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.
Details of Common Movements.
Company or division, say of sixty men, at close order in line two deep, told off into “threes,” “right and left files,” two “sub-divisions” of fifteen file each, including four “sections,” two being of eight files and two of seven files, the larger numbers always on the flanks.
Command—“From the Centre extend.”
The centre file (the left file of the right sub-division) stands fast, arms ordered, the remainder of the right sub-division turn to the right, the whole of the left sub-division to the left, arms at the long trail (horizontal in the right hand), step off, first file on each side of the centre at six paces halted and fronted quietly by the rear rank men, take up the bodily position of the centre-file, whatever it may be,—the others successively do the same as their relative distances are gained.
“From the Right extend.”
“From the Left extend.”
“From the Fourth File from the Right extend eight paces.”
“From John Wilson extend three paces.”