144 MANUAL POR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



If the squad be mounted in column of fours, the third and 

 fourth commands are omitted. At the first command the 

 troopers of each four open out fanwise, Nos. 1 and 2 to the 

 right, Nos. 3 and 4 to the left. Nos. 1 and 4 open out a little 

 more than Nos. 2 and 3, all opening only enough to permit the 

 troopers to mount without interfering with each other. The 

 troopers habitually straighten their horses in the column as 

 soon as they have mounted, but this requirement may be 

 relaxed whenever mounting in unison is not required (par. 

 o5S). The squad in column of twos is mounted by commands 

 and methods conforming to those used for mounting from 

 column of fours. 



355. The preparatory oral command for mounting may be 

 omitted. The squad then executes at the command MOUNT 

 all the movements prescribed in par. 354 for the commands, 

 1. Prepare to mount, 2. MOUNT. The troopers mount promptly, 

 but not in unison. 



The preparatory signal for mounting, when followed inime- 

 diately by the signal of execution, will be understood as equiv- 

 alent to the oral command MOUNT, and will be executed 

 accordingly. 



356. The squad being in line, the habitual commands for 

 dismounting are: 1. Prepare to dismount, 2. DISMOUNT; 3. 

 Form, 4. RANK. At the first command the odd numbers ride 

 4 yards directly to the front, regulating on the right, and all 

 the troopers execute the movements and take the final position 

 prescribed in par. 192-a. At the second command the troopers 

 execute, simultaneously, the movements prescribed in par. 

 192-&. At the fourth command the even numbers lead into 

 their intervals in the rank. The third and fourth commands 

 are given only in case it is desired to form rank. The squad 

 may be dismounted and, without forming rank, execute rest 

 or at ease (par. 359), or be inspected, mounted, or dismissed. 

 The modifications indicated for dismounting in column of 

 fours and column of twos correspond to those prescribed in 

 par. 354 for mounting from the corresponding formation, 

 except that the horses are not habitually straightened in the 

 column after dismounting unless the dismounted squad moves 

 forv/ard (the troopers leading their horses). 



