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ABSTRACT

OF

INFANTRY TACTICS;

SECTION III.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY.

To Rank, Size, and Form the Company.

430. THE men being assembled in one rank, at shouldered arms, and having quickly fallen in, as nearly as may be, according to height, from right to left, the first sergeant will command,

1. Company. 2. Right—FACE. 3. Size—MARCH.

431. At the second word, the whole rank will face to the right; at the third, the men will change places, so that the tallest man be on the right, the second tallest next, and so on successively to the left. The first sergeant will then order,

1. Front. 2. Right—DRESS.

432. The sergeant will then direct the man on the right to call one, the next two, and so on alternately from right to heft. This being effected, he will command,

1. Form ranks. 2. MARCH.

433. At time word MARCH, the even numbers will step obliquely to the right, and rear, so as to cover the odd numbers.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY.

434. The first sergeant will then divide the company into two platoons, and command,

1. Second platoon. 2. Forward—MARCH. 3. HALT.

435. At the word MARCH, the second platoon will step forward one pace. and halt.

436. The sergeant will then order,

1. Platoons. 2. Right and left—FACE. 3. MARCH.

437. At the word FACE, the first rank of each platoon will face to the right, and the rear rank to the left. At the word MARCH, the man on the right of the front rank man of time first platoon stands fast, the others closing upon him; the men of the rear rank will march, successively turn to the right, and form on the left of the front rank. At time word MARCH, the second platoon will follow the directions given to the first, except that the front rank wilt advance, followed by the rear rank, both forming in front of the first platoon, and thus becoming the front rank of the company.

433. The sergeant will then order,

FRONT.

439. At which word the whole will front, and the company Is thus formed in two ranks, the tallest men alternately on the right and left of the ranks to which they belong, and the men of the rear rank respectively taller than their file-leaders.

440. This being accomplished, the first sergeant will divide the company into platoons and sections, and post the non-commissioned officers and pioneer in the manner already prescribed. He will also inform each man on the right and left of each platoon and section, that he is the right or left man of that division.

441. If a company has to form suddenly, the men will fall in in two ranks, and as nearly as possible in the order in which they stood when the company was last under arms. For this purpose, the first sergeant will always, before dismissing the company, caution the men to recollect their ranks, and the individuals who were on their right and left respectively.

442. The instruction of the company having for its object to prepare the soldiers for the battalion, the progressive method and principles about to be prescribed will be strictly observed.

443. The officer who exercises the company is called the instructer. When the captain is instructer, the next in rank will perform his duties, and he posted accordingly.

444. The School of the Company will be divided into six lessons, and each lesson into articles, as follows:

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Lesson I.

1. To open ranks.

2. Alignment of open ranks.

3. Manual exercise, and loadings.

4. To close ranks.

5. Alignment of closed ranks.

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Lesson II.

1. To load in quick time.

2. To load in quickest time.

3. To fire by company.

4. To fire by file.

5. To fire to the rear.

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Lesson III.

1. To advance in line.

2. To halt the company advancing in line, and to align it.

3. Oblique march in line.

4. To mark time; to march in quick time; and the back step, &c.

5. To retire in line.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON I.

Lesson IV.

1. To march by a flank.

2. To change direction by file.

3. To halt the company, marching by a flank, and to front it.

4. To form line by file on the right or left.

5. To form company, platoons, or sections, marching by a flank.

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Lesson V.

1. To break to the right or left.

2. To march in column.

3. To change direction.

4. To halt the column.

5. To form line to the right or left.

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Lesson VI.

1. Diminishing and increasing front by files.

2. To march by the route step; to change direction thus marching; to break off flies, and move them up to the front.

3. Diminishing and increasing front.

4. Countermarch.

6. To form line on the right or left, from column.

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445. The instructer will number the files from right to left, that each man may know his number In his rank. The instructer must be clear and concise in his explanations; he will cause the captain to rectify the errors committed by the soldiers, after pointing them out to him, if not observed; he himself will not rectify them, unless the captain has not well comprehended him, or has imperfectly executed his orders.

446. Steadiness and calmness being the essential requisites in him who commands, and those who execute, the instructer will exemplify these in his own person.

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LESSON I.

ARTICLE FIRST.

To Open Ranks.

447. The company being drawn up at ordered arms, to open ranks, the instructer will cause the guide of the left to post himself on the left of the rear rank, and will then command,

1. Attention. 2. COMPANY. 3. Shoulder—ARMS. 4. Rear rank—

open order.

448.At the fourth command, the covering sergeant, and the guide of the left of the company, will take six back steps, of fourteen inches each, and align themselves parallel to the rank of file-closers.

449. The instructer will, at the same time, proceed to the right flank, to ascertain whether they are parallel to the front rank, and, if necessary, will quickly rectify their positions, and then command,

5. MARCH.

450. At this word, the front rank will stand fast.

451. The rear rank will step back in common time, without counting the steps, and will place itself on the alignment marked out for it, conforming to what Is prescribed, No. 390.

452. The covering sergeant will align the rear rank on the guide of the left.

453. The file-closers will step back at the word MARCH, and align themselves at their proper distance from the rear rank.

464. The covering, sergeant having aligned the rear rank, the instructer will command,

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON I.

455. The instructer, seeing the ranks aligned, will examine the position of the body, and of the firelocks, in the front rank, and will direct the captain to examine the rear rank.

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ARTICLE SECOND.

Alignment of Open Ranks.

456. The ranks being opened, the instructer will, the better to inculcate the principles, cause the men of each rank to align themselves one by one.

457. He will order the three men on the right or left of each rank to march three or four paces to the front, and, having aligned them, will command,

By file, right (or left)—DRESS.

455. At this command, the soldiers of each rank will move up successively to the alignment, each, allowing the next man towards the flank of the alignment to precede him two paces.

459. Successive alignments having habituated the soldiers to align themselves correctly, the instructer will cause entire ranks to align to the front and rear, in parallel and oblique directions, always placing three men as a base of alignment for each rank. To effect this, he will command,

Right (or left)—DRESS; or, it may be, Right (or left) backward—DRESS.

460. ln oblique alignments at open order, the rear rank need not endeavor to cover their file-leaders, since the object of this instruction is to exercise the soldiers in aligning themselves correctly in their respective ranks in every direction.

461. In these various alignments, the instructer will superintend the front, and the captain the rear rank, placing themselves for that purpose on the flank of the alignment.

462. In oblique alignments, the soldiers will conform the line of their shoulders to the new direction of their rank, and will place themselves on the alignment, conforming to what is prescribed, Nos. 381, 390, according as the new direction may be to the front or rear of the original position of the rank.

463. After each, alignment, the instructer and the captain will pass along the rank, inspect the position of the body, and that of the firelocks, in order to accustom the soldiers not to be negligent in these respects.

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ARTICLE THIRD.

Manual Exercise and Loadings.

464. The ranks being open, the instructer will place himself in front of the right flank, so as to see the two ranks, and order the following exercises

1. Present arms.
2. Shoulder arm.
3. Order arms.
4. Shoulder arms.
5. Trail arms.
6. Pile arms.
7. Take arms.
8. Shoulder arms.
9. Support arms.
10. Carry arms.

11. Fix bayonet.

12. Arms port.

13. Shoulder arms.

14. Charge bayonet.

15. Shoulder arms.

16. Unfix bayonet.

17. Secure arms.

18. Shoulder arms.

19. Load by twelve commands

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON I.

465. The instructer will strictly observe that the positions of the body feet, limbs and firelocks be always exact; that the motions be smartly executed and close to the body, and that they be not slurred over, as by sleight of hand.

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Remarks on Arms Port, Charge Bayonet, and Trail Arms.

466. When a battalion or line is to charge bayonet, the whole are, in the first instance, to come to Arms—PORT, and advance at a firm, quick step, but in the most perfect order possible, until they reach the enemy. (See No. 545.)

467. It is at that instant that the front rank are necessarily to bring their firelocks down to the charging position, and the whole are to press forward with the utmost energy. The enemy being routed, It will depend on the officer commanding to give the word HALT; when the front rank will resume the position of Arms—PORT, and proceed as may be afterwards directed. But the word HALT is on no account to be given during a charge, or as preparatory to the front rank bringing the firelock down to the charging position. It is, therefore, to be understood, that, in the charge, or quick attack upon the enemy with fixed bayonets, either previous to, or after firing, (which usually commences at a distance of one hundred, or one hundred and fifty yards, as the ground may permit,) the charging position of the front rank is to be assumed only at the instant of attack or defence.

468. In cases such as passing through a thick wood, shouldered arms is impracticable; and a soldier has some times recourse to his firelock as a necessary support, as in climbing the steep sides of an eminence, and crossing ditches; it becomes, therefore, necessary that the instructer should sometimes make the soldiers practise the motions of Arms—PORT, and of Trail—ARMS, whilst marching, to teach them to avail themselves most advantageously of their firelocks, under different circumstances.

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ARTICLE FOURTH.

To Close Ranks.

469. Having executed the manual exercise and loadings, the, instructor will cause the ranks to close. To effect this, he will command.

1. Rear rank, close order. 2. MARCH.

470. At the word MARCH, the rear-rank will close in common time, each man covering his file-leader.

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ARTICLE FIFTH.

Alignment of Closed Ranks.

471. The ranks being closed, the instructer will exercise the company in taking parallel and oblique alignments to the right and left, to the front and rear, always previously placing three files as a base line of alignment. He will give the commands directed in No. 450

472. In aligning at close order, the captain. will superintend the alignment of the front rank, and the covering sergeant that of the rear rank: they will accustom themselves to judge accurately of the alignment by the line of the eyes and shoulders, and by glancing along the front and rear of

the rank.

473. When the captain sees the whole, nearly, of the front rank aligned, he will command, FRONT; rectifying, afterwards the alignment of such as require it, by the means prescribed, No. 388. The rear rank will conform

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON II.

to the alignment of the front rank, and the covering sergeant will see that this is done.

474. The rank being steady, the instructer proceeds to the flank, to verify the alignment of the ranks; and will observe whether the men of the rear rank correctly cover their file-leaders.

475. in oblique alignments, the instructor will cause to be observed what is prescribed, No. 462.

476. The file-closers will always place themselves two paces from the rear rank.

477. To rest, the instructer will order,

1. Order—ARMS. 2. REST.

478. This shall take place at the conclusion of each lesson. (See No. 228.)

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LESSON II.

479. The instructer, wishing to pass to the second lesson, will command,

1. Attention. 2. COMPANY. 3. Shoulder—ARMS.

480.He will then exercise the company in the loadings and firings, in the following order:

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ARTICLE FIRST.

To Load in Quick Time.

481. Loading in quick time shall be executed by the commands and means prescribed, No. 231 and following. The instructor will cause this to be repeatedly practised, before he proceeds to loading in quickest time.

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ARTICLE SECOND.

To Load in Quickest Time.

482. This will be executed as prescribed. No. 288.

483. At the first motion of loading in quick and quickest time, the captain and the covering sergeant will half face to the right with the men, and will front when the man next to them respectively casts about.

484. The instructer will see that, in the loadings, the soldiers conform to the principles prescribed, Nos. 289, 290.

485. Loading in quickest time being used In battle, it is of importance that it be done expertly; and, therefore, the practice of It Is to be particularly dwelt on. When the soldiers are well grounded in the principles, they will be gradually brought to load and fire, at least three or our times in a minute, with regularity and facility.

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ARTICLE THIRD.

To Fire by Company.

486. To effect this, the instructor will command,

1. Fire by Company. 2. Commence Firing.

487. At the first word, the captain will retire quickly behind the centre of his company, two paces in rear of the file-closers.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON II.

488. The covering sergeant will fall back to the alignment of the file.-closers, opposite his interval: this rule will be general for the covering sergeant during the firings.

489. At the second command, the captain will order,

1. Company. 2. READY. 3. AIM. 4. FIRE. 5. LOAD.

490. At the word LOAD, the soldiers will bring down their firelocks to the priming position, load, and shoulder; the captain will, by the same commands, cause the company to fire again, which will be continued until a ruffle cause the firing to cease.

491. The captain will sometimes cause his company to fire obliquely to the right and to the left, taking care to give the caution, Right (or left) oblique, after the word READY, and before the word AIM. He will also, sometimes, make his men Recover—ARMS, after aiming, in order to accustom them to steadiness, and attention to the command.

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ARTICLE FOURTH.

To Fire by File.

492. To effect this, the instructor will command,

1. Fire by File. 2. Company. 3. READY. 4. Commence—FIRING.

493. At the first command, the captain will retire one pace in rear of the rear rank, opposite his interval.

494. The third and fourth commands will be executed as prescribed, No. 311 and following.

495. The right hand file will commence the firing, the next file will aim at the instant the first, which has just fired, fired, primes, and so on to the left; but this progression will take place only for the first fire, every man afterwards loading and firing, without waiting for others, and conforming to No. 312.

490. The instructer will cause the firing, whether by file or company, to cease by a ruffle, at the commencement of which the firing will cease. Those who have just fired will load and shoulder; if in the position, of ready, they will front, half-cock, and then shoulder at the same time; if aiming, they will recover of their own accord, front, half-cock, and shoulder.

497. The ruffle will always be followed by a tap of the drum: at this signal, the captain, as also the covering sergeant, will quickly resume their places in line, and rectify, if necessary, the alignment of the ranks.

498. In this school, the instructer will cause the firing to cease by the command,

RUFFLE.

499. At the word RUFFLE, the firing will cease: to ensure which, every file-closer will call out, Cease firing.

500. The tap of the drumstick, as a signal for the captain and covering sergeant to resume their places in line, may be indicated by the command Tap from the Instructor, when he sees arms shouldered

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ARTICLE FIFTH.

To Fire to the Rear.

501. To effect this, the instructer will command,

1. Fire to the rear. 2. Company. 3. About—FACE.

502. Atthe word About. the captain will place himself facing, and close against. the right hand front rank mm of his company; the covering ser-

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON III.

geant and file-closer, will pass quickly through the Interval of the captain. placing themselves facing to the rear, two paces from the front rank, and opposite to their respective places in line.

503. At the word FACE, the captain will occupy his interval in line, but place himself in the rear rank, now become front; and the covering sergeant will place himself in the front rank, now become rear, covering the captain.

504. The company being faced to the rear, the instructer will cause the firings to be executed by the commands prescribed in the preceding article.

505. Firing by file will commence from the left of the company, now become the right.

506. To front the company, the instructer will command,

1. Company. 2. About—FACE.

507. At the word About, time captain, covering sergeant and file-closers will conform to what is prescribed above.

503. At the word FACE, the captain and covering sergeant resume their places in line.

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Remarks on the Firings.

509. The instructer will accustom. the ranks to lower the muzzle a little under the level, in taking aim.

510. The instructer will direct the captain to make a small pause between the words aim and fire, to enable the troops to aim well.

511. The instructer will place himself in front of the right flank, so as to command a view of the ranks, in order to observe such faults as may be committed; he will charge the captain and file-closers to report to him such as are found to load or fire awkwardly; these will be remanded to the School of the Soldier.

512. The instructer will cause the soldiers to observe the utmost steadiness and calmness, during the firings, consistently with the requisite vivacity of execution.

513. In the firings, he will lay it down as a general principle, that the left heel is always to turn on the same spot, in order that the alignment of ranks, and the covering of files may be maintained; and, after the firing, he will ascertain, by inspecting the alignment, whether this principle has been observed.

514. The instructer will add to these remarks all those in Nos. 316, 317

319.

515. When the company fires with cartridges, the instrucler will cause the ranks, in close order, to spring ramrod, to ascertain whether there may not be three charges in the firelock in which case, he will cause them to be drawn.

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LESSON III.

ARTICLE FIRST.

To Advance in Line.

510. The company being drawn up correctly aligned, the instrueter will place himself fifteen or twenty paces in front of the captain, face to him. and place himself correctly on the prolongation of the captain and covering sergeant.

517. He will previously assure himself that the shoulders of the captain, and of the covering sergeant, are perfectly in the line of direction of their respective ranks, and that they correctly cover.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON III.

518. The instructer, having aligned himself on the directing file, will command,

1. Company—forward.

519. At this command, a sergeant, previously selected, will advance six paces in front of the captain; the instructer, placed as just described, will correctly align this sergeant on the prolongation of the directing file.

520. The sergeant, placed six paces In front of the captain, being charged with the direction, will take two points on the ground, in the line passing from himself, between the heels of the instructer.

521. This arrangement made, the instructer will command,

2. MARCH.

522. At this command, the company will step off smartly: the sergeant charged with the direction will maintain, with the greatest precision, the length and cadence of the step, march in the direction of the two points he has chosen between himself and the instructer; take, as he advances, and always before he arrives at the nearest point, new points, which must be exactly in the prolongation of the two first, and fifteen or twenty paces from each other: the captain will constantly march in the trace of the directing sergeant, keeping always six paces from him: the soldiers will keep the head direct to the front, touch lightly the elbow towards the file of direction, and conform to the principles prescribed for the march to the front in Nos. 335, &c.

523. The front rank man, next to the captain, will be particularly careful never to be more advanced than he; and, for this purpose, will always keep the line of his shoulder, a little in rear, but, at the same time, in a direction parallel to those of the captain.

524. The rank of file-chasers will march two paces in rear of the rear rank.

523. If the soldiers lose the step, the instructer will command,

STEP.

526. At this command, the soldiers glance to the directing sergeant, take up the step, and turn the head again immediately to the front.

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Remarks on the March in Line.

527. If the company be undergoing a course of elementary instruction, the instructer will post the captain and covering sergeant, sometimes on the right, and sometimes on the left of the company.

528. The directing sergeant having the greatest influence on the march of the company, the instructer shall appoint for this important duty, such only as are perfectly confirmed in the precision of the step, the habit of maintaining the squareness of the shoulders, and of prolonging, without deviation, a given direction.

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ARTICLE SECOND.

To Halt the Company Advancing in Line, and to Align it.

532. To halt the company, the instructer will command,

1. Company. 2. HALT.

533. At the second command, the company will halt; the directing sergeant will remain in front, unless the instructer, not wishing to continue the march, orders him to retire to his place in line.

534. The company being halted, the instructer will make the three files nearest the directing flank advance, and will align the company on them

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON III.

as a base, or he may confine himself to rectifying the alignment. In the last case, the instructer will command, Rectify the alignment; the captain will immediately glance to the rank, and rectify the alignment, conforming to what is prescribed, No. 388.

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ARTICLE THIRD.

Oblique March in Line.

535. The company, marching to the front in line, will oblique by the following commands from the Instructer:

1. Right (or left) oblique. 2. MARCH.

536. At the second command, to be given as prescribed, Nos. 155, 156, the company will oblique; the directing sergeant will give his utmost attention in maintaining the squareness of the shoulders, and to oblique with a uniform movement and step; the captain will conform his march to that of the directing sergeant; the soldiers will keep up the light touch of the elbow towards the directing flank, and carefully observe the principles prescribed, No. 330. The man next the captain must be careful not to be more advanced than he.

537. To resume the march to the front, the instructer will command, -

1. Forward. 2. MARCH.

538. At the word MARCH, which will be pronounced at the moment the foot is coming to the ground, the company will resume the march to the front, the instructer will spring forward, fifteen or twenty paces in front of the captain, face to the rear, place himself correctly on the prolongation of the captain and covering sergeant, and, by signal, place the directing sergeant on that line, should he happen to be either on the right or left of it; the directing sergeant will immediately take two points on the ground. between himself and the instructer, taking afterwards new points, as he advances, as explained, No. 522.

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Remarks on the Oblique March

(Omitted.)

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ARTICLE FOURTH..

To Mark Time, March in Quick Time, Side Step,

Stepping Short, and Back Step.

543. These will severally be practlsed by the commands, and according to the principles, prescribed in the School of the Soldier.

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Remarks on Quick Time.

544. The instructer ought not to exercise the men in marching in quick time, till they are thoroughly confirmed in the length and cadence of the step in common time; and he will then endeavor to render it familiar and easy to them to take one hundred and twenty steps In a minute, to keep the body upright, and to be as calm as in marching in common time. (see No. 357.)

545. In the last fifteen or twenty steps of a charge, and in other circumstances requiring great celerity of movement, troops having a front not exceeding that of a battalion may quicken the march to the rate of one hundred and fifty steps in a minute for a limited time; but as a line marching at this rate for more than one hundred paces would be liable to break, this

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON IV.

measure of acceleration will not be considered a prescribed head of instruction, and consequently the troops are to be exercised in the quick time at one hundred and twenty steps in a minute.

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ARTICLE FIFTH.

To Retire in Line.

540. The company being halted and aligned, the instructer, wishing it to retire, will command,

1. Company. 2. About—FACE.

547. The company having faced about, the instructer will step quickly to the front of the directing file, conforming to the principles prescribed, No. 516.

548. The instructer, being correctly placed on the prolongation of the directing file, will command,

3. Company—forward

549. At this command, the directing sergeant will conform to what is prescribed, Nos. 518, 519, with this difference, that he posts himself six paces in front of the file-closers.

550. The covering sergeant will post himself in the alignment of the file-closers, opposite his interval, and the captain will take his place in the rear rank, now become front.

551. This disposition being made, the instructer will command,

4. MARCH.

552. At this command, the directing sergeant, the captain, and the soldiers, will conform to what is prescribed, Nos. 522, 523.

553. With the exception of the back step, the instructor will cause the company retiring to execute all that has been prescribed for advancing in line. The commands and means of execution will be the same.

554. When the instructer, having halted the company, wishes to align it, he will front it by the commands,

1. Company. 2. About—FACE.

and the captain and covering sergeant, having faced about, will resume their posts.

555. The instructer may then order the three files nearest the directing flank to advance, as a base of alignment, or he may confine himself to the rectification of the alignment, conforming, in either case, to what is prescribed, No. 534.

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LESSON IV.

ARTICLE FIRST.

To March by a Flank.

556. The company being in line at a halt, the instructer, wishing it to march by the right flank, will command,

1. Company. 2. Right—FACE. 3. Forward—MARCH.

557. (PI. V. Fig. 1.) At the second command, the company will face to the right; the captain will also face, moving one pace out of time rank, so as to be on the left of the covering sergeant, who will also face to the right, moving to the front rank, so as to occupy the place out of which the captain has just moved.

553. At the word MARCH, the company will step off smartly, in common time; the covering sergeant, placed before the man on the right of the front

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON IV.

rank, and the captain, placed at the side of the covering sergeant, will march straight forward. The men of the rear rank will march abreast of their file-leader, and keep the face direct to the front; the file-closers will march opposite their respective places in line.

559. The instructer will see that the rules of marching by a flank are observed, placing himself, during the march, as prescribed, Nos. 370, 371.

560. The instructer will cause the company to march by the left flank, by the commands prescribed for marching by the right, substituting the word left for that of right.

561. At the instant the company faces to the left, the guide of the left will place himself before the man on the left of the front rank; the captain will go, quickly, to the left, placing himself on the right of the guide; the covering sergeant will post himself in the front rank, occupying the place left by the captain.

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ARTICLESECOND.

To change Direction by File.

562. (Pl. V. Fig. 1.) The company being faced to a flank, either marching, or at a halt, the instructer, wishing it to wheel by file, will command,

1. Byfile right (or left.) 2. MARCH.

563. At the word MARCH, the leading file will wheel; if on the front rank man, he will not turn suddenly, but describe a small circle, shortening a little the two or three first steps, in order to give the rear rank man time to conform to his movement. If the wheel be made on the rear rank man, the front rank man will march the step of twenty-eight inches in turning, and the man of the rear rank conforms to his movement by describing a small circle, as has first been explained. Each file will wheel in succession on the same ground.

564. The instructer will strictly observe that the wheel is executed on these principles so that the distance between the files may always be preserved.

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ARTICLE THIRD.

To halt the Company Marching by a Flank, and to

Front it.

565. The instructer will command,

1. Company. 2. HALT. 3. FRONT.

566. The second and third commands will be executed as prescribed, Nos. 377, 378. The captain and covering sergeant resume their posts in line at the instant the company fronts.

567. The instructer may then cause the company to take a new alignment, or direct the captain to rectify the alignment of the company on its ground.

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ARTICLE FOURTH.

To form Line by File on the Right or Left.

568. The instructer will cause the company marching by the right flank to form by file on the right. To effect this, he will command,

1. On right, by file into line. 2. MARCH.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON IV.

569. (Pl. V. Fig. 2.) At the word MARCH, the rear rank will mark time; the covering sergeant and the captain will turn to the right, march straight forward, and be halted by the instructer, when they have passed at least, four paces beyond the rear rank; the captain shifting to the right of the covering sergeant: the man on time right of the front rank will continue marching, pass behind the covering sergeant, turn to the right when beyond him, and move up to his left; the second man of the front rank will, in the same manner, pass in rear of the first, then turn to the right, and move up to his left, and so on, to the last man of this rank ; the rear rank will execute the movement in the same manner as the front; the right hand man of the rear rank will not commence the movement till he sees three or four men of the front rank in line.

570. The men of the rear rank wilt place themselves correctly, covering their file-leaders, as they move up, one by one, into line.

571. The captain will direct the alignment as the men of the front rank arrive on the line.

572. If the company were marching by the left flank, the instructer would form it by file on the left by the commands prescribed, No. 568, substituting left for right, and by Inverse means; the captain, on the left of the front rank, will resume his place in line, after the instructer, seeing the company formed, shall have ordered him so to do.

573. The better to make the soldiers comprehend the mechanism of this movement, the instructer will at first make each rank execute it separately, and afterwards the two ranks together, directing them to form as if each, rank were independent, but always observing what has been prescribed for the rear rank, relative to the moment of commencing the movement.

574. The instructer will follow up the movement, to assure himself that each file conforms to what is prescribed, No. 589.

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ARTICLE FIFTH.

The Company Marching by a Flank, to Form Company,

Platoon. or Sections, on the March.

575. The company supposed marching by the right flank, the instructer will order the captain to execute the intended movement. The captain will command,

1. By company into line. 2. MARCH.

576. At the word MARCH, the covering sergeant will continue to march forward; the soldiers will advance the right shoulder, assume the quick step, and move diagonally to their respective places, observing to arrive on the line one after another.

577. As the soldiers come into line, they will take up the step from the covering sergeant.

578. The men of the rear rank will conform to the movement of their file-leaders, whom they will allow to precede them in coming up into line.

579. At the instant the movement commences, the captain will face to his company, and conduct its execution; when the company is formed to the front, he will command, Guide left, and then post himself two paces before the centre of the company, front, and take up the step of the company.

580. At the weed Guide left, the guide of the left will spring to the left of the front rank man, and the covering sergeant, who is at the opposite flank, will remain there.

581. If the company were marching by the left flank, the movement would be executed by the same commands, and on the same principles:

the company being formed, the captain would order, Guide right.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON IV.

582. In a column of companies, the covering sergeant of each will be always placed on the right of the front rank, and the guide of the left will be on the left of the front rank, whether the column has the right or left in front; they will be denominated guide of the right, and guide of the left of the company, and one of them will be charged with the direction, according as the column may be marching with the right or left in front.

583. If the company, marching by a flank, is to form platoons, the captain, by an order to that effect from the instructer, will command,

1. By platoon into line. 2. MARCH.

584. This movement is executed according to the same principles: the captain will post himself before the centre of the first platoon, and the lieutenant before the centre of the second platoon; and they will command, Guide right, or, it may be, Guide left, at the instant their platoon is formed.

585. At the word Guide left, or Guide right, from the chief of each platoon, the guide of each would take post on the proper flank, if not already there, passing by the front rank; and this is a general rule for the shifting of guides.

586. The guide of the right of the company will always be the guide of the right, or of the left, of the first platoon; and the guide of the left of the company will be the guide of the right, or of the left, of the second platoon.

587. The company, marching by a flank, will also be required to form sections: to effect this, the instructor directs the captain to order,

1. By section into line. 2. MARCH.

588. This again will be executed on the same principles; and whether the right or left be in front, the captain will put himself in front of the first section, the second, third, and first lieutenants, respectively, in front of the second, third, and fourth sections; and, each will command, Guide left, (or right,) at the instant his section is formed.

589. In column of sections, the covering sergeant becomes the guide of the first section; the second sergeant, the guide of the fourth section; and the third and fourth sergeants, respectively, the guides of the second and third sections.

590. Accordingly, in a column of platoons or sections, there shall be one guide to each, and he shall always be guide of the left, right in front, and guide of the right, left in front.

591. Whether it be a column of companies, platoons, or sections, the file-closers will follow their respective divisions.

592. To cause a column, marching right in front, to prolong itself in the same direction, by a file movement, the instructer will command,

1. Column by the right flank. 2. By file left. 3. MARCH.

593. (Pl. VII. Fig. 4.) At the first command, chiefs of divisions will caution their divisions, that they are to face to the right; the guide of the leading division will spring to the right of his division.

594. At the command MARCH, each division will face to the right in marching, and wheel by file to the left; the captain, will quickly place himself as in file movements, and the chiefs of the other divisions, shifting by the left, resume their places as file-closers.

595. The leading file of each division will unite in file with the rear of the preceding, and the whole company thus march by the right flank.

596. If the left be in front, the manoeuvre will be executed by inverse means.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY—LESSON V.

LESSON V.

ARTICLE FIRST.

To Break to the Right or Left.

597. To break by platoon to the right, the instructer will command,

I.Platoons—right wheel. 2. MARCH.

598. (P1. VI. Fig. I.) At the first command, the chiefs of platoons will place themselves two paces in front of the centre of their platoons, facing to the rear, the chief of the second platoon passing, for this purpose, round the left flank of the company.

599. At the word MARCH, the man on the right of the front rank of each platoon will face to the right; the chief or each platoon will move quickly by the shortest line beyond the point where the marching flank is to rest, face to the rear, and place himself so, that a line drawn from him to the man on the right of the front rank may be perpendicular to the line of the company, previous to wheeling; the platoons will wheel according to the principles prescribed for wheeling on a halted pivot; and when the man who conducts the marching flank shall have arrived within two paces of the perpendicular, the chief of each platoon will command,

1. Platoon. 2. HALT.

600: At the second command, the platoons will halt; the covering sergeant will move, at the same instant, to the point where the left of the first platoon will rest; the guide of the left of the company will move to the point where the left of the second platoon is to rest; they must take care to leave between themselves, respectively, and th