CAVALRY TACTICS:
OR,
REGULATIONS
FOR THE
Instruction, Formations, and Movements
OF
THE CAVALRY
OF THE
ARMY AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE UNITED STATES.
PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE WAR
DEPARTMENT,
AND AUTHORIZED AND ADOPTED BY
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
By PHILIP ST. GEO. COOKE,
BRIG. GEN. U. S. ARMY.
VOL. I.
PhILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & Co.
1862.
______________________________________________________
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
______________________________________________________
War Department,
November 1, 1861.
THE system of Tactics and Regulations for the Cavalry of the United States, by Colonel PHILIP ST. Geo. Cooke, 2d Cavalry, having been approved by the President, is now published fur the government of said service.
Accordingly, instruction in the same will be given after the method pointed out therein; and all additions to or departures from the exercise and maneuvres laid down in the system are positively forbidden.
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
CAVALRY TACTICS.
___________
VOLUME I
SOHOOL OF THE TROOPER OF THE PLATOON, AND
OF THE SQUADRON.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BASIS OF INSTRUCTION.
Page.
ARTICLE I.—Formation of a regiment of ten squadrons in line 3
Posts of the officers and non-commissioned off-
icers or the field and staff of a regiment In line. 4
Posts of the officers and non-commissioned off-
icers of a squadron in line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Assembly or a regiment, mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Assembly of a regiment, dismounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Dress parade and guard mounting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
The standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Salute with the standard and sabre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The order of battle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ARTICLE II.—Formation of a regiment in column . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Order in column by twos or fours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Order in column of platoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Order in close column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Order in double column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Compliments by cavalry under review . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Form and course of inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ARTICLE III.—Duties of instructors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
ARTICLE IV.—Division, order, and progression of instruction . 21
ARTICLE V.—Gradation of instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..22
Recruits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Corporals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Sergeants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
ARTICLE VI—Instruction to mount without saddle, and to
saddle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .24
Manner of vaulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .25Manner of rolling the cloak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Manner of saddling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25ARTICLE VII—Of training horses which have already been rid-
den. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Preparatory lesson. To make a horse tractable
and steady at mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
ARTICLE VII—Continued.
To bend or supple the horse’s neck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
How to make a horse obey the pressure of the leg . . . . . 31
Circling on the haunches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Reining back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
The horses paces, walk, trot, and canter . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Demi-pirouette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Manner of accustoming the horses to leap . . . . . . . . . . .37To accustom horses to firing and military noises . . . . . .38
Practice of paces for maneuver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
ARTICLE VIII.—Definitions and general principles . . . . . . . . . . .39
ARTICLE IX.—Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
School or the trooper, dismounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Position of trooper, dismounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Eyes right—eyes left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Right face, left face, about face, right—oblique.
face, left—oblique face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Common step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
To change feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
To march by a flank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
To face to the right or left when marching . . . . . . . . . . . 50Oblique face to the right or left when marching . . . . . . . 50
Quick step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Double quick step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Sabre exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
General observations and directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Manual of the pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Inspection of arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Target practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Platoon, squadron, and regiment dismounted . . . . . . . . 69
________
1st LESSON Scbool of the trooper, mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Position of the trooper, before mounting . . . . . . . . . .74
To mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
1st LESSON—Continued.
To dismount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Position of the trooper mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
The use of the reins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
The use of the legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
The effect of the reins and legs combined . . . . . . . . . . . 77
To march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
To halt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78To turn to the right and to the left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
To turn about to the right and to the left . . . . . . . . . . . . 79To make a third of a lure to the right and to the
left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
To rein back, and to cease reining back . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
To file off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812d LESSON—To march to the right hand, and to march to the
left hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
To turn to the right and to the left in marching . . . . . . . 82
To halt, and to step off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
To pass from the walk to the trot, and from the
trot to the walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Changes of hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
To turn to the right and to the left by trooper in
marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
To turn about to the right and to the left by
trooper in marching on the same line . . . . . . . . . . . . .86The same movements in marching in column . . . . . . . . 86
3d LESSON—Of the spur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
To march to the right hand or to the left hand . . . . . . . . .89
To pass from the walk to the trot, and from the
trot to the walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Change of direction in the breadth of the riding
house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Change of direction obliquely by trooper . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
To march in a circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
4th LESSON—To turn to the right or to the left by trooper inmarching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
To turn about to the right, or to the left, the
troopers marching on the same line, (or abreast) . . . . 93
The same, the troopers marching in column . . . . . . . . . .94
To pass successively from the bead to the rear of
the column . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Being halted, to commence the move at a trot . . . . . . . . 95
Marching at a trot, to halt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
To pass from the trot to the trot-out, and from the
trot-out to the trot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
To pass from the trot to the gallop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
To passage to the right or to the left, the head to
the wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
To passage to the right or to the left, being incolumn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
5th LESSON--To take the snaffle in the right hand . . . . . . . . . . 101
To drop the snaffle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
The principal movements of the bridle hand . . . . . . . . 101
To gather the horse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
To march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
To halt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
To turn to the right in marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
To turn to the left in marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103To turn about to the right and to the left in
marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
To make an oblique turn to the right and to the
left in marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
To rein back, and to cease reining heck . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Exercise of the 4th lesson with the curb bridle . . . . . . 104
To passage to the right and to the left . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
6th LESSON.—Principles of the gallop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Exercise et the gallop upon right lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Exercise at the gallop on the circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
7th LESSON.—Exercise of the 6th lesson with the sabre only . 107
Manual of arms at a halt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
To fire the pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
To load the pistol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Inspection of arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Sabre exercise at a halt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8th LESSON.—Manual of arms in marching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113Sabre exercise at all gaits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Leaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
To leap the ditch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
To leap the fence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Individual charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Circling on the forehand and haunches and demi-
pirouette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Target practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Record and reports of target firing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
SCHOOL 0F THE PLAT0ON, MOUNTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
ARTICLE 1.—General principles of alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Successive alignment of files in the platoon . . . . . . . . 122
Alignment of the platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
To break the platoon by file, by twos, and by fours . . . 125
Direct march in column by file, by twos, and by
fours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Change of direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
To halt, and to commence the march, in column . . . . . 127
Individual oblique march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
The platoon marching in column by file, by twos, or by
fours, to form line face to the front, to the
left, and to the right . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Manual of arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.ARTICLE II.—To form twos and fours at the same gait . . . . . . .131
To break by twos and by file at the same gait . . . . . . 132
To form twos and fours in doubling the gait . . . . . . . 133
To break by twos and by file in doubling the gait . . . 135
Sabre exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
ARTICLE III.—Direct march of the platoon in line . . . . . . . . . . .136
Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Wheelings . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
To wheel on a fixed pivot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
To wheel on a movable pivot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Individual oblique march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
The platoon marching in line to break it by twos or by
fours at the same gait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
The platoon marching in column by twos or by fours, to
form it at the same gait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
The platoon marching in line, to break it by fours or by
twos, in doubling the gait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
The platoon marching in column by twos or by fours, to
form it in doubling the gait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Movements by fours, the platoon being in column
or line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
ARTICLE IV. Running at the heads and pistol practice . . . . . . .154
To leap the ditch and the fence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
To charge by platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Rallying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Skirmishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Prepare to fight on foot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
SCHOOL 0F THE SQUADRON, MOUNTED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
ARTICLE I.--Successive alignment of platoons in the squadron 168
Alignment of the squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
The squadron being In line, to form a column of
fours . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
To break the squadron to the right or left to
march to the front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
To break by fours from the right to march to the
left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Direct march in column of fours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Change of direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Individual oblique march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
The squadron marching in column of fours to
march to the rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173To break by fours to the right, column half left,
(right or half right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
The squadron marching in column by fours, by twos, and
by file, to form line faced to the front,
to the left, to the right, or to the rear . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
To regulate the rapidity of gaits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Sabre exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
ARTICLE II—The squadron being in line, to form it in open
column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
To march in open column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Changes of direction by successive wheels . . . . . . . . 181
Individual oblique march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Change of gait in open column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
To break by fours, by twos, and by file, to form
twos, fours, and platoons at the same gait . . . . . . . 182
The same movements in doubling the gait . . . . . . . . . 185
The squadron marching in open column to march
to the rear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
To halt the column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
The squadron marching in open column to form
line faced to the left, to the right, to the front,
and to the rear . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
To break by platoons to the front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
To break by platoons to the rear from the right,
to march to the left . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Movement by fours, the squadron being in open
column
ARTICLE III—Direct march of the squadron in line . . . . . . . . . . 194
Countermarch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Wheelings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
To wheel on a fixed pivot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
To wheel on a movable pivot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200
Individual oblique march . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Oblique march by platoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
The squadron being in line, to cause it to gain
ground to the rear, and to face it again to the
front, by fours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
The squadron marching in line to march it to the
rear by wheeling the platoons about . . . . . . . . . . . 203
The squadron marching is line, to break it to the
front, by platoons, and to reform it . . . . . . . . . . . .. 204
The same movement in doubling the gait . . . . . . . . . . 205Passage of obstacles . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
ARTICLE IV—The Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Rallying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Skirmishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
To fight on foot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
INTRODUCTION.
To the Adjutant General U. S. Army:
I report that, in obedience to orders, I have prepared regulations for the instruction. formations, and movements of the cavalry of the army and volunteers of the United States.
In undertaking this important work I wanted to give much consideration to a growing military impression in favor of an important change to a single rank formation.
Whilst the conservatism or prejudices of European establishments have slowly yielded, in the infantry arm, to the extent of reducing its formation from six to two ranks, the one great step from two to one rank in cavalry has not yet been made; but it was tested very successfully in the war in Portugal in 1833—’34 in a British legion. I found that it greatly simplified all cavalry movements; a great recommendation,— but especially in view of our national policy; it would go far toward lessening the difficulties, by many considered insuperable, of the efficient instruction of volunteer cavalry in a period of actual war.
Prejudices of my own against the change were overcome.
Adopting, then, the single rank formation, my work of revision became one of construction; and I
2 lNTRODUCTION.
have freely chosen what I judged to be the best points in the systems of France, Russia, Prussia, Austria, and England. I have added to all. The work will be found to amplify the old range of movements, whilst its simplicity renders it less voluminous.
In the decisive action of cavalry the rear rank, under another name, will be screened from much of the enemy’s fire; will be reserved from the confusion which even success throws into the front rank; but that rank defeated, it not only escapes being involved, but is close at hand to profit by the impression which may have been made on the enemy.
My confidence in a single rank system is further strengthened by its recommendation in the able work of Captain Geo. B. McClellan, and by which I have been much assisted.
Respectfully,
P.ST. GEO. COOKE,
Colonel 2d Dragoons.
WASHINGTON, January 11, 1860.
CAVALRY TACTICS.
______
BASIS OF INSTRUCTION.
______
FORMATION OF A REGIMENT OF TEN
SQUADRONS IN LINE.
In all parades and exercises the companies will be designated as squadrons.
The squadrons of a regiment in line are posted with Intervals equal to a platoon front between the sergeants on their flanks; the intervals are equal at any one time, and never less than 12 paces. When the average of platoon front is much above this, the Colonel announces the increased uniform interval.
The squadrons are distinguished by the denomination of first, second, third, &c., counting from right to left; they retain these designations in the evolutions whatever may be their relative positions But the 1st Captain commands the squadron on the right; the 2d, the tenth (on the left;) the 3d, the fifth from the right; the 4th, the third from the right; the 5th, the seventh from the right; the 6th,
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the second from the right; the 7th, the ninth from the right; the 8th, the sixth from the right; the 9th, the fourth from the right; and the 10th, the eight from the. right
This is the habitual and parade order of the squadrons; but in sudden formations they will take post as they arrive at the place of assembly ; and should a Captain be permanently absent, or absent for a campaign, the Commander of the regiment will assign his squadron position according to the rank of the actual commander.
The formation is in one rank
Each squadron is composed of two, three, or four platoons, according to its size. When of 40 or more files, it Is divided into four platoons; of 30 to 40 files, into three platoons; of 20 to 30 tiles, into two. If possible, the files of the platoons are of even number. The third and fourth platoons are made the largest if necessary to accomplish this. The platoons are numbered at first from right to left, and retain their numerical designations whatever relative positions they may subsequently occupy.
That which has been prescribed for the formation mounted is applicable to the formation on foot.
Posts of the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of the field and Staff of a regiment in line.
The Colonel 50 paces in front of the centre of the regiment, having a chief trumpeter behind him.
The Lieutenant Colonel 25 paces in advance of the centre of the right wing.
The 1st Major 25 paces in advance of the centre of the left wing
The 2d Major 25 paces in advance of the centre of the regiment.
The Colonel moves wherever his presence may be necessary.
The Lieutenant Colonel and Majors move wherever the Colonel may think proper to direct them.
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The Adjutant accompanies the Colonel.
The Regimental Quartermaster is 2 paces to the right of the sergeant major, or accompanies the Colonel, as he may direct.
The sergeant major is in line with the regiment 2 paces from the right flank.
The quartermaster sergeant is in line with the regiment 2 paces from the left flank.
The standard bearer is on the right of the guidon of the centre, or right centre squadron; a corporal is 1 pace behind him.
The regimental marker is 1 pace behind the second file from the right of the regiment
General Staff Officers serving with the regiment 25 paces In rear of the right of the regiment.
The band, formed in two ranks, is 25 paces in rear of the centre of the regiment
Post of the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of a Squadron in line.
The Captain is posted In front of the centre of the squadron, the croup of his horse 4 paces in advance of the heads of the horses in line.
The Senior Lieutenant commands the 1st platoon; the next in rank, the 4th platoon; the next, the 2d; and the next, the 3d. Each is posted in front of the centre of his platoon, with the croup of his horse 1 pace in advance of the heads of the horses In line. Sergeants supply the places of commanders of platoons, when there are not enough officers present.
The 1st sergeant is posted on the right of the squadron not counted in the rank; he is the squadron right guide.
The next sergeant In rank is posted on the left of the squadron, not counted in the rank; he is the squadron left gulde.
The third sergeant In rank is the guldon bearer, and is the left file of the 2d platoon.
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The other sergeants and corporals are placed according to rank, as follows:
Left of 1st platoon.
Right of 4th platoon.
Right of 3d platoon.
Right of 1st platoon.
Left of 4th platoon.
Left of 3d platoon.
Right of 2d platoon.
The 1st trumpeter is posted one pace behind the 4th file from the right of the 1st platoon.
The other trumpeter, one pace behind the 4th file from the left of the 4th platoon.
The farrier, one pace behind the centre of the second platoon.
The sadler, one pace behind the centre of the third platoon.
There is a size-roll of the squadron, and with some allowance for weight of man and horse, the tallest horses are assigned to the tallest men; the men are posted according to this roll, the tallest men to the right and left of the centre, the lowest at the flanks.
This invariable position of the soldiers is also important, for its encouragement to companionship and mutual assistance in the sets of fours, and to a feeling of responsibility of each to the others in conduct and bravery.
Assembly of a Regiment Mounted.
When a regiment is to mount boots and saddles is sounded. At this signal the horses are saddled, bridled, and fully equipped for the occasion.
At the signal to horse, non-commissioned officers and troopers lead into rank. The 1st sergeant calls the roll, or the sergeants of divisions may be required to call the division rolls; the officers are present in superintendence.
The Captain then, or the senior Lieutenant by his order,
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orders the squadron to count fours in each platoon, and to mount.
The Captain, first observing that every one is In his prescribed place, and the general appearance of the squadron, marches it, habitually by fours, to the place of assembly. If required, on reaching there he reports absentees, by his 1st sergeant, to the Adjutant.
In case of alarm or surprise, to horse is sounded; the men then saddle, pack up, bridle, and mount with the utmost celerity, and repair to the place of assembly, which is always previously designated.
On occasions of parade, the trumpeters and band will proceed, as soon as mounted, to the right of the parade ground, and be there formed In two or more ranks. Fifteen minutes after to horse, the trumpeters sound the assembly, for marching the squadrons to the parade.
Assembly of a Regiment Dismounted.
When a regiment is to turn out under arms on foot, “to arms” will be sounded; at this signal the squadrons will be formed and inspected as prescribed
For parade, the regiment will be formed in line of columns, as when mounted, but with intervals of two paces.
The squadron officers will take place four paces in front of the first platoons, in order of rank from right to left, with equal intervals; the left guides on the right of the second platoons.
DRESS PARADE AND GUARD MOUNTING.
Dress parade and mounting of guards, mounted, are conducted as prescribed in Army Regulations, with the following and other more obvious variations, necessary from the difference of cavalry and infantry.
The officers take post 12 paces, the non-commissioned officers 6 paces, in front of the guard.
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After inspection the officers take post 2 paces in front of the centre of their guard or their platoons; a non-commissioned officer commanding a guard the same.
The guard passes in review by guard, platoons, or fours, having regard to its strength.
In wet weather the sabres will not be drawn by guards for inspection, or any occasion of ceremony
At regimental parade the field officers and captains are placed as in line; the platoon commanders, exclusively commissioned officers, are aligned on the captains; the adjutant and sergeant major are posted 4 paces from the right and left of the line; 1st sergeants take post as right guides of squadrons.
After the music, the Adjutant rides to a point 25 paces In front of the centre of the line, faces it, and commands:
1. Attention.
2. Draw—SABRE.
3. Present—SABRE.
The Colonel concludes the exercises with, Return—SABRE. The commands for the advance of the line of officers are given in a tone only loud enough to be heard by them.
If the Colonel desires it, for the purpose of parade, he will divide the squadron into two platoons, and form the regimental parade in line of platoon columns at 9 paces distance—from the horse’s croups in the front line to their heads in the other—with intervals of 6 paces.
The officers take post 4 paces In front of the first platoons, in order of rank, from right to left, with equal intervals; if but one officer, in front of the centre of the platoon; left guides on the right of the 2d platoons.
To leave the parade, the squadrons will be commanded:
1. Right forward—Fours right. 2. MARCH. Or, if by the rear, I Fours left—Columns left. 2. MARCH. In both cases the rear platoon does not march until the leading platoon has gained sufficient ground for their properly uniting.
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Generally, when the standard Is used, the standard bearer goes for it to the quarters or tent of the Colonel, escorted by two sergeants.
On special occasions, and at least once a year, it Is escorted and received with ceremony.
Two platoons of the standard squadron, or one of the flank squadrons, will be detached, under the orders of the Colonel, to proceed to his quarters, as soon as mounted. It will be halted in their front in column of platoons, with either flank toward the quarters. The standard bearer receives the standard from the hands of the adjutant or serpent major, and takes his post In the centre of the interval between the platoons, with a sergeant on each side of him; the column Is then put in motion, preceded 20 paces by a chief trumpeter and four trumpeters.
The column approaches a flank of the regiment, marching parallel with and about 100 paces from its front, the trumpets sounding the march.
The Colonel commands the sabres to be drawn. The escort is halted when nearly opposite the dank, the standard-bearer and two sergeants pm on, and when 60 paces In front of the Colonel face him and the regiment and halt.
The Colonel then orders sabres presented, and presents sabre himself; the trumpets sound to the standard. The standard hearer then takes his place in line.
The escort, the moment the standard bearer leaves it, turns and is marched by the rear to its place in line.
When there is a band It may be substituted for the chief trumpeter and four trumpeters.
On the return of the standard it has the same escort.
When the standard is to pay honors, the standard bearer salutes in the following manner, in two times:
1.At 4 paces from the person who is to be saluted.
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lower the lance gently to the front, bending as near to the horizontal line as possible.
2. Raise the lance gently when the person saluted has passed 4 paces.
Salute with the Sabre.
When the superior and other officers are to salute, whether on horseback or on foot, at a halt or marching, they do it in four times.
1. At 4 paces from the person to be saluted, raise the sabre perpendicularly, the point upwards, the edge to the left, the hand opposite to and one foot from the right shoulder, the elbow 6 inches from the body.
2. Lower the blade, extending the arm to Its full length, the hand in quarte, until the point of the sabre is near the foot.
3. Raise the sabre quickly, the point upwards, as in the first time, after the person saluted has passed 4 paces.
4. Carry the sabre to the shoulder.
The order of battle for a regiment of ten squadrons is the four right or left squadrons deployed in line; the four squadrons of the other flank in line of squadron columns 300 paces in rear of the first line. The 5th squadron, In column of platoons, generally left in front, is 50 paces behind the right flank of the first line, the line of its left guides being a platoon front to the right of the extremity of that flank the 6th squadron, in column of platoons, right in front, similarly disposed to the rear of the left flank of the first line.
If a squadron be absent, the second line will he composed of 3 squadrons, in columns immediately in rear of the first line; the 5th and 6th squadrons, counting from the flank which composes the first line, being always the flanking squadrons.
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The Lieutenant Colonel commands the second line, and is posted 25 paces in front of its centre.
The order of battle for a regiment of eight squadrons is as follows:
The six right or left squadrons deployed in line; the 7th and 8th (or 1st and 2d) squadrons are placed in columns of platoons, in rear of the right and left flanks of the line of battle, as described for the flank squadrons of the regiment of ten squadrons.
In the order of battle each field officer is attended by a trumpeter,
To change from line or order of review to order of battle in an eight squadron regiment, the 7th and 8th squadrons are wheeled by platoons (or by fours) to the right, and conducted by the shortest lines to their positions,
In a ten squadron regiment, the same for the 5th and 6th squadrons; the Lieutenant Colonel takes command of the next four s
