96 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



may occupy in line or in column. Each platoon is counted off: (a) by twos ; (6) from right to 

 left ; (c) by threes ; this is done under the direction of the commandants of platoons, before the 

 squadron is formed. If there are odd files in the 4th platoon, they are posted on its right. 



COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON. 



The minimum strength is as follows : 1 captain, commanding ; 4 commandants of platoons ; 

 16 sergeants ; 3 trumpeters ; 96 corporals and privates. As a general rule, the average strength 

 of the squadron is 120 corporals and privates, or 60 files. 



POSTS OF THE OFFICEKS AND SERGEANTS. 



(PI. 4, fig. 2.) The squadron being deployed, the ofiicers are posted as follows : the captain 

 commanding, at platoon distance in front of the centre of the squadron ; the commandant of the 

 1st platoon, 1 pace in front of the 2d file from the right of his platoon ; the commandants of the 

 2d and 3d platoons, 1 pace in front of the centres of their platoons ; the commandant of the 4th 

 platoon, 1 pace in front of the 2d file from the left of his platoon; if there is a 5th subaltern, he 

 is posted, as a file-closer, 3 paces in rear of the centre of the line of non-commissioned file-closers ; 

 if there is a 6th subaltern, he is posted 1 pace in front of the 2d file from the left of the 1st 

 platoon ; if there is a 7th subaltern, he is posted 1 pace in front of the 2d file from the right of 

 the 4th platoon. 



Subalterns command platoons according to their ability, and not according to seniority ; the 

 1st and 4th platoons being considered the most important. 



If there are not enough ofiicers present to supply commandants of platoons, the deficiency is 

 made good by the most capable sergeants. 



If there is no ofiicer to act as file-closer, this position is not filled by a sergeant. 



PL 4, fig. 2, gives the positions of the different sergeants in line ; No. 15 is the standard 

 bearer, in standard squadrons, and No. 16 is his assistant ; in squadrons without standards, 

 No. 15 is posted in rear of the 2d file from the left of the 2d platoon, and No. 16 in rear of the 

 2d file from the right of the 3d platoon ; the non-commissioned file-closers are 1 pace behind the 

 rear rank. In standard squadrons having but 14 sergeants, No. 13 is the standard bearer, No, 

 14 his assistant. 



No. 6 carries the squadron guidon. 



There must always be at least one file-closer for every platoon ; if there are not enough 

 sero'eants for this purpose, corjjorals are detailed to supply the deficiency. 



The sergeants may be posted, by the commander of the squadron, without regard to their 

 relative rank. 



Trumpeters are posted, either in one rank, at five paces on the right of the rear rank, or in 

 rear of the 4th files from the right of the 1st, 4th, and 2d platoons ; the latter position in 

 preference. 



In the plates, accompanying this report, extracted from the Kussian tactics, two drummers 

 and two trumpeters are usually represented ; these drummers refer only to the dragoon regiments. 



The men armed with rifled carbines, (four in each platoon,) who are to act as skirmishers, 

 always form the flank files of the platoons ; these files should always be full. 



PL 4, figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 ; PL 5, figs. 1, 2, and 3, will sufiiciently explain the formation of 

 a squadron in column by twos, threes, sixes, platoons, and half-squadrons, as well as the posts 

 of the officers and -non-commissioned ofiicers. 



