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1.
EVERY colonel will labor to habituate his battalion to form line of
battle, by night as well as by day, with the greatest possible
promptitude.
2.
The color-company will generally be designated as the directing
company. That, as soon as formed, will be placed on the direction
the colonel may have determined for the line of battle. The other
companies will form on it, to the right and left, on the principles
of successive formations which will be herein prescribed.
3.
The color-bearer may have received the color from the hands of the
colonel; but if there be daylight, and time, the color will be
produced with due solemnity. Composition and march of the
color-escort.
4.
When the battalion turns out under arms and the color is wanted, a
company, other than that
of the color, will be put in march to receive and escort it.
5.
The march will be in the following order, in quick time, and without
music; the field music, followed by the band; the escort in column
by platoon, right in front, with arms on the right shoulder, and the
color-bearer between the platoons.
6.
Arrived in front of the tent or quarters of the colonel, the escort
will form line, the field music and band on the right, and arms will
be brought to a shoulder.
7.
The moment the escort is in line, the colorbearer, preceded by the
first lieutenant, and followed by a sergeant of the escort, will go
to receive the color.
8.
When the color-bearer shall come out, followed by the lieutenant and
sergeant, he will halt before the entrance; the escort will present
arms, and the field music will sound to the color.
9.
After some twenty seconds, the captain will cause the sound to
cease, arms to be shouldered, and then break by platoon into column;
the colorbearer will place himself between the platoons. and the
lieutenant and sergeant will resume thei posts.
10.
The escort will march back to the battalion to the sound of music in
quick time, and in the same order as above, the guide on the right.
The march will be so conducted that when the escort arrives at one
hundred and fifty paces in front of the right of the battalion, the
direction of the march will be parallel to its front, and when the
color arrives nearly opposite its place in line, the column will
change direction to the left, and the right guide will direct
himself on the centre of the battalion. Honors paid to the color.
11.
Arrived at the distance of twenty paces from the battalion, the
escort will halt, and the music cease; the colonel will place
himself six paces before the centre of the battalion, the
color-bearer will approach the colonel, by the front, in quick time;
when at the distance of ten paces, he will halt: the colonel will
cause arms to be presented, and to the color to be sounded, which
being executed, the color-bearer will take his place in the front
rank of the color-guard, and the battalion, by command, shoulder
arms.
12
The escort, field music, and band, will return in quick time to
their several places in line of battle, marching by the rear of the
battalion.
13.
The color will be escorted back to the colonel's tent or quarters in
the above order.
14.
This school has for its object the instruction of battalions singly,
and thus to prepare them for manoeuvres in line. The harmony so
indispensable in the movements of many battalions, can only be
attained by the use of the same commands, the same principles, and
the same means of execution. Hence, all colonels and actual
commanders of battalions will conform themselves, without addition
or curtailment, to what will herein be prescribed.
15.
When a battalion instructed in this drill shall manoeuvre in line,
the colonel will regulate its movements, as prescribed in the third
volume of the Tactics for heavy infantry.
16.
The school of the battalion will be divided into five parts.
17.
The first will comprehend opening and closing ranks, and the
execution of the different fires.
18.
The second, the different modes of passing from the order in battle,
to the order in column.
19.
The third, the march in column, and the other movements incident
thereto.
20.
The fourth, the different modes of passing from the order in column
to the order in battle.
21.
The fifth will comprehend the march in line of battle, in advance
and in retreat; the passage of defiles in retreat; the march by the
flank; the formation by file into line of battle; the change of
front; the column doubled on the centre; dispositions against
cavalry; the rally, and rules for manoeuvring by the rear rank.
22.
The colonel, wishing the ranks to be opened, will command: 1.
Prepare to open ranks.
23.
At this command, the lieutenant colonel and major will place
themselves on the right of the battalion, the first on the flank of
the file closers, and the second four paces from the front rank of
the battalion.
24.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
2. To the rear, open order. 3.
MARCH.
25.
At the second command, the covering sergeants, and the sergeant on
the left of the battalion, will place themselves four paces in rear
of the front rank, and opposite their places in line of battle, in
order to mark the new alignment of the rear rank; they will be
aligned by the major on the left sergeant of the battalion, who will
be careful
to place himself exactly four paces in rear of the
front rank, and to hold his piece between the eyes, erect and
inverted, the better to indicate to the major the direction to be
given to the covering sergeants.
26.
At the command march, the rear rank and the file closers will step
to the rear without counting steps; the men will pass a little in
rear of the line traced for this rank, halt, and dress forward on
the covering sergeants, who will align correctly the men of their
respective companies.
27.
The file closers will fall back and preserve the distance of two
paces from the rear rank, glancing eyes to the right; the lieutenant
colonel will, from the right, align them on the file closer of the
left, who, having placed himself accurately two paces from the rear
rank, will invert his piece, and hold it up erect between his eyes,
the better to be seen by the lieutenant colonel.
28.
The colonel, seeing the ranks aligned, will command: 4. FRONT. At
this command, the lieutenant colonel, major, and the left sergeant,
will retake their places in line of battle.
29.
The colonel will cause the ranks to be closed by the commands
prescribed for the instructor in the school of the company, No. 28.
30.
The ranks being closed, the colonel will cause the following times
and pauses to be executed: Present arms. Shoulder arms. Order arms.
Shoulder arms. Support arms. Shoulder arms. Fix bayonet. Shoulder
arms. Charge bayonet. Shoulder arms. Unfix bayonet. Shoulder arms.
31.
The colonel will next cause to be executed loading at will, by the
commands prescribed in the school of the company No. 45; the
officers and sergeants in the ranks will half face to the right with
the men at the eighth time of loading, and will face to the front
when the men next to them come to a shoulder.
32.
The colonel will cause to be executed the fire by company, the fire
by wing, the fire by battalion, the fire by file, and the fire by
rank, by the commands to be herein indicated.
33.
The fire by company and the fire by file will always be direct; the
fire by battalion, the fire by wing, and the fire by rank, may be
either direct or oblique.
34.
When the fire ought to be oblique, the colonel will give, at every
round, the caution right (or left) oblique, between the commands
ready and aim.
35.
The fire by company will be executed alternately by the right and
left companies of each division, as if the division were alone. The
right company will fire first; the captain of the left will not give
his first command till he shall see one or two pieces at a ready in
the right company; the captain of the latter, after the first
discharge, will observe the same rule in respect to the left
company; and the fire will thus be continued alternately.
36.
The colonel will observe the same rule in the firing by wing.
37.
The fire by file will commence in all the companies at once, and
will be executed as has been prescribed in the school of the company
No. 55 and following. The fire by rank will be executed by each rank
alternately, as has been prescribed in the school of the company No.
58 and following.
38.
The color-guard will not fire, but reserve itself for the defence of
the color.
39.
The colonel, wishing the fire by company to be executed, will
command:
1. Fire by company. 2. Commence
firing.
40.
At the first command, the captains and covering sergeants will take
the positions indicated in the school of the company No. 49.
41.
The color and its guard will step back at the same time, so as to
bring the front rank of the guard in a line with the rear rank of
the battalion. This rule is general for all the different firings.
42.
At the second command, the odd numbered companies will commence to
fire; their captains will each give the commands prescribed in the
school of the company No. 50, observing to precede the command
company by that of first, third, fifth, or seventh, according to the
number of each.
43.
The captains of the even numbered companies will give, in their
turn, the same commands, observing to precede them by the number of
their respective companies.
44.
In order that the odd numbered companies may not all fire at once,
their captains will observe, but only for the first discharge, to
give the command fire one after another; thus, the captain of the
third company will not give the command fire until he has heard the
fire of the first company; the captain of the fifth will observe the
same rule with respect to the third, and the captain of the seventh
the same rule with respect to the fifth.
45.
The colonel will cause the fire to cease by the sound to cease
firing; at this sound, the men will execute what is prescribed in
the school of the company No. 63; at the sound, for officers to take
their places after firing, the captains, covering sergeants, and
color-guard, will promptly resume their places in line of battle:
this rule in general for all the firings.
46.
When the colonel shall wish this fire to be executed, he will
command:
1. Fire by wing. 2. Right wing.
3. READY. 4. AIM. 5. FIRE. 6. LOAD.
47.
The colonel will cause the wings to fire alternately, and he will
recommence the fire by the commands,
1. Right wing; 2. AIM; 3. FIRE;
4. LOAD. 1. Left wing; 2. AIM; 3. FIRE; 4. LOAD;
in
conforming to what is prescribed No. 35. The fire by battalion. 48.
The colonel will cause this fire to be executed by the commands last
prescribed, substituting for the first two,
1. Fire by battalion; 2.
Battalion. The fire by file.
49.
To cause this to be executed, the colonel will command:
1. Fire by file. 2. Battalion.
3. READY. 4. Commence firing.
50.
At the fourth command, the fire will cornmence on the right of each
company, as prescribed in the school of the company No. 57. The
colonel may, if he thinks proper, cause the fire to commence on the
right of each platoon.
51.
To cause this fire to be executed, the colonel will command:
1. Fire by rank. 2. Battalion.
3. READY. 4. Rear rank. 5. AIM. 6. FIRE. 7. LOAD.
52.
This fire will be executed as has been explained in the school of
the company No. 59, in following the progression prescribed for the
two ranks which should fire alternately. To fire by the rear rank.
53.
When the colonel shall wish the battalion to fire to the rear, he
will command:
1. Face by the rear rank. 2.
Battalion 3. About-FACE.
54.
At the first command, the captains, covering sergeants, and file
closers will execute what has been prescribed in the school of the
company No. 69; the color-bearer will pass into the rear rank, and
for this purpose, the corporal of his file will step before the
corporal next on his right to let the color-bearer pass, and will
then take his place in the front rank; the lieutenant colonel,
adjutant, major, sergeant major, and the music will place themselves
before the front rank, and face to the rear, each opposite his place
in the line of battle -the first two passing around the right, and
the others around the left of the battalion.
55.
At the third command, the battalion will face about; the captains
and covering sergeants observing what is prescribed in the school of
the company No. 70.
56.
The battalion facing thus by the rear rank, the colonel will cause
it to execute the different fires by the same commands as if it were
faced by the front rank.
57.
The right and left wings will retain the same designations, although
faced about; the companies also will preserve their former
designations, as first, second, third, &c.
58.
The fire by file will commence on the left of each company, now
become the right.
59.
The fire by rank will commence by the front rank, now become the
rear rank. This rank will preserve its denomination.
60.
The captains, covering sergeants, and colorguard will, at the first
command given by the colonel, take the places prescribed for them in
the fires, with the front rank leading.
61.
The colonel, after firing to the rear, wishing to face the battalion
to its proper front, will command:
1. Face by the front rank. 2.
Battalion. 3. About —FACE.
62.
At these commands, the battalion will return to its proper front by
the means prescribed Nos. 54 and 55.
63.
The tire by file being that most used in war, the colonel will give
it the preference in the preparatory exercises, in order that the
battalion may be brought to execute it with the greatest possible
regularity.
64.
When the colonel may wish to give some relaxation to the battalion,
without breaking the ranks, he will execute what has been prescribed
in the school of the company Nos. 37 and 38 or Nos. 39 and 40.
65.
When the colonel shall wish to cause arms to be stacked, he will
bring the battalion to ordered arms, and then command:
1. Stack-ARMS. 2. Break ranks.
3. MARCH.
66.
The colonel wishing the men to return to the ranks, will cause
attention to be sounded, at which the battalion will re-form behind
the stacks of arms. The sound being finished, the colonel after
causing the stacks to be broken, will command: Battalion.
67.
At this command, the men will fix their attention, and remain
immovable.
68.
Lines of battle will habitually break into column by company; they
may also break by division or by platoon.
69.
It is here supposed that the colonel wishes to break by company to
the right; he will command:
1. By company, right wheel. 2.
MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
70.
At the first command, each captain will place himself rapidly before
the centre of his company, and caution it that it has to wheel to
the right; each covering sergeant will replace his captain in the
front rank.
71.
At the command march, each company will break to the right,
according to the principles prescribed in the school of the company
No. 173; each captain will conform himself to what is prescribed for
the chiefs of platoon; the left guide, as soon as he can pass, will
place himself on the left of the front rank to conduct the marching
flank, and when he shall have approached near to the perpendicular,
the captain will command:
1. Such company. 2. HALT.
72.
At the second command, which will be given at the instant the left
guide shall be at the distance of three paces from the
perpendicular, the company will halt; the guide will advance and
place his left arm lightly against the breast of the captain, who
will establish him on the alignment of the man who has faced to the
right; the covering sergeant will place himself correctly on the
alignment on the right of that man; which being executed, the
captain will align his company by the left, command FRONT, and place
himself two paces before its centre.
73.
The captains having commanded FRONT, the guides, although some of
them may not be in the direction of the preceding guides, will stand
fast, in order that the error of a company that has wheeled too much
or too little may not be propagated; the guides not in the direction
will readily come into it when the column is put in march.
74.
A battalion in line of battle will break into column by company to
the left, according to the same principles, and by inverse means;
the covering sergeant of each company will conduct the marching
flank, and the left guide will place himself on the left of the
front rank at the moment the company halts.
75.
When the battalion breaks by division, the indication division will
be substituted in the commands for that of company; the chief of
each division (the senior captain) will conform himself to what is
prescribed for the chief of company, and will place himself two
paces before the centre of his division; the junior captain, if not
already there, will place himself in the interval between the two
companies in the front rank, and be covered by the covering sergeant
of the left company in the rear rank. The right guide of the right
company will be the right guide, and the left guide of the left
company, the left guide of the division.
76.
When the battalion shall break by platoon to the right or to the
left, each first lieutenant will pass around the left of his company
to place himself in front of the second platoon, and for this
purpose, each covering sergeant, except the one of the right
company, will step, for the moment, in rear of the right file of his
company.
77.
When the battalion breaks by division to the right, and there is an
odd company, the captain of this company, (the left), after wheeling
into column, will cause it to oblique to the left, halt it at
company distance from the preceding division, place his left guide
on the direction of the column, and then align his company by the
left. When the line breaks by division to the left, the odd company
will be in front; its captain, having wheeled it into column, will
cause it to oblique to the right, halt it at division distance from
the division next in the rear, place his right guide on the
direction of the other guides, and align the company by the right.
78.
The battalion being in column, the lieutenant colonel and major will
place themselves on the directing flank, the first abreast with the
leading subdivision, and the other abreast with the last, and both
six paces from the flank. The adjutant will be near the lieutenant
colonel, and the sergeant major near the major.
79.
The colonel will have no fixed place as the instructor of his
battalion; but in columns composed of many battalions, he will place
himself habitually on the directing flank fifteen or twenty paces
from the guides, and abreast with the centre of his battalion.
80.
When the colonel shall wish to move the column forward without
halting it, he will caution the battalion to that effect, and
command:
1. By company, right wheel. 2.
MARCH (or double quick —MARCH).
81.
At the first command, the captains of companies will execute what is
prescribed for breaking into column from a halt.
82.
At the second command, they will remain in front of their companies
to superintend the movement; the companies will wheel to the right
on fixed pivots as indicated in the school of the company No. 185;
the left guides will conform to what is prescribed above; when they
shall arrive near the perpendicular, the colonel will command:
3. Forward. 4. MARCH. 5. Guide
left
83.
At the third command, each covering sergeant will place himself by
the right side of the man
on the right of the front rank of his company. At the fourth
command, which will be given at the instant the wheel is completed,
the companies will cease to wheel and march straight forward. At the
fifth, the men will take the touch of elbows to the left. The
leading guide will march in the direction indicated to him by the
lieutenant colonel. The guides will immediately conform themselves
to the principles of the march in column, school of the company, No.
200 and following.
84.
If the battalion be marching in line of battle, the colonel will
cause it to wheel to the right or left, by the same commands and the
same means; but he should previously caution the battalion that it
is to continue the march.
85.
A battalion in line of battle will break into column by company to
the left, according to the same principles and by inverse means; the
covering sergeant of each company will conduct the marching flank,
and the left guides will place themselves on the left of their
respective companies at the command forward.
86.
When a battalion has to prolong itself in column towards the right
or left, or has to direct its march in column perpendicularly or
diagonally in front, or in rear of either flank, the colonel will
cause it to break by company to the right or left, as has just been
prescribed; but when the line breaks to the right, in order to march
towards the left, or the reverse, the colonel will command: Break to
the right to march to the left, or break to the left to march to the
right, before giving the command, by company, right (or left) wheel.
As soon as the battalion is broken, the lieutenant colonel will
place a marker abreast with the right guide of the leading company.
The instant the column is put in motion, this company will wheel to
the left (or right) march ten paces to the front without changing
the guide, and wheel again to the left (or right.) The second wheel
being completed, the captain will immediately command guide left (or
right.) The guide of this company will march in a direction parallel
to the guides of the column. The lieutenant colonel will be careful
to place a second marker at the point where the first company is to
change direction the second time.
87.
When the colonel shall wish to cause the battalion to break to the
rear, by the right, into column by company, he will command:
1. By the right of companies to
the rear into column. 2. Battalion right-FACE. 3. MARCH (or double
quick-MARCH).
88.
At the first command, each captain will place himself before the
centre of his company, and caution it to face to the right; the
covering sergeants will step into the front rank.
89.
At the second command, the battalion will face to the right; each
captain will hasten to the right of his company, and break two files
to the rear; the first file will break the whole depth of the two
ranks; the second file less; which being executed, the captain will
place himself so that his breast may touch lightly the left arm of
the front rank man of the last file in the company next on the right
of his own. The captain of the right company will place himself as
if there were a company on his right, and will align himself on the
other captains. The covering sergeant of each company will break to
the rear with the right files, and place himself before the front
rank of the first file, to conduct him.
90.
At the command march, the first file of each company will wheel to
the right; the covering sergeant, placed before this file, will
conduct it perpendicularly to the rear. The other files will come
successively to wheel on the same spot. The captains will stand
fast, see their companies file past, and at the instant the last
file shall have wheeled, each captain will command:
1. Such company. 2. HALT. 3.
FRONT. 4. Left-DRESS.
91.
At the instant the company faces to the front, its left guide will
place himself so that his left arm may touch lightly the breast of
his captain.
92.
At the fourth command, the company will align itself on its left
guide, the captain so directing it, that the new alignment may be
perpendicular to that which the company had occupied in line of
battle, and, the better to judge this, he will step back two paces
from the flank.
93.
The company being aligned, the captain will command: FRONT, and take
his place before its centre.
94.
The battalion marching in line of battle, when the colonel shall
wish to break into column by company, to the rear, by the right, he
will command:
1. By the right of companies to
the rear into column. 2. Battalion, by the right flank. 3. MARCH (or
double quick-MARCH).
95.
At the first command, each captain will step briskly in front of the
centre of his company, and caution it to face by the right flank.
96.
At the command march, the battalion will face to the right; each
captain will move rapidly to the right of his company and cause it
to break to the right; the first file of each company will wheel to
the right, and the covering sergeant placed in front of this file
will conduct it perpendicularly to the rear; the other files will
wheel successively at the same place as the first. The captains will
see their companies file past them; when the last files have
wheeled, the colonel will command:
3. Battalion, by the left
flank-MARCH. 4 Guide left.
97.
At the command march, the companies will face to the left, and march
in column in the new direction. The captains will place themselves
in front of the centres of their respective companies. At the fourth
command, the guides will conform to the principles of the march in
column; the leading one will move in the direction indicated to him
by the lieutenant colonel. The men will take the touch of elbows to
the left.
98.
To break to the rear by the left, the colonel will give the same
commands as in the case of breaking to the rear by the right,
substituting the indication left, for that of right.
99.
The movement will be executed according to the same principles. Each
captain will hasten to the left of his company, cause the first two
files to break to the rear, and then place his breast against the
right file of the company next on the left of his own, in the manner
prescribed above.
100.
As soon as the two files break to the rear, the left guide of each
company will place himself before the front rank man of the headmost
file, to conduct him.
101.
The instant the companies face to the front, the right guide of each
will place himself so that his right arm may lightly touch the
breast of his captain.
102.
The battalion may be broken by division to the rear, by the right or
left, in like manner; in this case, the indication divisions will be
substituted, in the first command, for that of companies; the chiefs
of division will conform themselves to what is prescribed for the
chiefs of company. The junior captain in each division will place
himself, when the division faces to a flank, by the side of the
covering sergeant of the left company, who steps into the front
rank.
103.
If there be an odd number of companies, and the battalion breaks by
division to the rear, whether by the right or left, the captain of
the left company will conform to what is prescribed No. 77.
104.
This manner of breaking into column being at once the most prompt
and regular, will be preferred on actual service, unless there be
some particular reason for breaking to the front.
105.
If the battalion be in line and at a halt, and the colonel should
wish to advance or retire by the right of companies, he will
command:
1. By the right of companies to
the front (or rear). 2. Battalion, right-FACE. 3. MARCH (or double
quick-MARCH). 4. Guide right, (left) or (centre).
106.
At the first command, each captain will move rapidly two paces in
front of the centre of his company, and caution it to face to the
right; the covering sergeants will replace the captains in the front
rank.
107.
At the second command, the battalion will face to the right, and
each captain moving quickly to the right -of his company will cause
files to break to the front, according to the principles indicated
No. 89.
108.
At the command march, each captain placing himself on the left of
his leading guide will conduct his company perpendicularly to the
original line. At the fourth command, the guide of each company will
dress to the right, left, or centre, according to the indication
given, taking care to preserve accurately his distance.
109.
If the colonel should wish to move to the front, or rear, by the
left of companies, the movement will be executed by the same means
and the same commands, substituting left for right.
110.
If the battalion be in march, and the colonel should wish to advance
or retire by the right of companies, he will command:
1. By the right of companies to
the front (or rear). 2. Battalion, by the right flank. 3. MARCH (or
double quick-MARCH). 4. Guide right (left) or (centre).
111.
Which will be executed according to the principles and means
prescribed Nos. 95 and folIowing, and 106 and following. At the
first command, the color and general guides will take their places
as in column.
112.
If the colonel should wish to advance or retire by the left of
companies, the movement will be executed by the same means and the
same commands, substituting left for right.
113.
If the battalion be advancing by the right or left of companies, and
the colonel should wish to form line to the front, he will command:
1. By companies into line. 2.
MARCH (or double quick-MARCH). 3. Guide centre.
114.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the captains, each company
will be formed into line, as prescribed in the school of the
company, No. 154.
115.
At the third command, the color and general guides will move rapidly
to their places in line, as will be hereinafter prescribed No. 405.
116. If the battalion be retiring by the
right or left of companies, and the colonel should wish to form line
facing the enemy, he will first cause the companies to face about
while marching, and immediately form in line by the commands and
means prescribed Nos. 113 and following.
117. This movement may be executed by company
or by division, on the right or left subdivision, or on any other
subdivision, right or left in front.
118. The examples in this school will suppose
the presence of four divisions, with directions for an odd company;
but what will be prescribed for four, will serve equally for two,
three or five divisions.
119. To ploy the battalion into close column
by division in rear of the first, the colonel will command:
1.
Close column, by division. 2. On the first division, right in front.
3. Battalion, right-FACE. 4. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
120. At the second command, all the chiefs of
division will place themselves before the centres of their
divisions; the chief of the first will caution it to stand fast; the
chiefs of the three others will remind them that they will have to
face to the right, and the covering sergeant of the right company of
each division will replace his captain in the front rank, as soon as
the latter steps out.
121. At the third command, the last three
divisions will face to the right; the chief of each division will
hasten to its right, and cause files to be broken to the rear, as
indicated No. 89; the right guide will break at the same time, and
place himself before the front rank man of the first file, to
conduct him, and each chief of division will place himself by the
side of this guide.
122. The moment these divisions face to the
right, the junior captain in each will place himself on the left of
the covering sergeant of the left company, who will place himself in
the front rank. This rule is general for all the ployments by
division.
123. At the command march, the chief of the
first division will add, guide left; at this, its left guide will
place himself on its left, as soon as the movement of the second
division may permit, and the file closers will advance one pace upon
the rear rank.
124. All the other divisions, each conducted
by its chief, will step off together, to take their places in the
column; the second will gain, in wheeling by file to the rear, the
space of six paces, which ought to separate its guide from the guide
of the first division, and so direct its march as to enter the
column on a line parallel to this division; the third and fourth
divisions will direct themselves diagonally towards, but a little in
rear of, the points at which they ought, respectively, to enter the
column; at six paces from the left flank of the column, the head of
each of these divisions will incline a little to the left, in order
to enter the column as has just been prescribed for the second,
taking care also to leave the distance of six paces between its
guide and the guide of the preceding division. At the moment the
divisions put themselves in march to enter the column, the file
closers of each will incline to the left, so as to bring themselves
to the distance of a pace from the rear rank.
125. Each chief of these three divisions will
conduct his division till he shall be up with the guide of the
directing one; the chief will then himself halt, see his division
file past, and halt it the instant the last file shall have passed,
commanding:
1.
Such division; 2. HALT; 3. FRONT: 4. Left-DRESS.
126. At the second command, the division will
halt; the left guide will place himself promptly on the direction,
six paces fro'm the guide which precedes him, in order that, the
column being formed, the divisions may be separated the distance of
four paces.
127. At the third command, the division will
face to the front; at the fourth, it will be aligned by its chief,
who will place himself two paces outside of his guide, and direct
the alignment so that his division may be parallel to that which
precedes-which being done, he will command, FRONT and place himself
before the centre of his division.
128. If any division, after the command
front, be not at its proper distance, and this can only happen
through the negligence of its chief, such division will remain in
its place, in order that the fault may not be propagated.
129. The colonel will superintend the
execution of the movement, and cause the prescribed principles to be
observed.
130. The lieutenant colonel, placing himself
in succession in rear of the left guides, will assure them on the
direction as they arrive, and then move to his place outside of the
left flank of the column six paces from, and abreast with, the first
division. In assuring the guides on the direction, he will be a mere
observer, unless one or more should fail to cover exactly the guide
or guides already established. This rule is general.
131. The major will follow the movement
abreast with the left of the fourth division, and afterwards take
his position outside of the left flank of the column, six paces
from, and abreast with, this division.
132. To ploy the battalion in front of the
first division, the colonel will give the same commands,
substituting the indication left for that of right in front.
133. At the second and third commands, the
chiefs of division and the junior captains will conform themselves
to what is prescribed, Nos. 120, 121, 122; but the chiefs of the
last three divisions, instead of causing the first two files to
break to the rear, will cause them to break to the front.
134. At the fourth command, the chief of the
first division will add: Guide right.
135. The three other divisions will step off
together to take their places in the column in front of the
directing division; each will direct itself as, prescribed, No. 124,
and will enter in such manner that, when halted, its guide may find
himself six paces from the guide of the division next previously
established in the column.
136. Each chief of these divisions will
conduct his division, till his right guide shall be nearly up with
the guide of the directing one; he will then halt his division, and
cause it to face to the front; at the instant it halts, its right
guide will face to the rear, place himself six paces from the
preceding guide, and cover him exactly-which being done, the chief
will align his division by the right.
137. The lieutenant colonel, placed in front
of the right guide of the first division, will assure the guides on
the direction as they successively arrive, and then move outside of
the right flank of the column, to a point six paces from, and
abreast with, the fourth division, now in front.
138. The major will conform himself to what
is prescribed, No. 131, and then move outside of the right flank of
the column, six paces from, and. abreast with, the first division,
now in the rear.
139. The movement being ended, the colonel
will command:
Guides,
about-FACE.
140. At this, the guides, who are faced to
the rear, will face to the front. 141. To ploy the battalion in
rear, or in front of the fourth division, the colonel will command:
1.
Close column by division. 2. On the.fourth division, left (or right)
in front. 3. Battalion, left - FACE. 4. MARCH (or double quick
MARCH).
142. These movements will be executed
according to the principles of those which precede, but by inverse
means: the fourth division on which the battalion ploys will stand
fast; the instant the movement commences, its chief will command,
guide right (or left).
143. The foregoing examples embrace all the
principles: thus, when the colonel shall wish to ploy the battalion
on an interior division, he will command:
1.
Close column by division. 2. On such division, right (or left) in
front. 3. Battalion inwards FACE. 4. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH).
144. The instant the movement commences, the
chief of the directing division will command, guide left (or right).
145. The divisions which, in the order in
battle, are to the right of the directing division, will face to the
left; those which are to the left, will face to the right.
146. If the right is to be in front, the
right divisions will ploy in front of the directing division, and
the left in its rear; the reverse, if the left is to be in front.
And in all the foregoing suppositions, the division or divisions
contiguous to the directing one, in wheeling by file to the front or
rear, will gain the space of six paces, which ought to separate
their guides from the guide of the directing division.
147. In all the ployments on an interior
division, the lieutenant colonel will assure the positions of the
guides in front, and the major those in rear of the directing
division.
148. If the battalion be in march, instead of
at a halt, the movement will be executed by combining the two gaits
of quick and double quick time, and always in rear of one of the
flank divisions.
149. The battalion being in march, to ploy it
in rear of the first division, the colonel will command:
1.
Close column by division. 2. On the first division. 3. Battalion- by
the right flank. 4. Double quick-MARCH.
150. At the second command, each chief of
division will move rapidly before the centre of his division and
caution it to face to the right.
151. The chief of the first division will
caution it to continue to march to the front, and he will command:
Quick march.
152. At the command march, the chief of the
first division will command: Guide left. At this, the left guide
will move to the left flank of the division and direct himself on
the point indicated.
153. The three other divisions will face to
the right and move off in double quick time, breaking to the right
to take their places in column; each chief of division will move
rapidly to the right of his division in order to conduct it. The
files will be careful to preserve their distances, and to march with
a uniform and decided step. The color-bearer and general guides will
retake their places in the ranks.
154. The second division will immediately
enter the column, marching parallel to the first division; its chief
will allow it to file past him, and when the last file is abreast of
him, will command:
1.
Second division, by the left flank-MARCH. 2. Guide left, and place
himself in front of the centre of his division.
155. At the command march, the division will
face to the left; at the second command, the left guide will march
in the trace of the left guide of the first division; the men will
take the touch of elbows to the left. When the second division has
closed to its proper distance, its chief will command: Quick
time-MARCH. This division will then change its step to quick time.
156. The chiefs of the third and fourth
divisions will execute their movements according to the same
principles, taking care to gain as much ground as possible towards
the head of the column.
157. If the battalion had been previously
marching in line at double quick time, when the fourth division
shall have gained its distance, the colonel will command: Double
quick-MARCH.
158. In this movement, the lieutenant colonel
will move rapidly to the side of the leading guide, give him a point
of direction, and then follow the movements of the first division.
The major will follow the movement abreast with the left of the
fourth division. Remarks on ploying the battalion into column.
159. The battalion may be ployed into column
at full, or half distance, on the same principles, and by the same
commands, substituting for the first command: Column at full (or
half ) distance by division.
160. In the ployments and movements in
column, when the subdivisions execute the movements successively,
such as- to take or close distances; to change direction by the
flank of subdivisions, each chief of subdivision will cause his men
to support arms after having aligned it and commanded, FRONT. |
