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INFANTRY
TACTICS.
TITLE
I.
ARTICLE
I. FORMATION
OF INFANTRY IN ORDER OF BATTLE.
1.
In the formations of Infantry, a Brigade
of the Line will
constitute, the unit, and in every line
of battle composed
of more than one of these brigades, they will be, posted from right
to left, in the order of their numbers.
2.
A similar disposition will be made of the regiments in a brigade.
3.
In all exercises, manœuvres and evolutions, every regiment of ten
companies will take the denomination of battalion, and all the
battalions in the same brigade, will be designated, from right to
left, first battalion, second battalion, &c., &c. By these
designations they will be known in the evolutions.
4.
The interval between every two contiguous battalions in the same
brigade will be twenty-two
paces, and the
interval between every two contiguous brigades will habitually be
one hundred and
fifty paces.
5.
A less number of battalions than four will habitually be formed in
one line of battle, but when it is thought expedient to form the
brigade in two lines, the third and fourth battalions will be
respectively posted in rear of the 1st and 2d battalions. The
battalions of the first line will either be deployed, or in column
at half distance, or closed in mass. The battalions of the second
line will always be drawn up in column, either simple or double, at
half distance or closed in mass, and posted for tactical
instruction, one hundred and fifty paces in rear of the first line,
counting from the front rank of the first, to the front rank of the
second line. The battalions of the second line will be posted so
that a line passing through their colors and those of the battalions
of the first line respectively (whether deployed or in column) shall
always be perpendicular to the line of battle. In presence of the
enemy the distance between the lines will depend upon circumstances;
in general the 2d line should not be much exposed to the enemy's
fire.
6.
In a regiment composed of ten companies, eight will habitually
be posted from right to left in the following order: first, fifth,
fourth, eighth,
third, seventh, sixth, second, according
to the rank of the captains. These will be called battalion
companies.
7.
With a less number
of battalion companies, the same principle will be observed, viz.:
the first captain will command the right company, the second captain
the left company, the third
captain the right
centre company, and so on.
8.
The companies thus posted will be designated from right to left, first
company, second company, &c. This
designation will be observed in the manœuvres.
0-9.
The other two companies, to be designated from time to time by the
colonel, will be called the companies
of skirmishers. The
first company will habitually be posted thirty paces in rear of the
file closers of the first, and the second thirty paces in rear of
the file closers of the last battalion company.
0-10.
Should the number of the regimental companies present, other than
the companies of skirmishers, be less than eight, but one will be
designated as skirmishers, to be in rear of the first or last
battalion company, or divided into platoons, the first platoon in
rear of the first, and the second in rear of the last battalion
company, as the colonel may direct.
11.
The first two battalion companies on the right, whatever their
denomination, will form the first
division; the next
two companies the second
division, and so on
to the left.
12.
Each company will be divided into two equal parts, which will be
designated as the first and second platoon, counting from the right;
and each platoon, in like manner, will be subdivided into two
sections.
13.
In all exercises and manœuvres, every regiment, or part of a
regiment, composed of two or more companies, will be designated as a
battalion.
14.
The color, with a guard to be hereinafter designated, will be posted
on the left of the right centre battalion company. That company, and
all on its right, will be denominated the right
wing of the
battalion; the remaining companies the left
wing.
15.
The formation of a regiment is in two ranks; and each company will
be formed into two ranks, in the following manner: the corporals
will be posted in the front rank, and on the right and left of
platoons, according to height; the tallest corporal and the tallest
man will form the first file, the next two tallest men will form the
second file, and so on to the last file, which will be composed of
the shortest corporal and the shortest man.
16.
The odd and even files, numbered as one, two, in the company, from
right to left, will form groups of four men, who will be designated
comrades in battle.
17. The
distance from one rank to another will be thirteen inches, measured
from the breasts of the rear rank men to the backs or knapsacks of
the front rank men.
18.
For manœuvres, the companies of a battalion will always be
equalized, by transferring men from the strongest to the weakest
companies.
POSTS
OF COMPANY OFFICERS SERGEANTS AND CORPORALS.
19.
The company officers and sergeants are nine in number, and will be
posted in the following manner:
20.
The captain
on the right of the
company, touching with the left elbow.
21.
The first sergeant in
the rear rank, touching with the left elbow, and covering the
captain. In the manœuvres. he will be denominated covering sergeant,
or right guide of
the company.
22.
The remaining officers and sergeants will be posted as file closers,
and two paces behind the rear rank.
23.
The first lieutenant,
opposite the centre
of the fourth section.
24.
The second
lieutenant, opposite
the centre of the first platoon.
25.
The third
lieutenant, opposite
the centre of the second platoon.
26.
The second sergeant,
opposite the second
file from the left of the company. In the manœuvres. he will be
designated left guide
of the company.
27.
The third sergeant,
opposite the second
file from the right of the second platoon.
28.
The fourth sergeant,
opposite the second
file from the left of the first platoon.
29.
The fifth sergeant, opposite
the second file from the right of the first platoon.
30.
In the left, or eighth company of the battalion, the 2d sergeant
will be posted in the front rank, and on the left of the battalion.
31.
The corporals will be posted in the front rank as prescribed, No.
15.
32.
Absent officers and sergeants will be replaced - officers by
sergeants, and sergeants by corporals. The colonel may detach a
first lieutenant from one company to command another, of which both
the captain and first lieutenant are absent; but this authority will
give no right to a lieutenant to demand to be so detached.
POSTS
OF FIELD OFFICERS AND REGIMENTAL STAFF.
33.
The field officers, colonel, lieutenant colonel and majors, are
supposed to be mounted, and on active service shall be on horseback.
The adjutant, when the battalion is manœuvring, will be on foot.
34.
The colonel will take post thirty-five paces in rear of the file
closers, and opposite the centre of the battalion.
35. The
lieutenant colonel and the senior major will be opposite the centres
of the right and left wings respectively, and twelve paces in rear
of the file closers. The junior major will take post thirty paces in
rear of the file closers, and five paces to the right of the centre
of the battalion; and he will, under the direction of the colonel,
have the command of the companies of skirmishers.
36.
The adjutant and sergeant major will be opposite the right and left
of the battalion respectively, and eight paces in rear of the file
closers.
37. The
adjutant and sergeant major will aid the lieutenant colonel and
senior major, respectively, in the manœuvres.
38.
The colonel, if absent, will be replaced by the lieutenant colonel,
and the latter by one of the majors. If all the field officers be
absent, the senior captain will command the battalion; but if either
be present, be will not call the senior captain to act as field
officer, except in case of evident necessity.
39.
The quarter-master, surgeon and other staff officers, in one rank,
on the left of the colonel, and three paces in his rear.
40. The
quarter-master sergeant, the commissary sergeant, and the hospital
steward on a line with the front rank of the field music, and two
paces on the right.
POSTS
OF FIELD MUSIC AND BAND.
41.
The buglers or musicians of the battalion companies will be drawn up
in four ranks, and posted twelve paces in rear of the file closers,
the left opposite the centre of the left centre company. The senior
principal musician will be two paces in front of the field music,
and the other two paces in the rear. In the companies of
skirmishers, the buglers will be in one rank, in a line with the
front rank of the company, and four paces from its right flank.
42.
The regimental band, if there be one, will be drawn up in two or
four ranks, according to its numbers, and posted five paces in rear
of the field music, having one of the principal musicians at its
head.
COLOR-GUARD.
43.
In each battalion the color-guard will be composed of eight
corporals, and posted on the left of the right-centre company, of
which company, for the time being, the guard will make a part.
44.
The front rank will be composed of a sergeant to be selected by the
colonel, who will be called, for the time, color-bearer,
with the two
ranking corporals, respectively, on his right and left; the rear
rank will be composed of the three corporals next in rank; and the
three remaining corporals will be posted in their rear, and on the
line of file closers. The left guide of the color company, when
these three last named corporals are in the rank of file closers,
will be immediately on their left.
45.
In battalions with less than five companies present, there will be
no color-guard, and no display of colors, except it may be at
reviews.
46.
The corporals for the color-guard will be selected from those most
distinguished for regularity and precision, as well in their
positions under arms as in their marching. The latter advantage, and
a just carriage of the person, are to be more particularly sought
for in the selection of the color-bearer.
GENERAL
GUIDES.
47.
There will be two general
guides in each
battalion, selected, for the time, by the colonel, from among the
sergeants (other than first sergeants) the most distinguished for
carriage under arms, and accuracy in marching.
48.
These sergeants will be respectively denominated, in the manœuvres,
right general guide,
and left
general guide, and
be posted in the line of file closers; the first in rear of the
right, and the second in rear of the left flank of the battalion.
ARTICLE
II. INSTRUCTION
OF THE BATTALION.
49.
Every commanding officer is responsible for the instruction of his
command. He will assemble the officers together for theoretical and
practical instruction as often as he may judge necessary, and when
unable to attend to this duty in person, it will be discharged by
the officer next in rank.
50.
Captains will be held responsible for the theoretical and practical
instruction of their noncommissioned officers, and the adjutant for
the instruction of the non-commissioned staff. To this end, they
will require these tactics to be studied and recited, lesson by
lesson; and when instruction is given on the ground, each
noncommissioned officer, as he explains a movement, should be
required to put it into practical operation.
51.
The non-commissioned officers should also be practised in giving
commands. Each command, in a lesson, at the theoretical instruction,
should first be given by the instructor, and then repeated, in
succession, by the non-commissioned officers , so that while they
become habituated to the commands, uniformity may be established in
the manner of giving them.
52.
In the school of the soldier, the company officers will be the
instructors of the squads; but if there be not a sufficient number
of company officers present, intelligent sergeants maybe
substituted; and two or three squads, under sergeant instructors, be
superintended, at the same time) by an officer.
53.
In the school of the company, the lieutenant colonel and the majors,
under the colonel, will be the principal instructors, substituting
frequently-the captain of the company, and sometimes one of the
lieutenants; the substitute, as far as practicable, being
superintended by one of the principals.
54.
In the school of the battalion, the brigadier general may constitute
himself the principal instructor, frequently substituting the
colonel of the battalion, sometimes the lieutenant colonel, or one
of the majors, and twice or thrice, in the same course of
instruction, each of the three senior captains. In this school,
also, the substitute will always, if practicable, be superintended
by the brigadier general or the colonel, or (in case of a captain
being the instructor), by the lieutenant colonel or one of the
majors.
55.
Individual instruction being the basis of the instruction of
companies, on which that of the regiment depends, and the first
principles having the greatest influence upon this individual
instruction, classes of recruits should be watched with the greatest
care.
56. Instructors
will explain, in a few clear and precise words, the movement to be
executed; and not to overburden the memory of the men, they will
always use the same terms to explain the same principles.
57.
They should often join example to precept, should keep up the
attention of the men by an animated tone, and pass rapidly from one
movement to another, as soon as that which they command has been
executed in a satisfactory manner.
58. The
bayonet should only be fixed when required to be used, either for
attack or defence; the exercises and manœuvres will be executed
without the bayonet.
59.
In the movements which require the bayonet to be fixed, the chief of
the battalion will cause the signal to
fix bayonet,
to be sounded; at
this signal the men fix bayonets without command, and immediately
replace their pieces in the position they were in before the signal.
INSTRUCTION
OF
OFFICERS.
60.
The instruction of officers can be perfected only by joining theory
to practice. The colonel will often practise them in marching and in
estimating distances, and he will carefully endeavor to cause them
to take steps equal in length and swiftness. They will also be
exercised in the double quick step.
61.
The instruction of officers will include all the Titles in this
system of drill, as well as a perfect knowledge of the system of
firing as proscribed by the War Department.
62.
Every officer will make himself perfectly acquainted with the bugle
signals; and should, by practice, be enabled, if necessary, to sound
them. This knowledge, so necessary in general instruction, becomes
of vital importance on actual service in the field.
INSTRUCTION
OF
SERGEANTS.
63.
As the discipline and efficiency of a company materially depend on
the conduct and character of its sergeants, they should be selected
with care, and properly instructed in all the duties appertaining to
their rank.
64.
Their theoretical instruction should include the School of the
Soldier, the School of the Company, and the Drill for Skirmishers;
as also a knowledge of the principles of firing. They should
likewise be well instructed in their duties as battalion guides.
65.
The captain selects from the corporals in his company, those whom he
judges fit to be admitted to the theoretical instruction of the
sergeants.
INSTRUCTION
OF
CORPORALS.
66.
Their theoretical instruction should include the School of the
Soldier, with a knowledge of firing.
67.
The captain selects from his company a few privates, who may be
admitted to the theoretical instruction of the corporals.
68.
As the instruction of sergeants and corporals, is intended
principally to qualify them for the instruction of the privates,-
they should be taught not only to execute, but to explain
intelligibly every thing they may be required to teach.
COMMANDS.
There
are three kinds.
69.
The command of caution,
which is
attention.
70.
The preparatory
command, which
indicates the movement which is to be executed.
71.
The command of execution,
such as march
or halt, or in the
manual of arms, the part of command which causes an execution.
72.
The tone of command distinct, and of a loudness should be animated,
proportioned to the number of men under instruction.
73.
The command attention
is pronounced at
the top of the voice, dwelling on the last syllable.
74.
The command of execution
will be pronounced
in a tone firm and brief.
75.
The commands of caution and the preparatory commands are herein
distinguished by italic,
those of execution
by CAPITALS.
76.
Those preparatory commands which, from their length, are difficult
to be pronounced at once, must be divided into two or three parts,
with an ascending progression in the tone of command, but always in
such a manner that the tone of execution may be more energetic and
elevated; the divisions are indicated by a hyphen. The parts of
commands which are placed in a parenthesis, are not pronounced.
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