Should any squad have Nos. 2 and 3 blank files, No. 1 rear rank takes the place of No. 2 rear rank in making and breaking the stack; the stacks made or broken, he resumes his post.

Pieces not used in making the stacks are termed =loose pieces=.

Pieces are never stacked with the bayonet fixed. (115)

The Oblique March

=162.= For the instruction of recruits, the squad being in column or correctly aligned, the instructor causes the squad to face half right or half left, points out to the men their relative positions, and explains that these are to be maintained in the oblique march. (116)

=163. Right (Left) oblique, 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Each man steps off in a direction 45 to the right of his original front. He preserves his relative position, keeping his shoulders parallel to those of the guide (the man on the right front of the line or column), and so regulates his steps that the ranks remain parallel to their original front.

At the command =halt= the men halt faced to front.

To resume the original direction: =1. Forward 2. MARCH.=

The men half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the front.

If at =halfstep= or =mark time= while obliquing, the oblique march is resumed by the commands: =1. Oblique, 2. MARCH.= (117)

To Turn on Moving Pivot

=164.= Being in line: =1. Right (Left) turn, 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The movement is executed by each rank successively and on the same ground. At the second command, the pivot man of the front rank faces to the right in marching and takes the half step; the other men of the rank oblique to the right until opposite their places in line, then execute a second right oblique and take the half step on arriving abreast of the pivot man. All glance toward the marching flank while at half step and take the full step without command as the last man arrives on the line.

=Right (Left) half turn= is executed in a similar manner. The pivot man makes a half change of direction to the right and the other men make quarter changes in obliquing. (118)

To Turn on Fixed Pivot

=165.= Being in line, to turn and march: =1. Squad right (left), 2.

MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the second command, the right flank man in the front rank faces to the right in marching and marks time; the other front rank men oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the pivot, and mark time. In the rear rank the third man from the right, followed in column by the second and first, move straight to the front

[Ill.u.s.tration]

until in rear of his front-rank man,

[Ill.u.s.tration]

when all face to the right in marching and mark time; the other number of the rear rank moves straight to the front four paces and places himself abreast of the man on his right. Men on the new line glance toward the marching flank while marking time and, as the last man arrives on the line, both ranks execute =forward, MARCH=, without command. (119)

=166.= Being in line, to turn and halt: =1. Squad right (left), 2.

MARCH, 3. Squad, 4. HALT.=

The third command is given immediately after the second. The turn is executed as prescribed in the preceding paragraph except that all men, on arriving on the new line, mark time until the fourth command is given, when all halt. The fourth command should be given as the last man arrives on the line. (120)

=167.= Being in line, to turn about and march: =1. Squad right (left) about, 2. MARCH.=

At the second command, the front rank twice executes squad right initiating the second squad right when the man on the marching flank has arrived abreast of the rank. In the rear rank the third man from the right, followed by the second and first in column, moves straight to the front until on the prolongation of the line to be occupied by the rear rank; changes direction to the right; moves in the new direction until in rear of his front-rank man, when all face to the right in marching, mark time, and glance toward the marching flank.

The fourth man marches on the left of the third to his new position; as he arrives on the line, both ranks execute =forward, MARCH=, without command. (121)

=168.= Being in line, to turn about and halt: =1. Squad right (left) about, 2. MARCH, 3. Squad, 4. HALT.=

The third command is given immediately after the second. The turn is executed as prescribed in the preceding paragraph except that all men, on arriving on the new line, mark time until the fourth command is given, when all halt. The fourth command should be given as the last man arrives on the line. (122)

To Follow the Corporal

[Ill.u.s.tration: (IN LINE)]

=169.= Being a.s.sembled or deployed, to march the squad without unnecessary commands, the corporal places himself in front of it and commands: =FOLLOW ME.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: (AS SKIRMISHERS)]

If in line or skirmish line, No. 2 of the front rank follows in the trace of the corporal at about 3 paces; the other men conform to the movements of No. 2, guiding on him and maintaining their relative positions.

[Ill.u.s.tration: (IN COLUMN)]

If in column, the head of the column follows the corporal. (123)

To Deploy as Skirmishers

[Ill.u.s.tration]

=170.= Being in any formation, a.s.sembled: =1. As skirmishers, 2.

MARCH.=

The corporal places himself in front of the squad, if not already there. Moving at a run, the men place themselves abreast of the corporal at half-pace intervals, Nos. 1 and 2 on his right, Nos. 3 and 4 on his left, rear rank men on the right of their file leaders, extra men on the left of No. 4; all then conform to the corporal's gait.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

When the squad is acting alone, skirmish line is similarly formed on No. 2 of the front rank, who stands fast or continues the march, as the case may be; the corporal places himself in front of the squad when advancing and in rear when halted.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

When deployed as skirmishers, the men march at ease, pieces at the trail unless otherwise ordered.