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587.
The battalion being correctly aligned, and supposed to be the
directing one, when the colonel shall wish to mach in line of
battle, he will give the lieutenant colonel an intimation of his
purpose, place himself about forty paces in rear of the color-file,
and face to the front.
588.
The lieutenant colonel will place himself a like distance in front
of the same file, and face to the colonel, who will establish him as
correctly as possible, by signal of the sword, perpendicularly to
the line of battle opposite to the color-bearer. The colonel 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, exactly in the prolongation of those first two
points.
589.
The colonel will then move twenty paces farther to the rear, and
establish two markers on the prolongation of the straight line
passing through the color-bearer and the lieutenant colonel; these
markers 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.
590.
The color-bearer will be instructed to take, the moment the
lieutenant colonel shall be established on the perpendicular, two
points on the ground in the straight line 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, forward.
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592.
At this, the front rank of the color-guard will advance six paces to
the front; the corporals in the real rank will place themselves in
the front rank, and these will be replaced by those in the rank of
file closers; 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.
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593.
The captains of the left wing will shift, passing before the front
rank, to the left of their respective companies; the sergeant on the
left of the battalion 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 color-bearer on the line
between himself and the corporal of the color-file, now in the front
rank, will go to the position which will be hereinafter indicated,
No. 602.
595.
The major will place himself 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 scrupulously
observe the length and cadence of the pace, marching on the
prolongation of the two points previously taken, and successively
taking 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, taking care not to turn the head or
shoulders, the color-bearer supporting the color-lance against the
hip.
598.
The two general guides will march in the same step with the
color-rank, each maintaining himself 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 aligned, elbow to elbow, heads direct to
the front, and without deranging the line of their shoulders; the
centre one will follow exactly in the trace of the color-bearer, and
maintain the same step, without lengthening or shortening it, except
on an intimation fron the colonel or lieutenant colonel, although he
should find himself more or less than six paces from the color-rank.
600.
The covering sergeant in the front rank between the color-company
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 for both wings of the battalion; they
will march in the same step with the colorbearer, 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
corporals, 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, at the end of several paces, to regain the
true alignment, without giving sudden checks or impulsions to the
wings beyond them respectively.
602.
The lieutenant colonel, placed twelve or fifteen 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 shorten the step,
as may be necessary, which the captain, or two captains, will
execute as has just been explained.
603.
All the other captains will maintain themselves on the prolongation
of this basis; and, to this end, they will cast their eyes towards
the centre, taking care to turn the neck but slightly, and not to
derange the direction of their shoulders.
604.
The captains will observe the march of their companies, and prevent
the men from getting in advance
of the line of captains; they will not lengthen or shorten step
except when evidently be necessary; because, 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
shoulders, 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 time to time, cast an
eye on the color-rank, or on the general guide of the wing, in order
to march constantly in the same step with those advanced persons.
606.
Pending the march, the line determined by the two markers (h and d)
will be prolonged by placing, in proportion as the battalion
advances, a third marker (i) in the rear of the first (h), then the
marker (d) will quit his place and go a like distance in rear of (i);
the marker (h) will. in his turn, do the like in respect to (d), and
so on, in succession. as long as the battalion continues to advance;
each marker, on shifting position, taking care to face to the rear,
and to cover accurately the two markers already established on the
direction. A staff officer, or the quartermaster sergeant,
designated for the purpose, and who will hold himself constantly
fifteen or twenty paces facing the marker farthest from the
battalion, will caution each marker when to shift place, and assure
him on the direction behind the other two.
607.
The colonel will habitually hold himself about thirty paces in rear
of the centre of his battalion, taking care not to put himself on
the line of markers; if, for example, by the slanting of the
battalion, or the indications which will be given Nos. 617 and
following, he find that the march of the color-bearer is not
perpendicular, he will promptly command: Point of direction to the
right (or left).
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608.
At this command, the major will hasten thirty or forty paces in
advance of the color-rank, halt, face to the colonel, and place
himself on the direction which 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 colonel,
advancing, to that end, the opposite shoulder; the corporals on his
right and left will conform themselves to his direction.
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609.
The color-bearer will also direct himself upon the major, advancing
the opposite shoulder, the major causing him, at the same time, to
incline to the right or left, until he shall exactly cover the
corporal of his file; the color-bearer will then take points on the
ground in this new direction.
610.
The two general guides will conform themselves to the new direction
of the color-rank.
611.
The officer charged with observing the sutccessive replacing of the
markers in the rear of the centre, will establish them promptly on
the new direction, taking for basis the color-bearer and the cor
poral of his file in the centre of the battalion; the colonel will
verify the new direction of the markers.
612.
The lieutenant colonel, frorm the position given No. 602, will see
that the two centre companies, and successively all the others,
conform themselves to the new direction of the centre, but without
precipitancy or disorder; he will then endeavor to maintain that
basis of alignment for the battalion, perpendicularly to the
direction pursued by the colorbearer.
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 command-captain af (such) company, or captains of
(such) companies, on the line-without, however, endeavoring too
scrupulously to correct small faults.
614.
The major on the flank of the color-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
prolongation of the markers established behind the centre, in order
to verify the exact march of the color-bearer on that line; he will
rectify, if necessary, the direction of the color-bearer, who will
immediately take two new points on the ground between himself and
the major.
615.
All the principles applicable to the advance in line are the same
for a subordinate as for the directing battalion; but when the
battalion under instruction is supposed to be subordinate, no
markers will be placed behind its centre. Remarks on the advance in
line of battle.
616.
If, in the exercises of detail, or courses of elementary
instruction, the officers, sergeants, corporals, and men, have not
been well confirmed in the principles of the position under arms, as
well as in the length and cadence of the step, the march of the
battalion in line will be floating, unsteady, and disunited.
617.
If the color-bearer, instead of marching perpendicularly forward,
pursue an oblique direction, the battalion will slant; crowding 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 himself 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
shoving, disorder ensue, the remedy ought to be applied as promptly
as possible, but calmly, with few words, and as little noise as
practicable.
620.
The object of the general guides, in the march in line of battle, is
to indicate to the companies near the flanks the step of the centre
of the battalion, and to afford more facility 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 command, to the-STEP; captains and their
companies will immediately cast an eye on the color-rank, or one of
the general guides, and promptly conform themselves to the step.
622.
Finally, it is of the utmost importance to the attainment of
regularity in the march in line of battle, to habituate the
battalion to execute with as much order as promptness the movements
prescribed No. 607 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 d'oeil,
in order to be able to judge with precision the direction to be
given to their battalions. |
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