CLOSE ORDER

Rules

=210. Platoon guides.= The guides of the right and left, or leading and rear, platoons, are the right and left, or leading and rear, guides, respectively, of the company when it is in line or in column of squads. Other guides are in the line of =file closers=.

In platoon movements the post of the platoon guide is at the head of the platoon, if the platoon is in column, and on the guiding flank if in line. When a platoon has two guides their original a.s.signment to flanks of the platoon does not change. (167)

=211. Guides of a column of squads; changing guides and file closers to opposite flank.= The guides of a column of squads place themselves on the flank opposite the file closers. To change the guides and file closers to the other flank, the captain commands: =1. File closers on left (right) flank; 2. MARCH.= The file closers dart through the column; the captain and guides change.

In the column of squads, each rank preserves the alignment toward the side of the guide. (168)

=212. File closers do not execute loadings or firings; execution of manual of arms and other movements.= Men in the line of file closers do not execute the loadings or firings.

Guides and enlisted men in the line of file closers execute the manual of arms during the drill unless specially excused, when they remain at the order. During ceremonies they execute all movements. (169)

=213. Action of guides in taking intervals and distances.= In taking intervals and distances, unless otherwise directed, the right and left guides, at the first command, place themselves in the line of file closers, and, with them, take a distance of 4 paces from the rear rank. In taking intervals, at the command =march=, the file closers face to the flank and each steps off with the file nearest him. In a.s.sembling the guides and file closers resume their position in line.

(170)

=214. Repet.i.tion of commands by platoon leaders in platoon drill.= In movements executed simultaneously by platoons (=as platoons right or platoons, column right=), platoon leaders repeat the preparatory command (=platoon right=, etc.), applicable to their respective platoons. The command of execution is given by the captain only. (171)

To Form the Company

=215.= At the sounding of the a.s.sembly the first sergeant takes position 6 paces in front of where the center of the company is to be, faces it, draws saber, and commands: =FALL IN.=

The right guide of the company places himself, facing to the front, where the right of the company is to rest, and at such point that the center of the company will be 6 paces from and opposite the first sergeant; the squads form in their proper places on the left of the right guide, superintended by the other sergeants, who then take their posts.

The first sergeant commands: =REPORT.= Remaining in position at the order, the squad leaders, in succession from right, salute and report: =All present=; or, =Private(s) ---- absent.= The first sergeant does not return the salutes of the squad leaders; he then commands: =1.

Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Order, 4. ARMS=, faces about, salutes the captain, reports: =Sir, all present or accounted for=, or the names of the unauthorized absentees, and, without command, takes his post.

If the company can not be formed by squads, the first sergeant commands: =1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Right shoulder, 4. ARMS=, and calls the roll. Each man, as his name is called, answers here and executes order arms. The sergeant then effects the division into squads and reports the company as prescribed above.

The captain places himself 12 paces in front of the center of, and facing, the company in time to receive the report of the first sergeant, whose salute he returns, and then draws saber.

The lieutenants take their posts when the first sergeant has reported and draw saber with the captain. The company, if not under arms, is formed in like manner omitting reference to arms. (172)

=216.= For the instruction of platoon leaders and guides, the company, when small, may be formed in single rank. In this formation close order movements only are executed. The single rank executes all movements as explained for the front rank of a company. (173)

To Dismiss the Company

=217.= Being in line at a halt, the captain directs the first sergeant: =Dismiss the company.= The officers fall out; the first sergeant places himself faced to the front, 3 paces to the front and 2 paces from the nearest flank of the company, salutes, faces toward opposite flank of the company and commands: =1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Port, 4. ARMS, 5. DISMISSED.= (174)

Alignments

=218.= The alignments are executed as prescribed in the School of the Squad, the guide being established instead of the flank file. The rear-rank man of the flank file keeps his head and eyes to the front and covers his file leader.

At each alignment the captain places himself in prolongation of the line, 2 paces from and facing the flank toward which the dress is made, verifies the alignment, and commands: =FRONT.=

Platoon leaders take a like position when required to verify alignments. (175)

Movements on the Fixed Pivot

=219.= Being in line, to turn the company: =1. Company right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT;= or, =3. Forward, 4. MARCH.=

At the second command the right-flank man[1] 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, moves straight to the front until in rear of his front-rank man, when all face to the right in marching and mark time; the remaining men of the rear rank move straight to the front 4 paces, oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the third man, cover their file leaders, and mark time, the right guide steps back, takes post on the flank, and marks time.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The fourth command is given when the last man is 1 pace in rear of the new line.

The command =halt= may be given at any time after the movement begins; only those halt who are in the new position. Each of the others halts upon arriving on the line, aligns himself to the right, and executes =front= without command. (176)

=220.= Being in line, to form column of platoons, or the reverse: =1.

Platoons right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT=; or, =3.

Forward, 4. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM LINE TO COLUMN OF PLATOONS.]

Executed by each platoon as described for the company.

Before forming line the captain sees that the guides on the flank toward which the movement is to be executed are covering. This is effected by previously announcing the guide to that flank. (177)

=221.= Being in line, to form column of squads, or the reverse; or, being in line of platoons, to form column of platoons, or the reverse: =1. Squads right (left), 2. MARCH=; or, =1. Squads right (left), 2.

MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT=.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM LINE TO COLUMN OF SQUADS.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM LINE OF PLATOONS TO COLUMN OF PLATOONS.]

Executed by each squad as described in the School of the Squad.

If the company or platoons be formed in line toward the side of the file closers, they dart through the column and take posts in rear of the company at the second command. If the column of squads be formed from line, the file closers take posts on the pivot flank, abreast of and 4 inches from the nearest rank. (178)

Movements on the Moving Pivot

=222.= Being in line, to change direction: =1. Right (Left) turn, 2.

MARCH, 3. Forward, 4. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Executed as described in the School of the Squad, except that the men do not glance toward the marching flank and that all take the full step at the fourth command. The right guide is the pivot of the front rank. Each rear-rank man obliques on the same ground as his file leader. (179)

=223.= Being in column of platoons, to change direction: =1. Column right (left), 2. MARCH.=