Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 32

The guide continues to be the base and advances (par. 405) at the gait of march unless the leader indicates otherwise (pars. 337-_f_, 405). The troopers to the right of the guide move at a gallop obliquely to the right front; those to the left obliquely to the left front. The troopers take position abreast of the base in the same order as in line and at intervals of 3 yards measured from the side of the base. Should the right trooper be the guide, all oblique to the left; should the left trooper be the guide, all oblique to the right.

In the execution of the corresponding dismounted movement (commands: 1. =Skirmishers=, 2. =MARCH=--par. 406) the troopers move to their places at a run, taking intervals of one-half pace, unless some other interval be indicated (pars. 368-_e_, 407.) (Fig. 37.)

=409.= =Being in column of fours, twos, or troopers, to form foragers=: 1. =Right (left) front into foragers=, 2. =MARCH.=

The _left trooper_ of the leading element of the column as the base of the deployment advances at the gait of march (par. 337-_a_) unless the leader indicates otherwise (pars. 337-_f_, 405), the other troopers of the leading element deploying as indicated in par. 408. The remaining troopers move obliquely to the right front at a gallop and extend the line in similar, manner, the order of the successive elements being the same, from left to right in line, as it formerly was from head to rear in the column.

The possibility of the inversion of troopers in the fours as a result of forming foragers from column of _twos_ or _troopers_ should be kept in mind. No such inversion can occur in movements executed from column of fours. The movement described in this paragraph is one of those referred to in par. 468-_b_. (Fig. 41.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47, par. 409.]

=410.= =Being in disorder, to form foragers=:

Foragers may be formed from any condition of dispersion or disorder by methods similar to those indicated in pars. 408 and 409. At the command: 1. =Foragers=, 2. =MARCH=, the troopers nearest the leader ride toward him at a gallop. The leader indicates the guide (par.

373), who follows the leader; the other troopers, moving at a gallop, take position, with the proper interval, on the right and left of the guide, without regard to order.

Line of foragers from a condition of disorder may also be formed by first rallying the squad (par. 416) and then forming foragers.

Dismounted, skirmishers may similarly be formed.

=411.= =Being deployed as foragers, to march to a flank=: 1. =By the right (left) flank=, 2. =MARCH.=

Each trooper turns 90 to the right and marches in the new direction (par. 389). A column of troopers at 4 feet distance results. The line of foragers may be resumed by again marching to the flank by the use of corresponding commands and methods.

Gaits are regulated as in par. 337-_d_.

Dismounted, each trooper moves as in par. 81. If at a halt, the movement of the foragers by the flank is executed by the same commands as when marching.

=412.= =Being deployed as foragers, to march to the rear=: 1. =To the rear=, 2. =MARCH.=

Each trooper executes an about to the _left_ (pars. 389, 486). To march again to the front the commands: 1. =Forward=, 2. =MARCH=, are given.

Each trooper executes another about to the _left_. If a line of foragers be halted while marching to the rear, each trooper turns to the left about and halts, faced to the front (par. 474).

Gaits are regulated as in par. 337-_d_.

Dismounted, each trooper executes =to the rear= (par. 82). If at a halt, the movement of the foragers to the rear is executed by the same commands as when marching.

=413.= The squad may be extended in depth as well as in front. The commands are: 1. =Fours (twos, or troopers) at so many yards distance=, 2. =MARCH.= This movement may be used to cross a fire-swept area when such a course is necessary. The leader indicates the point where the squad is to be rea.s.sembled. The fours (twos or troopers) move out successively from head to rear in column or right to left in line. Each element may extend laterally on its guide. The gait is the gallop.

=414.= =Being deployed as foragers and in order (par. 470) to a.s.semble=: 1. =a.s.semble=, 2. =MARCH.= The guide advances and follows the leader. The other troopers close in on the guide and form in =line= upon him in the same relative order in which they were at the moment the a.s.sembly was commanded. The leader halts the guide at any time if it is desired to a.s.semble without gaining further ground in the direction of march. The leader, by moving in any desired direction, may regulate the direction toward which the a.s.sembly is executed. Gaits are regulated as in par. 337-_e_, the elements other than the base taking a correspondingly faster =gait=. The a.s.sembly in each unit is explained for that unit (par. 468-_b_).

The leader may, by prior designation of any trooper (e.g., a flank trooper) as guide (par. 373), cause the a.s.sembly to be executed on that trooper by the commands and methods just indicated.

The troopers always start to a.s.semble in line, but when an a.s.sembly in column is desired it may virtually be accomplished, by the leader's designation of a flank trooper as the guide before ordering the a.s.sembly and cautioning: =COLUMN= as soon as the a.s.sembly begins. The fours, as they successively a.s.semble toward the base, then take their places in column of fours instead of in line; the leader takes post in front of No. 2 (par. 325).

If there be not s.p.a.ce to advance in column of fours, the a.s.sembly in =column of twos or troopers= may be accomplished by corresponding commands and methods.

The _squad_ executes =a.s.semble= only when deployed as foragers and =in order=. Under other conditions the rally (par. 416), followed, by =count fours=, more easily accomplishes the purposes of the =a.s.sembly= (Def.).

In executing the a.s.sembly dismounted the troopers close in on the guide in double time _without special command_ if the guide and leader continue to advance (par. 339-_g_); otherwise they close in at quick time unless double time be commanded (par. 339-_b_). (Fig. 42.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48, par. 414.]

=415.= If =to the rear= (par. 412) be executed by the squad, a temporary loss of =order= occurs. If it be desired to pa.s.s to close order without resuming the march to the front and a.s.sembling (par.

414), the squad may rally (par. 416) and count fours.

=416.= =Being in any formation, or not formed, or in disorder, to rally=; =RALLY=. _When the rally is ordered the signal is habitually accompanied by the oral command, both the signal and the oral command, being repeated until understood and obeyed. The signal is obeyed at once, there being no preparatory command for this movement._

The leader takes position at any point or moves in any desired direction, and at any gait that will permit the movement to be executed. The troopers ride toward the leader at an extended gallop and, in the absence of other indication, form in rear of the leader in line. The leader promptly designates the guide (pars. 371, 373), who follows the leader. The other troopers form, as they come up, on the right and left of the guide extending the line. The leader may caution: =COLUMN=, as the leading troopers approach. The troopers then form in =column of fours= instead of in =line=. The leading element forms first; the other troopers, as they arrive, successively form fours, extending the column to the rear. The leader designates the guide (pars. 373, 374) and cautions: =NOTE YOUR NUMBERS=. The rally in column is exceptional and is intended for use only on occasions when a narrow road or other circ.u.mstances of the terrain prevent the rally in line.

Should the route along which the leader is moving when the rally is ordered be too narrow to permit the formation of column of fours, the leader may caution: =COLUMN OF TWOS (COLUMN OF TROOPERS)= as the leading troopers approach. The movement is executed as explained for the rally in column of fours. =Fours= should be counted at once. The rally in columns of twos or troopers is to be regarded as very exceptional.

The squad being rallied in line, though ordinarily not =in order= until fours are counted (par. 470), is available at once to charge or to execute any movement that does not involve a knowledge of their respective numbers on the part of the individual troopers. Unless the charge is to be executed at once, fours should be counted without delay after rallying, so that the squad, may be =in order= and ready to execute any movements whatever that conditions may demand.

The rally dismounted, is always executed at a run. (Fig. 49.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49, par. 416.]

THE MOUNTED ATTACK.

=417.= The mounted attack is made with the pistol or saber in accordance with the principles indicated in pars. 562-565. The typical saber charge is executed in =line=. Under some circ.u.mstances, as in the attack of a dispersed enemy, etc., a saber charge may be made by troopers deployed as =foragers=. The pistol attack is usually made in foragers. In exceptional circ.u.mstances (as in breaking out from an ambush, attacking in a narrow road, etc.) it may be made =in line= or =in column of fours, twos, or troopers=.

=418.= Cohesion in the line and vigor in the shock are essential to the success of the _saber charge_. High speed is necessary for the desired shock; and in the saber charge, as executed in combat, the horses are, at the culmination of the charge, habitually "turned loose" and urged to the highest speed. This, except with men and horses that are highly trained, necessarily involves _loss of control_ over the horse on the part of the trooper. The saber charge, executed with poorly trained hors.e.m.e.n, especially if on imperfectly trained or excitable house's, is apt to be futile as regards the instruction of the trooper and to result in more or less permanent loss of control over the horses. _Control of the mount_ by the trooper is essential during the execution of the _pistol attack_ (ordinarily made in line of foragers), and is, of course, necessary during march and maneuver.

For these reasons it is considered advisable that the first instruction of the recruit in the actual saber charge be deferred until after platoon instruction and that it be given then only after the troop commander is satisfied that the recruit's progress in horsemans.h.i.+p and in the use of his weapon has advanced to a point when the exercise will be of value.

=419.= The work in the squad, with a view to _preparing the recruit for the mounted attack with the saber and pistol_, will therefore be limited to those exercises in which the horse is _controlled_. It should consist, in substance, of an extension to collective work of the individual instruction described in par. 297, and should include occasional practice in advancing as rapidly as can be done while maintaining a close formation and control of the mount. The increase in speed should be made quietly and progressively, be continued but a short distance, and _invariably be terminated by the quiet resuming of a slow gait_. As the recruit gets more skill and confidence the exercise will be conducted with sabers drawn, the troopers taking the charging position (par. 251) when the instructor does so and returning to the _carry_ with him. Similar exercises will be conducted with the pistol, with especial attention to directing the horses through lines of silhouette targets and to drawing, returning, and manipulating the pistol. The exercises with the pistol will usually be conducted in =foragers= and may be extended to include the actual execution of the pistol attack as described in the =School of the Platoon=.

In campaign any small group executes the mounted attack as explained for the platoon.

=420.= In combat of every kind skill on the part of the individual trooper in the use of the weapon or weapons employed is essential. So important is this part of the training that where time for the training of the troopers is limited all but the most essential portions of close-order drill should be deferred or omitted in order that the training of the trooper in the use of his weapons may be thorough and efficient.

=Section 8. Tent pitching.=

TO PITCH ALL TYPES OF ARMY TENTS, EXCEPT SHELTER AND CONICAL WALL TENTS.

To pitch all types of Army tents, except shelter and conical wall tents: Mark line of tents by driving, a wall pin on the spot to be occupied by the right (or left) corner of each tent. For pyramidal tents the interval between adjacent pins should be about 30 feet, which will give a pa.s.sage of 2 feet between tents. Spread tripod on the ground where the center of tent is to be, if tripod is used.

Spread the tent on the ground to be occupied, door to the front, and place the right (or left) front wall loop over the pin. The door (or doors, if more than one) being fastened and held together at the bottom, the left (or right) corner wall loop is carried to the left (or right) as far as it will go and a wall pin driven through it, the pin being placed in line with the right (or left) corner pins already driven. At the same time the rear corner wall loops are pulled to the rear and outward so that the rear wall of the tent is stretched to complete the rectangle. Wall pins are then driven through these loops.

Each corner pin should be directly in rear of the corresponding front corner pin, making a rectangle. Unless the canvas be wet, a small amount of slack should be allowed before the corner pins are driven.

According to the size of the tent, one or two men, crawling under the tent if necessary, fit each pole or ridge or upright into the ring or ridge-pole holes, and such accessories as hood, fly, and brace ropes are adjusted. If a tripod be used an additional man will go under the tent to adjust it. The tent, steadied by the remaining men, one at each corner guy rope, will then be raised. If the tent is a ward or storage type, corner poles will now be placed at the four corners. The four corner guy ropes are then placed over the lower notches of the large pins driven in prolongation of the diagonals at such distance as to hold the walls and ends of the tent vertical and smooth when the guy ropes are drawn taut. A wall pin is then driven through each remaining wall loop and a large pin for each guy rope is driven in line with the corner guy pins already driven. The guy ropes of the tent are placed over the lower notches, while the guy ropes of the fly are placed over the upper notches, and are then drawn taut. Brace ropes, when used, are then secured to stakes or pins suitably placed.

CONICAL WALL TENT.

Drive the door pin and center pin 8 feet 3 inches apart. Using the hood lines, with center pin as center, describe two concentric circles with radii 8 feet 3 inches and 11 feet 3 inches. In the outer circle drive two door guy pins 3 feet apart. At intervals of about 3 feet drive the other guy pins.

In other respects conical tents are erected practically as in the case of pyramidal tents.