228 MANUAL POR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



'troop changing to the trot, walk, leading dismounted, etc., at 

 the same place at which the leading troop did, and although 

 regulation distances are frequently exceeded, the tendency on 

 all stretches of good road is to close on the leading troop of 

 the column. With care this method of marching should result 

 in enabling each troop in the column to move with almost the 

 same regularity and freedom from checks as though it were 

 in the lead. 



The fast rate of march that can be expected of small detach- 

 ments and of single riders can not be demanded of a long 

 Cavalry column, and as the command increases in size the rate 

 of march will decrease. The regulation gaits being, at the 

 walk, 4 miles, the trot, 8 miles. Cavalry should be able to 

 make, including halts, 5 miles per hour or better. This rate 

 can be maintained for daily marches of 25 miles under ordi- 

 nary conditions for a week at a time, after which a day of 

 rest should be allowed before continuing the march. 



980. Formations: The habitual formation for marches is 

 route order in column of fours (par. 754). When the roads 

 are unsuitable or the command is small, column of twos or 

 troopers is permissible. To economize road space in large 

 commands double column or parallel columns should be used 

 if practicable. Squadrons in regiment and troops in squad- 

 rons alternate in leading, the rule being that the one in front 

 one day automatically follows in rear the next day. 



981. Halts: The first half hour of a march should be made 

 at a walk and the first halt of 10 or 15 minutes toward the 

 end of the first hour after starting; it should, if possible, be 

 preceded by a short trot in order to make apparent any 

 faulty adjustment of equipment. This halt gives an oppor- 

 tunity for the horses to stale and for the troopers to attend 

 to the calls of nature, to tighten girths, and to adjust saddles, 

 equipment, and clothing. 



Other halts of 5 to 10 minutes should be made at hourly 

 intervals, and, if the march is to be prolonged into the after- 

 noon, a longer halt should be made at noon, when girths are 

 loosened, bridles removed, horses fed, and the men eat their 

 lunches. 



An invariable rule on the march and in camp is to have all 

 troopers dismount promptly on halting; in other words, never 

 to permit a man to sit a moment in the saddle while his horse 



