KEPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 



209 



Explanalion of signs. 

 t — Captain. 





L 

 f 



1 



. Commander of platoon. 

 File- closer-officer. 

 Right guide of platoon. 

 Left guide of platoon. 

 Filec-closer non-commissioned-officer. 



- Orderly sergeant. 



- Trumpeter. 



? 



? 



f 





\ I 



I 



? \ 



f 



? 



The above sketch represents a squadron deployed. 



If there is no 5th lieutenant, the 2d platoon is commanded by the ensign, or a suitable sergeant. 



If there are but 2 lieutenants present, they command the flank platoons. 



The captain may change the arrangement of the officers, as given above, if he thinks proper. 



The sketch gives the positions of the non-commissioned officers and trumpeters. 



There must be one file-closer for each platoon ; if there is a deficiency in the number of 

 sergeants, corporals are detailed to supply their places. 



To dismount, the chiefs and left guides of platoons, and Nos. 1 of the front rank, ride forward 

 twice a horse's length, the chiefs of platoons then face towards their men by making a right about ; 

 the right guides, Nos. 2 of the front rank, and Nos. 1 of the rear rank, move forward a horse's 

 length; Nos. 2 of the rear rank and the file-closers stand fast; the trumpeters act as prescribed 

 for the rear rank. 



Having dismounted, Nos. 2 of each rank and the right guides close up alongside of the Nos. 1 

 of their own rank ; the file-closers close up on the rear rank ; the ranks are thus 4 paces apart. 



To mount, the ranks are formed 4 paces apart, and the Nos. 1 of each rank, with the left guides, 

 move forward a horse's length. 



Having mounted, the ranks are closed on the Nos. 1 of the front rank. 



The movements of the squadron are by threes, never by fours. 



•^^- 



».# Ff 



Direction of march. 



Front ranlt. 



Rear. 



The annexed sketch shows the formation of a squadron gaining ground to the right after 

 having wheeled to the right by threes in each rank. 



The squadron may be reformed into line either by wheeling to the left by threes, or by form- 

 ing to the front into line ; in the latter case the front rank men of the leading set of threes movo 

 forward two horses' lengths and halt, their rear rank men take their places behind them, and the 

 other sets of threes gain their places by obliquing to the left. 



Platoons may be formed in the same manner. 



The above sketch will serve to explain the peculiarity in the column by threes, and the column 

 27 © 



