Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army / of the United States 1917. To be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training

by United States. War Department

389. In all movements in these regulations in the course of which fours, twos, or troopers execute a turn or half turn this last movement is made by each element in accordance with the principles explained in pars. 386 and 387, except that the commands 3. Forward, 4. MARCH, are omitted and each element continues the march in the new direction, upon completion of the turn, unless the commands: 3. Squad, 4. HALT, are given. The guide of a four in the turn is always No. 2; the guide of a two the right trooper.

390. Where only a slight change in the direction of march is desired; it is habitually accomplished by leading without any special command or signal therefor. The leader may caution: INCLINE TO THE RIGHT (LEFT). The execution of this movement, like that of the turn, is a special case of leading applied to the march in line. The leader slightly alters the direction of march, the guide conforms to the leader's movements, and the other troopers conform to the movements of the guide.

391. Being in line, to form column of fours to a flank: 1. Fours right (left), 2. MARCH.

Fig. 39, par. 391.

The fours move simultaneously, each executing right turn and taking up the march in the new direction (par. 389). No. 2 of the four on the flank toward which the movement is executed is the guide upon whom the other Nos. 2 regulate during the movement (par. 326), as well as the guide of the resulting column (par. 374). The leader promptly takes position in front of the guide (par. 325). Gaits are regulated as in par. 337d-d.

The movement dismounted is executed on the same principles except that No. 2 of each four regulates his step and path as indicated for the dismounted turn (pars. 386, 387). (Fig. [33].)

392. Column of twos is not formed directly to a flank from line. Column of twos may be formed to the front as explained in pars. 393 and 403, and the head of the column be at once marched in any desired direction. The same principle regulates the formation of column of troopers to a flank.

393. Being in column of fours, to form column of twos or troopers: