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DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
A RANK is composed of men abreast of each other.
A FILE is a man in rank; or two or more men, one be-hind another in ranks.
FRONT is the direction perpendicular to the alignment of a body of troops and before it, either in column or in line.
CENTRE is the middle of such a body.
WINGS are the two grand divisions into which a regiment, or an army, is divided, when in line.
FLANK is the right or left side of a column, or line,
INTERVAL is the vacant space between two bodies of troops, or between files.
The interval between two troopers in rank is 4 inches from knee to knee.
Distance is the vacant space between any two subdivisions in column.
When a body of troops is formed in column of platoons, the distances prescribed are measured from the fore feet of the horses of one rank to the fore feet of the horses of another rank.
DEPTH is the space included between the head and the rear of a column.
The depth of a regiment In close column is about equal to a platoon front multiplied by the number of squadrons.
To estimate the front of a troop, and the depth of a column, it is necessary to know that a horse, when mounted, occupies in breadth one yard. The length of a horse is considered three yards.
By the CROUP is always meant the rear extremity of the horse.
ALIGNMENT is the placing of men, or troops, on the same line.
When a body of troops Is to form and align itself on another, it halts one horse’s length in rear of the line of formation.
A COLUMN is the disposition of a body of troops In subdivisions, one behind another.
OPEN COLUMN is formed of subdivisions, having between them the distance necessary to form in line in every way, being generally of platoons, the column of maneuvre. That column is distinguished by the name, open column.
CLOSE COLUMN is formed of squadrons, with a distance of platoon front from one to another. The object of this disposition is to give the least possible depth to the column.
DOUBLE COLUMN is formed by the advance from the centre of a line, by platoons at wheeling distance, the right wing left in front, the left wing right in front: the two columns preserving an interval between their flanks.
POINTS OF DIRECTION serve to point out the direction In which a troop in line, or in column, is to march; or elms Ic mark the right and left of a line.
INTERMEDIATE POINTS are those taken between the fixed points They are used to preserve the desired direction during the march, or to insure the rectitude of the formation of the lines.
The two sergeants on the flank, who are not counted in the rank, are the right guide and left guide of their respective squadrons.
In the oblique march the guide Is on the side towards which the march is made; and when the primitive direction is resumed, after having obliqued, the guide is where it was before having obliqued.
In a column composed of cavalry and infantry, the guides of the cavalry cover the second file of the subdivisions of Infantry on the side of the guides. In line, the officers who are in front of the squadrons align themselves on the rear rank of the infantry.
WHEEL is a circular movement executed by a body of troops in line; each of the men describes the arc of a circle in proportion to his distance from the pivot.
ABOUT FACE, or WHEEL, is to face or wheel so as to reverse the front.
RIGHT, or LEFT FACE, is to face at right angles to the former front.
RIGHT HALF, or LEFT HALFFACE, or WHEEL, is a wheel of 45 degrees.
PIVOT is the man of the flank on which the wheel is made; there are two kinds, the fixed pivot and the movable pivot.
The pivot is fixed whenever he turns upon himself; it is movable when he describes an arc of a circle.
The arc of a circle described by the pivot of a rank of two, of four, of eight, or of a platoon making the fourth of a wheel, is 5 yards; and for a squadron it is 20 yards.
PLOYMENT is the movement by which a regiment forms from line into close column
DEPLOYMENT is the movement by which a regiment forms from close column into line.
FORMATION is the regular placing of all the fractions of a body of troops in any prescribed order.
PACES: There are three kinds: the walk, the trot, and the gallop.
On foot there are three kinds of step: the common step, quick step, and the double quick step.
On foot the movements are executed habitually at the quick step, without the command being given. When they are to he executed at the common step, or double quick, the command should signify it.
The pace, when used as a measure, is 3 feet.
On foot the common step is at the rate of 90 per minute; the quick step is at the rate of 110 per minute; the double quick step is at the rate of 165 per minute.
THE DIRECT MARCH us that which is executed by troops in line or in column, to move off perpendicularly to their alignment.
THE MARCH BY A FLANK is that by which ground is gained to the right or left, after having made the fourth of a wheel.
THE OBLIQUE MARCH is that by which, when moving forward, ground is gained towards one of the flanks without changing the front. There are two kinds, the individual oblique march and the oblique march by troop.
The individual oblique march is that which is executed by an individual movement of each man.
The oblique march by troop is that which is executed by the movement, at the same time, of each of the subdivisions of atroop in line.
COUNTER MARCH, is a movement by which the men of a rank march to form themselves facing the rear, parallel to the first formation.
THE CHARGE is a direct and impetuous march, the object of which is to strike the enemy.
SKIRMISHERS are men dispersed in front, in rear, or on the flanks of a troop, to cover its movements or its position.
OBSTACLE is anything in the nature of the ground which obliges troops in line to ploy a part of their front.
DEFILE is a passage which compels a line to ploy into column, or a column to diminish its front.
EVOLUTIONS are the regular movements by which a regiment passes from one order to another.
Evolutions of the line, are these same movements executed by several regiments. Their application, combined with the position or movements of the enemy, is called maneuvres.
COMMANDS: There are three kinds:
The command of caution, which is “Attention.” it is the signal to preserve immobility and to give attention.
The preparatory command. It indicates the movement which is to be executed.
The command of execution, at which the action is commenced
The tone of command should be animated, distinct, and of a loudness proportioned to the troop which is commanded.
Preparatory commands should be uttered with all possible distinctness.
In commands of execution articulation is not so necessary; hut they should be prolonged, because the movement which is to follow them being communicated from the man to the horse. all jerking or abruptness is thereby avoided; and they will be better heard amid the noise of cavalry in motion.
In the manual of arms, the part of the command which causes an execution should be pronounced in a firm and brief tone.
The commands of caution, and the preparatory commands, are distinguished by italics; those of execution, by CAPITALS.
A TIME is one of the parts into which an action Is divided to facilitate the instruction and execution. A motion is a further subdivision with the same object.
(The book of signals is at the end of the work.)
1. The general.
2. Boots and saddles.
3. To horse.
4. The assembly.
5. To arms.
6. To the standard.
7. The march. (It also answers for a quick step on foot.)
8. The charge.
9. The rally.
10. Reveille.
11. Stable call.
12. Watering call.
13. Breakfast call.
14. Assembly of the guard.
15. Orders for the orderly sergeants.
16. Assembly of the trumpeters.
17. Retreat.
18. Fatigue call.
19. Dinner call.
20. Distributions.
21. Drill call.
22. Officers call.
23. The recall.
24. Sick call.
25. Tattoo.
26. To extinguish lights.
For the service of skirmishers.
1. Forward.
2. Halt.
3. To the left.
4. To the right.
5. The about.
6. Change direction to the right.
7. Change direction to the left.
8. Trot.
9. Gallop.
10. To commence firing.
11. To cease firing.
12. To charge as foragers.
The rally is No~ 9, general signals.
To change the gait to a walk, halt, and forward are sounded.
NOTE—The recall serves to withdraw troops, so that they rejoin the main body, or the commander, at the ordinary gait; and also for the cessation of exercises.
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