SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART I.
nowon
the left of the centre rank, will return to
their
places in the front rank; and the lieutenant colonel
and major to theirs
in line of battle.
800.
The battalion being formed in two
ranks, the colonel will cause ranks to be opened by the commands which
have
just been prescribed; the captains and the closing sergeant, will stand
fast;
the alignment of the rear rank will be marked by the covering sergeants
and the
covering corporal; the this end, at the second command, they will step
off to
the rear, place themselves four paces from the front rank, and be
aligned by
the major as has been prescribed, No. 795.
The lieutenant colonel will align the file closers.
801.
The colonel will cause the ranks to be closed by the commands
prescribed
for the instructer, No. 476.
ARTICLE
II.
Manual
of Arms.
802.
The ranks being closed, the colonel will cause the following times or
pauses to be executed:
Present
arms, - -
Shoulder arms,
Order arms, - -
Shoulder arm,
Support
arms, - -
Carry arms,
Charge
bayonet, - Shoulder arms,
803.
The
officers and sergeants in the ranks
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION-PART 1,
will
remain faced to the front pending the manual of arms.
ARTICLE
III.
Loading
at will, and the Firings.
804.
The colonel will next cause to be executed
loading at will, by the commands prescribed, No. 271, the officers and
sergeants in the ranks will half-face to the right with the men, at the
first
time or pause of loading, and face to the front when the men who are
next to
them cast about.
805.
The colonel will cause to be executed
the fire by company, the fire. by wing, the fire by battalion, and the
fire of
two ranks, (or by file) by
the commands
which will be herein indicated.
806.
The fire by company and that of two
ranks (or by file) will always be direct; the fire by battalion, and
that by
wing, may be either direct or oblique.
807.
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.
808.
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 shouldered in the right
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
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.
809.
The colonel will observe the same rule in the
firing by wing.
810.
The fire of two ranks (or by file) will
commence in all the companies at once, and will be executed as has been
prescribed, No. 302, and No. 504, and following
811.
The colour-guard will not fire, but reserve
itself for the defence of the colour.
The
fire by
company.
812.
The colonel wishing to cause the fire
by company to be executed, will command:
1. Fire
by company.
2. Commence Firing.
813.
At the first command, the captains and
covering sergeants will take the positions indicated for them,
respectively,
No. 498.
814.
The colour 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,
except in
square. See Nos. 1487, 1536.
815.
At the second command, the right company
of each division will commence the fire; their captains will each give
the
commands prescribed, N6.499, substituting (See Nos.
6,9, 10,
11, and 12) grenadiers, or light infantry, or first
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
grenadiers,
&c.,
for the command company, or prefixing to the latter
its ordinal number,
as second, fourth, sixth, or eighth,
for the battalion companies,
according to the number of each. See
No. 8.
816.
The captains of the left companies of divisions, will give, in their
turn, the same commands, each prefixing the ordinal designation, as first,
third, fifth, or seventh, to the command,
company, or substituting
for this command light infantry, or rifle,
or (See Nos. 11
and 12) second grenadiers, &c.
817.
In order that the right companies may not all fire at once, their
captains will observe, but only for the first discharge, to give the
commands fire
in succession, from right to left; thus, the captain of the right
company in
the second division will give the commands aim and
fire only
after he shall have heard the fire of the right company on his right,
and so on
of the right companies towards the left of the battalion.
818.
The colonel will cause the fire to cease by a very short roll,
which will be followed by a tap on the drum; at the
instant the roll
commences, the men will execute what is prescribed, No. 506, and the
captains
and file closers what is prescribed, No. 508; at the tap on the drum,
the
captains, covering sergeants, and colour-guard will all promptly resume
their
places in line of battle. These
rules are general for all the firings.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
The
fire by wing.
819.
When the colonel shall wish to cause this fire to be executed, he will
command:
1. Fire
by wing. 2. Right (or
left) wing. 3.
READY.
4. AIM. 5.
FIRE.
6.
LOAD.
820.
The colonel will cause the wings to fire alternately, observing, in the
alternation, what is prescribed, No. 809.
The
fire by
battalion.
821.
The colonel will cause this fire to executed by the commands last
prescribed, substituting for the first two, 1. Fire by
battalion; 2. Battalion.
The
fire of two
ranks or by file.
822.
To cause this to be executed, the colonel will command:
1.
Fire by two ranks, (or by file.).
2. Battalion. 3.
READY. 4. Commence Firing.
823.
At the fourth command, the fire will commence on the right of each
company, as prescribed, No. 505. See
also, No. 302.
824.
In the fire by wing, by battalion, and in that of two ranks, the
captains and covering
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
sergeants
will, at the first command given by the
colonel for each fire, place themselves as indicated for the fire by
company.
To
fire by the
rear rank.
825.
When the colonel shall wish to cause the battalion to fire to the rear,
he will command:
1.
Face by the rear rank. 2. Battalion.
3.
About-FACE.
826.
At the first command, the captains, covering sergeants, and file
closers
will execute what has been prescribed, No. 512; the colour bearer will
pass
into the rear rank; the two corporals of is file will each step before
the
corporal next on his own right, to let the colour-bearer pass, and then
step in
front of the colour-bearer, to re-form his file; the closing sergeant
and
covering corporal will change places; the lieutenant colonel, adjutant,
major,
sergeant major, field music, and band, will throw themselves before the
front
rank, and face to the rear, each opposite to his place in line of
battle-the
first two passing around the right, and the others around the left of
the
battalion.
827.
At the third command, the battalion will face about; the captains and
covering sergeants observing what is prescribed, No. 513.
828.
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.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
829.
The right and left wings will retain the same designations, although
faced about; the companies also will preserve their former
designations, as
grenadiers, first, second, third, &c.
830.
The fire of two ranks (or by file) will commence on the left of each
company, now become the right.
831.
The captains, covering sergeants, and colour-guard will, at the first
command given by the colonel, take the places prescribed for them in
the fires,
with the front rank leading.
832.
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.
833.
At these commands, the battalion will return to its proper front by the
means prescribed, Nos. 826-7.
Remarks
on the
Firings.
834.
When ball or blank cartridges are used un firing, the colonel will take
care occasionally to order an inspection of arms after a certain number
of
rounds, which will be executed by the captains, as has been prescribed,
No.
525.
835.
In the intervals of rest, the lieutenant colonel and major will report
to the colonel the faults they may have observed in the
firings. The adjutant and sergeant major will report
in like manner to their principals.
836.
The fire of two ranks (or by file), being
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART 1.
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.
837.
When the colonel may wish to give some relaxation to the battalion,
without breaking the ranks, he will observe what has been prescribed
No. 485-8,
substituting BATTALION for company.
To
stack and
resume arms.
838.
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.
839.
These commands will be executed as prescribed, Nos. 410, 411,
417, and 418, or Nos. 415, 417, and 418.
840.
The colonel wishing the battalion to return from relaxation to the
ranks, will cause a very short roll to be given, at which the battalion
will
re-form behind the stacks of arms. The
roll be finished, he will command:
1.
Take-ARMS. 2. Battalion.
841.
At the first command, the men will resume their arms as prescribed,
Nos.
413 or 416.
842.
At the command battalion, the ranks will fix their
attention, and
remain immoveable.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
PART
SECOND.
Different
modes
of passing from the order in battle to the order in column.
ARTICLE
I.
To
break to the
front, to the right or left, into column.
843.
Lines of battle will habitually break into column by company; they may
also break by division.
844.
It is here supposed that the colonel wishes to break by company to the
right; he will command:
1.
By company, right wheel. 2,
Quick-MARCH.
845.
(Pl. XV, fig. 1.) At the
first command, each captain will throw himself 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, and the covering
corporal
will retire to the line of file closers.
This rule is general, for this corporal, as often as the
battalion
passes from line to column.
846.
At the command march, each company will break to
the right,
according to the principles prescribed, Nos. 614-15; each captain will
conform
himself to what is prescribed for the chiefs of platoon; the left
guide, as
soon as
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
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.
847.
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.
848.
The captains having commanded FRONT, the guides, although come 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 more or less than a
quarter of the
circle may not be propagated; the guides not in the direction will
readily come
into it when the column id put in march.
849.
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 then marching flank, and the left
guide
will place himself on the left o the front rank at the moment the
company
halts.
850.
When the battalion breaks by division, the indication division
will be substituted in the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
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.
851.
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.
852.
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
form the
flank. The adjutant will be near the
lieutenant colonel, and the sergeant major near the major. (See
No.12.) The colonel will have no fixed place as
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
the instructer
of his battalion; but in
columns composed of many battalions, as also with his own singly, when
the
brigadier general is the instructer, he will place
himself habitually on
the directing flank, fifteen or twenty paces from the guides, and
abreast with
the centre of his battalion.
853.
(Pl.
XV, fig. 2.) 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 th3e reverse, the colonel will command: Break
to
the right to march to the left, or break to the
left t0 march to the
right, before giving the command, by company, right
(or left)
wheel. The company on the flank
to which the wheel is made, will march twice the extent of its front
whilst the
other companies are wheeling, and halt; as soon as the column is
formed, the
lieutenant colonel will place two markers, one abreast with the leading
company, and the other abreast with the next company, and near the
directing
guides; these two companies will turn to the left (or right) the moment
the
colonel puts the column in march.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
ARTICLE
II.
To
break to the rear, by the right or left,
into column.
854.
(Pl. XV, figs. 3 and 4.)
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.
Quick-MARCH.
855.
At the first command, each captain will place himself before the centre
of his company, and give it the necessary cautions, and the covering
sergeants
will step into the front rank.
856.
At the second command, the battalion will face to the right; each
captain will hasten to the right of his company, break three or two
files
(according as the formation may be in three or two ranks) to the rear;
the first
file will break the whole depth of the ranks; the second file less; the
third,
if three, will only advance the left shoulder; which being executed,
the
captain will place himself so that his breast may touch the 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
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
himself
before the front rank man of the first
file, to conduct him.
857.
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-FACE;
4. Left-DRESS.
858.
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.
859.
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.
860.
The company being aligned, the captain will command: Front,
and
take his place before its centre.
861.
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.
862.
The movement will be executed according to the same
principles. Each captain will hasten to the left of his
company, cause the first three (or two) files to break to the rear, and
then
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
place
his breast against the right file of the
company next on the left of his own, in the manner prescribed above.
863.
As soon as the three (or 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.
864.
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.
865.
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 (the senior captains in the respective divisions) 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, and when
the
division faces again to the front, the captain and covering sergeant
will
return to the positions prescribed, No. 850.
866.
If there be an odd number of companies, and the battalion breaks by
division to the rear, whether by the right or left, the pivot flank of
the odd
(the left) company will, unlike the cases given, No. 851, be in the
true
direction of the column; but if the movement be made by the right, the
odd
company will close upon the next division to company distance, and if
the
movement
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
be
made by the left, the company will open out
from the next division to division distance.
Remarks
on breaking to the rear by the
right or left into column.
867.
This manner of breaking into column being at once the most prompt and
regular, it will be employed on actual service in preference, unless
there be
some particular reason for breaking to the front.
ARTICLE
III.
To
ploy the battalion
into close column or mass.
868.
This movement may be executed by company or by division, or on any
other
subdivision, right or left in front.
869.
The examples 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.
870.
To ploy the battalion into mass by division, in rear of the first, the
colonel will command:
1.
Close column, by division. 2.
On the first division, right in front, into column.
3. Battalion,
right-FACE. 4. Quick-MARCH.
871.
(Pl. XVI. fig.1.) At the
second command,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
all
the chiefs of division (the senior captains of
the respective divisions) will place them selves 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.
872.
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. 856; 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. The moment these divisions face
to the right, the junior captain in each will place himself on the left
of the
covering sergeant being in the front rank; and the instant the division
faces
to the front, this captain will post himself as prescribed, No. 850.
See also, No. 865. These
rules are general.
873.
At the command march, the chief of the first
division will add, guide
left; at this, its left guide (See No.
850) 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.
874.
All the other divisions, each conducted by its chief, will step off
together, to take their
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
places
in the column; the second will gain, in wheeling
by file to the rear, the space of six or five paces, (according as the
formation may be in three or two ranks,) 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 five or sox 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 (or five)
paces
between its guide and the guide of the preceding division. At
the moment the divisions put themselves
on 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.
875.
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-FACE; 4. Left-DRESS.
876.
At the second command, the division will halt; its left guide will
place
himself promptly on the direction six (or five) paces from the
preceding guide,
in order that, the column being formed, the rear rank of every
preceding
division may be at the distance of about three paces from
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
the
front rank of the next following division.
877.
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
throw himself before the centre of his division.
878.
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 other divisions
towards the
rear, and which may have their prescribed distances, may not be
disturbed at the
halt-unless a particular command be given to correct distances.
879.
The colonel will superintend the execution of the movement, and cause
the prescribed principles to be observed.
880.
The lieutenant colonel, (See No. 42,) 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.
881.
The major will follow the movement abreast with the left of the fourth
division, and afterwards take his position outside of the left of
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
the
column six paces from, and abreast with, this
division.
882.(Pl.
XVI, fig.2.) 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.
883.
At the second and third commands, the chiefs of division and the junior
captains will conform themselves to what is prescribed, Nos. 871-2; but
the
chiefs of the last three subdivisions, instead of causing the first
three (or
two) files to break to the rear, will cause them to break to the front.
884.
At the fourth command, the chief of the first division will add: guide
right.
885.
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. 874, and will enter in such a manner that, when halted,
its
guide may find himself six (or five) paces from the guide of the
division next
previously established in the column.
886.
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 (or five) paces
from the
preceding guide, and cover him exactly-which being done, the chief will
align
his division by the right.
887.
The lieutenant colonel, (Se No. 42,) placed in
front of the right
guide of the first
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
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.
888.
The major will conform himself to what is prescribed, No. 881, and then
move outside of the right flank of the column, six paces from, and
abreast
with, the first division, now in the rear.
889.
The movement being ended, the colonel will command:
Guides,
about-FACE.
890.
At this, the guides, who are faced to the rear, will face to the front.
891.
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, into
column. 3. Battalion, left-FACE.
4. Quick-MARCH.
892.
These movements will be executed according to the principles of those
which precede, but by inverse means: the fourth division will stand
fast; the
instant the movement commences, its chief will command guide
right (or left).
893.
(Pl. XVI, fig. 3.) The
foregoing examples embrace all the principles: thus, when the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART II.
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, into column. 3. Battalion, inwards-FACE.
4. Quick-MARCH.
894.
The instant the movement commences, the chief of the directing division
will command guide left (or right.)
895.
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.
896.
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 (or
five) paces, which ought to separate their guides from the guide of the
directing division.
897.
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 the
rear of the directing division.
Remarks
on
ploying the battalion into column.
898.
If the battalion present on odd number of companies, in all ployments
by
division, the left company will be considered, for the time, a
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
division,
and take its place in the column accordingly, in rear (or in front)
according
as the command may be right (or left)
in front. With the right in front, the
left guide of
this company will be on the direction of the left guides of the
divisions, and
the company aligned by its left: the reverse in the reverse case.
899.
It is important that the guide of the division that first enters the
column should be placed with perfect accuracy in respect to the guide
of the
directing one, inasmuch as the direction of the two determines that of
all the
others.
900.
It is equally essential that each division, before taking its place in
column, should be so directed in its march, as to enter at the
prescribed
distance, and parallelly with the directing division, in order to avoid
leading
into error the following divisions.
901.
The battalion may by 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.
PART
THIRD.
March
in column
and the other movements incident thereto.
ARTICLE
I.
To
march in
column at full distance.
902.
(Pl. XVII, fig. 1.) When
the colonel
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
shall
wish to put this column in march, he will
indicate to the leading guide two distinct objects in front, on the
line which
the guide ought to follow. This guide
will immediately put his shoulders in a square with that line, take the
more
distant object as the point of direction, and the nearer one as the
intermediate point.
903.
If only a single prominent object present itself in the direction the
guide has to follow, he will face to it as before, and immediately
endeavor to catch
on the ground some intermediate point, by which to give steadiness to
his march
on the point of direction.
904.
There being no prominent object to serve as the point of direction, the
colonel will despatch the lieutenant colonel or adjutant (See
No. 42) to
place himself some thirty or forty paces in advance, facing the column,
and by
a sign of the sword, establish him on the direction he may wish to give
to the
leading guide; that officer being thus placed, this guide will take him
as the
point of direction, conforming himself to what is prescribed, No. 529.
905.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1.
Column, forward. 2.
Guide left (or right.)
3. MARCH (or quick-MARCH.)
906.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the
chiefs of
subdivision, the column will put itself in march, conforming itself to
what is
prescribed, No. 626 and following.
907.
The leading guide may always
maintain
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
himself
correctly on the direction by keeping steadily
in view the two points indicated to him, or chosen by himself; if these
points
have a certain elevation, he may be assured that he is on the true
direction
when the nearer masks the more distant point.
908.
The following guides will preserve with exactness both step and
distance; each will march in the trace of the guide who immediately
precedes
him, without occupying himself with the general direction.
909.
The lieutenant colonel will hold himself, habitually, abreast with the
leading guide, to se that he does not deviate form the direction, and
will
observe, also that the next guide marches exactly in the trace of the
first.
910.
The major will generally be abreast with the last subdivision; he will
see that each guide marches exactly in the trace of the one immediately
preceding; if either deviate form the direction, the major will
promptly
rectify the error, and prevent its being propagated; but he need not
interfere,
in this way, unless the deviation has become sensible, or material.
911.
The colonel will hold himself habitually on the directing flank; he
will
look to the step and to the distances, and see that all the principles
prescribed for the march in column, School of the Company,
are observed.
912.
These means, which the practice in that school ought to have rendered
familiar, will give sufficient exactness to the direction of the
column, and
also enable it to form forward or faced
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
rear, on the right, or
on the left, into line of battle,
and to close on mass.
913.
But when a column, arriving in front, or n rear of the line of battle,
or, rather, on one of the extremities of that line, has to prolong
itself on
it, in order to form to the left or to
the right into line of
battle, then, as it is essential, to prevent the column from cutting
the line,
or sensibly deviating from it, other means, as follows, will be
employed.
The
column
arriving in front of the line of battle, to prolong it on this line.
914.
(Pl. XVIII, fig. 1.) If the
column, right in front, arrive in front of the line of battle, as it
ought not
to change direction till it shall have passed the line, the colonel
will cause
to be placed, in advance, a marker on the line to indicate the point at
which
the column ought to cross it, and another marker on the alignment of
the first,
and four paces beyond, to indicate the point at which the column ought
to
turn. The guide of the first
subdivision will direct himself on the two markers, and its chief will
cause it
to turn to the left when it shall arrive opposite to the second marker;
the
subdivision having turned will prolong itself in a direction parallel
to the
line of battle by one of the means to be immediately given.
915.
The instant the first subdivision turns, the right general guide, who
by
a caution form the lieutenant colonel, will, before, have placed
himself on the
line of battle at the point where
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
column crosses it, and who will have faced to
the two points of direction in his front, indicated by the colonel,
will march
forward correctly on the prolongation of those points.
916.
The colour-bearer will place himself in like manner on the line of
battle; and, at the instant the colour subdivision turns, he will
prolong his
march on that line, abreast with the this subdivision, taking care to
carry the
colour-lance before the centre of his person, and to maintain himself
exactly
in the direction of the general guide who precedes him, and the point
of
direction in front which will have been indicated to him.
917.
Finally, the left general guide will place himself in the same manner
on
the line of battle; and, at the instant the last subdivision of the
battalion
turns, he will march correctly in the direction of the colour-bearer,
and the
other general guide.
918.
The guide of the first subdivision will march steadily abreast with the
right general guide, and about four paces to his right; each of the
guides of
the following subdivisions will march in the trace of the guide who
immediately
precedes him, as prescribed, No. 908.
919.
The colonel, placed outside of the general guides, will see that the
column marches nearly parallel to, and about four paces within these
guides.
920.
The lieutenant colonel and major will look to the direction of the
general guides, and to this end, place themselves sometimes in rear of
the
colour-bearer, or the left general guide.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
921.
If the column be composed of several battalions, the general guides of
each will successively place themselves on the line of battle to
prolong their
march on this line, as the leading subdivision, that of the colour, and
the one
in the rear of their battalion, shall turn into the new direction;
these guides
will conform themselves respectively, as will also the colonel,
lieutenant
colonel, and major, to what is prescribed above for those of the
leading
battalion.
922.
In the case of several battalions, the lieutenant colonel of each will
maintain steadily the guide of his leading subdivision about four paces
within
the line of general guides, even should the last subdivisions of the
battalion
immediately preceding deviate from the parallelism, in order that the
false
direction of one battalion may not influence that of the battalions
which
follow.
The
column
arriving behind the line of battle, to prolong it on this line.
923.
(Pl. XVIII, fig. 2.) If
the column, right in front, arrive behind the line of battle, as, in
this case,
it ought to find itself four paces within this line, after having
changed
direction, the colonel will cause a marker to be placed at the point
where,
according to that condition, the first subdivision ought to commence
wheeling. Another marker will be established on the
line of battle, to indicate the point at which the general guides
ought, in
succession, to begin to prolong themselves on that line; he will be so
placed
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
that
each subdivision, having finished its wheel,
may find itself nearly in a line with this marker.
924.
At the instant the first subdivision, after having wheeled to the
right,
begins to prolong itself, parallelly to the line of battle, the leading
general
guide, placed in advance on that line, will direct himself on the two
points
taken in his front; the colour-bearer and the other general guide will
successively place themselves on the same line the instant that their
respective subdivisions shall have finished their wheel.
925.
If the column be composed of several battalions, the general guides
will
successively execute what has been just prescribed for those of the
leading
battalion, and the whole will conform themselves as well as the guides
of
subdivisions, and the field officers of the several battalions, to what
is
indicated, above, for a column arriving in front of the line of battle.
926.
In a column, left in front, arriving in front or in rear of the line of
battle, those movements will be executed on the same principles, and by
inverse
means.
The
column arriving on the right or left of the line of battle, and in the
same
direction, or in one nearly parallel thereto, to prolong it on this line
927.
If the column, instead of arriving in front or in rear of the line of
battle, arrive on its right or left, and if it have to prolong itself
on that
line, in order afterwards to form to the left or right
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
into
line of battle, the colonel will bring the general
guides on the flank of the column by the command colour and
general guides
on the line, and these guides will prolong themselves on the
line of
battle, in conformity with what is prescribed above.
Manner
of
prolonging a line of battle by markers.
928.
When a column prolongs itself on the line of battle, it being
all-important that the general guides march correctly on that line, it
becomes
necessary that colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors, whose duty it
is to
maintain the true direction, should be able to see, as far as
practicable, the
two objects on which the march of the general guides ought to be
directed;
consequently, when no prominent objects present themselves in the
desired
direction, the chief of the column will supply the want of them in
advance by
aids-de-camp, or other mounted officers, and in such number as may be
necessary.
929.
Three such officers may prolong a line as far as may be desired in the
following manner: they will place themselves in advance on the line of
battle,
the first at the point where the head of the column ought to enter; the
second,
according to the undulations or flatness of the ground, three or four
hundred
paces behind the first, and the third, a like distance behind the
second. The first of these officers will remain in
position till the leading general guide shall have entered on the line
of
battle, and then at
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
a
gallop, throw himself to a convenient distance
behind the third. The second will do
the like in respect to the first, when the head of the column shall be
near
him, and so on in continuation. These
officers, without dismounting, will face to the column, and cover each
other
accurately in file. It will be on them
that the general guides will steadily direct their march, and it will
be so
much the more easy for the latter to maintain themselves on the
direction, as
they will always be able to see the mounted officers over the heads of
the
preceding guides; thus the deviation from the direction, by one or more
general
guides, need not mislead those who follow.
930.
A single mounted officer may suffice to assure the direction of a
column, when the point of direction towards which it marches is very
distant. In this case, that officer
will place himself on the line of battle within that point, and beyond
the one
at which the head of the column will halt, and remain in position until
the
column halts, serving thus as the intermediate point for giving
steadiness to
the march of the general guides.
931.
For a column of one or two battalions, markers on foot will suffice to
indicate the line to be followed by the general guides.
Remarks
on the
march in column.
932.
Although the unmeasured and uncadenced step is that of columns in route
marches, and is that which ought to be habitually employed
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
in
the Evolutions of the Line, because it
leaves the men more at ease, and, consequently, is better adapted to
movements
on a large scale and to difficult grounds,
nevertheless, as it is of paramount importance to confirm soldiers on
the
measure and movement of the cadenced step, the route step will be but
little
practised in the exercises by battalion, except in going to, and
returning
from, the ground of instruction, and for teaching the mechanism and
movements
of columns in route.
933.
It is highly essential to the regularity of the march in column that
each guide follow exactly in the trace of the one immediately
preceding,
without occupying his attention with the general direction of the
guides. If this principle be steadily observed, the
guides will find themselves aligned, provided that the leading one
march
exactly in the direction indicated to him; and even should obstacles in
his way
force him into a momentary deviation, the direction of the column would
not
necessarily be changed; whereas, if the following guides endeavour to
conform
themselves at once to all the movements of the leading one, in order to
cover
him in file, such endeavours would necessarily cause fluctuations in
the
column, from right to left, and from left to right, and render the
preservation
of distances extremely difficult.
934.
(Pl. XVII, fig. 2.) As a
consequence of the principle, that each guide shall exactly
follow in the trace
of the one who immediately precedes, if, pending the march of
the column,
the colonel shall give a new point of direction, too near to the first
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
to
require a formal change of direction,
the leading guide, advancing the one or other shoulder, will
immediately direct
himself on this point: and the other guides will only conform
themselves to
this movement as each arrives at the point at which the first had
executed
it. Each subdivision will conform
itself to the movement of its guide, the men insensibly lengthening or
shortening the step, and advancing or refusing (throwing back) the
shoulder
opposite to the guide, but without losing the touch of the elbow
towards his
side.
935.
The column by company, being in march, the colonel will cause it to
diminish front by platoon, from front to rear, at once, and to increase
front
by platoon in like manner, which movements will be commanded and
executed as
prescribed, No. 693, or No. 676, and following, changing the command form
company into form companies.
So may he increase and diminish, or diminish and increase front,
according to the same principles and at once, by company, changing the
command form
company to form divisions, and the
command break into platoons to
break into companies. In this
case, the companies and divisions will execute what is prescribed for
platoons
and companies respectively.
936.
The column being at a halt, if he colonel wish to march it to the rear,
and the distance to be gained be so inconsiderable as to render a
countermarch
a disproportionate loss of time, he will cause the column to face
about, and
then put it in march by the commands prescribed,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
No.
905; the chiefs of the subdivisions will remain
behind the front rank, the file closers before the rear rank, and the
guides
step into the rear rank, now in front.
In a column, by division, the junior captains, in the intervals between
companies, will replace their covering sergeant in the rear rank, and
these
sergeants will step into the line of file closers in front of their
intervals. When the column faces to its
proper front, the junior captains, their covering sergeants, and the
guides,
will resume their habitual places in the particular column.
ARTICLE
II.
Column
in route.
937.
A column in route, like a column in manoeuvre, ought never to have a
depth greater than about the front it had occupied in the line of
battle, less
the front of a subdivision.
938.
The observance of this principle requires no particular rule for a
column in manoeuvre; but, as a column in route may have hourly to pass
narrow
ways, bridges, or other defiles, rendering it necessary to diminish the
front
of subdivisions, it becomes important to give rules and means by which
the
column may, for any length of march, preserve the ease of the route
step
without elongation from front to rear.
939.
A column in route will be habitually formed by company. It
will be put in march, or, being in march,
take the route step, and pass
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
from
the route to the cadenced step, by the
commands prescribed, Nos. 720, 725, 723.
940.
Arrived at a pass too narrow to receive the front of a company, the
column will diminish front by platoon before entering. This
movement will be executed successively,
or by all the companies at once.
941.
If, however, the defile be very short, and may be passed by the
diminution of a few files, it will be preferable to break to the rear
the
limited number of files. See No.
738.
942.
The column being by platoon, and the want of space rendering a further
diminution of front necessary, it will be diminished by section, if the
platoons be of ten or more files. See
No. 752, and following.
943.
The column being by section, will continue to march with that front as
long as the defile may permit.
944.
(Pl. XVII, fig. 3.) If
the platoons have less than ten files, one or two will be broken to the
rear,
according to the narrowing of the defile, and the route step continued
as long
as seven files can march abreast.
945.
The platoons being diminished to a front of seven, not including the
chiefs, if the want of space render a further diminution necessary, it
will
then become indispensable, to avoid an elongation of the column, (the
formation
being in three ranks,) to close ranks, (which always includes a
resumption of
the cadenced pace;) to this end, the chief of each platoon will first
cause
arms to be shouldered, and then command: 1. Close order;
2. MARCH.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
946.
At the command march, the centre and rear ranks,
(or the rear
rank if there be no centre) including the files which may be broken to
the rear,
will close to the prescribed distance, and the platoons will take the
cadenced
step.
947.
(Pl. XVII, fig. 4.) The
column, marching in the cadenced step, the front may now be reduced to
five
files, not including the chiefs of subdivision.
948.
What has just been prescribed for breaking off files to the rear, in a
column by platoon, is equally applicable to a column by section.
949.
If the formation be in two instead of three
ranks, the
front of subdivisions, marching in the route step, may be reduced to
six files,
and in the cadenced step to four, not including, in either case, the
chiefs.
950.
If the defile cannot give passage to six (or five) persons abreast,
including the chiefs of subdivision, the subdivisions will march
successively
by the flank, in conformity with what is prescribed, Nos. 727-8.
951.
The battalion marching by the flank, in the cadenced step, will be
formed by section by platoon, or by company, as soon as the breadth of
the way
permit; the several movements which these formations include will be
executed
by the commands of the captains as their companies successively clear
the
defile, observing the following rules:
952.
As soon as the way is sufficiently broad to contain six or (five)
persons abreast, the captain
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
will
command: 1. By section (or by
platoon) into line; 2.
MARCH.
953.
At the command march, the subdivision indicated
will form
themselves into line, (See No. 957, and following;)
the files which may
not be able to enter, from want of space, will follow (as files broken
off) the
last files of their subdivision which have entered into line.
954.
The column marching in this order, the broken files (if any) will be
caused to enter, as the increased breadth of the way may permit
955.
The subdivisions will successively retake the route step as soon as
their broken files come into line, or as soon as the front is increased
to
seven.
956.
The column marching by section or by platoon, platoons or companies
will
be formed as soon as the breadth of the way may permit.
957.
The leading subdivision will follow the windings of the pass or defile;
the following subdivisions will not occupy themselves with the
direction, but
all, in succession, pass over the trace of the subdivisions which
precede them
respectively.
958.
Slight changes of direction, such as gradual windings, will always be
made without commands; if the change to be made be more sudden, or if
there be
a choice of routes, a caution from the respective chiefs to their
subdivisions
will suffice, and the several ranks, as well as files broken to the
rear, will
execute, successively,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
movement where the front rank had executed it.
959.
The colonel will hold himself at the head of the battalion; he will
regulate the step of the leading subdivision, and indicate to its chief
the
instant for executing the various movements which the nature of the
route may
render necessary.
960.
If the column be composed of several battalions, each will conform
itself, in its turn, to what shall have been commanded for the leading
battalion, observing to execute each movement at the same place, and in
the
same manner,
961.
Finally, to render the mechanism of those movements familiar to the
troops, and to habituate them to march in the route step without
elongating the
column, commanders will generally cause their battalions to march in
this step,
going to, and returning from, fields of exercise. Each will
occasionally conduct his battalion through narrow
passes, ion order to make it perceive the utility of the principles
prescribed
above; and he will several times, in every course of instruction, march
it in
the route step, and cause to be executed, sometimes at once, and
sometimes
successively, the divers movements which have just been indicated.
General
remarks
on the column in route.
962.
The lesson relative to the column in route is, by its frequent
application, one of the most important that can be given to
troops. If it be
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
not
well taught and established on right
principles, it will happen that the rear of the column in route will be
obliged
to run, to regain distances, or that the front will be forced
to halt till the rear shall have accomplished that
object; thus rendering the march greatly slower, or greatly
more fatiguing, generally both, than if it were executed
according to rule.
963.
The ordinary progress of a column in route ought to be, on good roads,
or good grounds, at the rate of ninety paces in a minute, of three
miles in at
least an hour. This rate, for seven or
eight hours in every twenty-four, may easily be maintained by columns
of almost
any depth; but over bad roads, ploughed fields, loose sands, and
mountainous
districts, the progress cannot be as great, and must, therefore, be
regulated
by the chief of the column, according to the circumstances; but he will
take
care always to make, in the time, as much distance as practicable, so
that the
troops, at the end of each march, be not unfitted for battle.
964.The
most certain means of marching well
in route, is to preserve always a regular and equal movement, and, if
obstacles
oblige one or more subdivisions to slacken or shorten the step, to
cause the
primitive rate of march to be resumed the moment the difficulties are
passed.
965.
A subdivision ought never to take more than the
prescribed
distance from the subdivision immediately preceding; but it is
sometimes
necessary to lessen that distance.
966.
Thus: the head of the column encounters an obstacle which obliges it to
relax its
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
march;
all the following subdivisions will preserve
the habitual step, and close up in mass, if necessary, on the
subdivision
nearest to the obstacle. Distances will
afterwards naturally be recovers as each subdivision shall successively
have
passed the obstacle. Nevertheless, if
the difficulty be too great to be overcome by one subdivision, whilst
the next
is closing up, so that distances cannot afterwards be recovered without
running, the chief of the column will halt the leading subdivision
beyond the
obstacle, at a distance sufficient to contain the whole column in
mass. He will then put the column in march, the
subdivisions taking distances by the head, observing to commence the
movement
in time, so that the last subdivision may not be obliged to halt, after
having
cleared the obstacle.
967.
When
the chief of a column shall wish to change the rate of march, he will
cause the
leading battalion to quicken or to relax the step insensibly, and send
orders
to the other battalions each to regulate itself by that which precedes
it.
969.
Subdivisions ought always to step out well in obliquing (see
Nos.
695, 729,) both in breaking and forming companies or
platoons. When either is done in succession, it is
highly important that no subdivision slacken or shorten the step whilst
that
which precedes it is engaged
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
in
the movement.
The observance of this principle can alone prevent an elongation of the
column.
970.
If a battalion, formed in three ranks, and marching by the flank,
encounter a pass so narrow as to oblige it to defile, man by man, or
with a
front of two men, the colonel, in the first case, will cause the files
to pass
in their order; the centre rank man of each file preceded by the front
rank;
and followed by the rear rank man. That
captain and the guide of the leading flank will precede the leading
file of
their company, and the file closers will pass between the files
corresponding
with their usual positions. The whole
will follow closely, and without loss of time.
The captains will re-from their files faced to the flank, as they
successively pass the strait.
971.
If the defile be sufficient to receive two men abreast, the captain and
guide of the leading company will pass first, followed by his files in
their
order, the rear rank man of each file covering his front rank man, and
the file
closers near their places by the side of the rear rank men.
The remaining companies will follow in like
order. As soon as the enlargement of
the pass permits, files will be re-formed as before, and the battalion
will
march in this order until there be space to form platoons or sections,
in the
manner indicated, No. 952, and following.
972.
In both the cases just supposed, the head of the battalion, after
having
passed the defile, will march till sufficient space be left to contain
the
whole of the subdivisions in mass; afterwards
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III
it
will be put in march by the means indicated,
No. 966.
ARTICLE
III.
To
change direction in column at full
distance.
973.
(Pl. XIX, figs. 1 and 2.)
The column being in march in the cadenced step, when the colonel shall
wish to cause it to change direction, he will go to the point at which
the
change ought to be commenced, and establish a marker there, presenting
the
breast to the flank of the column; this marker, no matter to which side
the
change of direction is to be made, will be posted on the side of the
guide, and
he will remain in position till the last subdivision shall have passed.
The
leading subdivision being within a few paces of the marker, the colonel
will
command:
Head
of column to
the left(or right.)
974.
The guide of each subdivision will direct his march so as to graze the
breast of the marker; arrived at this point, the chief of each will
cause his
subdivision to change direction by the commands and according to the
principles
prescribed, School of the Company.
975.
When the column changes direction to the reverse flank, the colonel
will
carefully see that the guide of each subdivision, in wheeling, does not
throw
himself without or within, but
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
passes
over the arc of the circle which he ought
to describe.
976.
As often as no distinct object presents itself in the new direction,
the
lieutenant colonel will place himself upon it in advance, at the
distance of
thirty or forty paces from the marker, and be assured in this direction
by the
colonel; the leading guide will take, the moment he shall have changed
direction, two points on the ground in the straight line which, drawn
from
himself, would pass between the heels of the lieutenant colonel, (See
No.
42) taking, afterwards, new points as he advances.
977.
The major will see that the guides direct themselves on the marker
posted at the point of change, so as to graze his breast.
978.
If the column be composed of several battalions, the lieutenant colonel
of the second will cause the marker of the first battalion to be
replaced as
soon as the last subdivision of this battalion shall have passed; this
disposition will be observed by battalion after battalion, to the rear
of the
column.
Remarks.
979.
It has been demonstrated, School of the Company,
how important it
is, first, that each subdivision execute its change
of direction precisely
at the point where the leading one had changed, and that it arrive in a
square
with the direction; second, that the wheeling point
ought, always, to be
cleared in time, in order that the subdivision engaged in the wheel may
not
arrest
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
movement of the following one; third,
that the directing guides of subdivisions ought neither to lengthen nor
to
shorten the step in turning. The deeper
the column, the more rigorously ought those principles to be observed;
because,
a fault that would be but slight in a column of a single battalion,
would run
into exceeding embarrassment in one of great depth.
ARTICLE
IV.
To
halt the column.
980.
The column being in march, when the colonel shall wish to halt it, he
will
command:
1.
Column. 2. HALT.
981.
At the second command, briskly repeated by the captains, the column
will
halt; no guide will stir, though he may have lost his distance, or be
out of
the direction of the preceding guides.
982.
The column being halted, when the colonel shall wish to form it into
line of battle, he will move a little in front of the leading guide;
this guide
and the following one will fix their eyes on the colonel, in order
promptly to
conform themselves to his directions.
983.
If the colonel judge it not necessary to give a general direction to
the
guides, he will limit himself to rectifying the position of such as may
be
without, or within the direction, by
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
command guide of (such) company,
or guides of (such) companies, to the
right, (or to the left:)
at this command, the guides designated will place themselves on the
direction;
the others will stand fast.
984.
If, on the contrary, the colonel judge it necessary to give a general
direction to the guides of the column, he will place the first two on
the
direction he shall have chosen, and command:
Guides,
cover in
file.
985.
At this, the following guides will promptly place themselves on the
direction covering the first two in file, and each precisely at a
distance
equal to the front of his company, from the guide immediately
preceding; the
colonel will verify the direction, and command:
Left (or
right)-DRESS.
986.
At this, each company will incline laterally to the right or left, and
dress forward or backward, so as to bring the designated flank to rest
on its
guide; each captain will place himself outside of his guide, promptly
align his
company parallelly with that which precedes, then command FRONT, and
return to
his place in column.
987.
Finally, if the general guides march on the flank of the column, the
colonel, having halted it, will place himself in rear of the
colour-bearer, to
ascertain whether the leading general
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
guide
and the colour-bearer be exactly on the
direction of the two points in advance, and establish them on that
direction of
they be not already on it; the major will do the like, in respect to
the
general guide in the rear; which being executed, the colonel will
command:
1. Guides-ON
THE LINE.
988.
At this, the guide of each company on the directing flank will step
promptly into the direction of the general guides, and face to the
front. The lieutenant colonel, placed in front of,
and facing to, the leading general guide, and the major, placed in rear
of the
rearmost one, will promptly align the company guides.
989.
The colonel, having verified the direction of the guides, will command:
2.
Left (or right)-DRESS.
990.
This will be executed as prescribed, No. 986.
Remarks.
991.
The means indicated, No. 984, and following, for giving a general
direction to the guides of a column, will only apply to one (at full
distance)
composed of two, or, at most, three battalions. If the number
be more numerous. its chief will cause the colours
and general guides of all the battalions to step out and place
themselves on
the direction which he may wish to
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
give
to the column, as will be explained, Evolutions
of the Line.
ARTICLE
V.
To
close the column to half distance, or in
mass.
992.
A column by company, at full distance and right in front, being in
march, when the colonel shall wish to cause it to close to half
distance, on
the leading company, he will command:
1.
To half distance, close column.
2. Quick-MARCH.
993.
At the command march, the captain of the leading
company will
halt and align it by the left, and the file closers will close one pace
upon
hte rear rank.
994.
All the other companies will continue to march, and as each in
succession arrives at platoon distance from the one that precede, its
captain
will halt it.
995.
At the instant that each company halts, its guide will place himself on
the direction of the guides who precede, and the captain will align the
company
by the left; the file closers will close one pace upon the rear rank.
996.
NO particular attention need be given to the general direction of the
guides before they respectively halt; it will suffice if each follow in
the
trace of the one who precedes him.
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
997.
The colonel, on the side of the guides, will superintend the execution
of the movement, observing that the captains halt their companies
exactly at
platoon distance the one form the other.
998.
The lieutenant colonel, a few paces in front, will face to the leading
guide and assure the positions of the following guides as they
successively
place themselves on the direction.
999.
The major will follow the movement abreast with the last guide.
1000.
If the column be at a halt, instead of being in march, the colonel will
cause it to close by the same commands; at that of march,
which will be
briskly repeated by all the captains, except the leading one, his
company will
stand fast; he will align it by the left, and the file closers will
close one
pace upon the rear rank; the other companies will put themselves in
march, and
close as has just been prescribed for the column in march.
To
close to half
distance on the rearmost company.
1001.
(Pl. XIX, fig. 3.) If,
instead of closing the column on the leading company, the colonel shall
wish to
close it on the light infantry, the eighth, or other company in the
rear, he
will command:
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
1.
On the light infantry (or____
________) to half distance, close column.
2. Battalion, about-FACE.
3. Column,
forward. 4. Guide
right. 5. Quick-MARCH.
1002.
At the second command, all the companies, except the one designated,
will face about, and their guides will remain in the front rank, now
the rear.
1003.
At the fourth command, all the captains will place themselves two paces
outside of their companies on the directing flank.
1004.
At the command march, the designated company will
stand fast, and
its captain will align it by the left, the other companies will put
themselves
in march, and, as each arrives at platoon distance from the one
established
before it, its captain will halt it and face it to the front.
At the moment that each company halts, the
left guide, remaining faced to the rear. will place himself promptly on
the
direction of the guides already established.
Immediately after, the captain will align his company by the left, and
the file closers will close one pace on the rear rank.
1005.
All the companies being aligned, the colonel will cause the guides, who
stand faced to the rear, to face about.
1006.
The lieutenant colonel, placing himself behind the rearmost guide, will
assure successively the positions of the other guides, as prescribed,
No. 998;
the major will remain abreast with the rearmost company.
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
Remarks.
1007.
A column by division at full distance (See Nos. 843,
865) will
close to half distance by the same means and the same commands.
1008.
A column, by company, or by division, being at full or half distance,
the colonel will cause it to close in mass by the same means and
commands,
substituting the indication, column close in mass,
for that of to
half distance, close column. Each
chief of subdivision will conform himself to all that has just been
prescribed,
except that he will not halt his subdivision till its guide shall be at
the
distance of six or five paces (according as the formation shall be in
three or
two ranks) from the guide of the subdivision preceding.
1009.
In a column, left in front, those various movements will be executed on
the same principles.
ARTICLE
VI.
To
march in
column at half distance, or closed in mass.
1010.
A column at half distance or in mass, being at a halt, the colonel will
put it in march by the commands prescribed for a column at full
distance.
1011.
The means of direction will also be the same for a column at half
distance or in mass
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
as
for a column at full distance, except that the
general guides will not step out.
1012.
A column at half distance or in mass, being in march, when the colonel
shall wish to halt it, he will give the commands prescribed for halting
a
column at full distance, and if, afterwards, he judge it necessary to
give a
general direction to the guides of the column, he will employ, to this
end, the
commands and means indicated, No. 984, and following.
1013.
In columns at half distance or closed in mass, chiefs of subdivision
will repeat the commands march and halt,
as in columns at full
distance.
ARTICLE
VII.
To
change
direction in column at half distance.
1014.
(Pl. XX, fig. 1.) A
column at half distance. being in march, will change
direction either to or from the side of the guide, by
the guide, by the same commands and on the same principles as a column
at full
distance; but the distance between subdivisions being but half, the
pivot of
each subdivision in the change of direction to the reverse flank, will
take
steps of fourteen inches instead of nine, in order to clear, in time ,
the
wheeling point, and the marching flank will describe the arc of a large
circle
in order to facilitate the movement.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
ARTICLE
VIII.
To
change
direction in column closed in mass.
1st.
To change direction in marching.
1015.
(Plate XX, figs. 2 and 3.)
A column by division, closed in mass, being in march, will change
direction by the front of subdivisions.
1016.
Whether the change be made to the reverse, or the pivot flank, it will
always be executed on the principle of wheeling in marching; to this
end, the
colonel will first cause the battalion to take the guide on the flank
opposite
to the intended change of direction, if the directing guides be not
already on
that flank.
1017.
A column by division, closed in mass, right in front, having to change
direction to the right, the colonel, after having caused a marker to be
placed
at the point where the change ought to commence, will command:
1.
Battalion, right wheel. 2.
MARCH.
1018.
At the command march, the leading subdivision will
wheel as if it
were a part of a column at half distance.
1019.
The instant that this division commences the wheel, all the others
will,
at once, conform themselves to its movement; to this end, the left
guide of
each, advancing slightly the left shoulder, and lengthening the step,
will
incline to the left by obliquing, and will observe, at the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
same
time, to gain so much ground to the front
that there may constantly be an interval of three paces between his
division
and that which precedes it; and as soon as he shall cover the preceding
guide,
he will cease to oblique, and then march exactly in his trace.
1020.
Each division will conform itself to the movement of its guide; the men
will feel lightly the elbow towards him and advance a little the left
shoulder
the instant the movement commences' each file, in obliquing, will gain
so much
the les ground to the front, as the file shall be nearer to the pivot,
and the
right guide will gain only so much as may be necessary to maintain
between his
own and the preceding division the same distance which separates their
marching
flanks.
1021.
Each chief of division, turning to it, will regulate its march, and see
that it remains constantly included between its guides, that its
alignment
continues nearly parallel to that of the preceding division, and that
the
centre bends only a little to the rear.
1022.
The colonel will superintend the movement in general, and cause the
pivot of the leading division to lengthen or shorten the step
conformably to
the principle established, No. 654-if either be necessary to facilitate
the
movement of the other divisions.
1022.
The lieutenant colonel, placed near the left guide of the leading
division, will regulate his march, and take care, above all, that he
does not
throw himself within the arc he ought to describe.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
1024.
The major, placed in the rear of the guides, will see that the last
three conform themselves, each by slight degrees, to the movement of
the guide
immediately preceding, and that neither obliques too much in the
endeavour to
cover too promptly the guide in his front; the major will rectify any
serious
fault that may be committed in either of these particulars.
1025.
The colonel, seeing the wheel nearly ended, will command:
1.
Forward.
2. MARCH.
1026.
At the second command. which will be given at the instant the leading
division completes its wheel, it will resume the direct march; the
other
divisions will conform themselves to this movement; and if any guide
find
himself not covering his immediate leader, he will, by slight degrees,
bring
himself on the trace of that guide, by advancing the right shoulder.
1027.
If the column, right in front, has to change direction to the left, the
colonel will first cause to take the guide to the right, and then
command:
1.
Battalion, left wheel. 2.
MARCH
1028.
At the command march, the battalion will change
direction to the
left, according to the principles just prescribed, and by inverse means.
1029.
When the battalion shall have resumed the direct march, the colonel, on
seeing the last
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
of
the guides nearly in the direction of the
leading one, will command:
1.
Column. 2. Guide left.
1030.
The foregoing changes of direction will be executed according to the
same principles in a column left in front.
Remarks.
1031.
As this movement cannot be made by any of the means prescribed for
columns at full or half distance, and its execution being a little
forced for
the last three division, their chiefs and guides will conform
themselves with
the greatest care to what is prescribed, Nos. 1019-21.
1032.
It is essential that the guides who conduct the marching flanks of the
last three divisions should conform themselves only by slight degrees
to the movement
of the guide who precedes them respectively; for, if a following guide
endeavour to gain too much ground in obliquing, he cannot, at the same
time,
gain enough to the front to preserve his distance from the preceding
guide.
1033.
The guide who is the pivot of the particular wheel, ought to maintain
himself at his usual distance of six or five paces (according as the
formation
be in three or two ranks) from the guide who precedes him; if this
distance be
not exactly preserved, the divisions
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
would
necessarily become confounded, which must be
carefully avoided.
1034.
A column by company, closed in mass, will change direction in marching
by the commands and means indicated for a column by division.
2d.
To change direction from a halt.
1035.
(Pl. XX, fig. 4.) A
column by company, or by division, closed in mass, being at a halt,
when the
colonel shall wish to give it a new direction, and in which it is to
remain, he
will cause it to execute this movement by the flanks of subdivisions,
in the
following manner:
1036.
The battalion having the right in front, when the colonel shall wish to
cause it to change direction by the right flank, he will indicate to
the
lieutenant colonel the point of direction to the right; this officer
will
immediately establish on the new direction two markers, (d,h,)
distant
from each other a little less that the front of the first subdivision,
the
marker (d) in front of its right file;
which being executed, he will command:
Change
direction
by the right flank. 2.
Battalion, right-FACE. 3. QUICK-MARCH.
1037.
At the second command, the column will face to the right, and each
chief
of subdivision will place himself by the side of his right guide.
1038.
At the command march, all the
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
subdivisions
will step off together; the right
guide of the leading one will direct himself from the first step
parallelly to
the markers placed in advance on the new direction; the chief of the
subdivision
will not follow the movement, but see it file past, and as soon as the
left
guide shall have passed, he will command: 1.
(Such) company (or division;)
2. HALT; 3. Front-FACE;
4. Left-DRESS.
1039.
At the fourth command, the subdivision will place itself against the
two
markers; and be promptly aligned by its chief.
1040.
The right guide of each of the following subdivisions will conform
himself to the direction of the right guide of the subdivision
preceding his
own in column, so as to enter on the new direction parallelly to that
subdivision, and at the distance of three paces from its rear rank, or about
that distance.
1041.
Each chief of subdivision will halt in his own person, on arriving
opposite to the left guides already placed on the new direction, see
his
subdivision file past, and conform himself, in halting and aligning it,
to what
is prescribed, Nos. 875-7.
1042.
If the change of direction be by the left flank, the colonel will cause
markers to be established as before, the first in front of the left
file of the
leading subdivision, and then give the same commands, substituting the
indication left for right.
1043.
At the second command, all the subdivisions will face to the left, and
each chief will place himself by the side of his left guide.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
1044.
At the command march, all the subdivisions will
step off
together, each conducted by its chief.
1045.
The guide of the leading subdivision will direct himself, from the
first
step, parallelly to the markers; the subdivision will be conducted by
its
chief; and, as soon as its left guide shall have passed the second
marker, it
will be halted and aligned as prescribed above; and so of each of the
following
subdivisions.
1046.
The colonel will hold himself on the designated flank, to see that each
subdivision enters the new direction parallelly to the leading one, and
at the
prescribed distance from that which precedes.
1047.
The lieutenant colonel will place himself in front of, and facing to,
the
guide of the leading subdivision, and will assure the positions of the
following guides, as they successively arrive on the new direction.
1048.
The major will follow the movement, abreast with the last subdivision.
Remarks
on the
change of direction form a halt.
1049.
In order that this movement may be executed with facility and
precision,
it is necessary that the leading subdivision should entirely unmask the
parallelogram previously occupied by the column; for example, the
movement
being made by the right flank, it is necessary, before halting the
leading
subdivision, that its left guide shall, at least, have arrived at the
place
previously occupied by its right guide, in
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
order
that each following subdivision (which has
to pass over a space a least equal to its front to put itself in the
new
direction, and whose left ought to pass the point at which the right
had
rested) may, at the command halt, find itself, in
its whole front,
parallel to the leading subdivision.
1050.
By this there is no direction that may not be given to a column in mass.
1051.
It may be established on any direction by the means already given in
the
half circle, (j,k,l,)
and, by the additional means of the
countermarch, it may be placed on any direction in the half circle, (m,
n.
o.)
ARTICLE
IX.
Being
in column
at half distance, or closed in mass, to take distances,
1052.
A column at half distance will take full distances by
the head of
the column when it has to prolong itself on the line of
battle. If, on the contrary, it has to form itself
inline of battles on the ground it occupies, it will take distances on
the
leading or on the rearmost subdivision, according
as the one or other
may find itself at the point where the right or left of the battalion
ought to
rest in line of battle.
1st.To
take distances
by the head of the column.
1-53.
The column being by company at half
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
distance
and at a halt, when the colonel shall
wish to cause it to take full distances by the head, he will command:
By
the head of
column, take wheeling distance.
1054.
At this command, the captain of the leading company will put it in
march; to this end, he will command: 1. Grenadiers, (or
such company,)
forward; 2. Guide left; 3. Quick-MARCH,
1055.
When the leading company shall have nearly left the next, say the first,
its wheeling distance, the captain of the latter will command: 1. First
company, forward; 2. Guide left; 3. Quick-MARCH.
1056.
At the command march, which will be pronounced at
the instant
that this company shall have its wheeling distance, it will step off
smartly,
taking the step from the preceding company.
Each of the other companies will successively execute what has just
been
prescribed for the first (the second from the front.)
1057.
The colonel will see that each company puts itself in march at the
instant it has its distance.
1058.
The lieutenant colonel will hold himself at the head of the column, and
direct the march of the leading guide.
1059.
The major will hold himself abreast with the rearmost guide.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
2d.
To take distances
on the rear of the column.
1060.
If the colonel wish to take distances on the rearmost company, he will
establish two markers on the direction he shall wish give to the line
of
battle, the first opposite to the rearmost company, say the light
infantry, the
second marker towards the head of the column, at company distance from
the
first, and both facing to the rear; at the same time, the right general
guide,
on an intimation from the lieutenant colonel, will throw himself a
little
beyond the point at which the head of the column will extend, and place
himself
correctly on the prolongation of the two markers. These
dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1.
On the light infantry (or such company)
take wheeling distance. 2. Column,
forward. 3. Guide left.
4. Quick-MARCH.
1061.
At the third command, the captains will place themselves two paces
outside of the directing flank; the captain of the light infantry, or
company
designated, will caution it to stand fast.
1062.
At the command march, repeated by all the other
captains, the
designated company will stand fast; its captain will align it by the
left on
the first marker, who is opposite to this company, and place himself
before its
centre, after commanding front.
At this command, the marker
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
will
retire, and the left guide will take his
place.
1063.
All the other companies will put themselves in march, the guide of the
leading one directing himself a little within the right general guide;
when the
company next to the rear, say the eights, has arrived opposite to the
second
marker, its captain will halt and align it on this marker, in the
manner
prescribed for the rearmost company.
1064.
When the captain of the next company, say the seventh, shall see that
there is, between his company and the eighth, the necessary space for
wheeling
into line, he will halt his company; the guide facing to the rear will
place
himself promptly on the direction, and, the moment that he shall be
assured in
his position, the captain will align the company by the left, and then
throw
himself two paces before its centre; the other companies will
successively
conform themselves to has just been prescribed for the seventh company.
1065.
The colonel will follow the movement, and see that each company halts
at
the prescribed distance; he will promptly remedy any fault that may be
committed, and, as soon as all the companies shall be aligned, he will
cause
the guides, who are faced to the rear, to face about.
1066.
The lieutenant colonel will successively assure the left guides on the
direction, placing himself in their rear.
1067.
The major will hold himself at the head of the column, and will direct
the march of the leading guide.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
3d.
To take distances
on the head of the column.
1068.
(Pl. XIX, fig.¸4.) The
colonel, wishing to take distances on the leading company, will
establish two
markers in the manner just prescribed, one abreast with this company,
and the
other at company distance in rear of the first, but both facing to the
front;
the left general guide, on an intimation from the lieutenant colonel,
will
throw himself to the rear and place himself correctly on the
prolongation of
the two markers, a little beyond the point to which the rear of the
column will
extend: these dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1.
On the grenadiers, (or such company,)
take wheeling distance. 2.
Battalion, about-FACE. 3. Column,
forward. 4. Guide right.
5. Quick-MARCH.
1069.
At the second command, all the companies, except the one designated,
will face bout, the guides remaining in the front rank, now become the
rear.
1070.
At the fourth command, the captains will throw themselves outside of
their guides.
1071.
At the command march, the captain of the designated
company will
align it, as prescribed, No. 1062, on the marker placed by its side.
1072.
The remaining companies will put themselves in march, the guide of the
rearmost one, say the light infantry, will direct himself a
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
little
within the left general guide; when the
company next to the grenadiers, say the first, shall have arrived
opposite to
the second marker, its captain will halt it, face it about, and align
it as has
just been prescribed for the grenadiers.
1073.
The instant that the next company, say the second, shall have its
wheeling distance, its captain will halt it, face it about and align it
by the
left; the captains of the remaining companies will each, in succession,
conform
himself to what has just been prescribed for the captain of the second.
1074.
The colonel will follow the movement as indicated, no. 1065; the
lieutenant colonel and major will conform themselves to what it
prescribed,
Nos. 1066-7
Remarks.
1075.
These various movements will be executed according to the same
principles in a column with the left in front.
1076.
They will be executed in like manner in a column closed in mass: but,
if
it be the wish of the colonel to open out the column to half, instead
of full distance,
he will substitute, in the commands, the indication half,
for that of wheeling
distance.
1077.
In a column by division, distances will be taken according to the same
principles.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
ARTICLE
X.
Countermarch
of a
column at full or half distance.
1078.
In a column at full or half distance, the countermarch will be executed
by the means indicated, School of the Company; to
this end, the colonel
will command:
1.
Countermarch.
2. Battalion, right (or left)-FACE.
3. By file left (or
right.)
4. Quick-MARCH.
To
counter march
a column closed in mass.
1079.
If the column be closed in mass, the countermarch will be executed by
the commands and means subjoined.
1080.
The column being supposed to be formed by division, right in front, the
colonel will command:
1.
Countermarch.
2. Battalion, right and left-FACE. 3. By
file left and right.
4. Quick-MARCH.
1081.
(Pl. XXI, fig. 1.) At the
first command, the chiefs of the odd numbered divisions will caution
them that
they will have to face to the right, and the chiefs of the others that
they
will have to face to the left.
1082.
At the second command, the odd divisions
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
will
face to the right, and the even to the
left; the right and left guides of all the divisions will face about;
the
chiefs of odd divisions will hasten to their right and cause three (or
two)
files (See No. 856,) to break to the rear, and each
chief place himself
on the right of his leading front rank man.
1083.
At the command march, all the divisions, each
conducted by its
chief, will step off smartly, the guides standing fast; each odd
division will
wheel by file to the left around its left around its right guide; each
even
division will wheel by file to the right around its left guide, each
division
so directing its march as to arrive behind its opposite guide, and when
its
head shall be up with this guide, its chief will halt the division, and
cause
it to face to the front.
1084.
Each division, on facing to the front, will be aligned by its chief by
the right; to this end, the chiefs of the even divisions will throw
themselves
to the right of their respective divisions.
1085.
The divisions being aligned, each chief will command: FRONT; at this,
the guides will shift to their proper flanks.
1086.
In a column with the left in front, the countermarch will be executed
by
the same commands and means; but all the divisions will be aligned by
the left:
to this end, the chiefs of the odd divisions will throw themselves to
the left
of
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
their
respective divisions as soon as the latter
shall have faced to the front.
1087.
The colonel, placed on the directing flank, will superintend the
general
movement.
1088.
The countermarch being ended, the lieutenant colonel will always place
himself abreast with the leading, and the major abreast with the
rearmost
division.
1089.
In a column by company, closed in mass, the countermarch will be
executed by the same means and commands, applying to companies what is
prescribed for divisions; but, in this case, with a flank company at
the head,
that company would be considered, for the particular movement, the odd
numbered
company, the next the even, and so on alternately, to the rear, (See
Nos.
6, 8.) So in a column by division, with
a division of flank companies in front: such division would be
considered, in
the countermarch, as an odd numbered division; the next, though
designated as
the first, an even division, and so on alternately,
to the rear. See No. 11.
Remark
on the
countermarch in column in mass.
1090.
Chiefs of subdivision will give the greatest attention to the aligning
of their subdivisions between the guides of each; without such
attention the
parallelism of the subdivisions would be lost, which would be a serious
inconvenience, by reason of the smallness of the distance between them.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
ARTICLE
XI.
Being
in column
by company, closed in mass, and at a halt, to form divisions.
1091.
The column being closed in mass, right in front, and at a halt, when
the
colonel shall wish to form divisions, he will command:
1.
Form divisions. 2. Left
companies, left-FACE. 3. Quick-MARCH.
1092.
(Pl. XXI, fig. 2.) At the
first command, the captains of the left companies will caution them
that they
will have to face to the left.
1093.
At the second command, the left companies will face to the left, and
their captains will place themselves by the side of their respective
left
guides.
1094.
The right companies, and their captains, will stand fast; but the right
and left guides of each of these companies will place themselves
respectively
before the right and left files of the company, both guides facing to
the
right, and each resting his right arm gently against the breast of the
front
rank man of the file, in order to mark the direction.
1095.
At the command march, the left companies will put
themselves in
march, their captains standing fast; as soon as each shall see that his
company, filing past, has nearly cleared the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
column,
he will command: 1. (Such company;) 2.
HALT; 3. Front-FACE.
1096.
The first command will be given when the company shall yet have four
paces to march; the second at the instant it shall have cleared its
right
company; and the third immediately after the second.
1097.
The company having faced to the front, the files, if there be intervals
between them, will promptly incline to the right; the captain will
place
himself on the left of the right company of the division, and align
himself
correctly on the front rank of that company.
1098.
The left guide will place himself at the same time before one of the
three left files of his company, face to the right, and cover correctly
the
guides of the right company; the moment his captain sees him
established on the
direction, he will command: Right-DRESS.
1099.
At this, the left company will dress forward on the alignment of the
right company; the front rank man, who may find himself opposite to the
left
guide, will, without preceding his rank, rest lightly his breast
against the
right arm of this guide; the captain of the left company will direct
its
alignment on this man, and the alignment being assured, he will
command: FRONT;
but not quit his position.
1100.
The colonel seeing the divisions formed, will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1101.
At this, the guides who have marked
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
the
fronts of divisions will return to their
places in column, the left guide of each right company passing through
the
interval in the centre of the division, and the captains will place
themselves
as prescribed, No. 850.
1102.
The colonel, from the directing flank of the column, will superintend
the general execution of the movement.
Being
in column
at full, or half distance, to form divisions.
1103.
(Pl. XXI, fig. 3.) If the
column, instead of being closed in mass, be at full or half distance,
divisions
will be formed in the same manner; but the captains of left companies,
after
commanding front face, will each place himself
before the centre of his
company, and command: 1. (Such company,) forward;
2. Guide right; 3. MARCH.
1104.
The right guide of each left company will so direct his march as to
arrive by the side of the man on the left of the right
company. The left company being nearly up with the rear
rank of the right company, its captain will halt it, and the movement
will be
finished as prescribed, No. 1097, and following.
1105.
In either of the foregoing cases, if the left be in front, the movement
will be executed by inverse means: the right companies will conform
themselves
to that which is prescribed for the left companies, and the two guides,
placed
respectively, before the right and left files of each left company,
will face
to the left. At the command
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART III.
guides
posts,
given by the colonel, the guides, who have marked the fronts of
divisions, will
quickly pass to their places in column, and the captains will post
themselves
as prescribed, No. 1101.
1106.
If there be an odd company in the column, with the right in front, it
will be in the rear, and with the left in front, it will be in front.
1107.
In the first case, this odd company will face to the left with the left
companies, march straight forward a space equal to its front, be, by
its
captain, halted, faced to the front, and aligned by the left.
1108.
The odd company being in front, it will face to the right with the
right
companies of divisions, march straight forward a space equal to its
front, be,
by its captain, halted, and aligned by the right. In either
case, the captain of the odd company will, at the
command guides posts, as above, take his place
before the centre of the
company as if it were a division.
Remarks
on the
formation of divisions from a halt.
1109.
As this movement may be considered as the element of deployments, it
ought to be executed with the utmost accuracy.
1110.
If the companies in marching by the flank do not lock the step well,
there will be openings between the files at the instant of facing to
the front
after halting.
1111.
If captains halt their companies too early, they will want space, and
the files which
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
have
not cleared the flanks of the standing
companies will not be able to dress into line without pushing their
ranks laterally.
1112.
If, on the contrary, the companies which file, be halted too late, it
will be necessary for them to incline to the right or left in dressing.
1113.
As often as a guide shall have to step out to place himself before his
subdivision
in order to mark the direction, he will be particularly careful to
place
himself so as to be opposite to one of the three outer files of the
subdivision
when they shall b aligned: if he take too mush distance, and neither of
these
files finds itself against him, the chief of the subdivision will have
no
assured point on which to direct the alignment.
PART
FOURTH.
Different
modes
of passing from the order in column to the order in battle.
ARTICLE
I.
Manner
of
determining line of battle.
114.
The line of battle may be marked or determined in three different
manners: 1st, by placing two markers on the
direction it is wished to
give to the line; 2d, by placing oneself at the
point at which it may be
intended to rest a flank, and then choosing a second point towards, or
beyond
the opposite flank; 3d, by choosing at first the
points of direction for
the flanks, and
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
then
determining, by intermediate points, the
straight line between those selected points, both of which may
sometimes be
beyond reach.
1115.
In the first case, the lieutenant colonel, charged with establishing
the
line of battle, will place two markers eight or a hundred paces apart,
on the
direction indicated, to form the basis of the general alignment.
1116.
In the second case, the point of appui, or rest, to
which he
ought to go, will be indicated to the lieutenant colonel, and also the
point of
direction for the opposite flank: he will immediately repair to the
point of appui,
establish on the direction which shall have been indicated to him, two
markers,
distant form each other a little less than the front of the leading
subdivision, the first of the two markers at the point of appui.
1117.
In the third case, where the points of direction for the two flanks are
given, the straight line between those points will be determined in the
following manner:
1118.
In determining this line, two mounted officers (m, n,)
will be
employed as markers.
1119.
(Pl. XXII, fig. 1.) The
two given points being the steeple (D) to the right,
and the tree (C)
to the left, the left marker (m) will halt; the
right marker (n) will, in the mean time,
move some
distance to the right, and align himself on the left marker (m)
and the
tree (C.)
1120.
The two markers will next march, moving as in a wheel to the left, the
tree (C) the pivot; the right marker (n)
who, throughout the
whole movement, will be subordinate to
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OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
marker (m,) will constantly hold himself
aligned on the latter and the tree (C.)
1121.
The left marker (m) will, during the march, keep his
eye on the
marker (n,) in order to halt at the instant the
latter shall mask his
view of the steeple (D.)
1122.
If the right marker (n) has exactly conformed
himself to the
movement of the left marker (m,) so that the latter
masks his view of
the tree (C) at the instant he, in his turn, masks
the view of the
steeple (D,) the two markers will be on the line (C
D,) and the
intermediate points will be found.
1123.
The two markers having halted, will face to each other; and if there be
any inexactness in the execution, the left marker (m)
may rectify it
promptly in the following manner:
1124.
Suppose the marker (m) perceive the steeple (D)
out to his
left, he will incline a little to his left; the right marker (n) being
bound to
keep himself aligned upon the marker (m) and the
tree (C,) will
follow the movement of the marker (m), and soon mask
his view of the
steeple (D.)
1125.
If, on the contrary, the left marker (m) perceive
the steeple (D)
to his right, he incline a little to his own right till the marker (n,)
who will follow his movement, shall come between him and the steeple.
1126.
The two intermediate points being thus found, the line of battle will
be
determined.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
ARTICLE
II.
Different
modes
of passing from column at full distance into line of battle.
|
1. To
the left (or right)
2. On
the right (or left)
3.
Forward,
4.
Faced to the rear,
|
}
|
into
line of battle
|
1st.
Column at full
distance, right on front, to the left into line of battle.
1127.
A column, right in front, being at a halt, when the colonel shall wish
to
form it to the left into line, he will assure the positions of the
guides by
the means prescribed, Article IV, Part Third, of this School, and then
command:
1.
Left into line, wheel. 2. Quick-MARCH.
1128.
At the first command, the right guide of the leading company will
hasten
to place himself on the direction of the left guides of the column,
face to
them, and place himself so as to be opposite to one of the right files
of his
company, when they shall be in line; he will be assured in this
position by the
lieutenant colonel.
1129.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the
captains, the left
front rank man of each company will face to the left, and rest his
breast
lightly against the right arm of his guide;
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
companies will wheel to the left on the
principle of wheeling from a halt, and conforming themselves to what is
prescribed, No. 665; each captain will turn to his company, to observe
the
execution of the movement, and, when the right of the company shall
arrive at
three paces from the line of battle, he will command: 1. (Such company;)
2.
HALT.
1130.
The company being halted, the captain will place himself on the line by
the side of the left front rank man of the company next on the right,
align himself
correctly, and command: 3. Right-DRESS.
1131.
At this, the company will dress up between the captain and the front
rank man on the left, the captain directing the alignment on that man;
the
front rank man on the right of the right company, who finds himself
opposite to
its right guide, will lightly rest his breast against the left arm of
this
guide.
1132.
Each captain, having aligned his company, will command: FRONT, and the
colonel will add:
Guides-POSTS.
1133.
At this, the guides will return to their places in line of battle, each
passing through the nearest captain's interval; to permit him to pass,
the
captain will momentarily step before the first file of his company, and
the
covering sergeant behind the same file.
This rule is general for all the formations into line of
battle.
1134.
When companies form line of battle,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
file
closers will always place themselves exactly
two paces from the rear rank, which will sufficiently assure their
alignment.
1135.
The battalion being correctly aligned, the colonel, lieutenant colonel,
and major, as well as the adjutant and sergeant major, will return to
their
respective places in line of battle. This
rule is general for all formations into line of battle;
nevertheless, the
battalion being in the school of elementary instruction, the colonel
(if the
brigadier general be not the instructer) will go to any point he may
deem
necessary.
1136.
A column, with the left in front, will form itself to the
right into
line of battle, according to the same principles; the left
guide of the
light infantry or left company will place himself, on the first
command, on the
direction of the right guides; in a manner corresponding to what is
prescribed,
No. 1128, for the right guide of the grenadiers or right company.
1137.
At the command guides posts, the captains will take
their places
in line of battle as well as the guides.
This rule is general for all formations into line of battle in
which
the companies are aligned by the left.
1138.
A column by division may form itself into line of battle by the same
commands, and means, but observing what follows: if the right be in
front, at
the command halt, given by the chiefs of division,
the left guide of
each right company will place himself on the alignment opposite to one
of the
three files on the left of his company; the left guide of the
grenadiers or
first company will be assured on the directions
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
by
the lieutenant colonel; the left guides of the
other right companies will align themselves correctly on the division
guides;
to this end the division guides (on the alignment) will invert, and
hold their
pieces up perpendicularly before the centre of their bodies, at the
command left
into line, wheel. If the column by
division be with the left in front, the right guides of left companies
will
conform themselves to what has just been prescribed for the left guides
of
right companies, and place themselves on the line opposite one of the
three
right files of their respective companies.
1139.
For an odd company in a column by division, no particular rules are
required for wheeling into line. With
the right in front, it is sufficient that this company be at its own
wheeling
distance from the division next in front, and with its pivot flank on
the
direction of the column. If the left be in front, besides having its
pivot
flank on the direction of the column, the odd company ought to be at
division
distance from the division next in its rear.
By
inversion to
the right (or left) into line of battle.
1140.
When a column, right in front, shall be under the necessity of forming
itself into line faced to the reverse flank, and the colonel shall wish
to
execute this formation by the shortest movement, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
1.
By inversion, right into line wheel. 2.
Battalion, guide right.
1141.
At the first command, the lieutenant colonel will place himself in
front, and facing to the right guide of the leading subdivision; at the
second
command, he will rectify, as promptly as possible, the direction of the
right
guides of the column; the captain of the odd company, if there be one,
and the
column be by division, will promptly bring the right of his company on
the
direction, and at company distance from the division next in front; the
left
guide of the leading subdivision will place himself on the direction of
the
right guides, and will be assured in his position by the lieutenant
colonel;
which being executed, the colonel will command:
3.
Quick-MARCH.
1142.
At this, the right front rank man of each subdivision will face to the
right, rest his breast lightly against the left arm of his guide, and
the
battalion will form itself to the right into line of battle, according
to the
principles prescribed; which being executed, (See No. 1137) the colonel
will
command:
Guides-POSTS.
1148.
If the column be with the left on
front, it will form itself, by inversion, to the left into line,
according to
the same principles.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
Successive
Formations.
1144.
By successive formations are comprehended all formations where the
several subdivisions of a column arrive one after another on the line
of
battle; such are formations on the right, or left, forward and faced to
the
rear into line of battle, as well as deployments of columns in mass.
2d.
Column at
full distance, on the right, (or on
the left,)
into line of battle.
1145.
(Pl.XXII, fig.2.) A
column by company, at full distance and right in front, being in march,
having
to form itself on the right into line of battle, the colonel will
indicate to
the lieutenant colonel a little in advance, the point of appui,
or rest,
for the right, as well as the point of direction to the left; the
lieutenant
colonel will hasten with two markers, and establish them in the
following
manner on the direction indicated.
1146.
The first marker will be placed at the point of appui
(or rest)
for the front rank man of the leading company; the second will indicate
the
point where one of the three left files of the same company will rest
when in
line; they will be placed so as to present the right shoulder to the
battalion
when formed.
1147.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
1. On
the right,
into line. 2. Battalion, guide
right.
1148.
At the second command, the right will become the directing flank, and
the touch of the elbows will be to that side; the right guide of the
leading
company will march straight forward until up with the turning point,
and each
following guide will march in the trace of the one immediately
preceding.
1149.
The leading company being nearly up with the first marker, its captain
will command: 1. Right turn, and when the company
is precisely up with
this marker, he will add: 2. MARCH.
1150.
At the command march, the company will turn to the
right; the
right guide will so direct himself as to bring the man next to him
opposite to
the right marker, and when at three paces from him, the captain will
command:
1. (Such company;) 2. HALT.
1151.
At the second command, the company will halt; the files not yet in
line,
will form promptly; the left guide will retire as a file closer; and
the
captain will then command: 3. Right-DRESS.
1152.
At this, the company will align itself: the two men who find themselves
opposite to the two markers, will each lightly rest his breast against
the
right arm of his marker; the captain, passing to the right of the front
rank,
will direct the alignment on these two men.
These rules are general for all successive formations.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
1153.
The next company will continue to march straight forward; when arrived
opposite to the left flank of the preceding company, it will turn to
the right,
and be formed on the line of battle, as has just been prescribed; the
right
guide will direct himself so as to come upon that line by the side of
the man
on the left of the preceding company.
1154.
At the distance of three paces from
the line of battle, the comp[any will be halted by its captain, who
will place
himself by the side of the man on the left of the preceding company,
and align
himself correctly on its front rank.
1155.
The left guide will, at the same time, throw himself before one of the
three left files if his company, and, facing to the right, he will
place
himself accurately on the direction of the two markers of the preceding
company.
1156.
The captain will then command: Right-DRESS.
1157.
At this, the company will dress forward on the line; the captain will
direct its alignment on the front rank man who has rested his breast
against
the left guide of the company.
1158.
The following companies will thus come successively to form themselves
on the line of battle, each conforming itself to what has just been
prescribed
for the one next to the right; and when they shall all be established,
the colonel
will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1159.
At this, the guides will take their places
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
in
line of battle, and the markers placed before
the right company will retire.
1160.
The colonel will follow up the formation, passing along the front, and
being always opposite to the company about to turn: it is thus that he
will be
the better able to see and to correct the error that would result from
a
command given too soon or too late to the preceding company.
1161.
The lieutenant colonel will, with the greatest care, assure the
direction of the guides: to this end, the instant that the markers are
established for the leading company, he will move a little beyond the
point at
which the next company will rest, establish himself (See No. 42.)
correctly on the prolongation of the two markers, and assure the guide
of the
next company on this direction; this guide being assured, the
lieutenant
colonel will throw himself further to his rear, in order to assure, in
like
manner, the guide of the following company, and so on, successively, to
the
left of the battalion. In assuring the
guides in their positions on the line of battle, he will take care to
let them
first place themselves, and confine himself to rectifying their
positions if
they do not cover accurately, and at the proper distance, the preceding
guides
or markers. This rule is general for
all successive formations.
1162.
A column, left in front, will form itself on the left into line of
battle according to the same principles: the captains will go to the
left of
their respective companies to align them, and will
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
shift
afterwards to their proper flanks, as
prescribed, No. 1137.
Remarks
on the formation on the right,
(or left) into line of battle.
1163.
In order that this movement may be executed with regularity, it is
necessary to establish the line of battle so that the guide of each
company,
after turning, may have at least ten steps to take, if the formation be
in
three ranks, or nine, if in two, in order to come upon that line.
1164.
In the first exercises, the line of battle will be established on a
direction parallel to that of the column; but, when the captains and
guides
shall comprehend the mechanism of the movement, the colonel will
generally
choose oblique directions, in order to habituate the battalion to form
itself
in any direction
1165.
(Pl. XXII, fig. 2.) When
the direction of the line of battle forms a sensible angle with that of
the march
of the column (E D,) the colonel, before beginning
the movement, will
give the head of the column a new direction parallel to that line: to
this end,
he will indicate to the guide of the leading company a point (F)
in
advance, on which this guide will immediately direct himself, and the
company
will conform itself to the direction of its guide, at the command, or
on a mere
caution, of the captain, according as the change of direction may
require; each
following company will make the same movement on the same ground, as it
shall
successively arrive.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
(See
No. 934.) By this means the guides of all the
companies in the column will
have, after turning, nearly the same number of paces to take in order
to come
upon the line of battle.
1166.
Every captain will always observe, in placing himself on that line, not
to give the command dress, until after the guide of
his company shall
have been assured on the direction by the lieutenant colonel (or
adjutant.) This rule is general for
all successive formations.
1167.
Each captain will cause his company to support arms, the instant that
the captain, who follows him, shall have commanded front.
This rule is general for all successive
formations.
1186.
When, in the execution of this movement, the colonel shall wish to
commence firing, he will give the order to that effect to the captain
whose
company is first in line of battle; this captain will immediately place
himself
behind the centre of his company, and as soon as the next captain shall
have
commanded front, he will commence the fire of two
ranks (or by file) by
the commands prescribed, School of the Company.
At the command fire by two ranks (or by
file,) the marker at the outer file of the first company will
retire, and
the other will place himself against the nearest man of the next
company. The captain of the latter will commence
firing as soon as the captain of the third company, in line, shall have
commanded
front; the marker before the nearest file of the
second company, in
line, will now retire, and the guide before the opposite flank will
place
himself before the nearest file of the third company, in line,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
and
so on, in continuation, to the last company on
the left or right of the battalion, according as the formation may have
commenced with the right or left in front.
1169.
In all successive formations the same principles will be observed for
the execution of the fire of two ranks (or by file.)
3d.
Column at full
distance, forward into line.
1170.
(Pl. XXII, fig. 3.) When
a column by company, at full distance, and with the right in front,
shall
arrive behind the right of the line to be occupied in battle, the
colonel and
lieutenant colonel will conform themselves to what is prescribed, Nos.
1145-6.
1171.
The head of the column being at company distance from the two markers
established on the line, the colonel will halt the column, and command:
1.
Forward into line. 2. By company,
left half wheel. 3. Quick-MARCH.
1172.
At the first command, the captain of the leading company will add-guide
right, put the company in march, halt it three paces from the
markers, and
align it against the latter by the right.
1173.
At the command march, all the other companies will
wheel to the
left on fixed pivots; and, at the instant the colonel shall judge,
according to
the direction of the line of battle,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
that
the companies have sufficiently wheeled, he
will command:
4.
Forward. 5.
MARCH. 6. Guide right.
1174.
At the fifth command, the companies, ceasing to wheel, will march
straight forward; and at the sixth, the men will touch elbows towards
the
right. The right guide of the second
company, who is nearest the line of battle, will march straight
forward; each
succeeding right guide will follow the file immediately before him at
the
cessation of the wheel.
1175.
The second company (in the order of formation) having arrived opposite
to the left file of the first, its captain will cause it to turn to the
right,
in order to approach the line of battle; and when its right guide shall
be at
three paces form that line, the captain will command: 1.
(Such) company; 2. HALT.
1176.
At the second command, the company will halt; the files not yet in line
with the guide will come into it promptly, (See No. 562;)
the left guide
will throw himself on the line of battle, so as to be opposite one of
the three
files from the left of the company; and, as soon as he is assured on
the
direction by the lieutenant colonel, the captain, having placed himself
accurately on the line of battle, will command: 3. Right-DRESS.
1177.
At the instant that the guide of the second company begins to turn to
the right, the guide of the third, ceasing to follow the file
immediately
before him, will march straight
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
forward;
and, when he shall arrive opposite to the
left of the second, his captain will cause the company to turn to the
right, in
order to approach the line of battle, halt it at three paces from that
line,
and align it by the right, as prescribed for the second company.
1178.
Each following
company will execute what has just been prescribed for the third, as
the
preceding company shall turn to the right, in order to approach the
line of
battle.
1179.
The formation ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1180.
The colonel and lieutenant colonel will, in this formation, observe
what
is prescribed, Nos. 1160-1.
1181.
A column, left in front, will form itself forward into line of battle
according to the same principles, and by inverse means.
Remarks
on the
formation forward,
into line of battle.
1182.
The precision of this movement depends on the direction the companies
have at the moment the colonel commands, Forward-MARCH.
The colonel will judge nicely the point of
time for giving this command, observing that, if the direction of the
line of
battle form with that of the column a right, or nearly a right angle,
the
companies ought to wheel about the eighth of the circle, and that the
more
acute the angle
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
formed
by the two directions, so much the more the
companies ought to wheel before marching straight forward.
1183.
It is important that each company in marching towards the line of
battle
should turn exactly opposite to the point in which its captain ought to
place
himself on that line: if a company turn too soon, it will find itself
masked,
in part, by that which preceded it on the line of battle, and be
obliged to
unmask itself by the oblique step; if it turn too late, it will leave
an
interval between itself and the preceding company to be regained in
like
manner. In either case, the next
company will be led into error, and the fault propagated to the
opposite flank
of the battalion.
1184.
The guide of each company ought so to
regulate himself in turning, as to bring his company to the halting
point
parallelly with the line of battle.
1185.
If the angle formed by the line of battle and the primitive direction
of
the column be so acute, that the companies, on arriving opposite to
their
respective places on the line of battle, find themselves nearly
parallel to it,
the captain will not give the command right (or left)
turn,
but each halt his company, place himself on the line, and command right
(or
left)-DRESS.
1186.
If, on the contrary, the angle formed by the line of battle and the
primitive direction of the column be much greater that a right angle,
the
formation will be executed, not by the movement forward into
line of battle,
but by that of on the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
right
(or
left) into line of battle, and according to the
principles prescribed
for this formation.
1187.
If a company encounter an obstacle sufficient to prevent it from
marching by the front, it will right (or left)
face in
marching, by the commands and means indicated, Nos. 727-8.
The guide will continue to follow the same
file behind which he was marching, and will maintain exactly the same
distance
from the company immediately preceding his own. The obstacle
being passed, the company will be formed into line
by the command of its captain.
4th.
Column at full distance, faced to the rear,
into line of battle.
1188.
(Pl. XXII, fig. 4.) When
a column by company, at full distance, and right in front, shall arrive
in
front of the line which it is to occupy in line of battle, the colonel
and
lieutenant colonel will conform themselves to what is prescribed for
each, Nos.
1145-6.
1189.
The head of the column being at company distance form the two markers,
the colonel will halt the column and command:
1. Into
line, faced to
the rear. 2. Battalion, right-FACE. 3. Quick-MARCH.
1190.
At the first command, the captain of the leading company will cause it
to face to the right, and put it in march, causing it to wheel by file
to the
left, and direct its march towards
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
line of battle which it will pass in rear of
the left marker; the first file having passed three paces beyond the
line, the
company will wheel again by file to the left, in order to place itself
in rear
of the two markers; being in this position, its captain will halt it
and align
it by the right against the markers.
1191.
At the second command, all the other companies will face to the right,
each captain placing himself by the side of his right guide.
1192.
At the command march, the companies will put
themselves in
movement; the left guide of the second, in the order of formation, who
is
nearest to the line of battle, will throw himself in advance to mark
that line;
he will place himself on it as is prescribed above for successive
formations,
and thus indicate to his captain the point at which he ought to pass
the line
of battle, by three paces, in order to wheel by file to the left, and
then to
direct his company parallelly to that line.
1193.
As soon as the first file of this company shall have arrived near the
left file of the preceding one already on the line of battle, its
captain will
command: 1. (Such) company; 2. HALT; 3. Front-FACE.
4. Right-
DRESS.
1194.
The first command will be given when the company shall yet have four
paces to take to reach the halting point.
1195.
At the second command, the company will halt.
1196.
At the third, the company will face to the front, and if there be
openings between the files, the latter will promptly close to the right;
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
captain will immediately place himself by the side of the man on the
left of
the preceding company, and align himself on its front rank.
1197.The
fourth command will be executed as
prescribed, No. 1157.
1198.
The
following companies will be conducted and established on the line of
battle as
just prescribed for the second, each regulating itself by the one that
precedes
it; the left guides will detach themselves in time to precede their
respective
companies on the line by twelve or fifteen paces, and each place
himself so as
to be opposite to one of the three left files, when in line, of his
company.
1199.
The
formation being ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1200.
The colonel and lieutenant colonel, in this formation, will each
observe
what is prescribed for him in that of on the right, into line
of battle.
1201.
A column, left in front, will form itself faced to the rear into line
of
battle according to the same principles and by inverse means.
Remark
on the
formation
faced to the rear, into line of battle.
1202.
Approaching the line of battle, it is necessary that the captains, who
conduct the companies should so direct their march as to cross that
line a
little in rear of their respective
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
guides,
who are faced to the basis of the
formation; hence each guide ought to detach himself in time to find
himself
correctly established on the direction before his company shall come up
with
him.
ARTICLE
III.
Formation
in line of battle by two movements.
1203.
A column by company, right on front, arriving behind the line of
battle,
and prolonging itself on that line, if the colonel should think proper
to form
line of battle before all the companies enter the new direction, he
will halt the
column, and the formation will be executed in the following manner.
1204.
It will be supposed that the column has been halted just as the fifth
company from the head enters the new direction, and that there are
eight
companies in the column. The colonel
will cause the guides of the first five companies to be assured on the
direction, and command:
1.
Left into line, wheel. 2. Three rear
companies, forward,
into line.
1205.
At the second command, the chief of each of the rear companies will
command: 1. By company, left half wheel; and the
colonel will add:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
3.
Quick-MARCH.
1206.
At this, briskly repeated, the first five companies will form
themselves
to the left, into line of battle, and the three last
forward, into line of battle, by the
means prescribed for these respective formations; each captain of the
three
rear companies will, when his company shall have sufficiently wheeled,
command:
1. Forward; 2. MARCH; 3. Guide
right.
1207.
If, instead of arriving behind, the column arrive before the line of
battle, the colonel will command:
1. Left
into line,
wheel. 2. Three rear companies, into line faced to
the rear.
1208.
At the second command, the captain of each of the three rear companies
will command: 1. (Such) company, by the right flank.
2. Right-FACE. The colonel will then add:
3. Quick-MARCH.
1209.
At this, briskly repeated, the first five companies will form
themselves
to the left, into line of battle¸ and the
three last faced to the rear
into line of battle, by the means prescribed for these
respective
formations
1210.
Those several movements, in a column left in front, will be executed
according to the same principles and by inverse means.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
ARTICLE
IV.
Different
modes of
passing from column at half distance, into line of battle.
|
1. To
the left (or right)
2. On
the right (or left)
3.
Forward, by deployment,
4.
Faced to the rear
|
}
|
into
line of battle.
|
1st.
Column at half distance, to the left (or
right) into line of battle.
1211.
A column at half distance, having to form itself to the left (or right)
into line of battle, the colonel will cause it to take distances by one
of the means
prescribed, Article IX, Part Third, of this School; which being
executed, he
will form the column into line of battle as has been indicated, No.
1127, and
following.
2d.
Column at half distance, on the right (or
left) into line of battle.
1212.
A column at half distance will form itself on the right (or left) into
line of battle, as prescribed for a column at full distance.
3d.
Column at half distance, forward, into line
of battle.
1213.
When it shall be wished to from a column at half distance, forward into
line of battle,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
colonel will first cause it to close in mass and then deploy it on the
leading
company.
4th.
Column at half distance, faced to the rear,
into line of battle.
1214.
A column at half distance will form itself into line of battle, faced
to
the rear, as prescribed for a column at full distance.
ARTICLE.V.
Deployment
of
columns closed in mass.
1215.
A column in mass may form itself into line of battle:
1.
Faced to the front, by the deployment.
2.
Faced to the rear, by the countermarch and the deployment.
3.
Faced to the right and faced to the left, by a change of direction by
the
flank, and the deployment.
1216.
When a column in mass, by division, arrives behind the line on which it
is intended to deploy it, the colonel will indicate in advance, to the
lieutenant colonel, the direction of the line of battle, as well as the
point
on which he may wish to direct the column.
The lieutenant colonel will immediately detach himself with two
markers,
and establish them on that line, the first
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
at
the point indicated, the second a little less
than the front of a division from the first.
1217.
Deployments will always be made upon lines parallel, and lines
perpendicular to the line of battle; consequently, if the head of the
column be
near the line of battle, the colonel will commence by establishing the
direction of the column perpendicularly to that line, if it be not
already so,
by one of the means indicated, No. 984, and following, or No. 1036, and
following. If the column be in march,
he will so direct it that it may arrive exactly behind the markers,
perpendicularly to the line of battle, and halt it three paces from
that line.
1218.
(Pl. XXIII, fig.1.) The
column, right in front, being halted, it is supposed that the colonel
wishes to
deploy it on the first division; he will order the left general guide
to go to
a point on the line of battle a little beyond that at which the left of
the
battalion will rest when deployed, and place himself correctly on the
prolongation of the markers established before the first division.
1219.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1. On
the first
division, deploy column. 2. Battalion, left-FACE.
1220.
At the first command, the chief of the first division will caution it
to
stand fast; the chiefs of the three other division, will remind them
that they
will have to face to the left.
1221.
At the second command, the three left
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
divisions
will face to the left; the chief of each division will place himself by
the
side of its left guide, and the junior captain by the side of the
covering
sergeant of the left company, who will have stepped into the front
rank. See No. 872.
1222.
At
the same command, the lieutenant colonel will place a third marker on
the
alignment of the two first, opposite to one of the three left files of
the
right company, first division, and then throw himself on the line of
battle, a
few paces beyond the point at which the left of the second division
will
rest.
1223.
The
colonel will then command:
3.
Quick-MARCH.
1224.
At this, the chief of the first division will go to its right, and
command: Right-DRESS.
1225.
At this, the division will dress up against the markers; the chief of
the division, and its junior captain, will each align the company on
his left,
and then command: FRONT.
1226.
The three divisions, faced to the left will have put themselves in
march; the left guide of the second will direct himself parallelly to
the line
of battle; the left guides of the thirds and fourth divisions will
march
abreast with the guide of the second; the guides of the third and
fourth, each
preserving the prescribed distance between himself and the guide of the
division which preceded his own in the column.
1227.
The chief of the second division will not follow its movement; he will,
at a halt, see
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
his
division file by him, and when its right guide
shall be abreast with him, he will command: 1. Second
division; 2. HALT;
3. Front-FACE.
1228.
The first command will be given when the division shall yet have seven
or
eight paces to march; the second, when the right guide shall be abreast
with
the chief of the division, and the third immediately after the second.
1229.
At the second command, the division
will halt; at the third, it will face to the front, (See No. 872,)
and
if there be openings between the files, the chief of the division will
cause
them to be promptly closed to the right; the left guides of both
companies will
step upon the line of battle, face to the right, and place themselves
on the
direction of the markers established before the first division, each
guide
opposite to one of the three left files of his company.
1230.
The division having faced to the front its chief will place himself
accurately on the line of battle, on the left of the first division;
and when
he shall see the guides assured on the direction, he will command: Right-DRESS.
At this, the division will be aligned by the
right in the manner indicated for the first.
1231.
The third and fourth divisions will continue to march; at the command halt,
given to the second, the chief of the third will halt in his own
person, place
himself exactly opposite to the guide of the second, after this
division shall
have faced to the front and closed its files; he will see his division
file
past, and when his right guide shall be abreast with him, he will
command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
1. Third
division; 2. HALT; 3. Front-FACE
1232.
As soon as the division faces to the front, its chief will throw
himself
two paces before its centre, and command: 1. Third division
forward; 2. Guide
right; 3. MARCH.
1233.
At the third command, the division will march towards the line of
battle; the right guide will so direct himself as to arrive by the side
of the
man on the left of the second division, and when the division is at
three paces
from the line of battle, its chief will halt and align it by the right.
1234.
The chief of the fourth division will conform himself (and so would the
chief of the fifth, if there were a fifth) to what has just been
prescribed for
the third.
1235.
The deployment ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS
1236.
At this, the captains, not on the right of their respective companies,
will take those places, the markers will retire, and the guides resume
their
places in line of battle.
1237.
The colonel will see, pending the movement, that the principles just
prescribed are duly observed, and particularly that the divisions, in
deploying, be not halted too soon nor too late. He will
correct promptly, but without clamour, the faults that
may be committed, and prevent their propagation. This
rule is general for all deployments.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
1238.
The lieutenant colonel will assure the positions of the guides,
conforming
himself to what is prescribed, No. 1161.
The major will follow the movement abreast with the last division.
1239.
(Pl. XXIII, fig. 2.) If,
instead of deploying the column on the first, the colonel shall wish to
deploy
it on the rearmost division, he will cause the dispositions to be made
indicated, No. 1216, and following; but it will be the right general
guide whom
he will send to place himself beyond the point at which the right of
the
battalion will rest when deployed.
1240.
The colonel will then command:
1. On
the fourth (or
such) division, deploy column. 2. Battalion,
right-FACE.
1241.
At the first command, the chief of the rearmost, say the fourth
division, will caution it to stand fast; the chiefs of the other
divisions will
inform them that they will have to face to the right.
1242.
At the second command, the first three divisions will face to the
right;
and the chief of each will place himself by the side of its right guide.
1243.
At the same command, the lieutenant colonel will place a third marker
between the first two, so that this marker may be opposite to one of
the three
right files of the left company of the division; the lieutenant colonel
will
then throw himself on the line of battle a few paces
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
beyond
the point at which the right of the third
division will rest when deployed.
1244.
The colonel will then command:
3.
Quick-MARCH.
1245.
At this, the three right divisions will put themselves in march, the
guide of the first so directing himself as to pass three paces within
the line
marked by the right general guide. The
chief of the third division will not follow its movement; he will see
it file
past, halt it when its left guide shall be abreast with him, and cause
it to
face to the front; and if there be openings in the between the files,
he will
cause them to be promptly closed to the left.
1246.
The chief of the fourth division, when he shall see it nearly unmasked
by the three others, will command: 1. Fourth division,
forward. 2. Guide
left. 3. MARCH.
1247.
At the command march, which will be given the
instant the fourth
is unmasked, this division will approach the line of battle, and when
at three
paces from the markers on that line, its chief will halt it, and
command: Left-DRESS.
1248.
At this, the division will dress forward against the markers; the chief
of the division and the junior captain will each align the company on
his
right, and then command: FRONT.
1249.
The instant that the third division is unmasked, its chief will cause
it
to approach the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
line
of battle and halt it in the manner just
prescribed for the fourth.
1250.
The moment the division halts, its right guide and the covering
sergeant
of its left company will step on the line of battle, placing themselves
on the
prolongation of the markers established in front of the fourth
division; as
soon as they shall be assured in their positions, the division will be
aligned
as has just been prescribed for the fourth.
1251.
The second and first divisions which will have continued to march,
will,
in succession, be halted and aligned by the left, in the same manner as
the
third; the chiefs of these divisions will conform themselves, in
manner,
to what is prescribed, No. 1231. The
second, and still more the first division, being near the line of
battle, their
chiefs will not give the commands, No. 1246, but that prescribed, 1247.
1252.
The deployment ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1253.
This will be executed as prescribed, No. 1236. This
rule is general for all deployments by division.
1254.
The lieutenant colonel will assure the positions of the guides by the
means indicated, No. 1161, and the major will follow the movement
abreast with
the fourth division.
1255.
(Pl. XXIII, fig.3.) To deploy the column
on an interior
division, the colonel will cause the line to be traced by the means
above, and
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
the
general guides will throw themselves out on
that line as indicated, Nos. 1218 and 1239.
This being executed, the colonel will command:
1.
On
(such) division, deploy
column, 2. Battalion, outwards-FACE.
3. Quick-MARCH.
1256.
Whether the column be with the right or left in front, the divisions
which, in the order in battle, belong to the right of the directing
one, will
face to the right; the others, except the directing division, will face
to the
left; the divisions in front of the latter, will deploy by the means
indicated,
No. 1245, and following; those in its rear, will deploy as is
prescribed, No.
1226, and following.
1257.
The directing division, the instant it finds itself unmasked, will
approach the line of battle, taking the guide left or right, according
as the
right or left of the column may be in front.
The chief of this division will align it by the directing flank, and
then step back into the centre rank (or, if there be no centre rank,
behind the
nearest front rank man of his division) in order momentarily to give
place to
the chief of the next for aligning the next division. At the
command guides posts given by the colonel, all the
captains, who are not already there, will shift to the right of their
respective companies.
1258.
The lieutenant colonel will assure the positions of the guides of
divisions, which, in line of battle, take the right of the directing
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
division,
and the major will assure the position
of the other guides.
1259.
In a column, left in front, deployments will be executed according to
the same principles and by inverse means.
1260.
No particular rules are required for the deployment of an odd company,
if there be one in the column by division, except that, if it be made
the
directing subdivision (whether in rear or in front, according as the
right or
left may be in front) odd company will be
substituted in the commands
for fourth or fifth division,
and that a third or intermediate
marker will be unnecessary.
Remarks
on the
deployment of columns, closed in mass.
1261.
All the divisions ought to deploy rectangularly, to march off abreast,
and to preserve their distances towards the line of battle.
1262.
Each division, the instant that it is unmasked, ought to be marched
towards the line of battle, and to be aligned upon it by the flank next
to the
directing division; the latter, whether the right or left be in front,
will
always be aligned next to the point of appui, when
the deployment is
made on the first or last (fourth) division; but, if the column be
deployed on
an interior division, this division will be aligned by the flank which was
that of direction.
1263.
The chiefs of division will see that, in deploying, the principles
prescribed for marching
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
by
the flank are well observed, and if openings
between the files occur, which ought not to happen, except on broken or
difficult grounds, the openings ought to be promptly closed towards the
directing
flank as soon as the divisions face to the front.
1264.
If a chief of division give the command halt too
soon or too
late, his division will be obliged to oblique to the right or left, in
approaching the line of battle, and his fault may lead the following
division
into error.
1265.
In order to avoid these inconveniences, each chief of division, after
halting in his own person, ought to cast an eye on the division
preceding his
own, when it shall have faced to the front and closed files; and if he
perceive
that he has halted too soon or too late, in his own person, he ought to
advance
or fall back, whilst his division is marching by the flank, in order to
bring
himself exactly opposite to the point of appui (or
rest) of his division
at the moment of halting it.
1266.
In the divisions which deploy by the left flank, it is always the left
guide of each company who ought to throw himself out on the line of
battle to
mark the direction; in the divisions which deploy by the right flank,
it is the
right guide.
1267.
I order to facilitate the alignment of the division on which the
deployment is made, the lieutenant colonel will always assure with care
the
position of the third marker placed in front of this division; he ought
to
establish him before the commencement of the movement, so
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
as to
be ready to precede, on the line of battle,
the guides of the deploying divisions.
1268.
A column by company, closed in mass, may be formed on the right or on
the left into line of battle, as a column at half distance; but in
order to
execute this movement, without arresting the march of the column, it is
necessary that the guides avoid, with the greatest care shortening the
step in
turning, and that the men near them, respectively, conform themselves
rapidly
to the movements of their guides.
Remarks
on
Inversions.
1269.
Inversions giving frequently the means of forming line of battle, in
the
promptest manner, are of great utility in the movements of an army.
1270.
The application that may be made of inversions in the formations to the
right and to the left into line of battle, has been indicated, No.
1140, and
following. They may also be
advantageously employed in the successive formations, except in that of
faced
to the rear, into line of battle.
1271.
Formations, by inversion, will be executed according to the same
principles as formations in the direct order; but the colonel's first
command
will always begin by inversion.
1272.
The battalion being in line of battle by inversion, when the colonel
shall wish by forming it into column, to bring it back to the direct
order, he
will cause it either to break or
to ploy
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART IV.
by
company, or by division, accordingly as the column
may have been by company or by division before it had been formed into
line of
battle by inversion.
1273.
When a battalion in line of battle, formed by inversion, has to be
ployed into column, the movement will be executed according to the same
principles
as if the line were in the direct order, but observing what follows.
1274.
If it be intended that the column shall be by division, with the first
in front, or by company with the grenadiers (or first company) in
front, the
colonel will announce in the second command-left in front,
because, the
battalion being in line by inversion, that subdivision is on the left.
1275.
Each chief whose subdivision takes position in the column in front of
the directing one will conduct his subdivision till it halts; and each
chief
whose subdivision takes position in rear of the directing one, will
halt in his
own person when up with the preceding right guide and see his
subdivision file
past; and every chief will align his subdivision by the
right. When the column is to be put in march, the
second command will be-guide left, because the
proper right is in front.
1276.
For the same reason, if it be intended that the last subdivision (the
fourth or fifth division, the light infantry or eighth company) shall
be in front,
right in front will be announced in the second
command; the subdivisions
will be aligned by the left, and to out the column in
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
march,
the second command will be-guide right,
because the proper left is in front.
PART
FIFTH.
ARTICLE
I.
To
advance in line of
battle.
1277.
(Pl. XXIV, fig. 1.) The
battalion being correctly aligned, and supposed to be the directing
one, when
the colonel shall wish to cause it to march in line of battle, he will
give the
lieutenant colonel an intimation of his purpose, throw himself about
forty
paces in rear of the colour-file and face to the front.
1278.
The lieutenant colonel will throw himself a like distance in front of
the same file and face to the colonel, who will establish him as
correctly as
possible, by signal of the sword, perpendicularly to the line of battle
opposite to the colour-bearer. The
colonel will next, above the heads of the lieutenant colonel and
colour-bearer,
take a point of direction in the field beyond, if a distinct one
present
itself, exactly in the prolongation of those first two points.
1279.
The colonel will then throw himself twenty paces farther to the rear,
and establish two markers (h and d)
on the prolongation of the
straight line passing through the colour-bearer and the lieutenant
colonel; these markers will face to the
rear, the first (h) placed about twenty-
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
five
paces behind the rear rank of the battalion,
and the second (d) at the same distance from the
first.
1280.
The colour-bearer will be instructed to take, the moment the lieutenant
colonel (See No. 42) shall be established on the
perpendicular, two
points on the ground in the straight line which, drawn from himself,
would pass
between the heels of that officer; the first of these points will be
taken at
fifteen of twenty paces from the colour-bearer.
1281.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1.
Battalion, forward.
1282.
At this, the front rank of the colour-guard will advance six paces, and
be replaced by its next rank; at the same time the two general guides
will
throw themselves in advance, abreast with the colour-bearer, the one on
the
right, opposite to the captain of the right company, the other opposite
to the
closing sergeant.
1283.
The captains of the left wing will shift, passing before the front
rank,
to the left of their respective companies; the closing sergeant, will
step back
into the next rank, and if there be no centre rank, the covering
corporal will
pass into the line of file closers, near his flank. The
covering sergeant of the company next on the left of the
colour company, will step into the front rank.
1284.
The lieutenant colonel having assured the colour-bearer on the line
between himself
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
and
the corporal of the colour-file, now in the
front rank, will go to the position which will be indicated, No. 1292.
1285.
The major will place himself six or eight paces on either flank of the
colour-rank.
1286.
The colonel will command:
2.
MARCH, (or quick-MARCH.)
1287.
(Pl. XXIVB, fig. 2.) At
this, the battalion will step off with life; the colour-bearer, charged
with
the step and the direction, will scrupulously observe the length and
cadence of
the pace, marching on the prolongation of the two points previously
taken, and
successively taking others in advance by the means indicated, No. 531'
the
corporal on his right, and the one on his left, will march in the same
step,
taking care not to turn the head or shoulders, the colour-bearer
supporting the
colour-lance against the hip.
1288.
The two general guides will march in the same step with the
colour-rank,
each maintaining himself abreast, or nearly so, with that rank, and
neither
occupying himself with the movement of the other.
1289.
The three corporals of the colour-guard now in the front rank of the
battalion, will march well aligned, elbow to elbow, heads direct to the
front,
and without deranging the line of their shoulders; the centre one will
follow
exactly in the trace of the colour-bearer, and maintain the same step,
without
lengthening or shortening it, except on an intimation from the colonel,
or
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
lieutenant
colonel, although he should find
himself more or less than six paces from the colour-rank.
1290.
The covering sergeant in the front rank between the colour-company and
the next on the left, will march elbow to elbow, and on the same line,
with the
three corporals in the centre, his head well to the front.
1291.
The captains of the colour-company, and the company next to the left,
will constitute, with the three corporals in the centre of the front
rank, the
basis of alignment for both wings of the battalion: they will march in
the same
step with the colour-bearer, and exert themselves to maintain their
shoulders
exactly in the square with the direction.
To this end, they will keep their heads direct to the front, only
occasionally casting an eye on the three centre corporals, with the
slightest
possible turn of the neck, and if they perceive themselves in advance,
or in
rear of these corporals, the captain, or two captains, will almost
insensibly
shorten or lengthen the step, so as, at the end of several paces, to
regain the
true alignment, without giving sudden checks or impulsions to the wings
beyond
them respectively.
1292.
The lieutenant colonel placed twelve or fifteen paces on the right of
the captain of the colour-company, will maintain this captain and the
next one
beyond, abreast with the three centre corporals; to this end, he will
caution
either to lengthen or shorten the step as may be necessary, which the
captain,
or two captains will execute as has just been explained.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1293.
All the other captains will maintain themselves on the prolongation of
this basis; and, to this end, they will cast their eyes towards the
centre,
taking care not to turn the neck but slightly, and not to derange the
direction
of their shoulders.
1294.
The captains will observe the march of their companies, and prevent the
men from getting in advance of the line captains; they will not
lengthen or
shorten step except when evidently necessary; because, to correct, with
too
scrupulous attention, small faults, is apt to cause the production of
greater-
loss of calmness, silence, and equality of step, each of which is so
important
to maintain.
1295.
The men will constantly keep their heads well directed to the front,
feel lightly the elbow towards the centre, resist pressure coming from
the flank,
give the greatest attention to the squareness of shoulders, and hold
themselves
always very slightly behind the line of the captains, in order never to
shut
out from the view of the latter the basis of the alignment; they will,
from
time to time, cast an eye on the colour-rank, or on the general guide
of the
wing, in order to march constantly in the same step with those advanced
persons.
1296.
Pending the march, the line determined by the two markers (h
and
d) will be prolonged by placing, in proportion as the
battalion advances, a
third marker (i) in the rear of the first (h,)
then the marker (d)
will quit his place and throw himself a like distance in rear of (I;)
the marker (h) will, in his turn, do the like
inspect to (d,)
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
and
so on, in succession, as long as the battalion
continues to advance; each marker, on shifting position, taking care to
face to
the rear, and to cover accurately the two markers already established
on the
direction. A staff officer, or the
quartermaster sergeant, designated for the purpose, and who will hold
himself
constantly fifteen or twenty paces facing the marker farthest from the
battalion, will caution each marker when to shift place, and assure him
on the
direction behind the other two.
1297.
The colonel will habitually hold himself about thirty paces in rear of
the centre of his battalion, taking care not to put himself on the line
of
markers; if, for example, by the slanting of the battalion, or the
indications
which will be give, Nos. 130709, he find that the march of the
colour-bearer is
not perpendicular, he will promptly command:
Point
of direction
to the right (or
left.)
1298.
At this command, the major will throw himself thirty or forty paces, in
advance of the colour-rank, halt, face to the colonel, and place
himself on the
direction which the latter will indicate by signal of the sword; the
corporal
in the centre of the battalion will then direct himself upon the major,
on a
caution from the colonel, advancing, to that end, the opposite
shoulder; the
corporals on his right and left will conform themselves to his
direction.
1299.
The colour-bearer will also direct himself upon the major, advancing
the
opposite
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
shoulder,
the major causing him, at the same time,
to incline to the right or left, until he shall exactly cover the
corporal of
his file; the colour-bearer will then take points on the ground in this
new
direction.
1300.
The two general guides will conform themselves to the new direction of
the colour-rank.
1301.
The officer charged with observing the successive replacing of the
markers in the rear of the centre, will establish them promptly on the
new
direction, taking for basis, the colour-bearer and the corporal of his
file in
the centre of the battalion; the colonel will verify the new direction
of the
markers.
1302.
The lieutenant colonel, from the position given, No. 1292, will see
that
the two centre companies, and successively all the others, conform
themselves
to the new direction of the centre, but without precipitancy or
disorder; he
will then endeavour to maintain that basis of alignment for the
battalion,
perpendicularly to the direction pursued by the colour-bearer.
1303.
He will often observe the march of the two wings; and, if he discover
that the captains neglect to conform themselves to the basis of the
alignment,
he will recall their attention by the command- captain of (such)
company, or captains of (such) companies, on the
line- without
bustle, however, and without attempting to correct every slight
diviation.
1304.
The major on the flank of the colour-rank, will, during the march,
throw
himself, from time to time, twenty paces in front of that rank,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
face
to the front, and place himself correctly on
the prolongation of the markers established behind the centre, in order
to
verify the exact march of the colour-bearer on that line; he will
rectify, if
necessary, the direction of the colour-bearer, who will immediately
take two
new points on the ground between himself and the major.
1305.
All the principles applicable to the advance in line, are the same for
a
subordinate as for the directing
battalion; but when the
battalion under instruction is supposed to be subordinate,
no markers
will be placed behind its centre.
Remarks
on the
advance in line of battle.
1306.
If, in the exercises of detail, or courses of elementary instruction,
the officers, sergeants, corporals, and men, have not been well
confirmed in
the principles of the position under arms, as well as the length and
cadence of
the step, the march of the battalion in line will be floating,
unsteady, and
disunited.
1307.
If the colour-bearer, instead of marching perpendicularly forward,
pursue an oblique direction, the battalion will slant; crowdings in one
wing,
and openings in the other, will follow, and these defects in the march,
becoming more and more embarrassing in proportion to the deviation from
the
perpendicular, will commence near the centre.
1308.
(Pl. XXV, fig. 1.) If,
for example, the colour-bearer, advancing the left shoulder, take
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
a
direction more or less oblique to the right of
the perpendicular, the right wing of the battalion will be obliged to
shorten,
ant the left to lengthen the step; the alignment will be lst, crowding
of files
in the right wing, and opening of files in the left, will follow; the
reverse
will happen in the respective wings if the colour-bearer, advancing the
right
shoulder, follow an oblique direction to the left of the perpendicular.
1309.
The same results will equally follow if the basis of the alignment be
not perpendicular to the line of direction pursued by the centre of the
battalion; if, for example, the captain of the colour-company, instead
of
keeping himself abreast with the three corporals of the colour-guard,
fall
behind, and the captain on the other side of the basis get in advance
of that
rank, the left wing of the battalion will be forced to lengthen, and
the right
wing to shorten, the step.
1310.
It is the of the greatest importance that the colour-bearer should
direct himself perpendicularly forward, and that the basis of alignment
should
always be perpendicular to the line pursued by him.
1311.
It will be easy for the colonel to judge, after a few paces, by the
indications given above, whether the march of the colour-bearer be
perpendicular or not,
1312.
It will also be easy for the lieutenant colonel, from his position in
front, to perceive whether the captains of the two centre companies be
in
advance or in rear of the three centre corporals,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
by
observing whether the captains in the wings are
obliged to lengthen or to shorten the step; in this manner he may
always
maintain the basis of alignment perpendicular to the direction pursued
by the
colour-bearer, and prevent floatings in the battalion.
1313.
If openings be formed, if the files crowd each other, if, in short,
disorder ensue, the remedy ought to be applied as promptly as possible,
but
calmly, with few words, and without bustle or noise.
1314.
The object of the general guides, in the march in line of battle is, to
indicate to the companies near the flanks the step of the centre of the
battalion, and to afford more facility in establishing the wings on the
direction of the centre if they should be too much in the rear; hence
the
necessity that these guides should maintain the same step, and march
abreast,
or very nearly so, with the colour-rank, which it will be easy for them
to do
by casting from time to time as eye on that rank.
1315.
(Pl. XXV, figs. 1,2,3,)
If, in a line of several battalions, the colour-bearer of one, instead
of following the perpendicular (o p,) had followed
the oblique line (c
h) to the right of that perpendicular, and if the battalion
had conformed
itself to that false direction, it would not suffice to re-establish
the
battalion arrived at (s) on a line (s z)
parallel to the
primitive line of battle (A B;) it would, moreover,
be necessary to
regain, by the oblique step to the left, the space (s m,)
in order to
bring the centre of the battalion on the perpendicular (o p,)
without
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
which
the interval between this battalion and the
one to its left would be increased, whilst to the right, the interval
would be
closed in the same proportion.
1316.
If the battalion happen to lose the step, the colonel will recall its
attention by the command, to the-STEP; the captains
and their companies
will immediately cast an eye on the colour-rank, or one of the general
guides,
and promptly conform themselves to the step.
See No, 535.
1317.
Finally, it is of the utmost importance to the attainment of regularity
in the march in line of battle, to habituate the battalion to execute
(with as
much order as promptness) the movements prescribed, No. 1297, and
following,
for rectifying the direction; it is not less essential that commanders
of
battalions should exercise themselves, with the greatest care, in
forming their
own coup d'oeil (the faculty of determining with
correctness, distances,
numbers, heights, and directions by a glance of the eye) in order to be
able to
judge with precision the direction to be given to their battalions.
ARTICLE
II.
Oblique
march in
line of battle.
1318.
The battalion, marching in line of battle, when the colonel shall wish
to cause it to oblique, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Right (or left)
oblique. 2. MARCH.
1319.
At the first command, the major will throw himself in front of and
faced
to the colour-bearer.
1320.
At the command march, the whole battalion will take
the oblique
step. The companies and captains will
strictly observe the principles prescribed, No. 545.
1321.
The major, in front of the colour-bearer, ought to maintain the latter
in a line with the centre corporal, so that the colour-bearer may
oblique by an
equal movement, and the both maintain their shoulders in a square with
the
perpendicular.
1322.
The lieutenant colonel will take care to maintain the basis
of
alignment in a direction parallel to the primitive alignment of the
battalion.
1323.
The colonel will see that the battalion preserves its parallelism; he
will exert himself to prevent the files from opening or
crowding. If he perceive the latter fault, he will
cause the files on the flank, to which the battalion obliques, to open
out.
1324.
The colonel, wishing to cause the direct march to be resumed, will
command:
1.
Forward. 2. MARCH.
1325.
At the command march, the battalion
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
will
resume the direct march. The major will throw himself thirty
paces in
front of the colour-bearer, and face to the colonel, who will establish
him, by
a signal of the sword, on the direction, which the colour-bearer ought
to
pursue. The latter will immediately
take two points on the ground between himself and the major.
1326.
In resuming the direct march, care will be taken that the men do not
close
the intervals which may exist between the files at once; it should be
done
almost insensibly.
Remarks
on the
oblique march.
1327.
(Pl. XXV, fig. 3.) The
object of the oblique step is to gain ground to the right or left
preserving
all the while the primitive direction of the line of battle; as thus,
for
example: the battalion, departing from the line (s z,)
arrives on the
line (x x) parallel to (s z.)
1328.
It is then essential that the corporal, in the centre of the battalion,
should
maintain his shoulders in the square with the perpendicular; for, if he
advance
one or the other, a false direction will be given to the
battalion. The colonel may easily perceive the fault by
the indications give, No. 1308; and he may as readily correct it by
admonishing
the corporal to advance the opposite shoulder.
1329.
The colonel and lieutenant colonel will exert themselves to prevent the
files from crowding; for, without such precaution, the oblique march
cannot be
executed with facility.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
ARTICLE
III.
To
halt the
battalion, marching in line of battle, and to align it.
1330.
The battalion, marching in line of battle, when the colonel shall wish
to halt it, he will command:
1.
Battalion. 2. HALT.
1331.
At the second command, the battalion will halt; the colour-rank and the
general guides will remain in front; but it the colonel should not wish
immediately to resume the advance in line, nor to give a general
alignment, he
will command:
Colour
and general
guides- POSTS.
1332.
At this, the colour and general guides will retake their places in line
of battle, the captains of the left wing will shift to the right of
their
companies, the colour guard will fall back into its proper ranks, and
the
sergeant and corporal, who close the left of the battalion, will return
to
their places.
1333.
If the colonel should then judge it necessary to rectify the alignment,
he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
Captains,
rectify
the alignment.
1334.
The captains will immediately cast an eye towards the centre, align
themselves accurately on the basis of alignment, (which the lieutenant
colonel
will have seen well directed,) and then promptly dress their respective
companies. The lieutenant colonel will
admonish such captains as may not be accurately on the alignment by the
command: Captain of (such)
company, or captains of (such)
companies, move up or fall
back.
1335.
(Pl. XXIV, fig. 3.) But
when the colonel shall wish to give the battalion a general alignment,
either
parallel or oblique, instead of rectifying it as above, he will throw
himself
some paces outside of one of the general guides, (the right will be
here
supposed) and caution the right general guide and the colour-bearer to
face
him, and then establish them by signal of the sword, on the direction
which he
may wish to give to the battalion. As
soon as they shall be correctly established, the left general guide
will place
himself on their direction, and be assured in his position by the
major. The colour-bearer will carry the
colour-lance perpendicularly between his eyes, and the two corporals of
his
rank will return to their places in the front rank the moment he shall
face to
the colonel.
1336.
This disposition being made, the colonel will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Guides-ON THE LINE.
1337.
At this, the right guide of each company in the right wing, and the
left
guide of each company in the left, will each throw himself out on the
direction
of the colour-bearer and the two general guides, face to the
colour-bearer,
place himself in rear of the guide who is next before him at a distance
equal
to the front of his company, and align himself upon the colour-bearer
and the
general guide beyond.
1338.
The captains in the right wing will shift to the left of their
companies, except the captain of the colour-company, who will remain on
its right,
but step as prescribed, No. 1257; and the captains in the left wing
will shift
to the right of their companies.
1339.
The lieutenant colonel will promptly rectify, if necessary, the
positions of the guides of the right wing, and the major those of the
other;
which being executed, the colonel will command:
2.
On the centre-DRESS.
1340.
At this, the companies will move up in common time against the guides,
where, having arrived, each captain will align his company according to
prescribed principles, the lieutenant colonel aligning the
colour-company.
1341.
If the alignment be oblique, the captains
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
will
take care to conform their companies to it in
conducting them towards the line.
1342.
The battalion being aligned, the colonel will command:
3.
Colour and guides-POSTS.
1343.
At this, the colour-bearer. the general and company guides, and the
captains in the right wing, will take
their places in line of battle, and the colur-bearer will replace the
heel of
the colour-lance against the right hip.
1344.
(Pl. XXIV, fig. 3.) If
the new direction of the line of battle be such that one or more
companies find
themselves in advance of that line, the colonel, before establishing
the
general guides on the line, will cause such companies to be thrown
back, either
by the back step, or by first facing about, according as their may be
less or
more ground to be repassed to bring the companies in rear of the new
direction.
1345.
When the colonel shall wish to give a general alignment, and the colour
and general guides are not on the line, he will cause them to throw
themselves
out by the command:
1.
Colour and general guides-ON THE
LINE.
1346.
At this, the colour-bearer and the general guides will throw themselves
out, and do what is prescribed, No. 1335.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
ARTICLE
IV.
Change
of
direction in marching in line of battle.
1347.
The battalion marching in line of battle, when the colonel shall wish
to
cause it to change direction to the right, he will command:
1.
Change direction to the right.
2.
MARCH.
1348.
(Pl. XXVIII, fig. 1.) At
the command march, the movement will commence; the
colour-rank will shorten
the step to fourteen inches, and direct itself circularly to the right,
taking
care to advance the left shoulder, but only insensibly; the major will
place
himself before the colour-bearer, facing him, and so direct his march
that he
may describe an arc of a circle neither too large nor too small; he
will also
see that the colour-bearer takes steps of exactly fourteen inches.
1340.
The right general guide will only slowly turn in his person; the left
general guide will circularly march in the full step, and align himself
upon
the colour-bearer and the right general guide.
1350.
The corporal placed in the centre of the battalion, will take steps of
fourteen inches, and will wheel to the right by advancing insensibly
the left
shoulder; the battalion will conform itself to the movement of the
centre; to
this end, the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
captain
of the colour-company, and the captain of
the next to the left, will attentively regulate their march, as well as
the direction
of their shoulders, on the three centre corporals. All the
other captains will regulate the direction of their step
on this basis.
1351.
The men will redouble their attention in order not to pass the line of
captains.
1352.
In the left wing, the pace will be lengthened in proportion as the file
is distant from the centre; the captain who closes the left flank of
the
battalion will take the full pace.
1353.
In the right wing the pace will be shortened in proportion as the file
is distant from the centre; the captain who closes the right flank will
only
slowly turn in his person, observing to yield ground a little if pushed.
1354.
The colonel will take great care to prevent the centre of the battalion
from describing an arc of a circle, either too great or too small, in
order
that the wings may conform themselves to its movement. He
will also see that the captains keep
their companies constantly aligned upon the centre, so that there may
be no
opening and no crowding of files. He
will endeavour to prevent faults, and, should they occur, correct them
without
noise.
1355.
The lieutenant colonel, placed before the battalion, will give his
attention to the same objects.
1356.
(Pl. XXVIII, fig. 2.)
When the colonel shall wish to cause the direct march to be resumed, he
will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Forward. 2. MARCH.
1357.
At the command march, the colour-rank, the general
guides, and
the battalion will resume the direct march; the major will immediately
throw
himself thirty or forty paces in front, face to the colonel, placed in
rear of
the centre, who will establish him by signal of the sword on the
perpendicular
direction which the corporal in the centre of the battalion ought to
pursue;
the major will immediately cause the colour-bearer, if necessary, to
incline to
the right or left, so as to be exactly opposite to his file; the
colour-bearer
will then take two points on the ground between himself and the major.
1358.
The lieutenant colonel will endeavour to give to the colour-company and
the next on the left (the base-companies) a direction perpendicular to
that
pursued by the centre corporal; and all the other companies, without
precipitancy, will conform themselves to that basis.
ARTICLE
V.
To
march in retreat in line of battle.
1359.
The battalion being halted, if it be the wish of the colonel to cause
it
to march in retreat, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1. Face
to the
rear. 2. Battalion, about-FACE.
1360.
At the second command, the battalion will face about; the colour-rank
and the general guides, if in advance, will take their places in line;
the
colour-bearer will pass into the rear rank, now leading; the corporal,
or two
corporals of his file, will each step behind the corporal next on his
own
right, to let the colour-bearer pass, and then step into the rank next
in the
rear, to reform the colour-file; the colonel will throw himself behind
the
front rank, become the rear; the lieutenant colonel and major will
place
themselves before the rear rank, now leading.
1361.
The colonel will take post forty paces behind the colour-file, in order
to assure the lieutenant colonel on the perpendicular, who will throw
himself a
like distance in front, as prescribed for the advance in line of battle.
1362.
If the battalion be the one charged with the direction, the colonel
will
establish markers in the manner indicated, No. 1279, except that they
will face
to the battalion, and that the first will be placed twenty-five paces
from the
lieutenant colonel. If the markers be
already established, the officer charges with replacing them in
succession will
cause them to face about, the moment that the battalion executes this
movement,
and then the marker nearest to the battalion will throw himself in rear
of the
two others.
1363.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
3.
Battalion, forward.
1364.
At this, the colour-bearer and the two corporals of the rear rank of
his
guard will advance eight paces, and be replaced by the next rank of the
guard;
the two general guides will throw themselves out abreast with the
colour-rank,
the covering sergeants will place themselves in the line of file
closers, and
the captains in the rear rank, now leading; the three file closers,
nearest to
the colour, will unite in rear of the colour-rank, in order to serve as
a basis
of alignment for the line of file closers; the captains in the left
wing, now
right, will, if not already there, shift to the left of their
companies, now
become the right.
1365.
The colonel will then command:
4.
MARCH, (or quick- MARCH.)
1366.
The battalion will march in retreat on the same principles which govern
the
advance in line; the file closer behind the colour-bearer will march
exactly in
his trace.
1367.
If it be the directing battalion, the colour-bearer will direct himself
on the markers, who will, of their own accord, (under superintendence,)
each
throw himself in succession behind the marker most distant, on being
approached
by the battalion; the officer charged with the superintendence of the
markers,
will carefully assure them on the direction.
1368.
In the case of a subordinate battalion,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
the
colour-bearer will maintain himself on the
perpendicular by means of points taken on the ground.
1369.
The colonel and lieutenant colonel will each discharge the same
functions as in the advance in line.
1370.
The lieutenant colonel, placed on the outside of the file closers of
the
colour-company, will also maintain the three file closers of the basis
of
alignment in a square with the line of direction: the other file
closers will
keep themselves aligned on this basis.
ARTICLE
VI.
To
halt the
battalion marching in retreat, and to face it to the front.
1371.
The colonel having halted the battalion, and wishing to face it to the
front, will command:
1.
Face to the front. 2.
Battalion, about- FACE.
1372.
At the second command, the colour-rank, general guides, captains, and
covering sergeants, will all take their habitual places in line of
battle, and
the colour-bearer will repass into the front rank.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
ARTICLE
VII.
Change
of direction,
in marching in retreat.
1273.
A battalion retiring in line will
change direction by the commands and means indicated, No. 1347, and
following:
the three files closers, united behind the colour-rank, will conform
themselves
to the movement of this rank, and wheel like it; the centre file closer
of the
three will take steps of fourteen inches, and keep himself steadily at
the same
distance from the colour-bearer; the line of file closers will conform
themselves to the movement of its centre, and the lieutenant colonel
will
maintain it on that basis.
ARTICLE
VIII.
Passage
of
obstacles, advancing and retreating.
1374.
(Pl. XXVI, figs. 1 and 2.)
The battalion advancing in line will be supposed to encounter an
obstacle which covers one or more companies; the colonel will cause
them to
ploy into column at full distance, in rear of the next company towards
the
colour, which will be executed in the following manner. It
will be supposed that the obstacle only covers
the third company, (the flank companies absent:) the colonel will
command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Third company, obstacle.
1375.
At this, the captain of the third company will place himself in its
front, turn to it, and command: 1.Third company, by the left
flank, to the
rear into column; 3. MARCH. He will then
hasten to the left of the
company.
1376.
At the command march, the company will face to the
left in
marching; the three (or two) left files will promptly disengage to the
rear,
and the company will quicken the step; the left guide, placing himself
at the
head of the front rank, will conduct it behind the fourth company,
directing
himself parallely with this company; the captain of the third will
himself halt
opposite to the captain of the fourth, and see his company file past;
he will
command: 1. Third company;2. By the right
flank; 3. MARCH.;
4. Guide right, and throw
himself before the centre of his company.
1377.
At the command march, the company will face to the
right (See
No. 604)preserving the quick step which it has taken; but
the
movement it shall be at the prescribed distance (full) its captain will
command: to the -STEP. at which the company will
resume the step of the
battalion.
1378.
This company will thus follow in column that which it finds itself, and
at wheeling distance, its right guide marching exactly in the trace of
the
captain of that company.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1379.
As soon as the third company shall have faced to the left, the left
guide of the second will place himself on the left of the front rank of
his
company, and maintain between himself and the right of the fourth the
space
necessary for the return into line of the third.
1380.
(Pl. XXVI, figs. 3 and 4.)
The obstacle being passed, the colonel will command.
Third
company,
forward, into line.
1381.
At this, the captain, turning towards his company, will add:
1. By company right half wheel; 2. MARCH
1382.
At the command march, the company will quicken the
step, and execute
a half wheel; its captain will then command: 1. Forward;
2. MARCH; 3. Guide
left. The second command will be
given when the company shall have sufficiently wheeled.
1383.
At the command march, the company will direct
itself straight
forward towards the line of battle, and retake its position in it (by a
left
turn) according to the principles prescribed for the
formation forward
into line of battle; as soon as the company is in line, its
captain will
place himself on its right, and command: to the-
STEP. The company will then take the step from the
colour-bearer.
1384.
(Pl. XXVII, figs. 1 and 2.)
It will be supposed that the obstacle covers several contiguous
companies (the three companies on the right, for example;) the colonel
will
command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Three right companies, obstacle. 2.
By the left flank, to the rear, into column.
3.
MARCH.
1385.
At the second command, the captains of the designated companies will
each throw himself before the centre of his company, and caution it as
to the
movement about to be executed.
1836.
At the command march, the designated companies will
face to the
left in marching, and immediately quicken the pace; each captain will
cause the
head of his company to disengage itself to the rear, and the left guide
will
place himself at the head of the front rank; the captain of the third
company
will conform himself to what is prescribed, No. 1876, and following;
the
captains of the other companies will conduct them by the flank in rear
of the
third, inclining towards the head of the column; and, as the head of
each
company arrives opposite to the right of the one next before it in
column, its
captain will himself halt, see his company file past and conform
himself for
facing it to the front, in marching, to what is prescribed. No. 1376,
and
following.
1387.
When the last company in column shall have passed the obstacle, the
colonel will command:
Three
right
companies, forward into line.
1388.
(Pl. XXVII, figs. 2 and
3.) At this, the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
captain
of each of these companies will command: By
company, right half wheel. The
colonel will then add:
2.
MARCH.
1389.
At this, briskly repeated by the captains of the three companies, each
company will conform itself to what is prescribed, No. 1382. and
following.
1390.
It is supposed, in the foregoing example, that the companied belonged
to
the right wing: if they make part of the other, they will execute the
passage
of an obstacle according to the same principles and by inverse means.
1391.
In the march in retreat, those several movements will be executed on
the
same principles as if the battalion marched by the front rank.
1392.
When a battalion, advancing inline of battle, shall be obliged to halt,
and face about, in order to retreat, if there be companies in column,
behind
the rear rank, these companies will also halt, face about, put
themselves in
march, all at the same time with the battalion, and which they will
thus
precede in the retreat; they will afterwards successively put
themselves into
line, by the oblique step, as the ground may permit.
1393.
(Pl. XXVI, fig. 5.) When
the colour-company shall be obliged to execute the movement of passing
an
obstacle, the colour-bearer will return into line at the moment the
company
shall face to the left or right; the major, (See No. 42.)
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
will
place himself six paces before the extremity
of the company behind which the colour-company marches in column, in
order to
give the step and the direction; he, himself, first taking the step
from the
battalion.
1394.
As soon as the colour-company shall have retuned into line, the front
rank of the colour-guard will again throw itself out six paces in front
of the
battalion, and take the step from the major; the latter will
immediately throw
himself twenty or thirty paces in front of the colour-bearer, and face
to the
colonel placed behind the centre of the battalion, who will establish
him on
the perpendicular; and, as soon as he shall be assured on it, the
colour-bearer
will take two points on the ground between himself and the major
1395.
(Pl. XXVII, figs. 4, 5.)
It is prescribed, as a general rule, that the companies of the right
wing ought to execute the movement of passing obstacles by the left
flank, and
the reverse for the companies of the other wing; but if the obstacle
cover at
once several companies of the centre, each will file into column behind
that,
still in line, and of the same wing, which may be nearest to it.
ARTICLE
IX.
To
pass a defile, in retreat, by the right or left flank.
1396.
When a battalion, retiring on line, shall
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
encounter
a defile, which it must pass, the
colonel will halt the battalion, and face it to the front.
1397.
(Pl. XXX, figs. 1 and 2.)
It will be supposed that the defile is in rear of the left flank, and
that its width is sufficient to give passage to a column by platoon;
the
colonel will place a marker fifteen or twenty paces in rear of the file
closers
at the point around which the subdivisions will have to change
direction in
order to enter the defile; he will then command:
To
the rear, by
the right flank, pass the defile.
1398.
The captain of the right company (grenadiers, or first
company)
will immediately command:
1.
(Such company) by
the right flank. 2. Right-FACE.
3. Quick-MARCH.
1399.
At the command march, the right company will
commence the
movement; the first file will wheel to the right, march to the rear
till it
shall have passed four paces beyond the file closers, when it will
wheel again
to the right, and then direct itself straight forward towards the left
flank. All the other files of this company will
come to wheel in succession at the same place where the first had
wheeled.
1400.
The next company from the right, say the second battalion company, will
execute in its turn the same movement, by the commands of its captain,
who will
give the command
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
MARCH,
so that the first file of his company may
immediately follow the last of the first, without constraint, however,
as to
taking the step of the first; the first file of the second company will
wheel
to the right, on its ground; all the other files of this company will
come in
succession to wheel at the same place.
1401.
The following companies towards the left, each in its turn, will
execute
what has just been prescribed for the second.
1402.
When the whole of the second company shall be on the same direction
with
the first, the captain of the first will cause it to form by platoon,
into
line, (See No. 597, and following,) and the moment
that it is in column,
the guide of the first platoon will direct himself on the marker around
whom he
has to change direction in order to enter the defile.
1403.
The second company will continue to march by the flank, directing
itself
parallelly with the line of battle; and it, in its turn, will form by
platoon
into line, when the third company shall be wholly on the same direction
with it
self.
1404.
The following companies will successively execute what has just been
prescribed for the second, and each will form by platoon into line,
when the
next company shall be on the same direction with itself.
1405.
The first platoon of the leading company having arrived opposite to the
marker placed at the entrance of the defile, will turn to the left, and
the
following platoons will all execute this movement at the same
point. As the last companies
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
will
not be able to form platoons before reaching
the defile, they will so direct themselves, in entering it, as to leave
room to
the left for this movement.
1406.
The battalion will thus pass the defile by platoon; and, as the two
platoons of each company shall clear it, companies will be successively
formed
by the means indicated, No. 684, and following.
1407.
The head of the column having cleared the defile, and having reached
the
distance at which the colonel wishes to re-form line faced to the
defile, he
may cause the leading company to turn to the left, to prolong the
column in
that direction, and then form it to the left into line of battle; or he
may
halt the column, and form it into line of battle; or he may halt the
column,
and form it into line of battle faced to the rear.
1408.
If the defile be in rear of the right flank, it will be passed by the
left; the movement will be executed according to the same principles,
and by
inverse means.
1409.
If the defile be too narrow to receive the front of a platoon, it will
be passed by the flank. Captains and
file closers will cause the files to lock up well in
marching. Platoons and companies will be formed into
line as the width of the file may permit, or as the companies shall
successively clear it.
ARTICLE
X.
To
march by the flank.
1410.
The colonel, wishing to cause the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
battalion
to march by the flank, he will command:
1. Battalion,
by the right (or
left) flank. 2. Right
(or
left)- FACE. 3. Battalion,
forward.
4.
MARCH (or quick- MARCH.)
1411.
At the second command, the captains and covering sergeants will place
themselves as prescribed, No. 573, or No. 577.
1412.
The closing sergeant, the face being to the right, will be replaced in
the front rank by the covering corporal, and the sergeant will place
himself by
the side of this corporal, covering the captains in file.
1413.
The battalion having to face by the left flank, the captains, at the
second command, will shift rapidly to the left of their companies, and
each
place himself by the side of the covering sergeant of the company
preceding his
own, except the captain of the left company, who will place himself by
the side
of the closing sergeant, and the covering corporal will retire into the
line of
file closers. The covering sergeant of
the right company will place himself by the right side of the front
rank man of
the rearmost file of his company, covering the captains in file.
1414.
At the command march, the battalion will step off
with life; the
sergeant, placed before the leading file (right or left in front) will
be
careful to preserve exactly the length and cadence of the step, and to
direct
himself straight forward; to this end, he will take points on the
ground.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1415.
Whether the battalion march by the right or left flank, the lieutenant
colonel will place himself abreast with the leading file, and the major
abreast
with the colour-file, both on the side of the front rank, and about six
paces
from it.
1416.
The adjutant, placed between the lieutenant colonel and the front rank,
will march in the same step with the head of the battalion, and the
sergeant
major, placed between the major and the colour-bearer, will march in
the same
step with the adjutant. See No. 42,
and GENERAL REMARKS, which precede the explanation
of the first plate.
1417.
The captains and file closers will carefully see that the files neither
open out nor crowd, and, if intervals be formed, that they be
insensibly
closed.
1418.
The colonel will give a general superintendence to the execution of
those principles.
1419.
The colonel wishing to cause the battalion to wheel by file, will
command:
1.
By file right (or left.)
2.
MARCH.
1420.
The files will wheel in succession, and all at the place where the
first
had wheeled, in conformity with the principles prescribed, No. 579.
1421.
The battalion marching by the flank, when the colonel shall wish to
halt
it, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1.
Battalion. 2. HALT.
3. Front-
FACE.
1422.
These commands will be executed as indicated, No. 582.
ARTICLE
XI.
To
form the battalion on the right or left, by file, into line of battle.
1423.
The battalion marching by the right flank, when the colonel shall wish
to form it on the right by file, he will determine the line of battle,
and the
lieutenant colonel will place two markers on that line, in conformity
with what
is prescribed, No. 1146.
1424.
The head of the battalion being nearly up with the first marker, the
colonel will command:
1. On
the right, by
file, into line. 2. MARCH.
1425.
At the command march, the leading company will form
itself on the
right by file into line of battle, as indicated, No. 585; the front
rank man of
the first file will rest his breast lightly against the right arm of
the first
marker; the other companies will follow the movement of the leading
company;
each captain will place himself on the line at the same time with the
front
rank man of his first file, and on the right of this man
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1426.
The left guide of each company, except the leading one, will place
himself on the direction of the markers, and opposite to the left file
of his
company, at the instant this file arrives on the line.
1427.
The formation being ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1428.
The colonel will superintend the successive formation of the battalion,
moving along the front of the lien of battle.
1429.
The lieutenant colonel will, in succession, assure the direction of the
guides, and see that the men of the front rank, in placing themselves
on the
line, do not pass it.
1430.
If the battalion march by the left flank, the movement will be executed
according to the same principles and by inverse means.
ARTICLE
XII.
Changes
of front
perpendicularly forward.
1431.
(Pl. XXIX, fig. 1.) The
battalion being in line of battle, it is supposed to be the wish of the
colonel
to cause a change of front forward on the right company, so that the
angle
formed by the old and new positions be a right angle, or a few degrees
more or
less than one; he will cause
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
two
markers to be placed on the new direction,
before the position to be occupied by that company, and order its
captain to
establish it against the markers.
1432.
The captain of the right company will immediately direct it upon the
markers by a wheel to the right on the fixed pivot; and after having
halted it,
he will align it by the right.
1433.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1. Change
front
forward on (such
company) 2.
By company, right half wheel. 3.
Quick MARCH.
1434.
At the second command, each captain will throw himself before the
centre
of his company.
1435.
At the third, each company will wheel to the right on the fixed pivot;
the left guide of each will place himself on its left as soon as he is
able to
pass; and when the colonel shall judge that the companies shall have
sufficiently wheeled, he will command:
4. Forward.
5. MARCH. 6. Guide right.
1436.
These commands will be executed, and the movement finished, as
prescribed, Nos. 1174 and 1180, observing, also, the remarks, Nos.
1182-4 and
1187.
1437.
The colonel will cause the battalion to change front forward on the
left
company according
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION-PART
V.
to
the same principles and by inverse means.
Change
of front
perpendicularly to the rear.
1438.
(Pl. XXIV, fig. 2.) The
colonel, wishing to change front to the rear on the right company, will
impart
his purpose to the captain of this company.
The latter will immediately face his company about, wheel it to the
left
on a fixed pivot, and halt it when it shall be in the direction
indicated to
him by the colonel; the captain will then face his company to the front
and
align it by the right against the two markers, who the colonel will
cause to be
established before the right and left files.
1439.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
1. Change
front to the
rear, on (such company.) 2. Battalion, about-FACE.
3. By company,
left half wheel. 4. Quick- MARCH
1440.
At the second command, all the companies except the right, will face
about.
1441.
At the third, the captains, whose companies have faced about, will each
throw himself behind the centre of his company, two paces from the
rank, now in
the rear.
1442.
At the fourth, the captains will wheel to the left on the fixed pivot
by
the rear rank; the left guide of each will, as soon as he us able to
pass,
place himself on the left of the rear rank of his company, now become
the
right;
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
and
when the colonel shall judge that the
companies have sufficiently wheeled, he will command:
5. Forward.
6.
MARCH. 7. Guide left.
1443.
AT the sixth command, the companies will cease to wheel, march straight
forward towards the new line of battle, and, at the seventh, take the
touch of
the elbows towards the left.
1444.
The guide of each company on its right flank, become left, will conform
himself to the principles prescribed, Nos. 1174 and 1177.
1445.
The second company, from the right, having arrived opposite to the left
of the first, will turn to the left; the guide will so direct himself
as to
arrive parallelly with the line of battle, cross that line, and when
the front
rank, now in the rear, shall be three paces beyond it, the captain will
command: 1. (Such) company, 2. HALT.
1446.
At the second command, the company will halt; the files which may not
yet be in line with the guide, will promptly come into it; the captain
will
cause the company to face about, and then align it by the right.
1447.
All the other companies will execute what has just been prescribed for
the second, each as it successively arrives opposite to the left of the
company
that precedes it on the new line of battle.
1448.
The formation being ended, the colonel will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
Guides-
POSTS.
1449.
The colonel will cause a change of front on the left company of the
battalion
to the rear, according to the same principles and by inverse means.
1450.
In changes of front, the colonel will give a general superintendence to
the movement.
1451.
The lieutenant colonel will assure the direction of the guides as they
successively throw themselves out on the line of battle, conforming
himself to
what has been prescribed in the successive formations.
Remarks
on the
changes of front.
1452.
When the new direction is perpendicular, or nearly so, to that of the
battalion, the companies ought to make about a half wheel
(the eighth of
a circle) before marching straight forward; but when those two lines
are
oblique to each other, the smaller the angle which they form, the less
ought
the companies to wheel. It is for the
colonel to judge, according to the angle, when he ought to give the
command march,
after the caution forward, and if he cannot catch
the exact moment, the
word of execution should rather be given a little too soon, than an
instant too
late.
1453.
(Pl. XXIX, fig. 3.) When
the old and new lines form an angle of forty-five or fewer degrees, the
colonel
will find it necessary to arrest the wheel of the companies when the
marching
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
flanks
shall have taken but a few paces, or, it
may be, have but disengaged, respectively, from the fixed pivots of the
next
companies; and at all such cases, the companies will arrive so nearly
parallel
to the new line, as to be able to align themselves upon it without the
intermediate turn to the right or left: to execute the movement under
either
circumstance supposed, the colonel will command:
Oblique
change of
front, forward (or
to the rear) on (such
company).
ARTICLE
XIII.
To
ploy the battalion into column doubled on the centre.
1454.
This movement consists in ploying the corresponding companies of the
right and left wings into column at company distance, or closed in
mass, in
rear of the two centre companies, according to the principles
prescribed,
ARTICLE III, Part Second, of this School.
1455.
The colonel, wishing to form the double column at company distance,
(the
battalion being in line of battle,) will command:
1.
Double column, at half distance. 2. Battalion,
inwards-FACE. 3. Quick- MARCH.
1456.
(Pl. XXXI, fig. 1.) At
the first command, the captains will throw themselves two
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
paces
in front of their respective companies; the
captains of the two centre companies (say the fourth and fifth) will
caution
their companies that they are to stand fast, and the other captains
will
caution their companies that they are to face to the left and tight,
respectively. The covering sergeants
will step into the front rank.
1457.
At the second command, the fourth and fifth companies will stand fast;
the others of the right wing, will face to the left, and the others of
the left
wing, will face to the right; each captain whose company has faced,
will hasten
to break to the rear the three (or two) files at eh head of his
company; the
left guide of each right company, will place himself at the head of its
front
rank, and the captain by the side of his guide.
1458.
At the command march, the fourth and fifth
companies, which are
to from the first division, will stand fast; the senior captain of the
two will
throw himself before the centre of the division, and command: guide
right;
the junior captain will place himself, if not already there, on the
left of the
division, as soon as he shall be able to pass.
1459.
All the other companies, conducted by their captains, will step off
with
life to arrange themselves in column at company distance, each company
behind
the preceding one in the column of the same wing, so that, in the right
wing,
the third may be next behind the fourth, the second
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION-PART
V.
next
to the third, and so on to the right company;
and; in the left wing, the sixth may be next behind the fifth, the
seventh next
to the sixth, and so on to the left company of the battalion.
1460.
The corresponding companies of the two wings will unite into divisions
in arranging themselves in column; an instant before the union, at the
centre
of the column, the left guides of the right companies will pass into
the line
of file closers, and each captain will command: 1. (Such company;) 2. Halt,
3.
Front-FACE.
1461.
At the second command, which will be given at the instant of union, or
that the head of the company has arrived opposite to the centre of the
first
division, the company wil halt; at the third, it will face to the
front. The senior captain in each division will
place himself on its right, and command: right-
DRESS, and the junior
captain will place himself in the interval between the two
companies. The division being aligned, its chief will
command FRONT, and take his position two paces before its centre,
1462.
The column being thus formed, the divisions will take the respective
denoominations of first, second, third, fourth (and
fifth, if
there be ten companies,) according to position in the column, beginning
at the
front.
1463.
The lieutenant colonel, who, at the second command given by the
colonel,
will have placed himself at a little more than company distance in rear
of the
right guide of the first division, will assure the right guides on the
direction as they successively arrive.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1464.
The music will pass to the rear of the column, and also the pioneers.
1465.
When the battalion presents an odd number of companies, the formations
will be made in like manner, and the company in either flank which
shall fins
itself without a corresponding one, will place itself at company
distance
behind the wing to which it belongs.
1466.
The double column, closed in mass, will be formed according to the same
principles
and by the same commands, substituting the indication, closed
in mass,
for that of at half distance.
1467.
The double column never being formed when tow or more battalions are to
be in one general column, it will habitually take the guide to the
right,
sometimes to the left, or in the centre of the column. in the last
case, the
command will be guide centre.
The column will march and change direction according to the principles
prescribed for a simple column by division.
1468.
The double column at company distance will be closed in mass, or, if in
mass, will take half distance, by the commands and means indicated for
a simple
column by division.
Deployment
of the
double column, faced to the front.
1469.
(Pl. XXXI, fig. 2.) The
colonel, wishing to deploy the double column, will place a marker
respectively
before the right and left files of the first division, and a third
before the
left file of the right company, same division; which
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
being
done, he will cause the two general guides
to throw themselves out on the alignment of the markers a little beyond
the
points at which the respective flanks of the battalion ought to rest;
he will
then command:
1.
Deploy
column. 2. Battalion,
outwards- FACE. 3. Quick-
MARCH
1470.
The column will deploy itself on the two companies at its head,
according to the principles prescribed for the deployment of columns in
mass. The captains of these companies
will each, at the command march, place himself on
the right of his own
company, and align it by the right; the captain of the fourth will the
place
himself as prescribed, No. 1257, at the moment the captain of the third
shall
come to its left to align it.
1471.
The deployment being ended, the colonel will command:
Guides-
POSTS.
1472.
If it be the wish of the colonel to cause the fire to commence pending
the deployment, he will give an order to that effect to the captains of
the
fourth and fifth companies, and the fire will be executed according to
the
principles prescribed, No. 1168.
To
form the double
column into line of battle, faced to the right or left.
1173.
The double column, being at company
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
distance,
may be formed into line of battle faced
to the right or left; when the colonel shall wish to form it faced to
the
right, he will command:
1.
Right into line, wheel, left companies,
on the right into line. 2. Battalion,
guide
right.
3. Quick-MARCH.
1474.
(XXXI, fig. 3.) At the first
command, every captain will throw himself before the centre of his
company: the
right companies will be cautioned that they will have to wheel to the
right
into line, the left companies that they will have to march straight
forward.
1475.
At the second command, the left guide of the fourth company will throw
himself out on the direction of the right guides of the column, face to
them,
and place himself so as to be opposite one of the three last files of
his
company when in line of battle: the lieutenant colonel will assure him
in that
position.
1476.
At the command march,
briskly repeated by all the captains, the right companies will form
to
the right into line of battle, the left companies will put themselves
in march
in order to form on the right
into line of battle; these formations will be executed by the means
indicated,
No. 1127, and following, and No. 1148, and following; the lieutenant
colonel
will assure the guides of the left wing on the line of battle as they
successively arrive upon it.
1477.
The column may be formed faced to the left into line of battle
according
to the same principles.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1427.
If the column, instead of being at company distance, be closed in mass,
it will execute this movement according to the principles prescribed,
No. 1215.
Remark
on the
deployment of the double column.
1479.
The depth of the double column, at company distance, being
inconsiderable, closing it in mass, if at a halt, in order to deploy
it, may be
dispensed with; but if in march, it will be preferable to cause it to
close, in
halting, before deploying.
ARTICLE
XIV.
Dispositions
against Cavalry.
1480.
A battalion being in column by company, at full distance, and right in
front, when the colonel shall wish to form it into square, he will
first cause
divisions to be formed; which being done, he will command:
1.
To from square. 2. To
half
distance, close column. 3. Quick-
MARCH.
1481.
(Pl. XXXII, fig. 1.) At the command march,
the column will
close to company distance.
1482.
At the moment of halting the fourth division, the file closers of each
company of which it is composed, passing by the outer flank
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
of
their company, will throw themselves two paces
before the front rank opposite to their respective places in line of
battle,
and face towards the head of the column.
1483.
At the commencement of the movement, the major will place himself on
the
right of the column abreast with the first division; the music, formed
in one
rank, will place themselves at platoon distance, behind the inner
platoons of
the second division, and the pioneers will place themselves behind the
colour-guard.
1484.
These dispositions being made, the colonel may, according to
circumstances,
put the column in march, or cause it to from square; if he wish to do
the
latter, he will command:
1.
Form square. 2. Right
and left into line, wheel.
1485.
(Pl. XXXII, fig. 2.) At
the first command, the lieutenant colonel, facing to the left guides,
and the
major, facing to those of the right, will align them, from the front,
on the
respective guides of the fourth division, who will stand fast, holding
up their
pieces, inverted, perpendicularly; the right guides, in placing
themselves on
the direction, will take their exact distances.
1486.
At the second command, the chief of the first division will caution it
to stand fast; all the captains of the second and third divisions will
throw
themselves before the centre of their respective companies, and caution
them
that they will have to wheel, the right companies to
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
the
right, and the left companies to the left into
line of battle.
1487.
The colour-bearer will step back into the line of file closers,
opposite
to his place in line of battle, and will be replaced by the corporal of
his
file, who is in the centre rank.
1488.
The chief of the fourth division will command: 1. Fourth
division,
forward; 2. Guide left, and throw himself
at the same time two paces
outside of its left flank.
1489.
These dispositions being ended, the colonel will command:
3. Quick-MARCH.
1490.
At this, briskly repeated, the first division will stand fast; but its
right file will face to the right, and its left file to the left.
1491.
The companies of the second and third divisions will wheel to the right
and left into line, and the music will advance a space equal to the
front of a
company.
1492.
The fourth division will close up to from the square, and when it shall
have closed, its chief will halt it, face it about, and align it by the
rear
rank. The junior captain will pass into
the rear rank, now become the front, and the covering sergeant of the
left
company will place himself behind him in the front rank, become
rear. The file closers will at the same time close
up a pace on the front rank, and the outer file on each flank of the
division
will face outwards.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1493.
The square being formed, the colonel will command:
Guides-POSTS.
1494.
At this, the chiefs of the first and fourth divisions, as well as the
guides, will enter the square.
1495.
The captains whose companies have formed to the right into line of
battle, will remain on the left of their companies: the left guide of
each of
these companies will, in the rear rank, cover his captain, and the
covering
sergeant of each will place himself as a file closer behind the right
file of
his company.
1496.
The field and staff will enter the square, the lieutenant colonel
placing himself behind the left, and the major behind the right of the
first
division.
1497.
If the battalion present ten, instead of eight companies, the fourth
division will make the same movements prescribed above for the second
and third
divisions, and the fifth, the movements prescribed for the fourth
division.
1498.
A battalion ought never to present, near the enemy's cavalry, an odd
company. The odd company, under that
circumstance, ought, when the battalion is under arms, to be
consolidated, for
the time, with other companies,
1499.
The fronts of the square will be designated as follows: the first
division will always be the first front; the last
division, the fourth
front; the right companies of the other divisions will form
the second
front; and the left companies
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
of
the same divisions the third front. These
designations will be maintained in the
preceding, and in all the examples which will follow, and each front
will be commanded
by the lieutenant colonel, the major, or its senior captain.
1500.
The commander of each front will place himself four paces behind its
present rear rank, and, if a captain, will be replaced momentarily in
the
command of his company, by the next in rank therein.
1501.
A battalion, in column doubled on the centre, will form square
precisely
as above, beginning with the commands prescribed, No. 1484, and the
dispositions indicated, Nos. 1482-3, will be executed at the first of
those
commands.
1502.
So, precisely, will a single column by division, already at company
distance, form square.
1503.
If the column by division whether double or simple, be in mass, and the
colonel shall wish to form it into square, he will first cause it to
take
company distance; to this effect, he will command:
1.
To form square. 2. By
the head of
column, take half distance.
1504.
The divisions will take half distance by the means indicated No. 1054,
and following. See also, Nos. 1076-7.
1505.
The colonel will halt the column the moment that the division next to
the last shall have its distance from the one preceding it.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
The
dispositions indicated, Nos. 1482-3, will be
executed by the column, in halting, when the colonel may proceed to
from
square.
1506.
In a simple column, left in front, those several movements will be
executed according to the same principles and by inverse means; but the
fronts
of the square will have the same designations as if the right of the
column
were in front, that is, the first division will constitute the first
front, and
thus of the other subdivisions.
1507.
The battalion being formed into square when the colonel shall wish to
cause it to advance, he will command:
1. Form
column.
1508.
(Pl. XXXII, figs. 3 and
4.) The commander of the first front
will add: 1. First division, forward.
2. Guide left.
The commander of the fourth front will caution it stand fast; the
commander of the second front will cause it to face to the left, and
then
command,: by company. by file left.
The commander of the third front will cause it to face to the right,
and
then command: by company, by file right.
At the moment the second and third fronts face to the left and
right, each captain in them will cause to break to the rear the three
headmost
files of his company.
1509.
These dispositions being made, the colonel will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
Quick-
MARCH.
1510.
At this, the first front will march forward: its chief will halt it
when
it shall have advanced a space equal to half its front, and align it by
the
left.
1511.
The corresponding companies of the second and third fronts will wheel
by
file to the left and right, and march to meet each other behind the
centre of
the first division, and the moment they unite, the chief of each
division will
halt and face it to the front. The
division being re-formed, its chief will align it by the left.
1512.
The commander of the fourth front will cause it to face about; its file
closers will remain before the front rank.
1513.
The column being thus re-formed, the colonel may put it in march by the
commands and means prescribed, No. 905, and following; the right guides
will
preserve company distance exactly as the directing guides.
1514.
When the colonel shall wish to re-form square, he will halt the column,
and give the commands indicated, No. 1484.
1515.
To cause the square to march in retreat the colonel will form column as
has just been indicated, and as soon as formed, he will cause it to
face by the
rear rank; to this end, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1. To
march in
retreat. 2. Face by the rear
rank. 3. Battalion, about-
FACE.
1516.
(PL. XXXII, fig. 5.) At the second
command, the file closers of
the interior divisions will throw themselves, passing by the outer
flanks of
their respective companies, behind the front rank opposite to their
places in
line of battle; the file closers of the other divisions will stand fast.
1517.
At the third command, the battalion will face about; each chief of
division will throw himself through the interval between its two
companies; the
guides will step into the rear rank, now front.
1518.
(PL. XXXII, fig.6.) The
column being thus disposed, the colonel may put it in march, or cause
it to
form square as if it were faced by the front rank. The square
being formed, its fronts will preserve the same
designations they had when faced by the front rank.
1519.
The battalion being in square by the rear rank, when the colonel shall
wish to cause it to march in retreat or in advance, he will re-form the
column
according to the principles prescribed, No. 1507, and following, by
marching
forward the fourth, instead of the first front.
1520.
If the column, thus re-formed, has to continue the march in retreat, it
will remain faced by the rear rank; but if required to advance, the
colonel
will face it to the front; to this end, he will command:
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1. To
march in
advance. 2. Face by the front
rank. 3. Battalion, about-
FACE.
1521.
These commands will be executed according to the principles prescribed,
Nos. 1516-17.
To
reduce the
square.
1522.
The colonel, wishing to break the square, will command:
1.
Reduce square. 2. Quick-
MARCH.
1523.
This movement will be executed in the manner indicated, No. 1508, and
following; but the file closers of the fourth front will throw
themselves
behind the rear rank the moment it faces about; the filed and staff,
the
colour-bearer, the pioneers and music will, at the same time, return to
their
places in column.
To
form square
from line of battle.
1524.
A battalion deployed, may be formed into square in a direction either
parallel or perpendicular to the line of battle.
1525.
In the first case, the colonel will cause the battalion to break by
division to the rear, by the right or left, as indicated, No. 865, and
then
close the column to half distance, as indicated, No. 1480, and
following.
1526.
In the second case, he will ploy the
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
battalion
into simple column by division at half
distance, in rear of the right or left division, or into a column
doubled on
the centre.
1527.
To ploy the column on a flank division, (the battalion being supposed
to
present ten companies,) the colonel will command:
1.
To form square. 2.
Column at half
distance, by division. 3. On
the first (or fifth)
division, right (or left) in
front, into column. 4. Battalion, right (or
left)-FACE. 5. Quick-MARCH.
1528.
This movement will be executed in the manner indicated, No. 901.
1529.
To ploy the battalion into double column, with a view to the square,
the
colonel will command:
1.
To form square. 2.
Double column
at half distance. 3. Battalion,
inwards-FACE. 4. Quick-MARCH.
1530.
This movement will be executed as prescribed, No. 1456, and following.
1531.
Whether the battalion be ployed into simple or double column, with a
view
to the square, the dispositions peculiar to the latter will be made as
indicated, No. 1482, and following. The
rearmost division will close up as in mass, and as soon as it shall be
aligned,
the major will rectify the position of the guides on the flank opposite
to that
of the direction.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
Remarks
on the
formation of squares.
1532.
It is a general principle that a column by company, with a view to the
square, will first form divisions.
Nevertheless, if it find itself suddenly menaced by cavalry, that is,
without time to form divisions, the colonel will cause the column to be
closed
to half distance, and then form square by the commands and means which
have
been indicated: the leading and rearmost companies will conform
themselves to
what has been prescribed for divisions in those positions.
The other companies will from by platoon to
the right and left into line of battle, and each chief of platoon,
after having
halted it, will place himself on the line, as if the platoon were a
company,
and he will be covered by the guide in the rear rank.
1533.
A battalion in column at full distance, having to form square, will
always close on the leading subdivision; and a column closed in mass,
will
always, for the same purpose, take distances by the head.
1534.
When a column, disposed to form square, shall be in march, it will
change direction as a column at half distance, but solely by wheels:
thus,
having to execute this movement, the column,
by command, will take the guide on the side opposite to that to which
the change of direction is to be made, if that be
not already the side
of the guide.
1535.
When a battalion is ployed, with a
view to the square, it will always be in rear of the right or left
division, in
order that it may be able
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
to
commence firing, pending the execution of the
movement. The double column, also,
affords this advantage, and being more promptly formed than any other,
it will habitually
be employed, unless particular circumstances cause a different
formation to be
preferred.
1536.
A battalion, in square, will never use any other than the fire of two
ranks; the colour being in the line of file closers, its guard will not
fall back
as prescribed, No. 814; it will fire like the men of the company of
which it
forms a part.
1537.
The formation of the square being often necessary in war, and being the
most complicated of the manoeuvres, it will be frequently repeated as
the
supposed necessity may require, in order to render its mechanism
familiar to
both officers and men.
1538.
In the execution of the manouevre, the colonel will carefully observe
that the divers movements which it involves succeed each other without
loss of
time, but also without confusion; for, if the rapidity of cavalry
requires the
greatest possible promptitude in the formation of squares, so, on the
other
hand, precipitancy always results in disorder, and in no circumstance
is
disorder more to be avoided.
1539.
No reference has been made in this article to the two rank formation,
because a square, the fronts of which present a depth of only two
ranks, would
afford but little resistance to the charge of a determined body of
cavalry.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
ARTICLE
XV.
The
Rally.
1540.
The battalion being in line of battle, the colonel will cause the drums
to beat the troop; at this signal, the battalion
will break and
disperse.
1541.
The colonel wishing to rally the battalion, he will cause the drums to
beat to the colour, and, at the same time, cause
two markers and the
colour to be placed in the direction he may wish to give the battalion.
1542.
Each captain will rally his company at about six paces behind the place
which it ought to occupy in line of battle.
1543.
The colonel will cause the colour-company to be promptly established
against the markers; the other companies, each by the command of its
captain,
will be promptly established on the alignment of the colour-company,
according
to prescribed principles.
1544.
The colonel, wishing to rally the battalion in column, will, instead of
ordering to the colour, cause the drums to beat the
assembly, and
place two markers before the position to be occupied by the leading
company;
the captain of this company will rally it behind the markers; each of
the other
captains will rally his company behind that which ought to precede it
in the
order in column, and at platoon distance.
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
ARTICLE
XVI.
Rules
for manoeuvring by the rear rank.
1535.
It may often be necessary to cause a battalion to manoeuvre by the rear
rank: when the case presents itself, the following rules will be
observed.
1546.
The battalion being by the front rank when the colonel shall wish to
manoeuvre by the rear rank, he will command.
1.
Face by the rear rank. 2. Battalion.
3.
About-FACE.
1547.
If the battalion be deployed, this movement will be executed as has
been
indicated for the fire by the rear rank.
See Nos. 826- 7.
1548.
If the battalion be in column by company, or by platoon, right or left
in front, the chiefs of subdivision, to take their new places in
column, will
each pass by the left flank of his subdivision, and the file closers by
the
right flank; the guides will place themselves in the rear rank.
1549.
If the column be formed by division, the chiefs of division will each
pass by the interval in the centre of his division, and the file
closers by the
outer flanks of their respective companies: the junior captain in each
division
will
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
step
into the rear rank, and be covered in the
front rank by the covering sergeant of the left company.
1550.
The lieutenant colonel will place himself abreast with the leading
subdivision, and the major abreast with the rearmost one.
1551.
The battalion being faced by the rear rank, companies, divisions, and
wings will preserve their prior denominations respectively.
1552.
The manoeuvres by the rear rank will be executed by the same commands
and on the same principles as if the battalion faced by the front rank;
but in
such manner that when the battalion be brought to its proper front, all
the
subdivisions may find themselves in their regular order from right to
left.
1553.
According to this principle, when a column, formed by the rear rank, is
deployed, the subdivisions which, in line of battle by the front rank,
ought to
find themselves on the right of the subdivision on which the deployment
is
made, will face to the left; and those which ought to be placed on its
left,
will face to the right.
1554.
When a battalion in line of battle, faced by the rear rank, is to be
ployed into column, the colonel will announce, in the commands left
or
right in front,
according as it may be intended that the first or last
subdivision shall be at the head of the column, because the first
subdivision
is on the left, and the last on the right pf the battalion faced by the
rear rank. The column by the rear rank will take the
guide to the right, if the first subdivision be in front, and to the
left in
the reverse case,
SCHOOL
OF THE
BATTALION-PART V.
1555.
A column, faced by the rear rank, will be brought to its proper front
by
the means prescribed, Nos. 832-3. If
the column be formed by company, or by platoon, the chiefs of
subdivision, in
order to take their new places in column, will pass by the left of
subdivisions, now right, and the file closers by the right, now left.
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION
Arranged
into
lessons.
LESSON
I.
1st.
Open ranks;
2d.
Close ranks;
3d.
Execute the manual of arms and loading at will;
4th.
Execute the different fires by the front and by the rear rank.
LESSON
II.
1st.
Break by company, to the front, to the right or left, into column;
2d.
March in column in the cadenced step a considerable distance. without a
halt, change direction to the side of the guide and to the reverse
flank; diminish and increase front, in marching, by
platoon.
3d.
Halt the column and form it to the left or right into line of battle.
4th.
Execute the countermarch, and repeat the same movement;
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION.
5th.
Form column, now and then, into line of battle, to the right
or
left, by inversion.
LESSON
III.
1st.
Break by company to the rear, by the right or left, into column.
2d.
March, now and then, in the route step, and cause to be executed the
divers
movements incident to the column in route; cause the cadenced step to
be
resumed;
3d.
Form the column forward, and faced to the rear, into line of battle;
4th.
Form the column on the right, and on the left, into line of battle;
5th.
March by one flank, and then the other, and form companies into line,
marching;
6th.
The column supposed to arrive before or behind the line of battle,
prolong it on that line, and form to the left or right, into line of
battle.
7th.
Change front forward, and to the rear, on the right and left companies,
in directions both perpendicular and oblique;
8th.
March by the right or left flank, change direction by file, and form
the
battalion into line of battle, on the right or left, by file;
9th.
Find, or suppose a defile, pass it in retreat, by the right or left
flank.
LESSON
IV.
1st.
Break by division to the rear, by the right or left, into column;
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION.
2d.
March in column by division, diminish and increase front by company (See
No. 935) in marching.
3d.
Close the column to half distance, on the headmost or rearmost division;
4th.
March in column at half distance, and change direction;
5th.
The column being in square, form it into column, to march in advance or
retreat;
halt the column, and re-form it into square;
7th.
Reduce square.
8th.
Close the column into mass, on the headmost or rearmost division;
9th.
March in column closed in mass, and change direction by the front of
divisions;
10th.
Take distances by the head of the column, and on the headmost or
rearmost division.
11th.
Diminish front by company, marching, and cause the column to
execute the movements indicated under the third, fourth, fifth,
seventh,
eighth, and tenth heads of this lesson.
12th.
The column being by company, from divisions from the halt;
13th.
The column being by division, form it a few times, to the left or
right, into line of battle. See No.
1138.
LESSON
V.
1st.
The battalion being in line of
battle, ploy
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION.
it by
division into column closed in mass, on the
right or left division, or on an interior one, right or left in front;
2d.
Execute the countermarch;
3d.
Change direction to the right or left, by the flank of the column;
4th.
Deploy the column on the right or left, by the flank of the column.
5th.
Ploy the battalion sometimes by company, closed in mass, right or left
in front, and form it (See No. 1268) on the right
or left, into line of
battle;
6th.
Ploy the battalion into double column, at half distance, or closed in
mass;
8th.
March in this order, and change direction;
9th.
Halt the column, and deploy it;
10th.
The double column being at half distance, form it sometimes into
line of battle, faced to the right or left.
LESSON
VI.
1st.
March in line of battle for a considerable distance, without halting,
mark time occasionally, pass from common to quick, and from quick to
common
time, and occasionally execute the passage of obstacles.
2d.
Change direction in line of battle several times, advancing
and
retreating.
3d.
March obliquely in line of battle.
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION.
4th.
Disperse, and rally the battalion in line of battle, and in column by
company
Remarks
on the
School of the Battalion.
In
every course of instruction, the first
lesson will be executed several times in the order in which it is
arranged; but
as soon as the battalion shall be confirmed in the principles of the
lesson,
the fires will be executed after the advance in line, and after the
various
formations into line of battle and into square. Particular
attention will be given to the fire of two ranks (or
by file) which is that principally used in war.
Every
lesson of this School will be executed
with the utmost precision; but the second, which comprehends the march
in
column, and the sixth, which comprehends the march in line of battle,
are those
which will be the oftenest repeated, as well by newly embodied
battalion, as by
the oldest of the line, in every returning course of
instruction. See No. 60.
Great
attention ought also to be given to
the fourth lesson, which comprehends the march in column by division,
and the
dispositions against cavalry.
The
successive formations will sometimes be
executed by inversion
In
this School the quick will be the
habitual step; nevertheless, in the beginning, and until the battalion
shall be
well established in the cadence of ninety steps in a minute, the march
in
column, the march in line of battle, as well as
SCHOOL
OF THE BATTALION.
the
flank march, will only be executed in common
time.
The
non-cadenced, or route step, will only
be used in this School in the repetition of the movements incident to a
column
in route. See Nos. 932, 961.
When
it may be desired to give relief to the
left arm at a halt, or marching by the flank, arms may be supported.
In
marches by the front (in column or in
line of battle) arms may be shifted to the right shoulder; but not in
the march
in line of battle until the battalions shall be well
instructed. See Nos. 246, 767, 768.
After
marching for some time, with arms on
the right shoulder, th
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