104 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



It is required tliat the commandants of tlie 3d platoons of standard squadrons shall be officers, 

 even if all the other platoons of the squadron are commanded by sergeants. 



ALIGNMENTS. 



There are no general guides. One squadron is designated as the squadron of direction ; its 

 principal guides (see school of the squadron) are posted by the adjutant, who then aligns the 

 principal guides of the other squadrons, in succession, on them. 



When the regiment is deployed, it may be aligned by ordering the commandants of platoons 

 forward on the line, instead of sending out the principal guides. The principal guides or com- 

 mandants of platoons move to their posts on the new line at a full gallop. 



TO CHANGE FROM THE ORDER OF REVIEW TO THE ORDER OF BATTLE. 



In an 8 squadron regiment, the iirst 6 squadrons stand fast, the commanders of the 7th and 

 8th wheel their squadrons by platoons to the right, and conduct them, by the shortest line, to 

 their new i^ositions. 



In a 10 squadron regiment the first two divisions stand fast ; the 8d and 4th form columns of 

 attack, and then move by the shortest line to their new positions ; the 9th and 10th squadrons 

 act as prescribed for the Ttli and 8th of an 8 squadron regiment. 



In columns with distance, the colonel and the commanders of divisions and sqiiadrons are all on 

 the directing flank, opposite the centres of their respective commands, and at distances from the 

 line of guides equal to their respective distances in front of the line when it is deployed ; so that 

 if the column wheels into line they are all in their proper places ; the adjutant habitually follows 

 the colonel. 



Among other formations in column, the regiment is sometimes formed into several parallel 

 columns of divisions, or squadrons, by platoons. 



CLOSE COLUMNS. 



In these, the distance between subdivisions is 15 paces, measured from the fore feet of the front 

 rank horses of one subdivision to the same of the next subdivision. 



PI. 11 shows the manner of forming close column by squadron, from a halt, and the posts 

 of the officers. If there are in front of any of the platoons officers other than their commandants, 

 they retain their usual places. 



If the close column is by half-squadron, the commandants of divisions and squadrons are 

 posted on the directing flanks of their leading subdivisions, and the commandants of half 

 squadrons on the directing flanks of their respective commands. 



In forming close column from a halt, the movement is by threes, in each rank. In regiments 

 of 10 squadrons, to form close column from order of battle, the divisions of the 2d line first deploy. 



PL 12, fig. 1, will show the general manner in which a regiment formed in columns of attack 

 changes front and deploys. 



PI. 12, fig. 2, will sufficiently explain the general methods of deploying close columns. 



The changes of front are executed either with the squadrons deployed or formed in columns of 

 attack. 



The regiment is exercised in advancing and retreating by alternate half squadrons, squadrons, 

 or divisions. 



The formations in echelon are by half squadrons, squadrons, or divisions. 



