1812 Infantry Tactics

War Department, MARCH 30th, 1812. The annexed regulations are hereby ordered, for the government of the Infantry of the Army of the United States. Commanding Officers of regiments will report to the Brigadier Generals, Brigadier Generals to the Major Generals, Major Generals to the Department of War, such alterations and improvements as experience may suggest.

Page 3, line 12th, strike out "platoon," insert "company." 6, line 6th, take the dash out of the command, "to the right face."

16, line 7th, strike out the comma after "through." 18, line 18th, strike out "load arms," insert "open pan." 31,34, 35, 51, 52, insert a dash in the command, "Right about-face."

45, line 5th from the bottom, strike out "To," insert "On." 53, line 17th, strike out "platoons," insert "companies." 61, after the 18th line, insert "ARTICLE 111." 124, after the 23d line, insert "ARTICLE in."

SECTION III.
DRILL OF THE COMPANY,
LESSON I.	25
ARTICLE I. Opening ranks,	25
ARTICLE II. Dressing at open order,	26
ARTICLE III. Manual exercise,	26
ARTICLE IV. Closing ranks,	27
ARTICLE V. Dressing at close order,	27
LESSON II.
ARTICLE I. Loading in quick time,	28
ARTICLE II. Loading in quickest time,	29
ARTICLE III. Firing by the company,	29
ARTICLE IV. Firing by file,	30
ARTICLE V. Firing to the rear,	30
LESSON III.
ARTICLE I. Marching in a line,	31
ARTICLE II. To halt and dress the company,	32
ARTICLE III. The march oblique,	33
ARTICLE IV. To mark time, march in quick time, and step back	34
ARTICLE V. To march to the rear,	34
LESSON IV.
ARTICLE I. Marching by a flank,	35
ARTICLE II. To change direction by file,	36
ARTICLE III. To halt and front the company, marching by a flank,	36
ARTICLE IV. The company marching by a flank,
to form line by file to the right or left,	36
ARTICLE V. The company marching by a flank,
to form in line or platoons on the march,	37
LESSON V.
ARTICLE I. To form column of platoons from the line,	38
ARTICLE II. To march in column,	39
ARTICLE III. To change direction in column,	40
ARTICLE IV. To halt the column,	40
ARTICLE V. To form in line to the right or left,	41
LESSON VI.
ARTICLE I. To break off files to the rear, and bring them again into line,	42
ARTICLE II. To march in column by the route step,	43
ARTICLE III. To break into platoons, and form company,	43
ARTICLE IV. To countermarch,	44
ARTICLE V. Being in column by platoons, to form line on the right or left,	45

SECTION IV.

DRILL OF THE BATTALION,

PART I.

ARTICLE I To open the ranks,

ARTICLE II. Manual exercise,

ARTICLE III. Loading in the quickest time, and the firings,

PART II.

Various modes of forming

Column from the Line,

ARTICLE 1. Wheeling by companies to the right or left into column,

ARTICLE II. To form the open column by filing by companies to the rear,

ARTICLE III. To form close column from the line,

PART III.

ARTICLE I. To march in column at fall distance of companies,

ARTICLE II. Column of route,

To form platoons on the march,

To form companies on the march,

ARTICLE III. To change the direction,

ARTICLE IV. Change of direction by the prompt manoeuvre,

ARTICLE V. To halt the column,

ARTICLE VI. To close the column,

ARTICLE VII. To march in close column,

ARTICLE VIII. To change direction in column, at half or platoon distance.

ARTICLE IX. To change the direction of the close column,

ARTICLE X. To countermarch,

ARTICLE XI. To form divisions from close column of companies, at the halt,

PART IV.

Different Modes of forming the Line from Columns,

ARTICLE I. Methods of ascertaining the line to be formed on,

ARTICLE II. Different methods of forming a column at full distance,

right in front, into line,

To form the line by inversion,

To form the line on the right,

To form the line to the front,

To form the line faced to the rear,

ARTICLE III. To form the line by two kinds of movement,

ARTICLE IV. Different methods of forming a column

at half distance, right in front into line,

Column at half distance, right in front, to the left in line,

Column at half distance, right in front, on the right in line,

Column at half distance, to form to the front in line,

Column at half distance, to form facing to the rear in line,

ARTICLE V. To display the close column into line,

PART V.

To March in Line,

ARTICLE I. To march in line to the front,

ARTICLE II. To pass obstacles when marching in line to the front or rear,

ARTICLE III. To change direction when marching in line,

ARTICLE IV. To march in line obliquely,

ARTICLE V. To halt the battalion marching to the front, and to dress it,

ARTICLE VI. To march in retreat,

ARTICLE VII. To halt the battalion marching in retreat,

and face it to the front,

ARTICLE VIII. To march in line by a flank,

ARTICLE IX. To form the battalion marching by a flank, into line by file,

ARTICLE X. Passage of lines,

Movement of the first line in retreat,

Movement of the second line in passing lines,

ARTICLE XI. To change front,

ARTICLE XII. To pass a defile in retreat by the right or left wing,

ARTICLE XIII. To form the column of attack

To display the column of attack,

ARTICLE XIV. Of rallying when dispersed,

SECTION V.

EVOLUTIONS OF THE BRIGADE,

Places of the commander in chief, of brigadier generals, and of colonels in line,

General rules for the words of command,

Formation of a regiment in line before its quarters,

Formation and order of march of the escort of the colours,

Honours paid to the colours,

PART II.

Various modes of forming column from the Line

ARTICLE I. Wheeling by companies to the right or left,

ARTICLE II. To form the open column by filing by companies to the rear,

ARTICLE III. To break into column to the right in order to march towards the left,

ARTICLE IV. To form the close column from the line,

PART III.

ARTICLE I. To march in column at full distance,

ARTICLE II. Column of route

ARTICLE III. Change of direction of an open column at full distance of companies,

ARTICLE IV. Change of direction by the prompt manoeuvre,

ARTICLE V. To halt the column,

ARTICLE VI. To close the column to half distance or into close column,

ARTICLE VII. To march in column at half distance, or in close column,

ARTICLE VIII. Change of direction of a column at half distance,

ARTICLE IX. Changing the direction of a close column,

ARTICLE X. To countermarch,

ARTICLE XI. Being in column of companies at the halt, to form divisions,

PART IV.

Different methods of forming in Line from open and close Columns,

ARTICLE I. Methods of determining the line,

ARTICLE II. Different methods of passing from open column into line,

Column at full distance, with the right in front, to form to the left into line,

To form the line by inversion,

General rules for formations in succession,

To form the column at full distance,

the right in front, on the right in line,

To form the column at full distance, to the front in line,

The column at full distance, with the right in front, to face to the rear in line,

ARTICLE III. To form the line by two kinds of movement,

ARTICLE IV. Different methods of forming a column

at half distance into line,

To form the column at half distance,

with the right in front, to the left in line,

To form the column at half distance,

with the right in front, on the right in line,

To form the column at half distance, to the front in line,

To form the column at half distance, facing to the rear in line,

ARTICLE V. Of close columns,

To display the close column faced to the front in line,

To display the close column faced to the rear in line,

To display the close column to the left in line,

To display the close column to the right in line,

PART V.

ARTICLE I. To march in line,

ARTICLE II. To change the direction when marching in line,

ARTICLE III. To halt and dress the line,

ARTICLE IV. Firing advancing,

ARTICLE V. To march in retreat,

ARTICLE VI. To change the direction when marching in retreat,

ARTICLE VII. To fire when retreating in line,

ARTICLE VIII. To pass a defile to the front,

ARTICLE IX. To pass a defile to the rear,

ARTICLE X. Changes of front,

Change of front by two lines,

Changing the front perpendicularly forward,

on the extremity of the right wing of the first line,

Change of front perpendicularly to the rear,

upon the extremity of the right wing of the first line,

Changing the front perpendicularly on the centre of the first line,

the left wing thrown forward,

Changing the front obliquely forward upon the extremity

of the right wing of the first line,

ARTICLE XI. Of echellon movements,

ARTICLE XII. To retreat in chequer,

ARTICLE XIII. Passage of lines,

ARTICLE XIV. To oppose cavalry,

PART THE SECOND.

SECTION I.

Of the March of an Army,

ARTICLE I. The order of the march,

ARTICLE II. Of the baggage on a march,

SECTION II.

Duties of the Camp,

ARTICLE I. Order of encampment,

ARTICLE II. Manner of entering a camp,

ARTICLE III. Police of the camp,

ARTICLE IV. Of roll calls,

ARTICLE V. Of the inspection of companies,

ARTICLE VI. Of the different beats of the drum,

SECTION III.

Of the Service of the Guards,

ARTICLE I. Of the different guards with their use,

ARTICLE II. Of the grand parade,

ARTICLE III. Of relieving guards and sentinels,

ARTICLE IV. Instructions to officers on guard,

ARTICLE V. Method of going and receiving the grand rounds,

ARTICLE VI. Honours due from guards to general officers, and others,

SECTION IV.

Of the Arms and Ammunition,

with the Method of preserving them.

SECTION V.

Of Reviews,

ARTICLE I. Of reviews of parade,

ARTICLE II. Of reviews of inspection,

SECTION VI.

Instructions,

ARTICLE I. Instructions for the commandant of a regiment,

ARTICLE II. Instructions for the adjutant,

ARTICLE III. Instructions for the quarter master,

ARTICLE IV. Instructions for the captain,

ARTICLE V. Instructions to an officer commanding a post,

ARTICLE VI. Instructions for the first sergeant of a company,

ARTICLE VII. Instructions for the sergeants and corporals,

ARTICLE VIII. Instructions for the private soldier,

ARTICLE IX. Instructions for the drum major,

SECTION VII.

Various Regulations,

ARTICLE I. Regulation relative to subordination,

ARTICLE II. Regulation respecting roll-calls,

ARTICLE III. Regulation of the salute with sword or colours,

ARTICLE IV. Regulation respecting funerals,