REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 117 



RULES FOR FORMING IN ORDER OF BATfTLE. 



General rules. — The employment of the different orders of battle, and their adaptation to the 

 ground and circumstances, depends entirely upon the generals of division, unless it is specified 

 in the instructions for the corps exactly how each division is to form. 



In all cases the generals of division arc allowed to make the partial changes rendered neces- 

 sary by the ground; besides which, a principal object is the choice of the most advantageous 

 position for the artillery, as its success depends upon this choice. It is a general rule for the 

 orders of battle, that the junior brigades and regiments of cavalry, and divisions and batteries 

 of artillery, should be in front ; an exception to this rule is made in the case of batteries of 

 position, as they are always placed in the first line, the light batteries being in reserve. When 

 the artillery is posted on the flanks of the line, the heavy batteries are on the right flank, the 

 light on the left. As circumstances may render it necessary to employ one part of a division 

 instead of another, changes may be made in the foregoing rules ; but it is required that the 

 regiments composing a brigade be kept together, unless it is absolutely impossible to avoid 

 separating them. Thus, in the 1st order of battle, if the 2d regiment is in the 1st line, the 1st 

 regiment should be in the 2d line, and the 3d and 4th in reserve. 



In the 2d order of battle, it may be permitted to compose the right wings of both lines of one 

 brigade, and the left wings of the other brigade. 



A division forms into order of battle at the command of its chief, who designates as the 

 directing subdivision either one of the squadrons of the 1st line, or the artillery, according to 

 the ground and circumstances. The subdivision of direction is taken, in preference, nearest the 

 new position of the troops. 



In forming into order of battle from column, or in passing from one order of battle to another, 

 the shortest road should always be taken ; never using, however, the individual oblique march, 

 which should never be employed for more than one or two squadrons ; the artillery may oblique. 

 The preparatory formations, and the movements themselves, are made by brigade, or by regi- 

 ment, according to circumstances. 



In all the general formations there should be an interval of 20 paces between the extreme 

 pieces of artillery and the flanks of the nearest squadrons; the interval between the pieces 

 themselves is : in light batteries, 20 paces; in heavy batteries, 25 paces. If there is no artillery 

 on the flanks of the 1st line, the flanker, or lancer, squadrons of this line are not aligned upon 

 the rest of the line, but are in rear of its flanks, as prescribed in the school of the regiment. 



Batteries, in front of the 1st line of cavalry, are always aligned upon the pa-incipal reserves 

 of the skirmishers ; if there are no skirmishers thrown forward, or if they are recalled, and the 

 cavalry does not close up on the batteries, the latter fall back somewhat, and take post at from 

 100 to 120 paces in front of the 1st line. 



The distance between unlimbered batteries and the 1st line is always measured from the line 

 of pieces to the front rank of the 1st line. 



Artillery in reserve is always placed in rear of the cavalry reserve. 



The tactics then proceed to describe the different methods of passing to the orders of battle 

 from column ; of passing from one order of battle to another ; of forming general column from 

 the orders of battle. It then gives the application of the principles of the evolutions of the 

 line to the orders of battle, under the following heads : advance in order of battle ; retreat in 

 order of battle ; changes of front : passage of the line ; the duties of skirmishers ; of giving the 



