CAVALRY TACTICS.

TITLE FIRST.

BASIS OF INSTRUCTION.

ARTICLE FIRST.

 FORMATION OF A REGIMENT OF TEN SQUADRONS IN LINE.

 In all parades and exercises the companies will be designated as squadrons.

The squadrons of a regiment in line are posted with Intervals equal to a platoon front between the sergeants on their flanks; the intervals are equal at any one time, and never less than 12 paces. When the average of platoon front is much above this, the Colonel announces the in­creased uniform interval.

The squadrons are distinguished by the denomination of first, second, third, &c., counting from right to left; they retain these designations in the evolutions whatever may be their relative positions But the 1st Captain commands the squadron on the right; the 2d, the tenth (on the left;) the 3d, the fifth from the right; the 4th, the third from the right; the 5th, the seventh from the right; the 6th, the second from the right; the 7th, the ninth from the right; the 8th, the sixth from the right; the 9th, the fourth from the right; and the 10th, the eight from the. right

This is the habitual and parade order of the squadrons; but in sudden formations they will take post as they ar­rive at the place of assembly ; and should a Captain be permanently absent, or absent for a campaign, the Commander of the regiment will assign his squadron position according to the rank of the actual commander.

The formation is in one rank

Each squadron is composed of two, three, or four platoons, according to its size. When of 40 or more files, it Is divided into four platoons; of 30 to 40 files, into three platoons; of 20 to 30 tiles, into two. If possible, the files of the platoons are of even number. The third and fourth platoons are made the largest if necessary to accomplish this. The platoons are numbered at first from right to left, and retain their numerical designations whatever relative positions they may subsequently occupy.

That which has been prescribed for the formation mounted is applicable to the formation on foot.

 Posts of the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the field and Staff of a regiment in line.

 The Colonel 50 paces in front of the centre of the regiment, having a chief trumpeter behind him.

The Lieutenant Colonel 25 paces in advance of the centre of the right wing.

The 1st Major 25 paces in advance of the centre of the left wing

The 2d Major 25 paces in advance of the centre of the regiment.

The Colonel moves wherever his presence may be necessary.

The Lieutenant Colonel and Majors move wherever the Colonel may think proper to direct them.

The Adjutant accompanies the Colonel.

The Regimental Quartermaster is 2 paces to the right of the sergeant major, or accompanies the Colonel, as he may direct.

The sergeant major is in line with the regiment 2 paces from the right flank.

The quartermaster sergeant is in line with the regiment 2 paces from the left flank.

The standard bearer is on the right of the guidon of the centre, or right centre squadron; a corporal is 1 pace behind him.

The regimental marker is 1 pace behind the second file from the right of the regiment

General Staff Officers serving with the regiment 25 paces In rear of the right of the regiment.

The band, formed in two ranks, is 25 paces in rear of the centre of the regiment

 Post of the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of a Squadron in line.

 The Captain is posted In front of the centre of the squadron, the croup of his horse 4 paces in advance of the heads of the horses in line.

The Senior Lieutenant commands the 1st platoon; the next in rank, the 4th platoon; the next, the 2d; and the next, the 3d.  Each is posted in front of the centre of his platoon, with the croup of his horse 1 pace in advance of the heads of the horses In line. Sergeants supply the places of commanders of platoons, when there are not enough officers present.

The 1st sergeant is posted on the right of the squadron not counted in the rank; he is the squadron right guide.

The next sergeant In rank is posted on the left of the squadron, not counted in the rank; he is the squadron left gulde.

The third sergeant In rank is the guldon bearer, and is the left file of the 2d platoon.

 The other sergeants and corporals are placed according to rank, as follows:

Left of 1st platoon.

Right of 4th platoon.

Right of 3d platoon.

Right of 1st platoon.

Left of 4th platoon.

Left of 3d platoon.

Right of 2d platoon.

The 1st trumpeter is posted one pace behind the 4th file from the right of the 1st platoon.

The other trumpeter, one pace behind the 4th file from the left of the 4th platoon.

The farrier, one pace behind the centre of the second platoon.

The sadler, one pace behind the centre of the third platoon.

There is a size-roll of the squadron, and with some allow­ance for weight of man and horse, the tallest horses are assigned to the tallest men; the men are posted according to this roll, the tallest men to the right and left of the centre, the lowest at the flanks.

This invariable position of the soldiers is also important, for its encouragement to companionship and mutual assist­ance in the sets of fours, and to a feeling of responsibility of each to the others in conduct and bravery.  

Assembly of a Regiment Mounted.

 When a regiment is to mount boots and saddles is sounded. At this signal the horses are saddled, bridled, and fully equipped for the occasion.

At the signal to horse, non-commissioned officers and troopers lead into rank. The 1st sergeant calls the roll, or the sergeants of divisions may be required to call the division rolls; the officers are present in superintendence.

The Captain then, or the senior Lieutenant by his order, orders the squadron to count fours in each platoon, and to mount.

The Captain, first observing that every one is In his prescribed place, and the general appearance of the squadron, marches it, habitually by fours, to the place of assembly. If required, on reaching there he reports absentees, by his 1st sergeant, to the Adjutant.

In case of alarm or surprise, to horse is sounded; the men then saddle, pack up, bridle, and mount with the utmost celerity, and repair to the place of assembly, which is always previously designated.

On occasions of parade, the trumpeters and band will proceed, as soon as mounted, to the right of the parade ground, and be there formed In two or more ranks. Fifteen minutes after to horse, the trumpeters sound the assembly, for marching the squadrons to the parade.

 Assembly of a Regiment Dismounted.

 When a regiment is to turn out under arms on foot, “to arms” will be sounded; at this signal the squadrons will be formed and inspected as prescribed

For parade, the regiment will be formed in line of columns, as when mounted, but with intervals of two paces.

The squadron officers will take place four paces in front of the first platoons, in order of rank from right to left, with equal intervals; the left guides on the right of the second platoons. 

DRESS PARADE AND GUARD MOUNTING.

 Dress parade and mounting of guards, mounted, are con­ducted as prescribed in Army Regulations, with the following and other more obvious variations, necessary from the difference of cavalry and infantry.

The officers take post 12 paces, the non-commissioned officers 6 paces, in front of the guard.

After inspection the officers take post 2 paces in front of the centre of their guard or their platoons; a non-commis­sioned officer commanding a guard the same.

The guard passes in review by guard, platoons, or fours, having regard to its strength.

In wet weather the sabres will not be drawn by guards for inspection, or any occasion of ceremony

At regimental parade the field officers and captains are placed as in line; the platoon commanders, exclusively commissioned officers, are aligned on the captains; the ad­jutant and sergeant major are posted 4 paces from the right and left of the line; 1st sergeants take post as right guides of squadrons.

After the music, the Adjutant rides to a point 25 paces In front of the centre of the line, faces it, and commands:

     1.  Attention.   2. Draw—SABRE.   3. Present—SABRE.

 The Colonel concludes the exercises with, Return—SABRE. The commands for the advance of the line of officers are given in a tone only loud enough to be heard by them.

If the Colonel desires it, for the purpose of parade, he will divide the squadron into two platoons, and form the regimental parade in line of platoon columns at 9 paces distance—from the horse’s croups in the front line to their heads in the other—with intervals of 6 paces.

The officers take post 4 paces In front of the first platoons, in order of rank, from right to left, with equal intervals; if but one officer, in front of the centre of the platoon; left guides on the right of the 2d platoons.

To leave the parade, the squadrons will be commanded:

1.  Right forward—Fours right. 2. MARCH. Or, if by the rear, I Fours left—Columns left. 2. MARCH. In both cases the rear platoon does not march until the leading platoon has gained sufficient ground for their properly uniting.

THE STANDARD.

Generally, when the standard Is used, the standard bearer goes for it to the quarters or tent of the Colonel, escorted by two sergeants.

On special occasions, and at least once a year, it Is escort­ed and received with ceremony.

Two platoons of the standard squadron, or one of the flank squadrons, will be detached, under the orders of the Colonel, to proceed to his quarters, as soon as mounted. It will be halted in their front in column of platoons, with either flank toward the quarters. The standard bearer re­ceives the standard from the hands of the adjutant or ser­pent major, and takes his post In the centre of the interval between the platoons, with a sergeant on each side of him; the column Is then put in motion, preceded 20 paces by a chief trumpeter and four trumpeters.

The column approaches a flank of the regiment, march­ing parallel with and about 100 paces from its front, the trumpets sounding the march.

The Colonel commands the sabres to be drawn. The es­cort is halted when nearly opposite the dank, the standard-bearer and two sergeants pm on, and when 60 paces In front of the Colonel face him and the regiment and halt.

The Colonel then orders sabres presented, and presents sabre himself; the trumpets sound to the standard. The standard hearer then takes his place in line.

The escort, the moment the standard bearer leaves it, turns and is marched by the rear to its place in line.

When there is a band It may be substituted for the chief trumpeter and four trumpeters.

On the return of the standard it has the same escort. 

Salute with the Standard.

 When the standard is to pay honors, the standard bearer salutes in the following manner, in two times:

1.At 4 paces from the person who is to be saluted, lower the lance gently to the front, bending as near to the horizontal line as possible.

2. Raise the lance gently when the person saluted has passed 4 paces.

 Salute with the Sabre.

 When the superior and other officers are to salute, whether on horseback or on foot, at a halt or marching, they do it in four times.

1.    At 4 paces from the person to be saluted, raise the sabre perpendicularly, the point upwards, the edge to the left, the hand opposite to and one foot from the right shoulder, the elbow 6 inches from the body.

2.    Lower the blade, extending the arm to Its full length, the hand in quarte, until the point of the sabre is near the foot.

3.    Raise the sabre quickly, the point upwards, as in the first time, after the person saluted has passed 4 paces.

4.    Carry the sabre to the shoulder.

 

THE ORDER OF BATTLE.

 The order of battle for a regiment of ten squadrons is the four right or left squadrons deployed in line; the four squadrons of the other flank in line of squadron columns 300 paces in rear of the first line. The 5th squadron, In column of platoons, generally left in front, is 50 paces be­hind the right flank of the first line, the line of its left guides being a platoon front to the right of the extremity of that flank the 6th squadron, in column of platoons, right in front, similarly disposed to the rear of the left flank of the first line.

If a squadron be absent, the second line will he composed of 3 squadrons, in columns immediately in rear of the first line; the 5th and 6th squadrons, counting from the flank which composes the first line, being always the flanking squadrons.

 The Lieutenant Colonel commands the second line, and is posted 25 paces in front of its centre.

The order of battle for a regiment of eight squadrons is as follows:

The six right or left squadrons deployed in line; the 7th and 8th (or 1st and 2d) squadrons are placed in columns of platoons, in rear of the right and left flanks of the line of battle, as described for the flank squadrons of the regiment of ten squadrons.

In the order of battle each field officer is attended by a trumpeter,

To change from line or order of review to order of battle in an eight squadron regiment, the 7th and 8th squadrons are wheeled by platoons (or by fours) to the right, and conducted by the shortest lines to their positions,

In a ten squadron regiment, the same for the 5th and 6^th squadrons; the Lieutenant Colonel takes command of the next four squadrons, wheels platoons right, column right, and to the left, after marching the proper distance to the rear.