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ARTICLE
1.
DEPLOYMENTS.
15. A
company may be deployed as skirmishers in two ways; forward, and by
the flank.
16.
The deployment forward will be adopted when the company is behind
the line on which it is to be established as skirmishers: it will be
deployed by the flank, when it finds itself already on that line.
17.
Whenever a company is to be deployed as skirmishers, it will be
divided into two platoons, and each platoon will be subdivided into
two sections; the comrades in battle, forming groups of four men,
will be careful to know and to sustain each other. The captain will
assure himself that Vie files in the centre of each platoon and
section are designated.
18. A
company may be deployed as skirmishers on its right, left, or centre
file, or on any other named file whatsoever. In this manner,
skirmishers may be thrown forward with the greatest possible
rapidity on any ground they may be required to occupy.
19. A
chain of skirmishers ought generally to preserve their alignment,
but no advantages which the ground may present should be sacrificed
to attain this regularity.
20.
The interval between skirmishers depends on the extent of ground to
be covered; but in general, it is not proper that the groups of four
men
should be removed more than forty paces from
each other. The habitual distance between men
Of the same group in open grounds will be five paces; in
no case will they lose sight of each other.
21.
The front to be occupied to cover a batallion comprehends its front
and the half of each interval which separates it from the battalion
on its
right
and left. If a line, whose wings are. not supported, should be
covered by skirmishers, it will be necessary either to protect the
flanks with skirmishers, or to extend them in front of the line so
far beyond the wings as effectually to oppose any attempt which
might be made by the enemy's skirmishers to disturb the flanks.
To
deploy forward.
View
Plate No. 26 - First platoon-as skirmishers. On the left file-take
intervals.
22. A
company being at a halt or in march, when the captain shall wish to
deploy it forward on the left file of the first platoon, holding the
second platoon in reserve, he will command:
1.
First platoon-as skirmishers.
2. On the left file-take intervals.
3. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
23.
At the first command, the second and third lieutenants will place
themselves rapidly two paces behind the centres of the right and
left sections of the first platoon; the fifth sergeant will move one
pace in front of the centre of the first platoon, and will place
himself between the two sections in the front rank as soon as the
movement begins; the fourth sergeant will place himself on the left
of the front rank of the same platoon, as soon as he can pass. The
captain will indicate to this sergeant the point on which he wishes
him to direct his march. The first lieutenant, placing himself
before the centre of the second platoon, will command:
Second
platoon backward-MARCH.
24.
At this command, the second platoon will step three paces to the
rear, so as to unmask the flank of the first platoon. It will then
be halted. by its chief, and the second sergeant will place' himself
on the left, and the third sergeant on the right flank of this
platoon. If the company is on the march, the second platoon will be
halted at the first command.
25. At the command march, the left group of' four men, conducted by
the fourth sergeant, will direct itself on the point indicated; all
the other groups of fours throwing forward briskly the left
shoulder, will move diagonally to the front in double quick time, so
as to gain to the right the space of twenty paces, which shall be
the distance between each group and that immediately on its left.
When the second group from the left shall arrive on a line with, and
twenty paces from. the first., it will march straight to the front,
conforming to the gait and direction of the first, keeping
constantly on the same alignment and at twenty paces from it. The
third group, and all the others, will conform to what has just been
prescribed for the second; they will arrive successively on the
line. The right guide will arrive with the last group.
26. The left guide having reached the point where the left of the
line should rest, the captain will command the skirmishers to halt;
the men composing each group of fours will then immediately deploy
at five paces from. each other, and to the right and left of the
front-rank man of the even file in each group, the rear-rank men
placing themselves on the left of their file leaders. If tiny groups
be not in line at the command halt, they will move up rapidly,
conforming to what has just been prescribed.
27. If, during the deployment, the line should be fired upon by the
enemy, the captain may cause the groups of fours to deploy, as they
gain their proper distances.
28. The line being formed, the non-commissioned officers on the
right, left, and centre, of the platoon, will place themselves ten
paces in rear of the line, and. opposite the positions they
respectively occupied. The chiefs of sections will promptly rectify
any irregularities, and then place themselves twenty-five or thirty
paces in rear of the centre of their sections, each having with him
four men taken from the reserve, and also a bugler, who will repeat,
if necessary, the signals sounded by the captain.
29 Skirmishers should be particularly instructed to take advantage
of any cover which the ground may offer, and should lie flat oil the
ground whenever such a movement is necessary to protect them from
the fire of the enemy. Regularity in the alignment should yield to
his important advantage.
30. When the movement begins, the first lieutenant will face the
second platoon about, and march it promptly, and by the shortest
line, to about one hundred and fifty paces in rear of the centre of
the line. He will hold it always at this distance, unless ordered to
the contrary.
31. The reserve will conform itself to all the movements of the
line. This rule is general.
32. Light troops
will carry their bayonets habitually in the scabbard, and this rule
applies equally to the skirmishers and the reserve; whenever
bayonets are required to be fixed, a particular signal will be
given. The captain will give a general superintendence to the whole
deployment, and then promptly place himself about eight paces in
rear of the centre of the line. He will
have with him a bugler
and four men taken from, the reserve.
33. The deployment may be made on the right or
the centre of the
platoon, by the same commands, substituting for that of left -file
the indication right
or center.
34. The deployment
on the right or the centre will be made according to the principles
prescribed above; in this latter case, the centre of the platoon
will be marked by the right group of fours in the second section;
the fifth sergeant will place himself on the right of this group,
and serve as the guide of the platoon during the deployment.
35. In whatever manner the deployment be made on the right, left,
centre (or any file), the men in each group of fours will habitually
deploy tit, five
paces from each other, and upon the front rank man of the
even-numbered file. The deployments will habitually be made at
twenty paces interval; but if a greater interval be required, it
will be indicated in the command.
36. If a company be thrown out as skirmishers so near the main body
as to render a reserve unnecessary, the entire company will be
extended in
the same manner, and according to the same principles, as for the
deployment of a platoon.
In this case, the third
lieutenant will command the fourth section, and a non-commissioned
officer designated for that purpose, the second section; the fifth
sergeant will act as centre guide; the file closers will place
themselves ten paces in rear of the line, and opposite their places
in line of battle. The first and second lieutenant will each have a
bugler near him.
TO
DEPLOY BY THE FLANK.
View
Plate No. 27 - Second platoon as skirmishers. By the right flank
take intervals.
37. The
company being at a halt, when the captain shall wish to deploy it by
the flank, holding the first platoon in reserve, he will command:
1.
Second platoon--as
skirmishers. 2. By the
right flank-take
intervals. 3. MARCH (or
double quick MARCH).
38.
At the first command, the first and third lieutenants will place
themselves, respectively, two paces behind the centres of the first
and second sections of the second platoon; the fifth sergeant will
place himself one pace in front of the centre of the second platoon;
the third sergeant, as soon as be can pass, will place himself on
the right of the front rank of the same platoon. The captain will
indicate to him the point on which he wishes him to direct his
march. The chief of the first platoon will execute what has been
prescribed for the chief of the second platoon, Nos. 23 and 24. The
fourth sergeant will place himself on the left flank of the reserve,
the first sergeant will remain on the right flank.
39. At the second command, the first and third lieutenants will
place themselves two paces behind the left group of their respective
sections.
40. At the command march,
the second platoon
will face to the right, and commence the movement; the left group of
fours will stand fast, but will deploy as soon as there is room on
its right, conforming to what has been prescribed No. 26; the third
sergeant will place himself on the left of the right group, to
conduct it; the second group will halt at twenty paces from the one
on its left, the
third group at twenty pace from the second, and so on to the right.
As the groups halt, they will face to the enemy, and deploy, as has
been explained for the left group.
41. The chiefs of sections will pay particular attention to the
successive deployments of the groups, keeping near the group about
to halt, so its to rectify any errors which may be committed. When
the deployment is completed, they will place themselves thirty paces
in rear of the centre of their sections, as has been heretofore pre
scribed. The non-commissioned officers will also place themselves as
previously indicated.
42. As soon as the movement commences, the chief of the first
platoon, causing it to face about, will move it as indicated
No. 30.
43. The deployment may be made by the le flank according to the same
principles, substituting left
flank for right flank.
44. If the captain
should wish to deploy the company upon the centre of one of the
platoons he will command:
1.
Second platoon-as
skirmishers.
2. By the right and left flanks-
take intervals.
3. MARCH (or double. quick-MARCH)
45.
At the first command, the officers and non commissioned officers
will conform to what has been prescribed No. 38.
46. At the second command, the first lieutenant will place himself
behind the left group of the right section of the second platoon,
the third lieutenant behind the right group of the left section of
the same platoon.
47. At the command march, the right section will face to the right,
the left section will face to the left, the group on the right of
this latter section will stand fast. The two sections will move off
in opposite directions: the third sergeant will place himself on the
left of the right file to conduct it, the second sergeant on the
right of the left file. The two groups nearest that which stands
fast, will each halt at twenty paces from this group, and each of
the other groups will halt at twenty paces from the group which is
in the rear of it. Each group will deploy as heretofore prescribed
No. 40.
48. The first and third lieutenants will direct the movement,
holding themselves always abreast of the group which is about to
halt.
49. The captain can cause the deployment to be made on any named
group whatsoever; in this case, the fifth sergeant will place
himself before the group indicated, and the deployment will be made
according to the principles heretofore prescribed.
50. The entire company may be also deployed, according to the same
principles.
TO
EXTEND INTERVALS.
51.
This movement, which is employed to extend a line of skirmishers,
will be executed according to the principles prescribed for
deployments.
View
Plate No. 28 - By the Left Flank Extend Intervals.
52. If it
be supposed that the line of skirmishers is at a halt, and that the
captain wishes to extend it to the left he will command :
1.
By the left flank
(so many paces)
extend intervals
2. MARCH
(or double QUICK-MARCH).
53.
At the command march,
the group on the
right will stand fast, all the other groups will face to the
left, and each group will extend its interval to the prescribed
distance by the means indicated No. 40.
54. The men of the same group will continue to
preserve between each
other the distance of five paces, unless the nature of the
ground should render it necessary that they should close nearer, in
order to keep in sight of each other. The intervals refer to the
spaces between the groups, and not to the distances between the men
in each group. The
intervals will be taken from the right or left man of the
neighboring group.
55. If the line of skirmishers be marching to
the front, and the
captain should wish to extend it to the right, lie will command:
1.
On the left group
(so many paces) extend intervals.
2. MARCH
(or double quick-MARCH).
56. The left group, conducted by the guide, will
continue to march on
the point of direction.: Hie other groups throwing forward the left
shoulder, and taking the double quick step, will open their
intervals to the prescribed distance, by the means indicated No. 25,
conforming also to what is prescribed No. 54.
57. Intervals may be extended on the right, centre, (or any group)
of the line, according to the same principles.
58. If in extending intervals, it be intended that one company or
platoon should occupy a line which had been previously occupied by
two, the men of the company or platoon which is to retire, will fall
successively to the rear as they are relieved by the extension of
the intervals.
TO
CLOSE INTERVALS.
59.
This movement, like that of opening intervals, will be executed
according to the principles prescribed for the deployments.
View
Plate No. 29 - By the Left Flank Close Intervals.
60. If the line of skirmishers be halted, and the captain should
wish to close intervals to the left, he will command:
1.
By the left flank (so many paces) close inter
vals. 2. MARCH
(or double quick-MARCH).
61.
At the command march, the left group -will stand fast, the other
groups will face to the left and close to the prescribed distance,
each group facing to the enemy as it attains its proper distance.
62. If the line be marching to the front, the captain will command:
1.
On the left group (so many paces) close intervals.
2. MARCH
(or double quick-MARCH).
63. The left group, conducted by the guide, will
continue to move on in the direction previously
indicated; the
other groups, advancing the right shoulder, will close to the left,
until the intervals are reduced to the prescribed distance.
64. Intervals may be closed on the right, centre (or any group)
according to the same principles.
65. When intervals are to be closed up, in order to reinforce a line
of skirmishers, so as to cause two companies to. cover the ground
which had been previously occupied by one, the new company will
deploy so as to finish its movement at twenty paces in rear of the
line it is to occupy, and the men will successively move upon that
line, as they shall be unmasked by the men of the old company. The
reserves of the two companies will unite behind the centre of the
line.
TO
RELIEVE A COMPANY DEPLOYED AS SKIRMISHERS.
66.
When a company of skirmishers is to be relieved, the captain will be
advised of the intention, which he will immediately communicate to
his first and second lieutenants.
67. The new company will execute its deployment forward, so as to
finish the movement at about twenty paces in rear of the line.
68. Arrived at this distance, the men of the now company, by command
of their captain will advance rapidly a few paces beyond the old
line, and halt; the new line being established, the old company will
assemble on its reserve, taking care not to get into groups of fours
until they are beyond the fire of the enemy.
69. If the skirmishers to be relieved are marching in retreat, the
company thrown out to relieve them will deploy by the flank, as
prescribed No. 38, and following. The old skirmishers will continue
to retire with order, and having passed the new line, they will form
upon the reserve.
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