The System of Infantry Discipline; According to the Regulation Established for the Army of the United States ... with an Appendix ... Containing the Elements of War ... (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1814 edition. Excerpt: ...rank. 330. The leading sections having passed the defile, the chief of the platoon will form platoon when the chief of the battalion or major shall have directed him; the chiefs of the following platoons will successively form them, as they arrive at the same place. 331. The chief of the battalion, the major and his adjutant, will carefully watch the performance of the principles, prescribed in this article; so that the column may not extend itself, and that there be no halting nor over stepping during the march, which principally depends upon the vigilance of the chiefs of sections, in preserving always the same gait without relaxing or hastening it. 332. The ehief of the battalion or major will keep at the head of the battalion to regulate the pace of the first platoon, and point out to the chief of that platoon the exact line, when he should execute the different movements here prescribed, according as circumstances require. 333. If the column is composed of many battalions, every one will execute in his turn what has been prescribed for the head of the column, observing to perform it at the same place and in-the same manner as the preceding one. 334. In order to render the mechanism of all these movements familiar to the troops, and to accustom them to march in columns of route in narrow roads, without ever extending the column, the chief of the battalion will cause them to march regularly with the route step w hen the battalions march to the ground of exercise, and return from thence; and he will sometimes take threm through narrow passages, to make them the better comprehend the principles here prescribed; they even may, in the course of the exercise, when the soldiers are well established in the length and cadence of the step, make...