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28th New York Infantry Regiment

HARDEES SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY

LESSON SIXTH


		LESSON SIXTH.

		ARTICLE FIRST
		To break the company into platoons, and to re-form the company.

265.	The company marching in the cadenced step, and supposed to make part of a column, right in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to break by platoon, he will give the order to the captain, who will command:

		1. Break into platoons

	and immediately place himself before the centre of the first platoon.
266.	At the command break into platoons, the first lieutenant will pass quickly around the left to the Center of his platoon, and give the caution: Mark time.
267.	The captain will then command:

		2. MARCH

268.	The first platoon will continue to march straight forward; the covering sergeant will move rapidly to the left flank of this platoon (passing by the front rank) as soon as the flank shall be disengaged.
269.	At the command march, given by the captain, the second platoon will begin to mark time; its chief will immediately add: 1. Right oblique. 2. MARCH. The last command will be given so that this platoon may commence obliquing the instant the rear rank of the first platoon shall have passed. The men will shorten the step in obliquing, so that when the command forward march is given, the platoon may have its exact distance.
270.	The guide of the second platoon being near the direction of the guide of the first, the chief of the second will command Forward, and add MARCH, the instant that the guide of his platoon shall cover the guide of the first.
271.	In a column, left in front, the company will break into platoons by inverse means, applying to the first platoon all that has been prescribed for the second, and reciprocally.
272.	In this case, the left guide of the company will shift to the right flank of the second platoon, and the covering sergeant will remain on the right of the first.

		To re-form the company.

273.	The column, by platoon, being in march, right in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to form company, he will give order to the captain, who will command:

		Form company.

274.	Having given this command, the captain will immediately add:

		1. First platoon. 2. Right oblique.

275.	The chief of the second platoon will caution it to continue to march straight forward.
276.	The captain will then command:

		3. MARCH.

277.	At this command, repeated by the chief of the second, the first platoon will oblique to the right, in order to unmask the second; the covering sergeant, on the left of the first platoon, will return to the right of the company, passing by the front rank.
278.	When the first platoon shall have nearly unmasked the second, the captain will command:

		1. Mark time.

	and at the instant the unmasking shall be complete, be will add:

		2. MARCH

	The first platoon will then cease to oblique, and mark time.
279.	In the mean time the second platoon will have continued to march straight forward, and when it shall be nearly up with the first, the captain will command Forward, and at the instant the two platoons shall unite, add MARCH; the first platoon will then cease to mark time.
280.	In a column, left in front, the same movement will be executed by inverse means, the chief of the second platoon giving the command Forward, and the captain adding the command MARCH, when the platoons are united.
281.	The guide of the second platoon, on its right, will pass to its left flank the moment the platoons begin to oblique; the guide of the first, on its right, remaining on that flank of the platoon.
282.	The instructor will also sometimes cause the company to break and re-form by platoon, by his own direct commands. In this case, he will give the general commands prescribed for the captain above:

		1. Break into platoons; 2. MARCH; and 1. Form Company; 2. MARCH.

283.	If, in breaking the company into platoons, the subdivision that breaks off should mark time too long, it might, in a column of many subdivisions, arrest the march of the following one, which would cause a lengthening of the column, and a loss of distances.
284.	In breaking into platoons, it is necessary that the platoons which oblique should not shorten the step too much, in order not to lose distance in column, and not to arrest the march of the following subdivision.
285.	If a platoon obliques too far to a flank, it would be obliged to oblique again to the opposite flank, to regain the direction, and by the double movement arrest, probably, the march of the following subdivision.
286.	The chiefs of those platoons which oblique will face to their platoons, in order to enforce the observance of the foregoing principles.
287.	When, in a column of several companies, they break in succession, it is of the greatest importance that each company should continue to march in the same step, without shortening or slackening, whilst that which precedes breaks, although the following company should close upon the preceding one. This attention is essential to guard against an elongation of the column.
288.	Faults of but little moment, in a column of a few companies, would be serious inconveniences in a general column of many battalions. Hence the instructor will give the greatest care in causing all the prescribed principles to be strictly observed. To this end, he will bold himself on the directing flank, the better to in observe all the movements.

		ARTICLE SECOND
		Being in column, to break files to the rear, and to cause them to re-enter into line.

289.	The company being in march, and supposed to constitute a subdivision of a column, right (or left) in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause files to break off he will give the order to the captain, who will immediately turn to his company, and command:

		1. Two files from left (or right) to rear. 2. MARCH; and 1. Form Company; 2. MARCH.

290.	At the command march, the two files on the left (or right) of the company, will mark time, the others will continue to march straight forward; the two rear rank men of these files will, as soon as the rear rank of the company shall clear them, move to the right by advancing the outer shoulder; the odd number will place himself behind the third file from that flank, the even number behind the fourth, passing for this purpose behind the odd number; the two front rank men will, in like manner, move to the right when the rear rank of the company shall clear them, the odd number will place himself behind the first file, the even number behind the second file, passing for this purpose behind the odd number. If the files are broken from the right, the men will move to the left, advancing the outer shoulder, the even number of the rear rank will place himself behind the third file, the odd number of the same rank behind the fourth; the even number of the front rank behind the first file, the odd number of the same rank behind the second, the odd numbers for this purpose passing behind the even numbers. The men will be careful not to lose their distances and to keep aligned.
291.	If the instructor should still wish to break two files from the same side, he will give the order to the captain, who will proceed as above directed.
292.	At the command march, given by the captain, the files already broken, advancing a little the outer shoulder, will gain the space of two files to the right, if the files are broken from the left, and to the left, if the files are broken from the right, shortening, at the same time, the step, in order to make room between themselves and the rear rank of the company for the files last ordered to the rear; the latter will break by the same commands and in the same manner as the first. The men who double should increase the length of the step in order to prevent distances from being lost.
293.	The instructor may thus diminish the front of a company by breaking off successive groups of two files, but the new files must always be broken front the same side.
294.	The instructor, wishing to cause files broken off to return into line, he will give the order to the captain, who will immediately command:

		1. Two files into line. 2. MARCH.

295.	At the command march, the first two files of those marching by the flank will return briskly into line, and the others will gain the space of two files by advancing the inner shoulder towards the flank to which they belong.
296.	The captain will turn to his company, to watch the observance of the principles which have just been prescribed.
297.	The instructor having caused groups of two files to break one after another, and to return again into line, will afterwards cause two or three groups to break together, and for this purpose, will command: Four or six files from left (or right) to rear; MARCH. The files designated will mark time; each rank will advance a little the outer shoulder as soon as the rear rank of the company shall clear it, will oblique at once, and each group will place itself behind the four neighboring files, and in the same manner, as if the movement had been executed group by group, taking care that the distances are preserved.
298.	The instructor will next order the captain to cause two or three groups to be brought into line at once, who turning to the company, will command:

		Four or six files into line - MARCH.

299.	At the command march, the files designated will advance the inner shoulder, move up and form on the flank of the company by the shortest lines.
300.	As often as files shall break off to the rear, the guide on that flank will gradually close on the nearest front rank man remaining in line, and he will also open out to make room for files ordered into line.
301.	The files which march in the rear are disposed in the following order: the left files as if the company was marching by the right flank, and the right files as if the company was marching by the left flank. Consequently, whenever there is on the right or left of a subdivision, a file which does not belong to a group, it will be broken singly.
302.	It is necessary to the preservation of distances in column that the men should be habituated in the schools of detail to execute the movements of this article with precision.
303.	If new files broken off do not step well to the left or right in obliquing; if, when files are ordered into line, they do not move up with promptitude and precision, in either case the following files will be arrested in their march, and thereby cause the column to be lengthened out.
304.	The instructor will place himself on the flank from which the files are broken, to assure himself of the exact observance of the principles.
305.	Files will only be broken off from the side of direction, in order that the whole company may easily pass from the front to the flank march.

		ARTICLE THIRD
		To march the column in route, and to execute the movements incident thereto.

306.	The swiftness of the route step will be one hundred and ten steps in a minute; this swiftness will be habitually maintained in columns in route, when the roads and ground may permit.
307.	The company being at a halt, and supposed to constitute a subdivision of a column, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to march in the route step he will command:

		1. Column, forward. 2. Guide left (or right.) 3. Route step. 4. MARCH.

308.	At the command march, repeated by the captain, the two ranks will step off together; the rear rank will take, in marching, by shortening a few steps, a distance of one pace (twenty-eight inches) from the rank preceding, which distance will be computed from the breasts of the men in the rear rank, to the knapsacks of the men in the front rank. The men, without farther command, will immediately carry their arms at will, as indicated in the school of the soldier, No. 219. They will no longer be required to march in the cadenced pace, or with the same foot, or to remain silent. The files will march at ease; but care will be taken to prevent the ranks from intermixing, the front rank from getting in advance of the guide, and the rear rank from opening to too great a distance.
309.	The company marching in the route step, the instructor will cause it to change direction, which will be executed without formal commands, on a simple caution from the captain; the rear rank will come up to change direction in the same manner as the front rank. Each rank will conform itself, although in the route step, to the principles which have been prescribed for the change in closed ranks, with this difference only; that the pivot man, instead of taking steps of nine, will take steps of fourteen inches, in order to clear the wheeling point.
310.	The company marching in the route step, to cause it to pass to the cadenced step, the instructor will first order pieces to be brought to the right shoulder, and then command:

		1. Close order. 2. MARCH.

311.	At the command march, the men will resume the cadenced step, and will close so as to leave a distance of sixteen inches between each rank.
312.	The company marching in the cadenced pace, the instructor to cause it to take the route step will command:

		1. Route step. 2. MARCH.

313.	At the command march, the front rank will continue the step of twenty-eight inches; the rear rank will take, by gradually shortening the step, the distance of twenty-eight inches from the front rank; the men will carry their arms at will.
314.	If the company be marching in the route step, and the instructor should suppose the necessity of marching by the flank in the same direction, he will command:

		1. Company by the right (or left) flank. 2. By file left (or right). 3. MARCH.

315.	At the command march, the company will face to the right (or left) in marching, the captain will place himself by the side of the guide who conducts the leading flank; this guide will wheel immediately to the left or right; all the files will come in succession to wheel on the same spot as the guide; if there be files broken off to the rear, they will, by wheeling, regain their respective places, and follow the movement of the company.
316.	The instructor having caused the company to be again formed into line, will exercise it in increasing and diminishing front, by platoon: which will be executed by the same commands and the same means, as if the company were marching in the cadenced step. When the company breaks into platoons, the chief of each will move to the flank of his platoon and will take the place of the guide, who will step back into the rear rank.
317.	The company being in column by platoon, and supposed to march in the route step, the instructor can cause the front to be diminished and increased, by section, if the platoons have a front of twelve files or more.
318.	The movements of diminishing and increasing front, by section, will be executed according to the principles indicated for the same movements by platoon. The right sections of platoons will be commanded by the captain and first lieutenant, respectively; the left sections by the two next subalterns in rank, or, in their absence, by sergeants.
319.	The instructor wishing to diminish by section, will give the order to the captain, who will command:

		1. Break into sections. 2. MARCH.

320.	As soon as the platoons shall be broken, each chief of section will place himself on its directing flank in the front rank the guides who will be thus displaced, will fall back into the rear rank; the file closers will close up to within one pace of this rank.
321.	Platoons will be broken into sections only in the column in route; the movement will never be executed in the maneuvers, whatever may be the front of the company.
322.	When the instructor shall wish to re-form platoons, he will give the order to the captain, who will command:

		1. Form platoons. 2. MARCH.

323.	At the first command, each chief of section will place himself before its centre, and the guides will pass into the front rank. At the command march, the movement will be executed as has been prescribed for forming company. The moment the platoons are formed, the chiefs of the left sections will return to their places as file closers.
324.	The instructor will also cause to be executed the diminishing and increasing front by files, as prescribed in the preceding article, and in the same manner, as if marching in the cadenced step. When the company is broken into sections, the subdivisions must not be reduced to a front of less than six files, not counting the chief of the section.
325.	The company being broken by platoon or by section the instructor will cause it, marching in the route step, to march by the flank in the same direction, by the commands and the means indicated, Nos. 314 and 315. The moment the subdivisions shall face to the right (or left,) the first file of each will wheel to the left (or right,) in marching, to prolong the direction, and to unite with the rear file of the subdivision immediately preceding. The file closers will take their habitual places in the march by the flank, before the union of the subdivisions.
326.	If the company be marching by the right flank, and the instructor should wish to undouble the files, which might sometimes be found necessary, he will inform the captain, who, after causing the cadenced step to be resumed, and arms to be shouldered or supported, will command:

		1. In two ranks, undouble files. 2. MARCH.

327.	At the second command, the odd numbers will continue to march straight forward, the even numbers will shorten the step, and obliquing to the left will place themselves promptly behind the odd numbers; the rear rank will gain a step to the left, so as to retake the touch of elbows on the side of the front rank.
328.	If the company be marching by the left flank, it will be the even numbers who will continue to march forward, and the odd numbers who will undouble.
329.	If the instructor should wish to double the files, he will give the order to the captain, who will command:

		1. In four ranks, double files. 2. MARCH.

330.	At the command march, the files will double in the manner as explained, when the company faces by the right or the left flank. The instructor will afterwards cause the route step to be resumed.
331.	The various movements prescribed in this lesson may be executed in double quick time. The men will be brought, by degrees, to pass over at this gait about eleven hundred yards in seven minutes.
332.	When the company marching in the route step shall halt, the rear rank will close up at the command halt, and the whole will shoulder arms.
333.	Marching in the route step, the men will be permitted to carry their pieces in the manner they shall find most convenient, paying attention only to holding the muzzles up, so as to avoid accidents.

		ARTICLE FOURTH
		Countermarch.

334.	The company being at a halt, and supposed to constitute part of a column, right in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to countermarch, he will command:

		1. Countermarch. 2. Company, right-FACE. 3. By file left. 4. MARCH.

335.	At the second command the company will face to the right, the two guides to the right about; the captain will go to the right of his company and cause two files to break to the rear, and then place himself by the side of the front rank man, to conduct him.
336.	At the command march, both guides will stand fast; the company will step off smartly; the first file conducted by the captain, will wheel around the right guide, and direct its march along the front rank so as to arrive behind, and two paces from the left guide; each file will come in succession to wheel on the same ground around the right guide; the leading file having arrived at a point opposite to the left guide, the captain will command:

		1. Company. 2. HALT. 3. MARCH. 4. Right-DRESS.

337.	The first command will be given at four paces from the point where the leading file is to rest.
338.	At the second command, the company will halt.
339.	At the third, it will face to the front.
340.	At the fourth, the company will dress by the right; the captain will step two paces outside of the left guide, now on the right, and direct the alignment, so that the front rank may be enclosed between the two guides; the company being aligned, he will command FRONT, and place himself before the centre of the company as if in column; the guides, passing along the front rank, will shift to their proper places, on the right and left of that rank
341.	In a column, by platoon, the countermarch will be executed by the same commands, and according to the same principles; the guide of each platoon will face about, and its chief will place himself by the Hide of the file on the right, to conduct it.
342.	In a column, left in front, the countermarch will be executed by inverse commands and means, but according to the same principles. Thus, the movement will be made by the right flank of subdivisions, if the right be in front, and by the left flank, if the left be in front; in both cases the subdivisions will wheel by file to the side of the front rank.

		ARTICLE FIFTH
		Being in column by platoon, to form on the right (or left) into line of battle.

343.	The column by platoon, right in front, being in march, the instructor, wishing to form it on the right into line of battle, will command:

		1. On the right into line. 2. Guide right.

344.	At the second command, the guide of each platoon will shift quickly to its right flank, and the men will touch elbows to the right; the column will continue to march straight forward.
345.	The instructor having given the second command, will move briskly to the point at which the right of the company ought to rest in line, and place himself facing the point of direction to the left which be will choose.
346.	The line of battle ought to be so chosen that the guide of each platoon, after having turned to the right, may have, at least, ten paces to take before arriving upon that line.
347.	The head of the column being nearly opposite to the instructor, the chief of the first platoon will command: 1. Right turn; and when exactly opposite to that point, he will add:

		3. MARCH.

348.	At the command march, the first platoon will turn to the right, in conformity with the principles prescribed in the school of the soldier, No. 402. Its guide will so direct his march as to bring the front rank man, next on his left, opposite to the instructor; the chief of the platoon will march before its centre; and when its guide shall be near the line of battle, he will command:

		1. Platoon. 2. HALT.

349.	At the command halt, which will be given at the instant the right of the platoon shall arrive at the distance of three paces from the line of battle, the platoon will halt; the files, not yet in line, will come up promptly. The guide will throw himself on the line of battle, opposite to one of the three left files of his platoon; he will face to the instructor, who will align him on the point of direction to the left, The chief of platoon having, at the same time, gone to the point where the right of the company is to rest, will, as soon as he sees all the files of the platoon in line, command:

		Right - DRESS.

350.	At this, the first platoon will align itself; the front rank man, who finds himself opposite to the guide, will rest his breast lightly against the right arm of this guide, and the chief of the platoon, from the right, will direct the alignment on this man.
351.	The second platoon will continue to march straight forward, until its guide shall arrive opposite to the left file of the first; it will then turn to the right at the command of its chief, and march towards the line of battle, its guide directing himself on the left file of the first platoon.
352.	The guide having arrived at the distance of three paces from the line of battle, this platoon will be halted, as prescribed for the first; at the instant it halts, its guide will spring on the line of battle, opposite to one of the three left files of his platoon, and will be assured in his position by the instructor.
353.	The chief of the second platoon, seeing all its files in line, and its guide established on the direction, will command:

		Right - DRESS.

354.	Having given this command, he will return to his place as a file closer, passing around the left; the second platoon will dress up on the alignment of the first, and, when established, the captain will command:

		FRONT.

355.	The movement ended, the instructor will command:

		Guides - POSTS.

356.	At this command, the two guides will return to their places in line of battle.
357.	A column, by platoon, left in front, will form on the left into line of battle, according to the same principles, and, by inverse means, applying to the second platoon what is prescribed for the first, and reciprocally. The chief of the second platoon having aligned it, from the point of appui, (the left,) will retire to his place as a file closer. The captain having halted the first platoon three paces behind the line of battle, will go to the same point to align is this platoon, and then command:

		FRONT.

	At the command, guides-posts, given by the instructor, the captain will shift to his proper flank, and the guides take their places in the line of battle.
358.	When the companies of a regiment are to be exercised, at the same time, in the school of the company, the colonel will indicate the lesson or lessons they are severally to execute. The whole will commence by a bugle signal, and terminate in like manner.

		Formation of a company from two ranks into single rank, and reciprocally.

359.	The company being formed into two ranks, in the manner indicated No. 8, school of the soldier, and supposed to make part of a column, right or left in front, when the instructor shall wish to form it into single rank, he will command:

		1. In one rank, form company. 2. MARCH.

360.	At the first command, the right guide will face to the right.
361.	At the command march, the right guide will step off and march in the prolongation of the front rank.
362.	The first file will step off at the same time with the guide; the front rank man will turn to the right at the first step, follow the guide, and be himself followed by the rear rank man of his file, who will come to turn on the same spot where be had turned. The second file, and successively all the other files, will step off as has been prescribed for the first, the front rank man of each file following the rear rank man of the file next on his right. The captain will superintend the movement, and when the last man shall have stepped off, he will half the company, and face it to the front.
363.	The file closers will take their places in the line of battle, two paces in the rear of the rank.
364.	The company being in single rank, when the instructor shall wish to form it into two ranks, he will command:

		1. In two ranks, form company. 2. Company, right - FACE. 3. MARCH.

365.	At the second command, the company will face to the night: the right guide and the man on the right will remain faced to the front.
366.	At the command march, the men who have faced to the right, will step off, and form files in the following manner: the second man in the rank will place, himself behind the first to form the first file; the third will place himself by the side of the first in the front rank; the fourth behind the third in the rear rank. All the others will, in like manner, place themselves, alternately, in the front and rear rank, and will thus form files of two men, on the left of those already formed.
367.	The formations above described will be habitually executed by the right of companies; but when the instructor shall wish to have them executed by the left, be will face the company about, and post the guides in the rear rank.
368.	The formation will then be executed by the same commands and according to the same principles as by the front rank; the movement commencing with the left file, now become the right, and in each file by the rear rank man, now become the front; the left guide will conform to what has been prescribed for the right.
369.	The formation ended, the instructor will face the company to its proper front.
370.	When a battalion in line has to execute either of the formations above described, the colonel will cause it to break to the rear by the right or left of companies, and will then give the commands just prescribed for the instructor. Each company will execute the movement as if acting singly.

		Formation of a company front two ranks into four, and reciprocally, at a halt, and in march.

371.	The company being formed in two ranks, at a halt, and supposed to form part of a column right in front, when the instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks, he will command:

		1. In four ranks, form company. 2. Company left - FACE. 3. MARCH* (or double quick - MARCH).*

372.	At the second command, the left guide will remain faced to the front, the company will face to the left; the rear rank will gain the distance of one pace from the front rank by a side step to the left and rear, and the men will form into four ranks as prescribed in the school of the soldier.
373.	At the command march, the first file of four men will reface to the front without undoubling. All the other files of four will step off, and closing successively to about five inches of the preceding file, will halt, and immediately face to the front, the men remaining doubled.
374.	The file closers will take their new places in line of battle, at two paces in rear of the fourth rank.
375.	The captain will superintend the movement.
376.	The company being in four ranks, when the instructor shall wish to form it into two ranks, he will command:

		1. In two ranks, form company. 2. Company right - FACE. 3. MARCH* (or double quick - MARCH).*

377.	At the second command the left guide will stand fast, the company will face to the right.
378.	At the command march, the right guide will step off and march in the prolongation of the front rank. The leading file of four men will step off at the same time, the other files standing fast; the second file will step off when there shall be between it and the first space sufficient to form into two ranks. The following files will execute successively what has been prescribed for the second. As soon as the last file shall have its distance, the instructor will command:

		1. Company. 2. HALT. 3. FRONT.

379.	At the command front, the company will face to the front and the files will undouble.
380.	The company being formed in two ranks, and marching to the front, when the instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks he will command:

		1. In four ranks, form company. 2. By the left double files. 3. MARCH* (or double quick - MARCH).*

381.	At the command march, the left guide and the left file of the company will continue to march straight to the front; the company will make a half face to the left, the odd numbers placing themselves behind the even numbers. The even numbers of the rear rank will shorten their steps a little, to permit the odd numbers of the front rank to get between them and the even numbers of that rank. The files thus formed of fours, except the left file, will continue to march obliquely, lengthening their steps slightly, so as to keep constantly abreast of the guide; each file will close successively on the file next on its left, and when at the proper distance from that file, will face to the front by a half face to the right, and take the touch of elbows to the left.
382.	The company being in march to the front in four ranks, when the instructor shall wish to form it into two ranks, be will command:

		1. In two ranks, form company 2. By the right, undouble files. 3. MARCH* (or double quick - MARCH).*

383.	At the command march, the left guide and the left file of the company will continue to march straight to the front; the company will make a half face to the right and march obliquely, lengthening the step a little, in order to keep, as near as possible, abreast of the guide. As soon as the second file from the left shall have gained to the right the interval necessary for the left file to form into two ranks, the second file will face to the front by a half face to the left and march straight forward; the left file will immediately form into two ranks, and take the touch of elbows to the left. Each file will execute successively, what has just been prescribed for the file next to the left, and each file will form into two ranks when the file next on its right has obliqued the required distance and faced to the front.
384.	If the company be supposed to make part of a column, left in front, these different movements will be executed according to the same principles and by inverse means, substituting the indication left for right.