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SCHOOL OF THE SQUADRON, MOUNTED.
307. —The object of the school of the squadron is to instruct the platoons to execute together what they have been taught separately; and so, to prepare the squadron to act independently, or perform what it will be required to do when a part of the regiment.
The squadron is composed as prescribed, title 1st, article 1st.
The school of the squadron being the base of the evolutions of the regiment, the Captain observes that the chiefs of platoons execute with regularity what is required of them, and that they give the commands at the proper time and in the proper tone. He requires the guides to act with calmness and without hesitation in the different movements.
The Captain causes the officers to alternate in the command of the platoons, that they may become familiar with all the positions in the squadron. He observes the same course with the non-commissioned officers who command platoons.
To make the formations in line better understood, they are executed at first from a halt. In this case each platoon performs its movements separately and successively, at the command of its chief, on receiving notice from the Captain.
Each movement, after having been correctly executed by the right, is repeated by the left. Habitual formations and dressing by the right causes the horses to carry a habit to a vicious extreme, and crowd and press that flank.
When the squadron has acquired calmness and confidence, and one article is well understood, this article is repeated with sabres drawn, and alternately at all the gaits, except the wheels to the right, to the left, to the right about, and to the left about by fours, the counter march, the wheels on a movable pivot by squadron, the individual oblique marches when marching by squadron, which are executed only at the walk and at the trot.
The troopers mount and dismount by the times, but without explanation.
The squadron is exercised at the manual of arms and sabre exercise once a week.
The Captain requires the distance between the platoons to be observed exactly in all the movements; he sees that the troopers preserve the required intervals between the knees; the distances in column of fours; and especially the pivots of platoons, who must understand the necessity of, and practice, exactitude.
The Captain moves wherever his presence is most required; the troopers are required to observe absolute silence, and all rectifications are done by signs, or in a low voice After the command, halt, every individual must remain motionless.
All columns right in front having the guide left, and when left in front having the guide right, as a general rule, the troopers will understand it; and the guide is not commanded unless in exceptional cases. When a commander sees it necessary, he will direct attention to the alignment by commanding: Guide left, or guide right.
A platoon being an integral force, it can march or fight, equally, whether at the right or the left of any other platoon.
The squadron will be accustomed to feel equally confident in sudden formations in every direction.
Columns are right in front when the subdivisions originally on the right in line are in front; and left in front when those of the original left are in front.
308. —The squadron being formed in line, the non-commissioned officers and troopers at the head of their horses, the chiefs of platoon mounted, at 8 paces from, and facing the centre of their platoons, the Captain commands:
1. Attention. 2. Right—DRESS. 3. FRONT.
He then commands:
In each platoon—COUNT——FOURS.
At this command the troopers count off in the four platoons at once, commencing on the right.
The Captain then gives the command to mount.
At the command, form—RANK, the chiefs of platoon move forward, face to the front by turning to the right about, and place themselves before the centre of their platoons, the croup of their horses one pace from the heads of the horses of the platoon.
SUCCESSIVE ALIGNMENT OF PLATOONS IN THE SQUADRON
300.—The squadron being in line, the Captain places the two non-commissioned officers, guides of the right and left, upon a line parallel to, and 30 paces in front of, the squadron, facing each other, and 3 platoon fronts apart.
On receiving notice from the Captain, the chief of the first platoon commands:
1. Forward; 2. Guide right; 3. MARCH.
At the command, MARCH, the platoon moves forward; at one pace from the guide, the chief of the platoon commands:
1. HALT; 2. Right—DRESS.
At the command, HALT, the chief of the platoon moves on and halts with the head of his horse against the boot of the guide of the right. The platoon is aligned so that the heads of their horses are in a line one pace behind the croup of the horse of the chief of platoon.
The first platoon being correctly aligned, the Captain commands:
1. By platoon—DRESS
At the first command, the chief of the second platoon commands:
1. Forward; 2. Guide right ; 3. MARCH.
The heads of the platoon horses having reached the line of the croups of the horses of the platoon on the right, he commands:
1. HALT; 2. DRESS;
and, at the same time, moves forward on the line of the chief of that platoon.
At the command, HALT, the platoon stops. At the command DRESS, all the troopers move forward together upon the alignment.
Each chief of platoon executes successively the same movement, commanding MARCH when the one who precedes him has commanded HALT.
The chief of the fourth platoon brings the head of his horse to the boot of the left guide.
The squadron being aligned, the Captain commands:
FRONT.
310.—The Captain observes that the officers align themselves promptly on the base of the alignment; that they do not suffer too much time to elapse between the commands HALT and DRESS, so as not to retard the successive alignments; he also observes that the non-commissioned officers pay attention to the general and not individual alignment.
311.—The Captain, after having placed the right guide so that no trooper will be compelled to rein-back, commands:
1. Right—DRESS 2. FRONT.
At the command, right—DRESS, all the troopers correct their distance from the chiefs of platoon, and align themselves steadily but promptly to the right.
312. The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:
1. Fours right, (or left) 2. MARCH. 3. HALT.
At the command, MARCH, each set of fours wheels to the right as prescribed, No. 283; the chief of the first platoon places himself in front of the column, the right guide on his right. The chiefs of the other platoons one pace from the flank of the heads of their platoons.
If the Captain omit the command, HALT, the column moves forward
The squadron marching in line, the Captain commands:
Fours—Right, (or left.)
The squadron conforms throughout to what is prescribed, No. 285.
TO BREAK THE SQUADRON BY FOURS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TO MARCH TO THE FRONT.
313.—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:
1. Right (or left) forward—fours right, (or left)
2. MARCH.
At the first command, the chief of the platoon and guide place themselves in front of the four on the right (or left) of the squadron.
At the command, MARCH, they move straight forward; every other set of fours in the line wheels to the right (or left) and moves forward; but that next to the flank set turns when it has made two-thirds of its wheel, (four yards,) following the flank set; and all the others, in succession, turn on the same ground.
314. The squadron marching in line, the Captain commands:
Right(or Left) forward—FOURS RIGHT, (or LEFT.)
Which will be executed on the same principles.
TO BREAK THE SQUADRON BY FOURS FROM THE RIGHT TO MARCH TO THE LEFT.
315.—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:
1. Fours from the right—to march to the left.
2. MARCH.
At the command, MARCH, the four on the right move forward, and having marched 6 paces, the chief of the first platoon commands, Left—TURN. When the turn is half completed the next set of fours moves forward, and so each, in succession, marching 6 paces forward and turning to the left without command.
The squadron will break from the left to march to the right, on the same principles, at the command, 1. Fours from the left—to march to the right. 2. MARCH.
This is a movement of mere occasional convenience.
DIRECT MARCH IN COLUMN OF FOURS.
316.—When the column is halted, the Captain assures himself that the officers and men are placed as prescribed; he commands:
1. Forward. 2. MARCH.
317.—The object of this march in column being to calm the horses and make them uniform and steady in the different gaits, the troopers will endeavor to keep their horses as quiet as possible; hut the Captain requires them to conform to all the principles of the direct march ; he observes that the ranks of fours are exactly aligned ; that the files march in the same direction ; that the troopers preserve intervals and distances; conduct their horses without employing more force than necessary, and preserve the proper position of the body and bridle-hand.
318 —The column having marched a quarter of an hour at least, the Captain commands:
1. Trot. 2. MARCH.
At the command, MARCH, the troopers take the trot, always taking care not to fret their horses.
When the column has marched about 1,000 paces at the trot, the Captain commands:
1. Walk. 2. MARCH.
Having marched some time at the walk, they resume the trot, and after marching again about 1,000 paces, they pass to the walk.
To change the gait, the Captain selects a moment when the horses are calm and march uniformly; all the troopers assume, at the same time and with steadiness, the gait indicated
319—To halt the column, the Captain commands:
1. Column. 2. HALT.
320.—The squadron marching in column of fours, or twos or file, to change the direction, the Captain commands:
Column left, (or right)
Which is executed as prescribed, No. 211, the chief of the leading platoon giving the command:
Left--TURN.
321.—The squadron marching in column of fours or twos, to cause it to execute the individual oblique march, the captain commands:
1. Left (or right) oblique. 2. MARCH.
Which is executed as prescribed, No. 213.
THE SQUADRON MARCHING IN COLUMN OF FOURS, TO MARCH TO THE REAR.
322 —The squadron marching In column of fours, the Captain commands:
Fours—LEFT ABOUT, (or RIGHT ABOUT.)
The fours wheeling about and moving forward; the column being changed from right to left in front, or the reverse.
TO BREAK BY FOURS TO THE RIGHT, COLUMN HALF LEFT, RIGHT, OR HALF RIGHT.
323.—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:
1. Fours right—column half left, (right, or half right.) 2. MARCH.
At the command, MARCH, each met of fours wheels to the right, and the chief of the first platoon instantly commands:
1. Left—TURN. 2. FORWARD. (Omitting the 2d command if it be a full turn—to the “right.’)
The squadron is broken to the left, and the direction changed to the half-right, left, or half-left, on the same principles.
324 —The squadron marching in column by fours, right in front, the Captain commands:
1. Left—front into line. 2. MARCH. 3. DRESS. 4. FRONT.
At the command, MARCH, the first four files continue to march straight forward; when they have marched 30 paces, the chief of the first platoon commands: HALT.
At this command the first four halt square to the front, the right guide returns to the right of the squadron. All the other files oblique and come up successively, and without the commands of the chief of platoon, form to the left and upon the alignment of the first, as prescribed, No. 214.
The Captain, who moves to the right flank after the command. MARCH, commands the alignment when the chief of the first platoon commands HALT
As soon as the chiefs of platoon arrive upon the line. they place themselves at the centre of their platoons and align themselves.
The left guide takes his post on the left of the squadron, when the four last files arrive upon the line.
The columns of twos, and by file, are formed into line by the same principles and at the same commands.
325 —-The column of fours marching right in front, or at a halt, to form it In line, faced the left, on its left flank, the Captain commands:
1. Left into line wheel. 2. MARCH. 3. Right—DRESS. 4. FRONT.
It is executed throughout as prescribed, No. 220.
The chiefs of platoons not repeating the commands, they align themselves, and the guides take their places on the right and left.
326.—The column of fours marching right in front, to form line faced to the right, upon the prolongation and in advance of its right flank, the Captain commands:
1. On right into line. 2. MARCH. 3. DRESS. 4. FRONT.
At the command, MARCH, the leading four turn to the right, and march straight forward; when they have marched 20 paces, the chief of the first platoon commands : HALT
At this command they halt, and the right guide takes his place on the right of the squadron. All the other fours continue to march forward and turn and come up successively without the commands of the chiefs of platoon, forming to the left and upon the alignment of the first, as prescribed, No. 217, observing to keep themselves square in the same direction before turning to the right, so as not to approach the new line before the proper time
The Captain, the chiefs of platoon, and the left guide, conform to what is prescribed for left—front into line, No. 324. The column by file, or twos forms line on the same principles, and at the same commands.
327—The column of fours marching, right in front, to form line faced to the rear, on the rear of the column, the Captain first commands:
Fours—LEFT ABOUT;
which is executed as in No. 277; and then:
1. Right—front into line; 2. MARCH; 3. DRESS: 4. FRONT;
which is executed as prescribed, No. 124. To form the line on the head of the column, the Captain first commands:
1. Right—front into line; 2. MARCH; 3. DRESS; 4 FRONT;
and then :
1. Fours left about; 2. MARCH; 3. HALT; 4. Right—DRESS; 5. FRONT.
328.—The columns marching left in front, to form line faced to the front, left, right, and rear, Nos. 324, 325, 326, and 327, is executed on the same principles, by inverse commands and means.
329.—A squadron in column of fours, right in front, having occasion to make instant face to the right, the Captain commands:
1. Right into line wheel; 2. MARCH; 3. Right— DRESS 4. FRONT;
and there being a necessity to form front into line, with an obstacle to the left-front, the Captain commands:
Right front into line; 2. MARCH; 3 DRESS; 4. FRONT;
which would be executed as has been prescribed; the proper left would be considered the “right;” the left, the “right guide,” &c , as long as that formation continued.
The column being left in front, under inverse circumstances, lines would be formed on the same principles as above, and by inverse commands and means.
The same principle applies to the formation of line faced to the rear, hut generally with an obstacle to the left— right in front—line might be formed on the head of the column; or, with obstacle to the right, on the rear of the column; and left in front, the reverse.
330 —The squadron marching in column by tows, or by file, right in front, to form line faced to the left, the captain commands:
1. Left into line. 2. MARCH. 3. DRESS. 4. FRONT.
Which is executed by the leading platoon, as prescribed, No. 218, the chief giving the command, HALT, only; the other platoons form also the same, but without any further commands; the chiefs of platoon align themselves, and the guides take their posts on the right and left.
331 —The column by twos, or by file, left in front, to form line faced to the right, the Captain commands:
1. Right into line; 2. MARCH; 3. DRESS; 4. FRONT;
which is executed on the same principle by inverse means.
332—In all these formations greater regularity is required in the execution, as the troopers become more habituated to them, and the horses become more calm.
The first instruction is repeated several successive days; and when the principles of the direct march in column by fours, the changes of direction, the obliques, and the different formations in line are firmly impressed, all these movements are executed at the trot, and then at the gallop.
TO REGULATE THE RAPIDITY OF THE GAITS.
333.—When the marches and formations, prescribed above, have given sufficient uniformity and precision to the gait, the Captain will regulate their rapidity. For this purpose he measures off a mile, if practicable, and marches over it at all the gaits; the mile at a walk, in sixteen minutes; at a trot, in eight minutes; and at the gallop, in six minutes.
334 —To practice the sabre exercise at a halt, the squadron being in line, the Captain commands:
For Sabre Exercise—CALLOFF.
At this command, the trooper on the right calls out, “20 :‘ the next man calls out, “15 ;“ the third man. “ 10 ;‘ the fourth, “5;” the fifth man, “stand fast ;“ the sixth, “20 ;‘ the seventh, “ 15;” the eighth, “10 ;“ the ninth, “5 ;“ the tenth, “stand fast ;“ and in the same manner through to the left.
The Captain then commands:
Sabre Exercise— MARCH.
At this command, those troopers who have called out ‘20,’’ march forward 20 paces and halt; those who have called “ 15,’’ march forward 15 paces and halt, and so on; the fifth men standing fast.
During the exercise, the commander of the 2d platoon is placed 10 paces in front of the right of it; of the 3d platoon, 10 paces in front of its left; they face their platoons. The commanders of the 1st and 4th platoons superintend their platoons from the right and left flank.
335.—The exercise being concluded, the Captain commands :
1. Into line—MARCH. 2. Right—Dress. 3. FRONT.
At the command, MARCH. the troopers who advanced 20 paces standing fast, the others move forward and halt abreast of them.
336—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands it to dismount, and to file off. The Captain and chiefs of platoons remain mounted in order to superintend the movement; the latter until the last trooper of their platoons has filed off.
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