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ABSTRACT
OF
INFANTRY TACTICS;
INCLUDING
EXERCISES AND MANUEUVRES
OF
LIGHT-INFANTRY AND RIFLEMEN;
FOR
THE USE OF THE MILITIA
OF
THE UNITED STATES.
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PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR, UNDER THE AUTHORITY 0F AN ACT OF CONGRESS OF THE 2d OF MARCH, 1829.
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BOSTON:
IIILLIARD, GRAY, LITTLE AND WILKINS.
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Stereotyped at the Boston Type and Sterotype Foundry.
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1830.
EXTRACT FROM AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PRINTING AND BINDING SIXTY THOUSAND COPIES OF THE ABSTRACT OF INFANTRY TACTICS, INCLUDING MANOEUVRE5 OF LIGHT-INFANTRY AND RIFLEMEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he Is hereby, authorized and directed, to contract with HILLIARD, AND Co. of Boston, or some other person or persons, for printing, binding and delivering, sixty thousand copies of the Abstract of Infantry Tactics, including Exercises and Manoeuvres of Light-Infantry and Riflemen, for the Use of the Militia of the United States ; also, five thousand copies of a System of Exercise and Instruction of Field-Artillery, including Mauoeuvres for Light or Horse-Artillery; as reported by the Secretary of War, on the eighth of January, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven; agreeably to the proposals of said HILLIARD, GRAY AND Co., made to the Secretary of War, dated on the twenty-seventh of October, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, in their specimen marked B: and when so printed, bound and delivered, the Secretary of War is hereby directed to apportion the same among the several States and Territories, and in the District of Columbia, for the use of the Militia thereof, according to the number of the Militia in each State and Territory and the District of Columbia; and to forward to the Chief Magistrate of each State and Territory the number allowed to such State and Territory as aforesaid, to be by said Chief Magistrate distributed among the officers of the Militia of such State or Territory, for their use, and the use of their successors in office, under such rules and regulations as they may direct. And the Secretary of War will cause the number of copies apportioned to the District of Columbia to be distributed among the officers of the Militia in the District, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the President of the United States.
Approved 2d of March, 1829.
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NOTICE.
BENJ. B. MUSSEY AND CO., BOSTON, will supply States, Booksellers, and others, with this Work, and also the System of Artillery Exercise, in any quantity, on the most liberal terms.
Washington, Dec. 5, 1826
SIR,
THE Board of Officers assembled at this place, under your orders of’ October 5,1826, for, among other purposes, reporting “A System of Instruction for the Militia Infantry,“ have now the honor to submit, through its Recorder, (Lieutenant Eakin,) the annexed sheets.
We have the honor to be,
Sir,
With high respect,
Your most ob’t. servants,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Ma]. Gen. and President of the Board.
T. CADWALADER,
Ma]. Gen. Penn. Militia.
WM. H. SUMNER,
Adj. Gen. of Massachusetts.
B. DANIEL,
Adj. Gen. Militia, North Carolina
ABRM. EUSTIS,
Lieut.Col. 4th Artillery.
Z. TAYLOR,
Lieut. Col. 1st Regt. U. S. Infantry.
G. CUTLER,
Lieut. Col. 3d Infantry.
CHARLES J. NOURSE,
U.S.A.
To the
HON. JAMES BARBOUR,
Secretary of War.
ADVERTISEMENT.
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TO secure uniformity of instruction and practice between the infantry of the militia and that of the regular army, this Abstract, both in its principles and details, is taken front the work which governs the regular infantry. The form of the two works is also the same.
An abridgment of the larger work (which is indicated in the title of Abstract) ,was deemed, however, indispensable, for general circulation in the militia infantry. Hence, many particular paragraphs have been suppressed or curtailed; some entire articles (the titles excepted) omitted, and also the whole of Section V, or the evolutions of many battalions in the same line. These omissions and curtailments reduce the Abstract to about four-sevenths of the prototype. A greater reduction, for officers, and particularly for field-officers, was considered unadvisable.
In the larger book, all the paragraphs, from the beginning to the end, are, for the convenience of reference, numbered in one unbroken Series. The same numbers arc retained in the Abstract to all the paragraphs not omitted, in order to afford the means of internal reference, reference to the larger book, and to exhibit, at the same time, the places of the several omissions. The Abstract, however, is deemed complete within itself for the instruction of any corps less than a brigade.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
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SECTION I. page
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Formation of a Regiment of Infantry in the Order of Battle (or Line) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posts of Company Officers and Non-commissioned Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posts of Field Officers and Regimental Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posts of Drummers and Musicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posts of the Colors and Color-Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instruction of Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instruction of Non-commissioned Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
9 9 10 11 11 12 12 12 |
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SECTION II.
SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Division of the School of the Soldier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
13 13 |
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PART I.
|
Lesson 1. Position of the Soldier without arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eyes Right, Eyes Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Facings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Principles of the Ordinary Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Principles of the Oblique Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
14 14 15 15 16 |
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PART II.
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Lesson 1. Principles of Shouldered Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Analysis of loading and firing, and of the Manual Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Loading in Quick Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loading in Quickest Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Firings, Direct and Oblique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firing by File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
17 18 26 26 27 28 |
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PART III.
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Lesson 1. Marching to the Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. To March by a Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Alignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Wheelings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
30 32 33 34 |
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SECTION III.
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SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Rank, Size, and Form the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Division of the School of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
36 36 37 |
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LESSON I.
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Article 1. To Open Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Alignment of Open Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Manual Exercise and Loadings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. To Close Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Alignment of Closed Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
39 39 39 40 40 |
CONTENTS.
LESSON II.
|
Article 1. To Load in Quick Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. To Lead in Quickest Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. To Fire by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. To Fire by File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. To Fire to the Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
41 41 41 42 42 |
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LESSON III.
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Article 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, March in Quick Time, Side Step, Stepping Short, and Back Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. To Retire in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
43 44 45
45 46 |
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LESSON IV.
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Article 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. The Company marching by a flank, to form Company, Platoons, or Sections, on the March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
46 47 47 47
48 |
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LESSON V.
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Article 1. To Break to the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. To March in Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. To Change Direction of a Column at Full Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. To Halt the Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. To Form Line to the Right or Left, from Column at Full Distance . . . . . . . . . . . |
50 51 52 53 54 |
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LESSON VI.
|
Article 1. Diminishing and Increasing Front by Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. To March in Column by the Route Step, and to execute the File . . . . . . . . . . . Movements prescribed in the preceding Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Diminishing and Increasing Front of Columns by Platoons and Sections . . . . . . 4. Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. To Form Line to the Right or Left, from Column at Full Distance . . . . . . . . . . Instructions for Firing at a Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manual of the Sergeants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sword Manual of the Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sword Salute, whether in or out of the Ranks, Halting or Marching . . . . . . . . . . Manual of the Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Instructions for the Drum Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mode of Dismissing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
55
56 57 59 60 61 64 64 64 65 65 66 |
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SECTION III.
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SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prompt Formation of the Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Composition and March of the Color-Escort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Honors Paid to the Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
66 67 67 68 |
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PART I.
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Article 1. To Open Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Manual Exercise, and Loading in Quick Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Loading in Quickest Time, and the Facings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
68 69 69 |
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PART II.
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Article 1. To Break to the Right or to the Left (into Open Column) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. To File to the Rear into Open Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. To Form Close Column (or Mass) from Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
71 72 73 |
CONTENTS.
PART III.
|
Article 1. March in Column at Full Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Column of Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. To Change Direction in Column at Full Distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Change of Direction in Column at Full Distance by the Prompt Manoeuvre (Omitted) 5. To Halt the Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. To Close to Half Distance from Open Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. To March in Column at Half Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. To Change Direction in Column at Half Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. To Change Direction in Close Column (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. To Form Close Column of Grand Divisions, from a Halted Close Column of Companies (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
73 76 77 78 78 79 80 80 80 80
80 |
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PART IV.
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Article 1. To Advance in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Different Methods of Forming Line from Column at Full Distance . . . . . . . . . . 1st. To Form Line to the left, from Column at Full Distance, Right in Front . . . Inversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. To Form Line to the Right, from Column, Right in Front . . . . . . . . . . . 3d. To Form Line to the Front, from Column at Full Distance, Right in Front . . 4thTo Form Line Faced to the Rear, From Column at Full Distance, Right in Front 3. Formation in Line by Two Movements . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Different Methods of Forming Line from Column at Half Distance . . . . . . . . . . 1st. To Form Line to the Right, from Column at Half Distance, Right in Front, by previously taking Wheeling Distances by the Head of the Column . . . . . 2d. To Form Line on the Right or Left, from Column at Half Distance . . . . . . 3d. To Form Line to the Front, from Column at Half Distance . . . . . . . . . . 4th. To Form Line Faced to the Rear, From Column at Full Distance . . . . . . 5. Deployment of the Close Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
81 82 82 83 83 85 86 88 88
88 89 89 89 89 |
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PART V.
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Article 1. To Advance in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Passage of Obstacles, Advancing or Retiring in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. To Change Direction Marching in Line, (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Oblique March in Line, (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. To Halt the Battalion Advancing in Line and to Align it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. To Retire in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. To Halt the Battalion retiring in Line, and to Front it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. To March by a Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. To Form Line by File on the Left or Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Passage of Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Change of Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Passage of a Defile, in Retiring, from either Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. Column of Attack (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Dispositions against Cavalry, (Omitted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15. Dispersing and Rallying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . School of the Battalion arranged into Lessons; for the Exercise of a Battalion . . . . . . . . |
89 93 95 95 95 96 97 97 98 99 101 104 105 105 105 105 |
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EXERCISES AND MANOEUVRES FOR LIGHT-INFANTRY AND RIFLEMEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
107 |
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COMPANY.
Manual Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Load as Riflemen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Load as Light-Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Firings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Fire and Load, Kneeling and Lying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Movements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To March by a Flank, to the Right or Left; To Change Direction, Marching by a Flank; To Halt the Company, Marching by a Flank; To Front and Align it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Advance by Files from the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Retire by Files from the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Form Single File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
108 109 110 110 111 112
112 112 113 113 |
CONTENTS.
|
Formations in Line, from File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To the Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faced to the Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Advance by Files from the Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancing by Files from the Centre, to Form Line to the Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancing by Files from the Centre, to Form Line on either Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Retire by Files from the Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retiring by Files from the Centre, to Form Line faced to the then Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Change of Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Break into Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Resume the Formation in Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To the Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diminishing and Increasing Front by Platoons and Sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diminishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Increasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Column of Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Extend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supports and Reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (No. 1732) . . . . . . . . . To Fire in Extended Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intervals between Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Cease Firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Halt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Annul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Incline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Throw Forward a Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Too fast (or too slow) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signals (Bugle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Simple Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Combined Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
114 114 114 114 114 115 115 115 116 116 116 116 117 117 117 117 117 118 118 118 119 120 120 120 121 121 121 122 122 122 122 122 122 122 122 124 |
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BATTALION, (Light-Infantry and Rifle) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Open Ranks, the Alignment of Open Ranks, and to Close Ranks . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Firings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .File Movements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To March to the right (or Left ) Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Change Direction, Marching by a Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Advance by the Right (or Left) of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Retire by the Right (or Left) of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Advance by the Centre of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To Retire by the Centre of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Formations in Line From File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To the Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .On either Flank, or at any Angle forward of the Original Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Faced to the Rear of the March, retiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .On either Flank, retiring, at any Angle in Rear of the Original Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . Different Methods of forming Open Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Break into Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To File into Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Filing in Front or Rear of the Company, on either Flank, or on any other Company . . . To Put the Column in March, to Change Direction, and to Halt it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Closing and Opening the Column, and the Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Different Methods of forming Line from Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To the Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On the Right or Left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faced to the Front on any Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Faced to the Rear on any Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changes of Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forward on the Right (or Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . On a central Company, either Wing Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To the Rear, on either Flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Column of Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Extend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
124 124 124 124 124 124 124 125 125 125 125 125 126 126 127 128 128 128 128 129 129 129 129 129 130 131 132 132 132 133 134 135 135 |
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PARADE AND REVIEW |
135 |
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ABSTRACT
OF
INFANTRY TACTICS.
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SECTION 1.
Formation of a Regiment of Infantry in the Order ol
Battle (or Line.)
3. IN the manoeurvres, regiments will be denominated battalions, and be numbered from right to left, in the same line.
6. The companies of a regiment will be drawn up from right to left, as follows 1sl, 5th, 3d, 7th, 2d, 6th, 4th, 8th, according to the rank of the Captains.
7. Nevertheless, the flank companies will be posted, if light, infantry and rifle, on the right and left of lhc battalion respectively.
8. The companies posted as above shall be renumbered from right to left, first, second, &c. By these numbers they shall be known in the manoeuvres and the flank companies singly will be known by the designation of light-infantry, or riflemen.
11. The colors shall be posted on the left of the right centre battalion company: that company, with all on its right, will be denominated the right wing of the battalion, and the remaining companies will be denominated the left wing.
12. Every company will be divided into two equal platoons, and into four equal sections. Platoons and sections will be numbered from right to left, and be known as first platoon, &c., first section. &c.
13. The order of formation, or of depth, shall be that of two ranks, and a rank of file-closers.
14. The manner of sizing and ranking men will be given in the School of the Company.
15. The distance between the two ranks, whether the knapsacks be on or off, shall be one pace, measured from the heels of the front rank to the heels of the rear rank.
16. The rank of file-closers shall be two paces from the rear rank, measured in like manner.
17. For manoeuvring, the companies shall always be equalized before they are divided itno platoons and sections, by assigning over men from the strongest to the weakest companies.
Posts of Company Officers and Non-commissioned Officers.
18. These, exclusive of corporals, may (as on a war establishment, with ranks filled) be ten in number: 1. Captain ; 2. First lieutenant; 3. Second lieutenant 4. Third lieutenant; 5. Ensign; 6. First sergeant; 7. Second sergeant ; 8. Third sergeant ; 9. Fourth sergeant ; 10. Fifth sergeant.
19. When the whole ten are under arms with the company, they will be posted us fellows
20. No. 1, in the front rank, on the right of the company.
FORMATION OF A BATTALION IN
21. No. 6, in the rear rank, covering No. 1. In the evolutions, No. 6 (first sergeant) is sometimes denominated covering sergeant, and sometimes guide of the right of the company.
22. Nos. 2 and 7 of the left company of the battalion line shall be posted on its left, No. 2 in the front rank, covered by No. 7 in the rear rank.
23. The remaining officers and sergeants shall constitute the rank of file-closers, and be posted as follows:
24. No. 2, except in the left company, covering the centre of the fourth section.
25. No. 3, covering the centre of the second section.
26. No. 4, covering the centre of the third section.
27. No. 6, covering the centre of the first section.
28. No. 7, except in the left company, covering the second file from the left of the fourth section. No. 7. (second sergeant.) in every company, will, in the evolutions, be denominated guide of the left of the company.
29. No. 8, covering the second file from the left of time second sergeant.
30. No. 9, covering the second file from the left of the third section.
31. No. 10, covering the second file from the left of the first section.
32. File-closers will not be suffered to consider themselves a mere ornament to the rear. They will be held responsible for the alignment of the rear rank particularly, judging by the squareness of the shoulders. and the touch of the elbow in that rank. In battle, the arms of the file-closers are best employed in preventing the ranks from breaking to the rear.
33. Absent officers and sergeants will be replaced—Officers by sergeants, and sergeants by corporals, according to rank, to the number seven. The seven will then occupy, according to rank, the places of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 6, and 7, as above.
34. But, when companies are reduced to a narrow front by service, or as on a peace establishment, it will be sufficient if the posts of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6. and 7, be filled, by replacing, as above.
35. The first and second non—commissioned officers in rank present will always, unless it be specially ordered otherwise, occupy the posts of Nos. 6 and 7 respectively.
37. The corporals, other than those of the color-guard, belong to the rank and file of companies. and shall be posted in the front rank of the following order: one on the right, and one on the left of the company one on the right of the second platoon ; one on the right of the second, and one on the right of the fourth section, and one on the left of the first platoon.
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Posts of the Field-Officers and Staff.
33. The field-officers, (colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major,) are supposed to be mounted; and on actual service they shall be so. The adjutant, when the battalion is undergoing elementary instruction, shall be on foot
39. The colonel shall be posted twenty paces in rear of the rank of file-closet’s, and opposite to the center of the battalion.
40. The lieutenant-colonel, the major, the adjutant and sergeant-major will all be ten paces in rear of the rank of file-closers.
41. The lieutenant-colonel shall be opposite to the centre of the right wing; the major shall be opposite to the centre of the left wing; time adjutant shall be opposite to the right, and the sergeant-major opposite to the left of the battalion. The adjutant shall aid the lieutenant-colonel, and the sergeant-major shall aid the major, in the performance of their respective duties in the evolutions.
THE ORDER OF BATTLE OR LINE.
42. Hence, the adjutant and sergeant-major are not always named in the evolutions, it being understood that the smaller duties, (and those requiring the officer to be on foot,) referred to the lieutenant-colonel, may be performed by the adjutant, and the same thing in respect to the major and sergeant major, time assistants being on foot, and under the superintendence of the principals.
43. Thu colonel being absent, he would be replaced by the lieutenant-colonel, and the lieutenant-colonel by the major. All the field-officers being absent, the battalion would be commanded by the senior captain; but if one field-officer be present, he would perform all the duties, as far as practicable, of the three, without (except in extraordinary cases) calling to his aid the senior captain to act as field-officer.
44. The quarter-master, surgeon and his assistant, drawn up from right to left, in the order in which they are mentioned, shall be posted on the left of the colonel, three paces in his rear.
45. The quarter-master-sergeant shall be posted ten paces in rear of the rank of file-closers, and opposite to the right of the color-company.
Posts of the Drummers and Musicians.
46. The field music will be formed in two ranks, the drummers in the rear. They will be placed ten paces in rear of the rank of file-closers, opposite the left of the left centre company. In a company detached, the music will be placed on the right of both ranks, the drummer in the rear.
47. The senior principal musician shall be in front, and the junior on the right of the whole. Should there be a band, the latter will be posted two paces in front of its centre.
48. When there is a band, it will be placed in several ranks, according to its numbers, and three paces in rear of the drummers.
Posts of the Pioneers.
(Omitted.)
Posts of Colors and color-guard.
51. The state and regimental colors shall be borne by two sergeants, the former on the right.
52. The color-guard shall consist of three corporals, to be selected by the colonel from the battalion companies.
53. The colors* and their guard shall be posted on the left of the right centre company, and will constitute a part of that company.
54. The color-bearers* shall be placed in the front rank with a color-sergeant between them. The three corporals shall be placed covering them in the second rank.
55. The color-guard must be distinguished for regularity, perfect appearance under arms, and marching.
56. The color-bearers and the color-sergeant, placed between them, shall be selected by the colonel.
57. It is of the utmost importance in marching in order of battle, (or line,) that the color-sergeant should be thoroughly habituated to preserve the precise length and cadence of step; and, in his own person, to prolong a given direction, without deviation.
58. The corporals of the color-guard, and all sergeants, shall carry their arms as will herein-after be prescribed. (See Nos. 768, &c., and No. 778.)
* If there be but one color with the battalion, then for color-sergeant, throughout this Abstract, read color-bearer, and omit color-bearers, whose places would be occupied by two corporals. The color-bearer and the two corporals would then constitute the color-rank. (See Nos. 1282, 1286, &c., &c.)
GENERAL INSTRUCTION.
General Instruction.
59. The colonel will be responsible for the instruction of his regiment.
60. The field-officers in their respective wings shall, with the assistance of the adjutant, instruct the company-officers in the Schools of the Soldier, Company and Battalion
61. The captain shall Instruct those under his command in the Schools of the Soldier and Company. In the instruction of his non-commissioned officers and privates, he shall be aided by his subalterns.
62. The colonel is responsible that no person be allowed to instruct in his regiment who is not qualified for that duty. The other field-officers have a similar responsibility with respect to those below them. The captain and subalterns have a similar responsibility in respect to their companies; and In no case shall a non-commissioned officer be allowed to instruct men, even in the School of the Soldier, when the number of recruits does not render it absolutely necessary, without being specially superintended, throughout, by an officer.
63. The use of music or the drum, in instruction, or to regulate the time of march of troops in movement, is positively forbidden; and in marches of parade, where the music is allowed to play, it must scrupulously observe the ordered times of march, whether ordinary or quick, and use no times but such as are particularly adapted to such rates of march. The drums and fifes are to be trained to such habit, and the leader is not to be allowed to trust to his own ear, or apprehension, but always to have a plummet, and to make frequent use of it, in order to preserve the correct time. When the battalion is not in movement, as on the parade, or on other occasions when the music is ordered, or allowed to play, there is no necessity for its being confined to the preceding rule.
64. In instruction, and in the exercise of a battalion, five or six strong strokes on the drum, given in the exact times of the swing of the plummet, and just before the word march is pronounced, cannot fail of confirming the measure of time on every mind, and transferring it to the step.
Instruction of Officers.
65. The instruction of officers includes what is taught under the three heads, the School of the Soldier, that of the Company, and that of the Battalion. It cannot be completely established, without joining theory to practice.
66. In conformity to this, the colonel of each battalion will, frequently. assemble the officers at his own quarters, in order to explain, or cause to be explained to them, the principles on which are founded these three schools.
67. No officer shall be deemed instructed, until he shall be capable of perfectly explaining the three schools above mentioned.
68. The officers shall be frequently exercised by the field-officers in marching, and the utmost pains must be bestowed in giving them an accurate position under arms; in teaching them to form regularly, and to observe the exact length and cadence of the step.
Instruction of Non-commissioned Officers.
69. The instruction of these shall comprehend the School of the Soldier, and that of the Company: they shall be required to possess an accurate knowledge of the exercise and use of their firelocks, of the manual exercise of the soldier, and of the firings and marchings.
70. The field-officers and adjutant shall frequently assemble the non-commissioned officers, both for practical and theoretical instruction and
SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER
shall carefully observe whether they are properly instructed by their company officers. The sergeant-major will assist in the instruction of the sergeants and corporals.
71. When promotions take place among the non-commissioned officers, the first sergeants shall be required to instruct the new sergeants and corporals. The captains will be responsible that this is done.
72. The colonel will cause the color-rank, color-guard, and general guides (see No. 960) to be frequently exercised in marching in line.
73. The most scrupulous attention must be paid by the colonel in causing the color-sergeant to acquire the habit of prolonging, without variation, a given direction, and of maintaining, with the utmost precision, the length as well as the cadence of the step.