At the command, MARCH, each platoon executes its wheel to the right, following the principles of the wheel on a fixed pivot, the marching flanks taking care to step off promptly together; the three left platoons carefully regulating by the right, so that they all complete the quarter circle at the same moment.

At the command, HALT, the marching flanks and all the troopers halt at the same instant, and remain motionless

The Captain commands HALT, so that, when executed, the wheels will be completed.

The chiefs of platoon, without leaving the centre of their platoons, observe that the movement is correctly executed; after the wheels, if any guide finds himself not in the direction of the one preceding him, he should not endeavor to correct his position until after the march is commenced.

During the movement, the guide passes to the rear of the second file from the left of the fourth platoon

The Captain assures himself that each officer and noncommissioned officer preserves the place assigned to him in this order of column. (Title 1st, article 2d.)

If the Captain, instead of HALT, gives the command, 3.FORWARD, the platoons move straight forward; the command, FORWARD, being given the moment before the wheels are completed. The Captain then gives a point of direction to the guide of the column.

338.—The squadron marching in line, to form it in open column, it is done on the same principles, at the same commands, the pivots halting at the command, MARCH.

To form the open column left in front is executed on the same principle, by inverse means, at the commands,

1. Platoons left wheel; 2. MARCH; 3. HALT.

TO MARCH IN OPEN COLUMN.

339.—In this order of column, the guides should preserve between them a distance equal to the front of their platoons, and regulate their gait upon that of the preceding guide; his gait is regulated by the chief of the leading platoon.

The preservation of the distances being the most essential point of the march in column, everything else should yield to it but the guides must endeavor to avoid changing the gait as much as possible, without the command; and if it happens that their distance is increased or diminished, the fault is repaired gradually and with steadiness.

The chiefs of platoon are answerable for the preservation of the distance, which, measured from the croup of the horses of one platoon to the head of the horses of the next platoon, is three paces or yards less than the number of troopers in the platoon.

The unevenness of the ground may make it sometimes impossible to preserve the direction of the guides; it is then sufficient to require the guide of each platoon to pass by the same points as the guide of the preceding platoon.

The leading platoon of a column should always commence the march moderately, in order to give the column time, from head to foot, to take a uniform and regular movement.

340 —The squadron being in open column, the Captain commands:

1. Forward. 2. MARCH.

At the command, MARCH, all the platoons put themselves inmotion at the same time.

Before the column commences the march, the Captain gives the guide of the first platoon a point of direction; this non-commissioned officer selects intermediate points, so as to be sure of marching straight. The fixed object given to the guide of the first platoon is also pointed out to the guide of the second. These two non-commissioned officers preserve during the march, the direction which has been given to them.

The guides of the third and fourth platoons keep exactly in the same direction.

CHANGES OF DIRECTION BY SUCCESSIVE WHEELS.

341.—In the open column the changes of direction are executed by successive wheels on a movable pivot, so that the march of the column may not be retarded. The arc of circle described by the pivots should be of 5 paces long.

The column being in march, to change the direction, the Captain commands:

Column left, or half left, (or right, or half right.)

At this command, the chief of the leading platoon commands:

1. Left—TURN; 2. FORWARD;

which Is executed on the principles of the wheel upon a movable pivot.

Each chief of platoon gives the same commands successively, so that his platoon may turn upon the same ground.

Immediately after having changed the direction of the column, the Captain gives a new point of direction to the guide of the first platoon.

The exact preservation of distances, after the changes of direction, depends upon the equality of the increase given to the gait by the marching flanks. It is then important that the leading platoon should turn neither too rapidly nor too slowly; and that each platoon should regulate the rapidity of its wheel by that of the one which precedes it.

INDIVIDUAL OBLIQUE MARCH.

342.—The squadron marching in open column, right In front, to cause it to gain ground towards one of its flanks, without changing the front of the column, the Captain commands:

1. Left (or right) oblique, 2. MARCH.

Which is executed at the same time, In each platoon, as prescribed, No. 270.

The guides of the three last platoons pay attention to preserve their distances, and to keep in a direction exactly parallel to that o the guide of the first platoon.

To resume the primitive direction, the Captain commands:

FORWARD.

Which is executed at the same time, in each platoon, as prescribed, No. 270

CHANGE OF GAIT IN OPEN COLUMN.

343.—The column is made to pass from the walk to the trot, and from the trot to the walk; and when the platoons execute these changes of gait with uniformity and steadiness, the column is made to commence the march at a trot; and to halt while marching at the trot.

The Captain observes that the platoons halt, step off, and change the gait at the same instant.

He directs the head of the column sometimes to increase or diminish the gait slightly, without command, to judge of the attention of the guides, and to habituate them to conforming to the movements of the guides who precede them.

TO BREAK BY FOURS, BY TWOS, AND BY FILE, TO FORM TWOS, FOURS, AND PLATOONS, AT THE SAME GAIT.

344 —The squadron marching in open column, right in front, to break by fours at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. By fours. 2. MARCH.

At the first command, the chief of the first platoon places himself one pace in front of the third file from the right; the right guide places himself on his right.

At the command, MARCH, each platoon breaks by fours, as prescribed, No. 209.

345—The squadron marching in column by fours, right In front, to break by twos, at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. By twos. 2. MARCH.

This is executed throughout the squadron, as prescribed for the platoon, No. 228.

346.—The squadron marching in column by twos, right in front, to break by file at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. By file. 2. MARCH.

Which is executed as prescribed, No. 345, to break by twos; the right guide placing himself behind the chief of the first platoon.

347.—The squadron marching in open column at the trot, right in front, to break by fours, at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. By fours. 2. MARCH.

At the command, MARCH, each platoon breaks by fours, as prescribed, No. 273.

The same principles are applicable to breaking by twos and by file, throughout the squadron, as in the platoon, No. 230.

348.—When the open column is at the gallop, these movements are executed on the principles just prescribed, each platoon, except its right set of fours, passing to the trot, and resuming successively the gallop, as the fours oblique, in order to enter the column; and to to break by twos or file, the whole column, except the leading two, or one, passing to the trot, and resuming the gallop as the files break, in order to enter the column.

349 —The squadron marching In column by file, right in front, to form twos at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form twos. 2. MARCH.

This is executed throughout the squadron, as prescribed for the platoon, No. 225.

350 —The squadron marching in column by twos, right in front, to form fours, at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form fours. 2. MARCH.

Which is executed as prescribed, No. 349, in order to form twos.

351—The squadron marching in column by fours, right in front, to form platoon at the same gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form platoons. 2. MARCH. 3. HALT.

At the command, MARCH, each platoon is formed as prescribed, No. 275; after marching 20 paces, the Captain gives the command, HALT, when each platoon halts.

352.—When the column of fours is at the trot, each platoon at once conforms to No. 276; the Captain omits the command guide left.

In the column by file, or by twos, at the trot, to form twos or four, those leading the squadron pass to the walk.

When the column is at the gallop, to form twos, fours, and platoons, the same principles are observed.

TO BREAK BY FOURS, BY TWOS, AND BY FILE; TO FORM TWOS, FOURS, AND PLATOONS, IN DOUBLING THE GAIT.

353 —The squadron marching in open column, right In front, to break by fours, In doubling the gait, the Captain commands:

1. By fours—trot. 2. MARCH.

At the first command, the chief of the first platoon and the right guide place themselves as prescribed, No. 344.

At the command, MARCH, each platoon breaks by fours, as prescribed, No. 278.

To break by twos and by file is executed throughout the squadron, as prescribed for the platoon, Nos. 236, 237.

354 —When the column is at the trot, to break at the gallop, the same principles are observed at the commands:

1. By fours—gallop; 2 MARCH.

When the column is at the gallop, these movements are always executed at the same gait, as prescribed, No. 348

355 —The squadron marching in column by file, to form twos, in doubling the gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form twos—trot. 2. MARCH

This is executed throughout the squadron, as prescribed for the platoon, No. 232.

356.—The squadron marching in column by twos, to form fours, in doubling the gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form fours—trot. 2. MARCH.

Which is executed as prescribed, No. 355, In order to form twos.

357.—The squadron marching in column by fours, to form platoon, in doubling the gait, the Captain commands:

1. Form platoons—trot. 2. MARCH.

At the command, MARCH, each platoon Is formed at once, as prescribed, No. 281.

358.—When the column is at the trot, these formations are executed at the gallop, following the same principles.

When the column is at the gallop, these movements are executed as prescribed, No 352, the head of the column, or the heads of platoons, as the case may be, passing to the trot at the command MARCH.

The open column marching left in front, It breaks by fours, by twos, and by file, at the same gait, and in doubling the gait, on the same principles, by inverse means, at the commands:

1. By the left—by fours, (by twos or by file.) 2. MARCH.

359.—The foregoing movements are employed in passing defiles, the Captain placing himself always at the head of his squadron in order to direct the movements of it according to the localities.

THE SQUADRON MARCHING IN OPEN COLUMN, TO MARCH TO THE REAR.

360.—The squadron marching in open column, the captain commands:

1. Platoons left about wheel, (or right about wheel.) 2. MARCH. 3. FORWARD.

At the first command, the trooper on the left of each platoon, who becomes the pivot, prepares to halt, without however slackening his pace.

At the command, MARCH, the pivots halt, and the marching flanks wheel at the gait in which the column was marching, regulating themselves upon the outer flank of the platoon at the head of the column, so as to complete the first half of the movement at the same instant.

The marching flanks are then governed by the platoon, which becomes the head of the column after the movement Is completed.

The movement being nearly finished, the Captain commands: FORWARD.

During this movement, the right and left guides of the squadron invert their positions, the one in front being always aligned with the platoon, the one in rear behind the last platoon.

TO HALT THE COLUMN.

361 —The column being on the march, to halt it, the Captain commands:

1. Column. 2. HALT.

At the first command, all the platoons prepare to halt.

At the command, HALT, all the platoons halt at the same time.

After the command, HALT, there should be no movement In the platoons, the distances and directions should be corrected only in marching.

The Captain places himself behind the guide of the second platoon, to see if the guides of the first and second platoon have marched upon the point indicated; he also observes if the prescribed distances have been preserved. If they have not been, and if the guides have not marched upon the point indicated, the column is put again In march, in order to correct their distances and direction.

THE SQUADRON MARCHING IN OPEN COLUMN, TO FORM LINE, FACED TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT, TO THE FRONT, AND TO THE REAR.

362.—The squadron being in open column, right in front, to form it in line faced to the left, on its left flank, the Captain commands:

1. Left into line wheel. 2. MARCH. 3. Right—DRESS. 4. FRONT.

At the first command, the right guide moves upon the prolongation of the direction of the guides of the column, at the distance of the front of a platoon, facing the side towards which the line will be formed.

At the command, MARCH, the squadron wheels into line, the trooper on the left of each platoon serving as pivot, and turning upon his own ground and the fore feet of his horses.

The Captain commands, right—DRESS, the moment the marching flanks have nearly completed their movement.

At this command all the platoons align themselves.

The squadron being aligned, the Captain commands, FRONT.

During the wheel the left guide resumes his place in line.

363.—The Captain observes that the pivots execute their movements properly, and that the officers and troopers align themselves correctly.

The guide, who moves upon the prolongation of the guides of the column, should take rather too much ground than not enough. The conductor of the marching flank of the leading platoon should align himself upon this guide, without endeavoring to approach him.

364.—To form line to the left, on It. left flank, from open column, left in front, the commands are the same, and are executed in the same manner, except that the left guide takes his place where the right of the fourth platoon Is to rest; and the right guide resumes his place in line, (on the left.)

365.—To form the squadron in open column, left in front, the Captain commands:

1. Platoons, left wheel; 2 MARCH; 3. HALT;

which is executed as prescribed, No. 337, but by Inverse means.

366.—The squadron being in open column, left In front, to form it In line, faced to the right, on its right flank, the Captain commands:

1. Right into line wheel; 2. MARCH; 3. Left—DRESS; 4. FRONT;

which is executed as prescribed, No. 362, but by inverse means.

367.—To form line to the right, on its right flank, from open column, right in front, the commands are the same, and are executed in the same manner, with the exception of No. 304; the actions of the right and left guides being Inverse

368.—The column marching, the formations of line to the left and right may be made the same, and at the same commands; the pivots halting at the command, MARCH.

369.—The squadron marching in open column, right or left in front, to form line to the left or right, without halting, the Captain commands:

1. Platoons left (or right) wheel. 2. MARCH. 3. FORWARD 4. Guide right (or left.)

The marching flanks will regulate by that of the platoon at the head of the column. The pivots, halting at the word MARCH, promptly move off together at the command, FORWARD

This movement is executed at all the gaits.

370.—The squadron marching in open column, to form line, faced to the right or left, on the prolongation and In advance of its right or left flank, the Captain commands:

1. On right into line, (or on left into line) 2. MARCH. 3. Guide right, (or left.) 4. FRONT.

At the first command, the chief of the first platoon commands: Right.

At the command, MARCH, he commands: TURN; the platoon turns to the right and moves forward at the command FORWARD; when it has marched 20 paces, its chief commands:

HALT, and then Right—DRESS.

The other platoons continue to march forward without approaching the line; as soon as each one arrives abreast of the fourth file from the left of the platoon which should be on its right, its chief commands:

1. Right—TURN; 2. FORWARD;

this platoon then directs itself towards the place it is to occupy In line, and on arriving abreast of the croups of the horses in line Its chief commands:

1. HALT; 2. DRESS.

The squadron being aligned, the Captain commands: FRONT.

371.—The squadron being In open column, halted, or marching, to form it in line, faced to the front, upon the head and to the left, or to the right, of the column, the Captain commands:

1. Left front into line, (or right front into line.) 2. MARCH. 3. FRONT.

At the first command, the chief of the platoon in front commands, if at a halt, forward; the chiefs of the other platoons command: Left oblique.

The command, MARCH, is repeated by these officers; (the chief of the leading platoon omits it, if his platoon is in motion;) when it has marched 30 paces, he commands:

1. HALT; 2. Right—DRESS.

Each of the other chiefs of platoon, when his platoonarrive, opposite its place in line commands, FORWARD; when his platoon arrives with its horses’ heads in line of the croups of the horses on the right, he commands:1. HALT; 2. DRESS.

The squadron being aligned, the Captain commands, FRONT.

372.—The squadron being at a halt, or in motion, in open column, to form line faced to the rear, on the rear and to the left, or on the rear and to the right, of the column, the Captain first wheels the platoons about, No. 360, and then commands: Right—front into line, or Left— front into line; which are executed as prescribed in No. 371.

In the first case, he should usually wheel the platoons to the left about; in the last, to the right about; in either case, he may first halt, or he may give the command to be executed, at the moment the wheels are completed; or he may move forward a space before beginning the second movement.

373.—The squadron being halted, or in motion, in open column, to form line faced to the rear, on the head, and to the right of the column, the Captain forms, right —front into line, No. 371, and then commands:

1.Platoons left about (or right about) wheel. 2. MARCH. 3. HALT. 4. Right—DRESS. 5. FRONT.

To form the line on the head and to the left of the column, the Captain forms, left—front into line; and then wheels the platoons to the right about.

TO BREAK BY PLATOONS TO THE FRONT.

374.—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:

1. By platoon. 2. MARCH.

At the first command, the chief of the 1st platoon commands, forward; the others command, right oblique.

The chief of the 1st platoon repeats the command, MARCH; the chief of the 2d platoon, and successively those of the 3d and 4th command, MARCH, when the platoon on his right has moved a distance equal to three-fourths of a platoon front

When the 2d platoon arrives directly in rear of the 1st, its chief commands, FORWARD; and so in succession with the 3d and 4th platoons, at the moments of their arrival directly in rear of the 2d and 3d.

When the movement is to be made at the trot, that word is added to the preparatory command.

The squadron is broken, by the left, on the same principle, by inverse means, at the commands:

1. By the left— by platoon; 2. MARCH.

If in line, the 4th platoon he on the right, the 3d next, and so on, and the command be by platoon, the 4th platoon, on the right, leads; if the command be by the left— by platoon, the 1st platoon, on the left, leads.

TO BREAK BY PLATOONS TO THE REAR FROM THE RIGHT TO MARCH TO THE LEFT.

375.—The squadron being in line, the Captain commands:

1. Platoons from right to rear—to march to the left. 2. MARCH.

At the first command, the chief of the 1st platoon commands, right about wheel.

At the command, MARCH, repeated by him, this platoon executes its wheel to the right about; when nearly terminated, its chief commands: 1. FORWARD; 2. Guide Left. After marching 10 paces straight forward, he commands:

1. Right—TURN ; 2. FORWARD.

The chief of the 2d platoon, and successively those of the 3d and 4th, commands, right about wheel, when the chief of the platoon on his right commands, MARCH; and commands, MARCH, when that platoon has passed over two-thirds of its first wheel; each wheels about, marches 10 paces to the rear, and turns the same.

The squadron being in line, it is broken from the left to the rear to march to the right, on the same principle, by inverse means at the commands:

1. Platoons from left to rear— to march to the sight; 2. MARCH.

MOVEMENTS BY FOURS, THE SQUADRON BEING IN OPEN COLUMN.

376.—The squadron being In open column, to cause It to move to its left flank, the Captain commands:

1. Fours—Left. 2. MARCH. 3. Guide right.

At the command, MARCH, the wheels are executed In each platoon by fours, and the column marches by its left flank, as prescribed, No 283.

377.—If the column be marching, the commands are: 1. Fours—left; 2. Guide right, No. 284.

To resume the direct march, in open column, the Captain command:

Fours—RIGHT.

At this command the fours all wheel to the right, and move forward, with the guide left or right, as the right or left may be In front.

The open column gains ground to its right flank by inverse means and commands. To resume its first direction, without moving forward, the commands are:

1. Fours— LEFT; 2. HALT.

378.—The squadron being In open column, it may gain ground to the rear by a movement by fours; the Captain commands:

1. Fours—Left about. 2. MARCH. 3. Guide right.

If the left is in front, the command habitually would be:

1. Fours--right about; and 3. Guide left.

The column being in motion to the rear, to resume the march to the front, the Captain commands:

Fours—RIGHT ABOUT.

If he wishes it to halt, he adds: 2. HALT.

379.—In these movements, to the left, or to the right by fours, the chiefs of platoons move abreast of the first fours; the right and left guides preserve their places, facing in the new direction.

The fours being wheeled about, the chiefs of platoons march behind their platoons; the squadron guide With the platoon that has become in front, marches now on its flank as its guide; the other keeps his place on the flank of the platoon now in rear.

During the march hy flank, the Captain observes that the fours preserve their distances of four feet, and that the chiefs of platoons preserve the proper interval toward the side of the guide.

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