INSTRUCTION FOR SKIRMISHERS
General principles and division of the instruction.
ARTICLE SECOND
To advance
To advance in line, and to retreat in line.
70. When a platoon or a company deployed as skirmishers is marching by the front, the guide will be habitually in the centre. No particular indication to this effect need be given in the commands, but if on the contrary it be intended that the directing guide should be on the right, or left, the command guide right, or guide left, will be given immediately after that of forward.
71. The captain, wishing the line of skirmishers to advance, will command:
1. Forward. 2. MARCH (or double quick – MARCH).
72. This command will be repeated with the greatest rapidity by the chiefs of sections, and in case of need, by the sergeants. This rule is general, whether the skirmishers march by the front or by the flank.
73. At the first command, three sergeants will move briskly on the line, the first on the right, the second on the left, and the third in the centre.
74. At the command march, the line will move to the front, the guide charged with the direction will move on the point indicated to him, the skirmishers will hold themselves aligned on this guide, and preserve their intervals towards him.
75. The chiefs of sections will march immediately behind their sections, so as to direct their movements.
76. The captain will give a general superintendence to the movement.
77. When he shall wish to halt the skirmishers, he will command:
HALT.
78. At this command, briskly repeated, the line will halt. The chiefs of sections will promptly rectify any irregularity in the alignment and intervals, and after taking every possible advantage which the ground may offer for protecting the men, they, with the three sergeants in the line, will retire to their proper places in rear.
79. The captain, wishing to march the skirmishers in retreat, will command:
1. In retreat. 2. MARCH ( or double quick – MARCH )
80. At the first command, the three sergeants will move on the line as prescribed No. 73.
81. At the command march, the skirmishers will face about individually, and march to the rear, conforming to the principles prescribed No. 74.
82. The officers and sergeants will use every exertion to preserve order.
83. To halt the skirmishers, marching in retreat, the captain will command:
HALT.
84. At this command, the skirmishers will halt, and immediately face to the front.
85. The chiefs of sections and the three guides will each conform himself to what is prescribed No. 78.
To change direction
86. If the commander of a line of skirmishers shall wish to cause it to change direction to the right, he will command:
1. Right wheel. 2. MARCH (or double quick – MARCH).
87. At the command march, the right guide will mark time in his place; the left guide will move in a circle to the right, and that he may properly regulate his movements, will occasionally cast his eyes to the right, so as to observe the direction of the line, and the nature of the ground to be passed over. The centre guide will also march in a circle to the right, and in order to conform his movements to the general direction, will take care that his steps are only half the length of the steps of the guide on the left.
88. The skirmishers will regulate the length of their steps by their distance from the marching flank, being less as they approach the pivot, and greater as they are removed from it; they will often look to the marching flank, so as to preserve the direction and their intervals.
89. When the commander of the line shall wish to resume the direct march, he will command:
1. Forward. 2. MARCH.
90. At the command march, the line will cease to wheel, and the skirmishers will move direct to the front; the centre guide will march on the point which will be indicated to him.
91. If the captain should wish to halt the line, in place of moving it to the front, he will command:
HALT.
92. At this command, the line will halt.
93. A change of direction to the left will be made according to the same principles, and by inverse means.
94. A line of skirmishers marching in retreat will change direction by the same means, and by the same commands, as a line marching in advance; for example, if the captain should wish to reverse his left, now become the right, he will command: 1. Left wheel. 2. MARCH. At the command halt, the skirmishers will face to the enemy.
95. But if; instead of halting the line, the captain should wish to continue to march it in retreat, he will, when he judges the line has wheeled sufficiently, command:
1. In retreat. 2. MARCH.
To march by the flank
96. The captain, wishing the skirmishers to march by the right flank, will command:
1. By the right flank. 2. MARCH (or double quick – MARCH).
97. At the first command, the three sergeants will place themselves on the line.
98. At the command march, the skirmishers will face to the right and move off; the right guide will place himself by the side of the leading man on the right to conduct him, and will march on the point indicated; each skirmisher will take care to follow exactly in the direction of the one immediately preceding him, and to preserve his distance.
99. The skirmishers may be marched by the left flank, according to the same principles, and by the same commands, substituting left for right; the left guide will place himself by the side of the leading man to conduct him.
100. If the skirmishers be marching by the flank, and the captain should wish to halt them, he will command:
HALT.
101. At this command, the skirmishers will halt and face to the enemy. The officers and sergeants will conform to what has been prescribed No. 78.
102. The reserve should execute all the movements of the line, and be held always about one hundred and fifty paces from it, so as to be in position to second its operations.
103. When the chief of the reserve shall wish to march it in advance, he will command:
1. Platoon forward. 2. Guide left. 3. MARCH.
If he should wish to march it in retreat, he will command:
1. In retreat. 2. MARCH. 3. Guide right.
At the command halt, it will re-face to the enemy.
104. The men should be made to understand that the signals or commands, such as forward, mean that the skirmishers shall march on the enemy; in retreat, that they shall retire, and to the right or left flank, that the men must face to the right or left, whatever may be their position.
105. If the skirmishers be marching by the flank, and the captain should wish to change direction to the right (or left), he will command:
1. By file right (or left). 2. MARCH.
These movements will also be executed by the signals Nos. 14 and 15.