, taking
123 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV.
the guide left or right, according as the riglit or left of the coluniii may be in front. The chit'f of tliis di- vision will align it by tht^ directing flank, and then step back into the rear, in order uionientarily to give place to the chief of the next for aligning the next division.
566. The lientenant colonel will assnre the posi- tions of the gnides of divisions, which in the line of battle, take the right of the directing division, and the major will assure the p(>sitions of the other guides.
567. If the column be iu march, the colonel will command:
1. On such division, deploy column. 2. Battalion, by the right and left flanks. 3. MARCH Cor dou hie quick — MARCH.)
568. The divisions which are in front of the di- recting one will deploy by the means indicated, Nos. 557, and following; those in rear, as prescribed, No. 533, and following.
569. The directing division, when unmasked, will j conform to what is prescribed for the fourth division, No. 558.
570. The colonel, lieutenant ctdonel and major will conform to what has been prescribed, Nos. 458 and 459.
571. In a column, left in front, deployments will be executed according to the same principles, and by in- verse means.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 129
Remarks on the deployment of columns, closed in mass.
572. All the divisions ought to deploy rectangularly, to march otF abreast, and to preserve their distances towards the line of battle.
57:1 Each division, the instant that it is unmasked, ought to be marched towards the line of battle, and to be aligned upon it by the flank next to the direct- ing division ; the latter, whether the right or left be in front, will always be aligned by the fliink next to the point'of appiti, when the deph»ynient is made on the first or last division ; but if the column be de- ployed on an interior division, this division will be aligned by the flank which teas tliat of direction.
574. The chiefs of division will see that, in deploy- ing, the principles prescribed for marching by the flank are well observed, and if openings between the files occur, which ought not to happen except on broken or diflicult grounds, the openings ought to be promptly closed towards the directing flaiik as soon as the divisions face to the frcmt.
575. If a chief of division give the cammand halt, or the command, hy the right or left flank, too soon or too late, his division will be obliged to oblique tc the right or left in approaching the liise of battle, and his fault may lead the following subdivision iato error.
576. In the divisions which deploy by the left flank, it is always the left guide of each company who ought to place himself on the line of battle, to mark the
9
]30 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION -PART IV.
direction; in divisions wiiicli deploy b}' the right flank, it is the right guide.
577. A column by company, closed in mass, may be formed to the lelt or to the right into line, in the same manner as a column at half distance, and by the means indicated, No. 5U2, and following.
578. A column by company, closed in mass, may be formed on the right or on the left into line of battle, as a column at half distance ; but in order to execute this movement, without arresting the march of the column, it is necessary that the guides avoid, with the greatest care, shortening the step in turning, and that the men near them, resijectivcly, conform themselves rapidly to the movements of their guides.
Remarks on inversions.
579. Inversions giving frequently the means of forming line of battle, in the promptest manner, are of great utility in the movements of au army.
580. Tlie ai)plication that may be made of inver- sions in ftie formations to the right and to the left in line of battle, has been indicated. No. 407, and fol- lowing. Tliey may also be advantageously employed in the successive formations, except in that of faced to the rear, into line of battle.
581. Formations, by inversion, will be executed ac- cording to the same pi-inciples as formations in the direct order: but the colonel's first connnand w'ill al- ways begin by inversion.
582. The battalion being in line of battle by inver-
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART IV. 131
sion, when the colonel shall wish, by forming it into column, to bring it back to the direct order, he will cause it either to break or to ploy by company, or by division, accordingly as the column may have been by company or by division before it had been formed into line of battle by inversion.
583. When a battalion in line of battle, formed by inversion, has to be ployed into column, the move- ment will be executed according ^ the same prin- ciples as if the line were in the direct order, but ob- serving what follows.
584. If it be intended that the column shall be by division, with the first in front, or by company, with the first company in front, the colonel will announce in the second command — left in front, because the battalion being in line of battle by inversion, that sub- division is on the left.
585. Each chief whose subdivision takes position in the column in front of the directing one, will conduct his subdivision till it halts; and each chief whose sub- division takes position in rear of the directing one, will halt in his own person when up with the pre- ceding right guide, and see his subdivision file past ; and each chief will align his subdivision by the right. When the column is to be put in march, the second command will be — guide left, because the proper right is in front.
586. For the same reason, if it be intended that the last subdivision shall be in front, right in front, will be announced in the second comnjuiidj he sub- divisions will be aligned by the left, and to put the
132 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-rART V.
column in mareli, tbo Krcdnd command ^vill 1 o, gui(l< right, because the proper left is iu front.
PART FIFTH.
Article First.
To adcance in line of battle.
587. The battalion being correctly aligned, and supposed to be the directing one, when tlie colonel shall wish to march in line of battle, be will give the lieutenant colonel an intimation of his purpose, place himself about forty paces in rear of the color-iile, and face to the front.
588. The lieutenant coh)nel will place himself a like distance in front of the same file, and face to the colonel, who will establish him as correctly as jxks- sible, by signal of the sword, peri)endicularly to the line of battle opposite to the color-bearer. The co- lonel will next, above the heads of the lieutenant colonel and color-bearer, take a point of direction in the field beyond, if a distinct one present itself, ex- actly iu the prolongation of those first two points.^
589. The colonel will then move* twenty paces fiir- ther to the rear, and establish two markers on the prolongation of tlie straight line jjassing through the color-bearer and the lieutenantcolonel ; these mai-kera will face to the rear, the first placed about twenty- five paces behind the rear rank of the battalion, and the second at the same distance from the first.
1^
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132 SCI
column in right, becj
587. Th supposed 1 shall wish lieutenant himself ab face to th«
588. Th distance ii colonel, w sible, by s line of bat lonel will colonel an the field b actly in tl
589. Tl therto tl prolongati color-bear will face five paces the secon<
I
-KzrTK
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V. 133
590. The color-bearer will be instructed to take, the moment the lieutenant colonel shall be establish- ed on the perpendicular, two points on the ground in the straight Hue which, drawn from himself, would pass between the heels of that officer; the first of these points will be taken at fifteen or twenty paces from the color-bearer.
591. These dispositions being made, the colonel will command :
1. Battalion, for icard.
592. At this, the front rank of the color-guard will advance six paces to the fiont; the corporals in the rear rank will place themselves in the front rank, and these will be replaced by those in the rank of file clos- ers ; at the same time the two general guides will move in advance, abreast with the color-bearer, the one on the right, opposite to the captain of the right company, the other opposite to the sergeant who closes the left of the battalion.
593. The captains of the left wing will shift, pass- ing before the front rank, to the left of their respec- tive companies ; the sergeant on the left of the battal- ion will step back into the rear rank. The covering sergeant of the company next on the left of the color- company, will step into the front rank.
594. The lieutenant colonel having assured the col- or-bearer on the line between himself and the corpo- ral of the color-file, now in the front rank, will go to the position which will be hereinafter indicated. No. 602.
134 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V.
595. The major will i)lace himsolf six or eight paces on either flank of the color-rank.
596. The colonel will then command:
2. March (or double quick — March).
597. At this command, the battalion will step off with life; the color-bearer, charged with the step and direction, will scrnpnlonsly observe the length and cadence of the pace, marching on the prolongation of the two points previously taken, and successively tak- ing others in advance by the means indicated in the school of the company; the corporal on his right, and the one on his left, will march in the same step, tak- ing care not to turn the head or shoulders, the color- bearer supporting the color-Ianee against the hip.
598. The two general guides will march in the same step with the color-rank, each maintaining him- self abreast, or nearly so, with that rank, and neither occupying himself with the movement of the other.
599. The three corporals of the color-guard, now in the front rank of the battalion, will march well aligiK'd, elbow to clliow, heads direct to tlie fi'ont, and without deranging the line of their shoulders; the centre one will Ibllow exactly in the trace of the color-bearer, and maintain the same step, without lengthening or shortening it, except on an intimation from the cohmel or lieutenant colonel, although he should find himself more or less than six paces from the color-rank.
SCHOOL OF TEIE BATTALION— PART V. 135
600. The covering sergeant in the front rank be- tween the color-comi)any and the next on the left, will march elbow to elbow, and on the same line, with the three corporals in the centre, his head well to the front.
601. The captains of the color-company, and the company next to the left, will constitute, with the three corporals in the centre of the front rank, the basis of alignment lor both wings of the battalion; they will march in the same step with the color-bear- er, and exert themselves to maintain their shoulders exactly in the square with the direction. To this end, they will keep their heads direct to the front, only occasionally casting an eye on the three centre cor- porals, with the slightest possible turn of the neck, and if they perceive themselves in advance, or in rear of these corporals, the captain, or two captains, will almost insensibly shorten or lengthen the step, so as,
i at the end of several paces, to regain the true align- ment, without giving sudden checks or impulsions to the wings beyond them respectively.
602. The lieutenant colonel, placed twelve or fif- teen paces on the right of the captain of the color- company, will maintain this captain and the next one beyond, abreast with the three centre corporals; to this end, he will caution either to lengthen or to short- en the step as may be necessary, which the captain, or two captains, will execute as has just been explained.
G03. All the other captains will maintain them- selves on the prolongation of this basis; and, to this end, they will cast their eyes towards the centre, tak-
136 SCHOOL OF THE BATTAI, ION— PART V.
ing care to turn the neck but sliirhtly, and not to de- range the direction of their shoulder.
604. The captains will observe the march of their companies, and prevent the men from getting in ad- vance of the line of captains; they will not lengthen or shorten step except when evidently necessary; be- cause, to correct, with too scrupulous attention, small faults, is apt to cause the production of greater — loss of calmness, silence, and equality of step, each of which it is so important to maintain.
605. The men will constantly keep their heads well directed to the front, feel lightly the elbow towards the centre, resist pressure coming from the flank, give the greatest attention to the squareness of should- ers, and hold themselves always very slightly behind the line of the captains, in order never to shut out from the view of the latter the basis of alignment; they will, from tinu^ to time, cast an eye on the col- or-rank, or on the general guide of the wing, in order to march constantly in the same step with those ad- vanced persons.
608. Pending the march, the line determined by the two markers (h and d) will be prcdonged by plac- ing, in prop(u-tion as the battalion advances, a third marker (i j in the rear of the first {h), then the unirk- er (d) will quit his place and go a like distance in rear of (i); the marker (Ji) will, in his turn, do the like in respect to (d), and so on, in succession, as long as the l);ittalion continues to iidvance; each marker, on shifting ])osition, taking care to face to the rear, and to cover accurately the twonnirkers al- ready established on the direction. A statF officer, or tiie quartermaster sergeant, designated for the-
137
ly fifteen
from the
to shift
.'hind the
5elf about battalion, of mark- battalion, . 617 and or-bearer mniand :
isten thir- ank, halt, ■ direction he sword; will then
I from the iite shoul-
II conform
nself upon
line to the r the cor- then take
1^
H^ H ' • H C
I SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V. 137
i purpose, and who will hold himself constantly fifteen
I vv twenty paces facing the marker farthest from the
t liittalion, will cantion each marker when to shift
f iilice, and assure him on the direction behind the
I other two.
GOT. The colonel will habitually bold himself about
tliirty paces in rear of the centre of his battalion,
1 I lung care not to put himself on the line of mark-
I v<. if, for example, by the slanting of the battalion,
the indications which will be given, Nos. 617 and
i lowing, he find that the march of the color-bearer
, is not perpendicular, he will promptly command:
Point of direction to the right Cor left).
G08. At this command, the major will hasten thir- ty or forty paces in advance of the color-rank, halt, face to the colonel, and place himself on the direction wliich the latter will indicate by signal of the sword; the corporal in the centre of the battalion will then direct himself upon the major, on a caution from the c.ilonel, advancing, to that end, the opposite shoul- der ; the corporals on his right and left will conform themselves to his direction.
609. The color-bearer will also direct himself upon the major, advancing the opposite ?honlder, the nia- jor causing him, at the same time, to incline to the right or left, until he shall exactly cover the cor- poral of his file; the color bearer will then take points on the ground in this new direction.
138 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V.
610. The two general guides will conform them- elves to the new direction of the color-rank.
Cll. The officer charged with observing the suc- cessive replacing of the markers in the rear of the centre, will establish them promptly on the new di- rection, taking for basis the color-bearer and the corporal of his file in the centre of the battalion ; the C(donel will verify the new direction of the markers.
612 The lieutenant colonel, from the position giv- en, No. Cl)2, will see that the two centre companies, and successively all the others, conform themselves to the new direction of the centre, but without precip- itancy or disorder; he will then endeavor t<» maintain that basis of alignment for the battalion, perpendic- ularly to the direction pursued by the color-bearer.
613. He will often observe the march of the two wings; and, if he discover that the captains neglect to conform themselves to the basis of alignment, he will recall their attention by the comnunul — caj)- tain of (such) cumpamj, or captains of (such) com- pa7iies, on the line — witliout, however, endeavoring too scrupulously to correct small faults.
614. The major on the flank of the c<dor-rank will, during the march, place himself, from time to time, twenty paces in front of that rank, face to the rear, and place himself correctly on the i)rolongation of the markers established behind the centre, in order to verify the exact nuuch of the color-bearer on that line ; he will rectify, if necessary, the direction of the color-bearer, who will immediately take two new
I
^il'lillWIiBlig
H Sa H H
I r
I
H t^ H — r
ti m n ^-
i
I
H H -ZZX
1
line ; he will rectify, if necessary, tlio direction of the color-bearor, who will immediately take two new
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION- PART V. 139
(I pciDts on the ground behveeu himself and the ma-
i jm-.
* 615. All the principles applicable to the advance ill line, are the same for a suhordinate as for the di- » ?7r?/«^ battalion; but when the battalion under in- t srruction is supposed to be subordinate, no markers i ^^ ill be placed behind its centre.
Remarks on the advance in line of battle.
(116. If, in the exercises of detail, or courses of ele- uit'iitary instruction, the officers, sergeants, corporals, ami men, have not been well confirmed in the princi- I'l's of the position underarms, as well as in the length ;tii(l cadence of the step, the march of the battalion in line will be floating, unsteady, and disunited.
i!17. If the color-bearer, instead of marching per- j(v udicularly forward, pursue an oblique direction, the battalion will slant; crowdings in one wing, and openings in the other, will follow, and these defects in the march, becoming more and more embarrassing in proportion to the deviation from the perpendicular, will commence near the centre.
618. It is then of the greatest importance that the color-bearer should direct himselt perpendicularly forward, and that the basis of alignment should al- ways be perpendicular to the line pursued by him.
619. If openings be formed, if the files crowd each other, if, in short, disorder ensue, the remedy ought to be applied as promptly as possible, but
140 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V.
calmly, with few words, and as little noise as practi- cable.
G20. The object of the general guides, in the march in line of battle is, to indicate to the companies near tlie flanks the step of the centre of the battalion, and to afford more fiicility in establishing the wings on the direction of the centre if they should be too much in the rear; hence the necessity that these guides should maintain the same step, and march abreast, or very' nearly so, with the color-rank, which it will be easy for them to do by casting from time to time an eye on that rank.
621 . If the battalion happen to lose the step, the colonel will recall its attention by the connnand, to the — Stkp ; captains and their companies will im- mediately cast an eye on the color-rank, or one of the general guides, and promptly conform themselves to the step.
G22. Finally, it is of the utmost importance to the attainment t>f regularity in the march in line of bat- tle, to habituate the battalion to execute with as much order as promptness the movements prescribed No. C07 and following, for rectifying the direction ; it is not less essential that commanders of battalions should exercise themselves, with the greatest care, in forming their own coup dhril, in order to be able to judge with precision the direction to be given to their battalions.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V. 141
Article Second.
Oblique march in line of battle.
623 The battalion marching in line of battle, when the colonel shall wish to cause it to oblique, he will command :
1. Right for left) oblique. 2. March (or double quick — March ).
624. At the first command, the major w:ill place himself in front of, and fticed to the color-bearer.
625. At the command march, the whole battalion will take the oblique step. The companies and cap- tains will strictly observe the principles established in the school of the company.
626. The major in frt»nt of the color-bearer ought to maintain the latter in a line with the centre cor- poral, so that the color-beaier may oblique neither more nor less than that corporal. He will carefully observe also that they follow parallel directions and preserve the same length of step.
627. The lieutenant colonel will take care that the captains and the three corporals in the centre keep ex- actly on a line and follow parallel directions.
628. The colonel will see that the battalion pre- serves its parallelism ; he will exert himself to pre- vent the files trom opening or crowding. If he per- ceive the latter fault, he will cause the files on the flank, to which the battalion obliques, to open out.
142 SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION— PART V.
629. The colonel, wishing the direct march to be re- sumed, will command :
1. Forward. 2. March.
630. At the command march, the battalion will re- sume the direct march. The mnjor will pla«;e himself thirty paces in front of the color-bearer, and face to the colonel, who will establish him, by a signal of the sword, on the direction which the color-bearer ought to pursue. The latter will immediately take two points on the ground between himself and the major.
631. In resuming the direct march, care will be taken that the men do not close the intervals which may exist between the files at once ; it should be done almost insensibly.
Remarks on the oblique march.
632. The object of the oblique stop is to gain ground to the right or U.'ft, preserving all the wliile the prim- itive direction of the line of battle ; as thus, for ex- ample : the battalion, departing from the line {sz), arrives on the line {xx) parallel to