278 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



The horses should he purchased hy cavalry officers, and he selected for activity, hardiness, 

 and endurance. 



The men ought to be light, active, and intelligent. 



The tactical unit should he small, that it may he handled with the greatest possible ease 

 and celerity, and that it may never he broken. The regiments, also, should be small, for the 

 same reasons. 



The FOKMAXION OUGHT TO BE IN ONE RANK, as Covering the greatest extent of ground, admit- 

 ting the most rapid movements, and bringing every man to bear to the greatest advantage ; 

 suitable reserves should always be held in hand. 



I would propose, as the unit, for interior service, and tactical purposes, the company, com- 

 posed as follows : 



1 captain. 



3 lieutenants. 



1 orderly sergeant. 



1 quartermaster sergeant. 



1 veterinary sergeant. * 



4 duty sergeants. 

 8 corporals. 



66 privates. 



2 trumpeters. 

 1 farrier. 



1 saddler. 



Total, 4 officers, 85 non-commissioned officers and rnen. 



Of this number, 6 privates and the saddler to be dismounted, leaving the effective force of 

 combatants, 4 officers, 78 men, and 78 government horses. 



It would be advantageous to create the grade of first class privates, say 20 in each company, 

 as a means of rewarding good and faithful old soldiers, who are not fitted to become non-com- 

 missioned officers ; they should receive somewhat more pay than the second class privates. 

 The company to be divided into two platoons, four sections, and sets of fours. The lieutenants 

 and non-commissioned officers to be attached to the same platoon and section, for the purposes 

 of drill and interior service. 



The posts of the officers, &c., to be as follows : 

 *^ The captain in the rank, between the platoons ; when necessary, he can move to the front, his 

 place being left vacant ; the 1st lieutenant, commanding the 1st platoon, on the right of the 

 company; the 2d lieutenant, commanding the 2d platoon, on the left of the company; the 3d 

 lieutenant, as file closer, 4 paces in rear of the centre ; this officer not to be replaced if absent ; 

 the orderly^ sergeant, as file closer, two paces behind the right file ; the quartermaster sergeant, 

 two paces in rear of the left file ; the veterinary sergeant, half way between the orderly sergeant 

 and the 1st corporal ; the 1st duty sergeant, on the right of the 1st platoon ; the 2d, on the 

 left of the 2d platoon ; the 3d, on the left of the 1st platoon ; the 4th, on the right of the 2d 

 platoon ; the 1st corporal, as file closer, 2 paces in rear of the centre of the 1st section ; the 2d, 

 behind the 4th section ; the 3d, behind the 2d section ; the 4th, behind the 3d section ; the 5th, 

 to be the left file of the 1st section ; the 6th, to be the right file of the 4th section ; the 7th, to 

 be the right file of the 2d section ; the 8th, to be the left file of the 3d section ; the buglers, 

 2 paces behind the 2d files from the inner flanks of the platoons ; the farrier, half way between 



