EEPOET OP CAPT. 6E0EGE B. MOCLELLAN. 95 



other files, in succession, advance one pace, halt, turn to the right, (on the horse's hind legs,) 

 move to the right in the direction of the front of the platoon, and turn individually to the left 

 when arriving behind the head of column. 



(PL 3, fig. 2.) Shows the manner of breaking by twos. 



(PL 3, fig. 3.) To break by threes, the first set of threes march straight forward, the rest of 

 the men wheel to the right by threes in each rank, move forward, and upon arriving behind the 

 head of column, wheel to the left by threes, in each rank. PL 3, fig. 3, shows the formation of 

 a platoon of 11 files, in column by threes. 



(PL 3, fig. 4.) To break by sixes, at the preparatory command the right guide passages 3 

 yards to the right, the rear rank men of the first set of threes oblique to the right and place 

 themselves on the alignment of the front rank, between the right guide and their front rank 

 men ; at the command, march, the right guide and the first set of threes (formed in one rank, the 

 rear rank men on the right) move straight forward, the rest of the men wheel to the right by 

 threes in each rank, move forward, and wheel to the left by sixes when the croups of their horses 

 are on the prolongation of the left flank of the column. 



PL 3, fig. 4, shows the formation of a platoon in column by sixes, the platoon consisting of 

 11 files. 



On the march, the platoon is broken into column according to the same principles ; except 

 that to break by file or by twos, in doubling the gait, the right file moves straight forward at 

 the new gait, and the rest of the platoons at once oblique to the right, each file entering the 

 column in succession. 



All these movements are executed by the left flank, by inverse means. When the platoon, 

 broken into column, is to form to the front, on the right or left, or to the right or left into line, 

 the leading subdivision marches platoon distance before halting. 



The platoon being in column by file, right in front, at a halt, to form column by twos : at the 

 command, march, each front rank man moves forward his horse's length and halts ; each rear 

 rank man moves up on the right of his front rank man and halts ; then the column closes up on 

 the leading subdivision. 



To form from colimin by file into column by threes : at the command, march, Nos. 1 of both 

 ranks move forward a horse's length and halt ; Nos. 2 and 3 of each rank oblique to the left, 

 and form on the left of Nos. 1 ; then the column closes up on the leading set of threes. 



(PL 3, fig. 5.) To form from column by file, into column by sixes : at the command, march, 

 Nos. 1 of the front rank move forward a horse's length and halt ; Nos. 2 and 3 of the same rank 

 oblique to the left, and form on the left of Nos. 1, in the order of their numbers ; the rear rank 

 men oblique to the right, and form on the alignment of the front rank, also in the order of their 

 numbers, from right to left ; the ranks of sixes, thus formed, then close up on the head of the 

 column. 



If the column is in march, the front is increased according to the same principles ; i. e., each 

 new subdivision is formed at the original gait ; then those in rear close uj) on the head of 

 column by doubling the gait. 



The front is decreased, whether the column is in march or at a halt, in a manner similar to 

 that pursued in the old style tactics. 



SCHOOL OF THE SQUADRON. 



The squadron is divided into two half squadrons and four platoons. The platoons are num- 

 bered from right to left, and each platoon preserves its original number, whatever position it 



