263. Captains repeat such preparatory commands as are to be immediately executed by their companies, as _forward_, _squads right_, etc.; the men execute the commands _march_, _halt_, etc., if applying to their companies, when given by the major. In movements executed in route step or at ease the captains repeat the command of execution, if necessary. Captains do not repeat the major"s commands in executing the manual of arms, nor those commands which are not essential to the execution of a movement by their companies, as _column of squads_, _first company_, _squads right_, etc.
In giving commands or cautions captains may prefix the proper letter designations of their companies, as _A Company, HALT_; _B Company, squads right_, etc.
264. At the command _guide center (right_ or _left)_, captains command: _Guide right_ or _left_, according to the positions of their companies. _Guide center_ designates the left guide of the center company.
265. When the companies are to be dressed, captains place themselves on that flank toward which the dress is to be made, as follows:
The battalion in line: Beside the guide (or the flank file of the front rank, if the guide is not in line) and facing to the front.
The battalion in column of companies: Two paces from the guide, in prolongation of and facing down the line.
Each captain, after dressing his company, commands: _FRONT_, and takes his post.
The battalion being in line and unless otherwise prescribed, at the captain"s command _dress_, or at the command _halt_, when it is prescribed that the company shall dress, the guide on the flank away from the point of rest, with his piece at right shoulder, dresses promptly on the captain and the companies beyond. During the dress he moves, if necessary, to the right and left only; the captain dresses the company on the line thus established. The guide takes the position of order arms at the command _front_. (_C.I.D.R., No. 2._)
266. The battalion executes the _halt_, _rests_, _facings_, _steps_ and _marchings_, _manual of arms_, resumes _attention_, _kneels_, _lies down_, _rises_, _stacks_ and _takes arms_, as explained in the Schools of the Soldier and Squad, subst.i.tuting in the commands _battalion_ for _squad_.
The battalion executes _squads right (left)_, _squads right (left) about_, _route step_ and _at ease_, and _obliques_ and resumes the _direct march_, as explained in the School of the Company.
267. The battalion in column of platoons, squads, twos, or files changes direction; in column of squads forms column of twos or files and re-forms columns of twos or squads, as explained in the School of the Company.
268. When the formation admits of the simultaneous execution by companies or platoons of movements in the School of the Company the major may cause such movement to be executed by prefixing, when necessary, _companies (platoons)_ to the commands prescribed therein: as 1. _Companies, right front into line_, 2. _MARCH_. To complete such simultaneous movements, the commands _halt_ or _march_, if prescribed, are given by the major. The command _front_, when prescribed, is given by the captains.
269. The battalion as a unit executes the loadings and firings only in firing saluting volleys. The commands are as for the company, subst.i.tuting _battalion_ for _company_. At the first command for loading, captains take post in rear of the center of their respective companies. At the conclusion of the firing, the captains resume their posts in line.
On other occasions, when firing in close order is necessary, it is executed by company or other subdivision under instructions from the major.
_To Form the Battalion._
270. For purposes other than ceremonies: The battalion is formed in column of squads. The companies having been formed, the adjutant posts himself so as to be facing the column, when formed, and 6 paces in front of the place to be occupied by the leading guide of the battalion; he draws saber; _adjutant"s call_ is sounded or the adjutant signals _a.s.semble_.
The companies are formed, at attention, in column of squads in their proper order. Each captain, after halting his company, salutes the adjutant; the adjutant returns the salute and, when the last captain has saluted, faces the major and reports: _Sir, the battalion is formed_. He then joins the major.
271. For ceremonies or when directed: The battalion is formed in line.
The companies having been formed, the adjutant posts himself so as to be 6 paces to the right of the right company when line is formed, and faces in the direction in which the line is to extend. He draws saber; _adjutant"s call_ is sounded; the band plays if present.
The right company is conducted by its captain so as to arrive from the rear, parallel to the line; its right and left guides precede it on the line by about 20 paces, taking post facing to the right at order arms, so that their elbows will be against the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the right and left files of their company when it is dressed. The guides of the other companies successively prolong the line to the left in like manner and the companies approach their respective places in line as explained for the right company. The adjutant, from his post, causes the guides to cover.
When about 1 pace in rear of the line, each company is halted and dressed to the right against the arms of the guides.
The band, arriving from the rear, takes its place in line when the right company is halted; it ceases playing when the left company has halted.
When the guides of the left company have been posted, the adjutant, moving by the shortest route, takes post facing the battalion midway between the post of the major and the center of the battalion.
The major, staff, noncommissioned staff, and orderlies take their posts.
When all parts of the line have been dressed, and officers and others have reached their posts, the adjutant commands: 1. _Guides_, 2.
_POSTS_, 3. _Present_, 4. _ARMS_. At the second command guides take their places in the line. The adjutant then turns about and reports to the major: _Sir, the battalion is formed_; the major directs the adjutant: _Take your post, Sir_; draws saber and brings the battalion to the order. The adjutant takes his post, pa.s.sing to the right of the major.
_To Dismiss the Battalion._
272. _DISMISS YOUR COMPANIES._
Staff and noncommissioned staff officers fall out; each captain marches his company off and dismisses it.
_To Rectify the Alignment._
273. Being in line at a halt, to align the battalion: 1. _Center (right_ or _left)_, 2. _DRESS_.
The captains dress their companies successively toward the center (right or left) guide of the battalion, each as soon as the captain next toward the indicated guide commands: _Front_. The captains of the center companies (if the dress is _center_) dress them without waiting for each other.
274. To give the battalion a new alignment: 1. _Guides center (right_ or _left) company on the line_, 2. _Guides on the line_, 3. _Center (right_ or _left)_, 4. _DRESS_, 5. _Guides_, 6. _POSTS_.
At the first command, the designated guides place themselves on the line (par. 271) facing the center (right or left). The major establishes them in the direction he wishes to give the battalion.
At the second command, the guides of the other companies take posts, facing the center (right or left), so as to prolong the line.
At the command _dress_, each captain dresses his company to the flank toward which the guides of his company face.
At the command _posts_, given when all companies have completed the dress, the guides return to their posts.
_To Rectify the Column._
275. Being in column of companies, or in close column, at a halt, if the guides do not cover or have not their proper distances, and it is desired to correct them, the major commands: 1. _Right (left)_, 2.
_DRESS_.
Captains of companies in rear of the first place their right guides so as to cover at the proper distance; each captain aligns his company to the right and commands: _FRONT_.
_On Right (Left) into Line._
276. Being in column of squads or companies: 1. _On right (left) into line_, 2. _MARCH_, 3. _Battalion_, 4. _HALT_.
Being in column of squads: At the first command, the captain of the leading company commands: _Squads right_. If at a halt each captain in rear commands: _Forward_. At the second command the leading company marches in line to the right; the companies in rear continue to march to the front and form successively on the left, each, when opposite its place, being marched in line to the right.
The fourth command is given when the first company has advanced the desired distance in the new direction; it halts and is dressed to the right by its captain; the others complete the movement, each being halted 1 pace in rear of the line established by the first company, and then dressed to the right.
Being in column of companies: At the first command, the captain of the first company commands: _Right turn_. If at a halt, each captain in rear commands: _Forward_. Each of the captains in rear of the leading company gives the command: 1. _Right turn_, in time to add, 2.
_MARCH_, when his company arrives opposite the right of its place in line.
The fourth command is given and the movement completed as explained above.
Whether executed from column of squads or column of companies, each captain places himself so as to march beside the right guide after his company forms line or changes direction to the right.