TITLE
FIRST-RIFLE AND LIGHT INFANTRY TACTICS.
ARTICLE
FIRST. - Formation of a Regiment in order of battle, or in line.
1. A
regiment is composed of ten companies, which will habitually be
posted from right to left, in the following order: first, sixth,
fourth, ninth, third, eighth, fifth, tenth, seventh, second,
according to the rank of captains.
2. With a less number of companies the same principle will be
observed, viz.: the first captain will command the right company,
the second captain the left company, the third captain the right
center company, and so on.
3. The companies thus posted will be designated from right to left,
first company, second company, &c. This designation will be
observed in the manœuvres.
4. The first two companies on the right, whatever their
denomination, will form the first division; the next two companies
the second division; and so on, to the left.
5. Each company will be divided into two equal parts, which will, be
designated as the first and second platoon, counting from the right
- and each platoon, in like manner, will be subdivided into two
sections.
6. In till exercises and manœuvres, every regiment, or part of a
regiment, composed of two or more companies, will be designated its
it battalion.
7. The color, with a guard to be hereinafter designated, will be
posted on the left of the right center- battalion company. That
company, and all on its right, will be denominated the right wing of
the battalion; the remaining companies the left wing.
8. The formation of a regiment is in two ranks; and each company
will be formed into two ranks, in the following manner: the
corporals will be posted in the front rank, and on the right and
left of platoons, according to height; the tallest corporal and the
tallest mail will form the first file, the next two tallest men will
form the second file, and so on to the last file, which will be
company of the shortest corporal and the shortest man.
9. The odd and even files, numbered as one, two, in the company,
from right, to left, will form groups of four men, who will be
designated comrades in battle.
10. The distance from one rank to another will be thirteen inches,
measured from the breasts of the rear rank men to the backs or
knapsacks of the front rank men.
11. For manœuvring, the companies of a battalion will always be
equalized, by transferring men from the strongest to the weakest
companies.
POST
OF COMPANY OFFICERS, SERGEANTS AND CORPORALS.
12. The
company officers and sergeants are nine in number, and will be
posted in the following manner:
13. The captain on the right of the company touching with the left
elbow.
14. The first sergeant in the rear rank, touching 'with the left
elbow and covering the captain. In the manœuvres he will be
denominated covering sergeant, or right guide of the company.
15. The remaining officers and sergeants will be posted as file
closers, and two paces behind the rear rank.
16. The first lieutenant, opposite the center of the fourth section.
17. The second lieutenant, opposite the center of the first platoon.
18. The third lieutenant, opposite the center of the second platoon.
19. The second sergeant, opposite the, second file from the left of
the company. In the manœuvres he will be designated left guide of
the company.
20. The third sergeant, opposite the second file from the right of
the second platoon.
21. The fourth sergeant, opposite the second file from the left of
the first platoon.
22. The fifth sergeant, opposite the second file from the right of
the first platoon.
23. In the left or tenth company of the battalion, the second
sergeant will be posted in the front rank and on the left of the
battalion.
24. The corporals will be posted in the front rank, as prescribed
No. 8.
25. Absent officers and sergeants will be replaced - officers by
sergeants, and sergeants by corporals. The colonel may detach a
first lieutenant from one company to command another, of which both
the captain and first lieutenant are absent; but this authority will
give no right to a lieutenant to demand to be 4o detached.
POSTS
OF FIELD OFFICERS AND REGIMENTAL STAFF.
26. The
field officers, colonel, lieutenant colonel and major are supposed
to be mounted, and on active service shall be on horseback. The
adjutant, when the battalion is manœuvring, will be on foot.
27. The colonel will take post thirty paces in rear of the file
closers, and opposite the center of the battalion. This distance
will be reduced whenever there is a reduction in the front of the
battalion.
28. The lieutenant colonel and the major will be opposite the
centers of the right and left wings respectively, and twelve paces
in rear of the file closers.
29. The adjutant and sergeant major will be opposite the right and
left of the battalion, respectively, and eight paces in rear of the
file closers.
30. The adjutant and sergeant major will aid the lieutenant colonel
end major, respectively, in the manœuvres.
31. The colonel, if absent, will be replaced by the lieutenant
colonel, and the latter by the major. If all the field officers be
absent, the senior captain will command the battalion; but if either
be present, he will not call the senior captain to act as field
officer, except in care of evident necessity.
32. The quarter-master, surgeon, and other staff officers, in one
rank, on the left of the colonel, and three paces in his rear.
33. The quarter-master sergeant, on a line with the front rank of
the field music, and two paces on the right.
POSTS
OF FIELD MUSIC, AND BAND.
34. The
buglers will be drawn up in four ranks, and posted twelve paces in
rear of the file closers, the left opposite the center of the left
center company. The senior principal musician will be two paces in
front of the field music, and the other two paces in the rear.
35. The regimental hand, if there be one, will be drawn up in two or
four ranks, according to its numbers, and posted five paces in rear
of the field music, having one of the principal musicians at its
head.
COLOR-GUARD.
36. In
each battalion the color-guard will be composed of eight corporals,
and posted on the left of the right center company, of which
company, for the time being, the guard will make a part.
37. The front rank will be composed of a sergeant, to be selected by
the colonel, who will be called, for the time, color-bearer, with
the two ranking corporals, respectively, on his right and left; the
rear rank will be composed of the three corporals next in rank; and
the three remaining corporals will be posted in their rear, and on
the line of file closers. The left guide of the color-company, when
these three last named corporals are in the rank of file closers,
will be immediately on their left.
38. In battalions with less than five companies present, there will
be no color-guard, and no display of colors, except it may be at
reviews.
39. The corporals for the color-guard will be selected from those
most distinguished for regularity and precision, as well in their
positions under arms as in their marching. The latter advantage, and
a just carriage of the person, are to be more particularly sought
for in the selection of the color-bearer.
GENERAL
GUIDES.
40. There
will be two general guides in each battalion, selected, for the
time, by the colonel, from among the sergeants (other than first
sergeants) the most distinguished for carriage under arms, and
accuracy in marching.
41. These sergeants will be -respectively denominated, in the
manœuvres, right general guide, and left general guide, and be
posted in the line of file closers; the first in rear of the right,
and the second in rear of the left flank of the battalion.
ARTICLE
SECOND.- Instruction of the Battalion.
42. Every
commanding officer is responsible for the instruction of his
command. He will assemble the officers together for
theoretical and practical instruction as often as he may judge
necessary, and when unable to attend to this duty in person, it will
be discharged by the officer next in rank.
43. Captains will be held responsible for the theoretical and
practical instruction of their non-commissioned officers, and the
adjutant for the instruction of the non -commissioned staff. To this
end, they will require these tactics to be studied and recited
lesson by lesson; and when instruction is given on the ground , each
non -commissioned officer, as he explains a movement, should be
required to put it into practical operation.
44. The non-commissioned officers should also be practiced in giving
commands. Each command, in a lesson at the theoretical instruction,
should first be given by the instructor, and then repeated in
succession, by the non-commissioned officers, so that while they
become habituated to the commands, uniformity may be established in
the manner of giving them.
45. In the school of the soldier, the company officers will be the
instructors of the squads; but if there be not a sufficient number
of company officers present, intelligent sergeants may be
substituted; and two or three squads, under sergeant instructors, be
superintended, at the same time, by an officer.
46. In the school of the company, the lieutenant-colonel and the
major, under the colonel, will be the principal instructors,
substituting frequently the captain of the company, and sometimes
one of the lieutenants; the substitute, as far as practicable, being
one of the principals.
47. In the school of the battalion, the brigadier general may-
constitute himself the principal instructor, frequently substituting
the colonel of the battalion, sometimes the lieutenant colonel or
major, and twice or thrice, in the same course of instruction, each
of the three senior captains. In this school, also, the substitute
will always, if practicable, be superintended by, the brigadier
general or the colonel, or (in case of a captain being the
instructor), by the lieutenant colonel or major.
48. individual instruction being the basis of the instruction of
companies, on which that of the regiment depends, and the first
principles having the greatest influence upon this individual in
ion, classes of recruits should be watched with the greatest care.
49. Instructors will explain, in a few clear and precise words, the
movement to be executed; and not to overburden the memory of the
men, they will always use the same terms to explain the same
principles.
50. They should often join example to precedent, should keep up the
attention of the men by an animated tone, and pass rapidly from one
movement to another, as soon as that which they command has been
executed in a satisfactory manner.
51. The saber bayonet should only be fixed when required to be used,
either for attack or defense; the exercises and manœuvres will be
executed without the bayonet.
52. In the movements which require the bayonet to be fixed, the
chief of the battalion will cause the signal to fix bayonet to be
sounded; at this signal the men will fix bayonets without command,
and immediately replace their pieces in the position they were
before the signal.
INSTRUCTION
OF OFFICERS.
53. The
instruction of officers can be perfected only by joining theory to
practice. The colonel will often practice them in marching and in
estimating distances, and be will carefully endeavor to cause them
to take steps equal in length and swiftness. They will also be
exercised in the double quick step.
54. The instruction of officers will include all the Titles in this
system of drill, and such regulations as prescribe their duties in
peace and war.
55. Every officer will make himself perfectly acquainted with the
bugle signals; and should, by practice, be enabled, if necessary, to
sound them. This knowledge, so necessary in general instruction,
becomes of vital importance on actual service in the field.
INSTRUCTION
OF SERGEANTS.
56. As the
discipline and efficiency of a company materially depend on the
conduct and character of its sergeants, they should be selected with
care, and properly instructed in all the duties appertaining to
their rank.
57. Their theoretical instruction should include the School of the
Soldier, the School of the Company, and the Drill for Skirmishers.
They should likewise know all the details of service, and the
regulations prescribing their duties in garrison and in campaign.
58. The captain selects from the corporals in his company those whom
he judges fit to be admitted to the theoretical instruction of the
sergeants.
INSTRUCTION
OF CORPORALS.
59. Their
theoretical instruction should include the School of the Soldier,
and such regulations as prescribe their duties in garrison and in
campaign.
60. The captain selects from his company a few privates, who may be
admitted to the theoretical instruction of the corporals.
61. As the instruction of sergeants and corporals is intended
principally to qualify them for the instruction of the privates,
they should be taught not only to execute, but to explain
intelligibly everything they may be required to teach.
COMMANDS.
There are
three kinds.
62. The command of caution, which is attention.
63. The preparatory command, which indicates the movement which is
to be executed.
64. The command of execution, such as march or halt, or, in the
manual of arms, the part of command which causes an execution.
65. The tone of the command should be animated, distinct, and of a
loudness proportioned to the number of men under instruction.
66. The command attention is pronounced at the top of the voice,
dwelling on the last syllable.
67. The command of execution will be pronounced in a tone firm and
brief.
68. The commands of caution and the preparatory commands are herein
distinguished by italics, those of execution by CAPITALS.
69. Those preparatory commands which, from their length, are
difficult to be pronounced at once, must be divided into two or
three parts, with an ascending progression in the tone of command,
but always in such a manner that the tone of execution may be more
energetic and elevated: the divisions are indicated by a hyphen. The
parts of commands which are placed in a parenthesis, are not
pronounced.