Ordinary Rules.
1. The company or division of about sixty men, is the unit of extended Light Infantry, in the same manner as the battalion of about six hundred men, is the unit of a large military force at close order. Every company, or portion of a company, acting as Light Infantry, is therefore kept in hand by its immediate commander.
2. Extensions from close to skirmishing order, are always from the centre of the company or portion of the company, unless at the time otherwise ordered.
3. Closings from skirmishing to compact order are always to the centre, unless at the time otherwise ordered.
(In both of the foregoing cases the word “centre” is usually uttered, but the rules are necessary for the prevention of uncertainty in circumstances of rapidity.)
4. Extensions are in single files six paces apart, and firings are carried on by alternate ranks, front rank commencing. The front rank and rear rank man must never be unloaded together.
When not firing.
5. All movements are in “quick time.”
6. Skirmishers when halted, stand, with arms ordered.
When firing has commenced.
7. All movements of skirmishers are at the “double quick.”
8. Skirmishers while halting, on open ground drop on the right knee; on intersected ground they make the best of any cover near them, choosing their own bodily position.
9. In advancing, men whose rifles are loaded always pass by the right of those who are loading; and in like manner in retiring, men who are not loaded pass to the proper left of those who are nearly ready to fire.
10. In advancing, all load “as front rank,” rifles on the left side, muzzles to the front; in retiring all load “as rear rank,” rifles on the right side, muzzles to the rear.
11. In all movements directly to the front or rear, the right centre file of the company skirmishers, is the proper file of direction, to whose course all others conform, and from towards which they keep their relative distances.
12. In all movements directly or obliquely to a flank, the leading file of that flank is, for the time being, the file of direction.
13. In all changes of front on a fixed pivot, the file which is that pivot is, of necessity, for the time being, the file of direction. (See on this most important particular of “the file of direction,” [Article VI.] of “The Essentials.”)
14. Troops skirmishing at a greater distance than three hundred yards from the line or column, should retain one half of their number in support. (See on this subject [Article VIII.] of “The Essentials.”)
15. Skirmishers ordered to “form square,” close upon their supports.
16. If the bugle be employed, the less of it the better, provided the order be distinct to all concerned in it.
17. The last note of a bugle order marks the moment for the commencement of obedience to it.
18. All verbal orders and bugle commands not understood by the skirmishers, should be repeated in a low but distinct tone by officers and non-commissioned officers in charge of sections.
Almost all of these “ORDINARY RULES” may be altered, at the time, for extraordinary and temporary purposes. As for instance: No. 1, portions of different companies may be placed by superior orders under one commander, to control them as if they were of one company. Nos. 2 and 3, extension, may be ordered “from the right,” “left,” or any particular file, and closing, in like manner. No. 4, “double files,” may be ordered for mutual protection in going through thick cover; or, “single rank,” under heavy fire in open ground, and the distance between the files may be contracted or enlarged, in order to occupy less or more ground. Nos. 5 and 6, skirmishers, not firing, may be ordered to “double quick,” to “kneel,” or to “lie down.” Nos. 7 and 8, skirmishers, firing, to “common quick” or to “stand up.” No. 10, the file of direction may be changed to any other file that may for the time being suit the purpose of the commander. No. 11, skirmishers running towards their supports to form squares, may suddenly be arrested by the order “rallying squares,” for instantaneous irregular formations, &c. &c. Such measures being (it is repeated as very important) the temporary exceptions, and the “ordinary rules” the standing practice.
Careful consideration has been given in regard to the “ordinary rule” No. 7, that, under fire, all movements of skirmishers should be at the “double quick,” inasmuch as it is at variance with the practice hitherto pursued in the British army, of saving the soldier as much as possible from efforts of extraordinary exertion. The author’s careful proof of the long range rifle, on the low water smooth sands of an extensive sea beach, in which the final course of every bullet was marked, added to the great amount of other testimony on the same subject, have convinced him, that, for the future, within the range of eight hundred yards, all movements under the fire of a well posted enemy must be at the “double quick,” to avoid ruinous destruction. If the distance required cannot be surmounted in one effort at such speed, it must be traversed by successive dashes to intervening cover.