62 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



File closers. — OfRcers or noncommissioned officers placed out 

 of ranks, whose duty it is to supervise the men in ranks and 

 see that the orders of the com.mander are carried out. For 

 convenience, this term is applied to any man posted as a file 

 closer. 



Flank. — The right or left of a command in line or column. 



In speaking of the enemy the term right flank or left flank 

 is used to designate the flank that would be so designated by 

 him. 



Flank guard. — An element of a command disposed with a 

 view to protecting a flank. 



Foragers. — Mounted troopers distributed in line in extended 

 order ; also the formation in which the troopers are so dis- 

 tributed. 



Formation. — The arrangement of the elements of a command 

 in line, column, or echelon. 



Gait. — One of the special movements of the horse, as the 

 walk, the trot, or the gallop. 



Gait of march. — The gait at which the base of the command 

 in question is moving at the instant considered. 



Horse length. — A term of measurement. For convenience in 

 estimating space, a horse lengtli is considered as 3 yards; by 

 actual measure it is about 8 feet. 



Interval. — The lateral space between the elements or frac- 

 tions of a command. Interval is measured : Mounted, from 

 the left knee of the man at the right of the open space to the 

 right knee of the man at the left of the open space; dis- 

 mounted, interval is measured on similar principles, but from 

 elbow to elbow. 



Line. — A formation in which the different elements are 

 abreast of each other. When the elements are in column the 

 formation is called a line of columns. 



Maneuvers. — Operations against an outlined or actual force 

 under a separate commander, who, within the limits of the 

 assumed situation, is free to adopt any formations and make 

 any movements he chooses. 



Order. — An indication of the will of the commander in what- 

 ever form conveyed. An order may be given orally, by signal, 

 or in any manner that is intelligible to those for whom it is 

 intended. The expression, in order, has no reference to this 



