THE
RALLY.
TO
FORM COLUMN.
127.
A company deployed as skirmishers, is rallied in order to oppose the
enemy with better success; the rallies are made at a run, and with
bayonets fixed; when ordered to rally, the skirmishers fix bayonets
without command.
128. There are several ways of rallying, which the chief of the line
will adopt according to circumstances.
View
Plate No. 30 - To Rally by Fours (129), To Rally by Sections (132),
and To Rally on the Reserve (141).
129. If the
line, marching or at a halt, be merely disturbed by scattered
horsemen, it will not be necessary to fall back on the reserve, but
the captain will cause bayonets to be fixed. If the horsemen should,
however, advance to charge the skirmishers, the captain will
command, rally by fours. The line will halt, if marching, and the
four men of each group will execute this rally in the following
manner: the front-rank man of the even-numbered file will take the
position of guard against cavalry ; the rear-rank man of the
odd-numbered file will also take the position of guard
against cavalry, turning
his back to him, his right foot thirteen inches from the right foot
of the former and parallel to it; the front-rank man of the odd
file, and the rearrank man of the even file, will also place
themselves back to back, taking a like position, and between the two
men already established, facing to the right and left; the right
feet of the four men will be brought together, forming a square, and
serving for mutual support. The four men in each group will come to
a ready, fire as occasion may offer, and load without moving their
feet.
130. The captain and chiefs of sections will each cause the four men
who constitute his guard to form square, the men separating so as to
enable him and the bugler to place themselves in the centre. The
three sergeants will each promptly place himself in the group
nearest him in the line of skirmishers.
131. If the captain desires again to deploy the groups, he will
command, deploy as
skirmishers; at
which each group will deploy as prescribed No. 26.
132. Whenever the captain shall judge these squares too weak, but
should wish to hold his position by strengthening his line, he will
command:
Rally
by sections.
133.
At this command, the chiefs of sections will move rapidly on the
centre group of their respective sections, or on any other interior
group whose position might offer a shelter, or other particular
advantage; the skirmishers will collect
rapidly at a run on
this group, and without distinction of numbers. The men composing
the group on which the formation is made, will immediately form
square, as heretofore explained, awl elevate their pieces, the
bayonets uppermost, in order to indicate the point on which the
rally is to be made. The other skirmishers, as they arrive will
occupy and fill the open angular spaces between these four men, and
successively rally around this first nucleus, and in such manner as
to form rapidly a compact circle. The skirmishers will take, as they
arrive, the position of
charge bayonet, the
point of the bayonet more elevated, and will cock their pieces in
this position. The movement concluded, the two exterior ranks will
fire as occasion may offer, and load without moving their feet.
134. The captain will move rapidly with his guard, wherever he may
judge his presence most necessary.
135. The officers and sergeants will be particular to observe that
the rally is made in silence, and with promptitude and order; that
some pieces in each of their subdivisions be at all times loaded and
that the fire is directed on those points only where it will be most
effective.
136. If the reserve should be threatened, it will form into a circle
around its chief.
137. If the captain desires again to deploy the sections he will
command: form sections,
at this, the chief
of each will dress his section on that file of the circle which is
faced towards the enemy, the men taking their proper places. The
sections will then be deployed forward, or by the flanks, on any
file or group the captain may wish as indicated No. 22, and
following, and No. 3 and following.
138. If the captain, or commander of a line skirmishers, formed of
many platoons, should judge that the rally, by section does not
offer sufficient resistance, he will cause the rally by platoons to
be executed, and for this purpose, will command:
Rally
by platoons.
139.
This movement will be executed according to the same principles, and
by the same means, as the rally by sections. The chiefs of platoon
will conform to what has been prescribed for the chiefs of section.
140. If the captain, or commander of the line
of skirmishers,
desires again to deploy the platoons, he will command: form
platoons, and the movement will be executed as prescribed No. 137
141. The captain wishing to rally the skirmishers on the reserve,
will command
Rally
on the reserve.
142.
At this command, the captain will move briskly on the reserve; the
officer who commands it will take immediate steps to form square;
for this purpose, he will cause the half sections on the flanks to
be thrown perpendicularly to the rear; he will order the men to come
to a ready.
143. The skirmishers of each section, taking the run, will form
rapidly into groups, and upon Oat man of each group who is nearest
the centre of' the section. These groups will direct themselves
diagonally toward each other, and in such manner as to form into
sections with the greatest possible rapidity while moving to the
rear; the officers and sergeants will see that this formation is
made in proper order, and the chiefs will direct their sections upon
the reserve, taking care to unmask it to the right and left. As the
skirmishers arrive they will continue and complete the formation of
the square begun by the reserve, closing in rapidly upon the latter,
without regard to their places in line; they will come to a ready
Without command, and fire upon the enemy; which will also be done by
the reserve as soon as it is unmasked by
the skirmishers.
144. If a section should be closely pressed by cavalry while
retreating, its chief will command, halt ; at this command, the men
will form rapidly I into a compact circle around the officer, who
will re-form his section and resume the march, the moment he can do
so with safety.
145. The formation of the square in a prompt and efficient manner
requires coolness and activity on the part of both officers and
sergeants.
146. The captain will also profit by every moment of respite which
the enemy's cavalry may, leave him; as soon as he can, he will
endeavor to place
himself beyond the reach of their charges, either by gaining a
position where he may defend himself with advantage, or by returning
to the corps to which he belongs. For this purpose, being in square,
he will cause the company to break into column by platoons at half
distance to this effect he will command:
1.
Form column. 2. MARCH.
147.
At the command march, each platoon will dress on its centre, and the
platoon which was facing to the rear will face about without
command. The guides will place themselves on the right and left of
their respective platoons, those of the second platoon will place
themselves at half distance from those of the first, counting from
the rear rank. These dispositions being made, the captain can move
the column in what ever direction. he may judge proper.
148. If he wishes to march it in retreat, he will command:
1.
In retreat. 2. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
149.
At the command march,
the column, will
immediately face by the rear rank (the file closers of the first
platoon retaining their position), and move off in the opposite
direction. As soon
as the column is in motion, the captain will command:
3.
Guide right (or left).
150.
He will indicate the direction to the leading guide: the guides will
march at their proper distances, and the men will keep aligned.
151. If again threatened by cavalry, the captain will command:
Form
square. 2. MARCH.
152.
At the command march,
the column will
halt; the first platoon will face about briskly, and the outer
half-sections of each platoon will be thrown perpendicularly to the
rear, so as to form the second and third fronts of the square. The
officers and sergeants will promptly rectify airy irregularities
which may be committed.
153. If he should wish to march the column in advance, the captain
will command:
1.
Form column. 2. MARCH.
154.
Which will be executed as prescribed No. 147.
155. The column being formed, the captain will command:
1.
Forward. 2. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
3. Guide
left (or
right).
156.
At the second command, the column will move forward, and at the
third command, the men will take the touch of elbows to the side of
the guide.
157. If the captain should wish the column to gain ground to the
right or left, he will do so by rapid wheels to the side opposite
the guide, and for this
purpose, will change the guide whenever it may be necessary.
158. If a company be in column by platoon, at half distance, right
in front, the captain can deploy the first platoon as skirmishers by
the means already explained; but if it should be his wish to deploy
the second platoon forward on the centre file, leaving the first
platoon in reserve, he will command:
1.
Second platoon-as
skirmishers. 2. On the
center file -
take intervals. 3. MARCH (or double
quick-MARCH).
159.
At the first command, the chief of the first platoon will caution
his platoon to stand fast; the chiefs of sections of the second
platoon will place themselves before the centre of their sections:
the fifth sergeant will place himself one pace in front of the
centre of the second platoon.
160. At the second command, the chief of the right section, second
platoon, will command: Section
right face ; the chief
of the left section: Section
left face.
161. At the command
march, these
sections will move off briskly in opposite directions, and having
unmasked the first platoon, the chiefs of sections will respectively
command: By the left
flank-MARCH, and By
the right
flank-MARCH; and as
soon as these sections arrive on the alignment of the first platoon,
they will command: As
skirmishers-MARCH. The
groups will then deploy according to prescribed principles, on the
right group of the left section, which will be directed by the fifth
sergeant on the point indicated.
162. If the captain should wish the deployment made by the flank,
the second platoon will be moved to the front by the means above
stated, and halted after passing some steps beyond the alignment of
the first platoon; the deployment will then be made by the flank
according to the principles prescribed.
THE ASSEMBLY.
163.
A company deployed as skirmishers will be assembled when there is no
longer danger of Its being disturbed; the assembly will be made
habitually in quick time.
164. The captain wishing to assemble the skirmishers on the reserve,
will command:
Assemble
on the reserve.
165.
At this command, the skirmishers will assemble by groups of fours;
the front-rank men will place themselves behind their rear-rank men;
and each group of fours will direct itself on the reserve, where
each will take its proper place in the ranks. When the company is
re-formed, it will rejoin the battalion to which it belongs.
166. It may be also proper to assemble the skirmishers on the
centre, or on the right or left of the line, either marching or at a
halt.
167. If the captain should wish to assemble them on the centre while
marching, he will command:
Assemble
an the centre.
168.
At this command. the centre guide will continue to march directly to
the front on the point indicated: the front rank man of the
directing file will follow the guide, and be covered by his
rear-rank man; the other two comrades of this group, and likewise
those on their left, will march diagonally, advancing the left
shoulder and accelerating the gait, so as to re-form the groups
while drawing nearer and nearer the directing file; the men of the
right section will unite in the same manner into groups, and then
upon the directing file, throwing forward the right shoulder. As
they successively unite on the centre, the men will bring their
pieces to the right shoulder.
169. To assemble on the right, left (or any file) will be executed
according to the same principles.
170. The assembly of a line marching in retreat will also be
executed according to the same principles, the front-rank men
marching behind their rear-rank men.
171. To assemble the line of skirmishers at a halt, and on the line
they occupy, the captain will give the same commands; the
skirmishers will face to the right or left, according as they should
march by the right or left flank, re-form the groups while marching,
and thus arrive on the file which served as the point of formation.
As they successively arrive, the skirmishers will support arms.
