SCHOOL OF THE TROOPER, DISMOUNTED

 

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 maneuver. 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 else to 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 is 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 a troop 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 maneuvers.

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.

 

INSTRUCTION ON FOOT

1.—The object of this school being the individual and progressive instruction of the recruits, the instructor at first does not require a movement to be executed until he has given an exact explanation of it; and he executes himself the movement which he commands, so as to join example to precept. He accustoms the recruit to take by himself the position which is explained, touches him to rectify it only when required by his want of intelligence, and sees that all the movements are performed without precipitation. Each movement should be perfectly understood before passing to another. After they have been properly executed in the order laid down in each lesson, the instructor no longer confines himself to that order; on the contrary, he should change it, that he may judge of the intelligence of the men.

2. —The instructor allows the men to rest two or three times in the hour; for this purpose he commands REST. At the command REST the trooper is no longer required to preserve immobility, but will keep his left heel in its place.

3.—When the instructor wishes to commence the instruction, he commands, ATTENTION; at this command the trooper takes his position, remains motionless, and fixes his attention.

4.—The first principles of the position and those of the march are taught to each man individually, or, at most, to eight at a time. In the latter case they are placed on the mane line, one yard from each other, without being required to align themselves.

POSITION OF THE TROOPER DISMOUNTED

5. —The heels on the same line as near each other as the conformation of the man will permit;

The feet turned out equally, and forming with each other something less than a right angle;

The knees straight without stiffness;

The body erect on the hips, inclining a little forward;

The belly rather drawn in, and the breast advanced;

The shoulders square and falling equally;

The arms hanging near the side;

The palm of the hand turned a little to the front;

The head erect and square to the front, without constraint;

The chin somewhat drawn in;

The eyes straight to the front.

When the trooper is armed the left hand hangs by the side over the saber.

EYES RIGHT, EYES LEFT

6.—The instructor commands:

1. Eyes—Right. 2. FRONT.

At the first command, turn the head gently to the right. so that the corner of the left eye, next to the nose, may be on a line with the buttons of the jacket. At the command FRONT, turn the head gently to the front.

7.—The movement eyes left is executed after the same principles at the commands:

1. Eyes—Left. 2. FRONT.

8.—The instructor will take particular care that the movement of the head does not derange the squareness of the shoulders, which would happen if it were too sudden, or if the head were turned more than is necessary. As the trooper should turn the head only to align himself, and in the wheelings, it is important that he should be accustomed to turn it but very little.

RIGHT FACE, LEFT FACE, ABOUT FACE, RIGHT OBLIQUE FACE, LEFT OBLIQUE FACE.

9.—The instructor commands:

1. Right (or left.) 2.FACE. 1 time.

At the second command, raise the right foot slightly, turn on the left heel, raising the toes a little, and then replace the right heel by the aide of the left, and on the same line.

1. —About—FACE. 2 times.

1. At the first part of the command, make a half face to the right, turning on the left heel, place the right foot square behind the left, the hollow of it opposite to, and three inches from, the left heel.

2. At the command FACE, turn on both heels to face to the rear, raising the toes a little, the knees straight, and bring the right foot by the aide of the left.

11.—1. Right oblique (or left oblique.) 2. FACE 1. time.

At the second command, raise the right foot a little, turn upon the left, raising the toes slightly, and then replace the right heel by the side of the left, on the same line, making face 30 degrees to the right or left, (one-third of a right or left face.)

12—The instructor pays particular attention that the position of the body shall not be deranged by these movements.

COMMON STEP.

13.—The length of the common step is 2 feet 4 inches, measured from heel to heel its quickness is at the rate of 90 per minute.

14.—To explain the principles and mechanism of the step, the instructor places himself 8 or 10 paces in front, facing the squad he executes the step slowly himself.

He commands:

1. Forward. 2. MARCH.

At the command forward, throw the weight of the body on the right leg. At the command MARCH, carry forward the left foot, smartly and without a jerk, 2 feet 4 inches from the right, the knee straight, the toe a little depressed, and slightly turned out, the upper part of the body inclined forward; plant the left foot, the whole weight of the body being thrown on it; carry forward the right leg, smartly and without jerk, the foot near the ground; plant it at the same distance, and in the same manner as has just been explained for the left foot, and continue to march without crossing the legs or turning the shoulders, and with the face always to the front.

15.—To halt, the instructor commands:

1. Squad. 2. HALT.

At the command, bring the foot which is in rear by the side of the other, without shock.

16.—The instructor marks the cadence of the step from time to time by the command one, at the moment when the left foot should be planted; this cadence being regulated at the rate of 90 steps per minute.

TO CHANGE FEET.

17.—The instructor teaches this to the squad one at a time; it is used to catch the step when lost.

The foot that is being advanced from the rear is planted by the side of the other, which is instantly advanced in its stead so as not to lose the cadence.

TO MARCH BY A FLANK.

18—The men being in line at a halt, the instructor commands:

1. Right—FACE. 2. Forward. 3. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the whole file step off with animation together, with the left foot.

19.—A well-instructed man should at first march by the side of the leading man.

The instructor will cause the men to cover each other accurately. He will see that they do not look downwards, and do not bend the knee.

TO FACE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN MARCHING.

20.—The squad marching, the instructor commands:

1. By the right flank. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, turn the body to the right, and step off with the right foot in the new direction, without losing the cadence of the step. The instructor gives the command MARCH at the moment when the left foot is coming to the ground. When it is to the left, the command MARCH is given at the moment when the right foot is coming to the ground. By this means the new direction is always commenced with the leg on the side towards which the turn is made.

OBLIQUE FACE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN MARCHING.

21.—The squad marching, the instructor commands:

1. Right oblique. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH the men make an oblique face to the right (or to the left,) and march in the new direction.

22. —To resume the primitive direction, the instructor commands:

FORWARD.

At this command the men make an oblique face to the left, if they have obliqued to the right, and an oblique face to the right, if they have obliqued to the left, and march straight to the front.

QUICK STEP.

33.—The length of the quick step is the same as that of the common step, and its quickness is at the rate of 110 per minute.

The squad being at a halt, the instructor commands.

1. Forward, quick time. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, step off smartly with the left foot.

24.—The squad is exercised, when marching at the quick step, to halt, move on, face to the right and left, half face to the right and left, and move off again, as in common time.

25.—The squad marching in quick time, to change to common time, the instructor commands:

1. Common time. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the squad takes the common step.

36.—To resume the quick step, the instructor commands:

1. Quick time. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the squad resumes the quick step

DOUBLE QUICK STEP.

27.—The squad marching in common or quick time, to change to double quick time, the instructor commands:

1. Double quick. 2. MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the men increase the length of step to 33 inches, and its rapidity to 166 steps in a minute.

In this march the carriage of the body is different, being nearer that of running. The body is more advanced, the knees more bent, the arms with their natural motion.

From a halt, the command is:

1. Forward, double quick. 2. MARCH.