The Plattsburg Manual Part 14

Being in line, to turn the company: 1. Company right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT; or, 3. Forward, 4. MARCH.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SHOWING MOVEMENT HALF COMPLETED]

Notice that the part of the company which has not completed the movement is perpendicular to the part that has. The common error is for the rear rank to oblique before marching four paces to the front.

At the second command the right-flank man in the front rank faces to the right in marching and marks time; the other front-rank men, oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the pivot, and mark time; in the rear rank the third man from the right, followed in column by the second and first, moves straight to the front until in rear of his front-rank man, when all face to the right in marching and mark time; the remaining men of the rear rank move straight to the front 4 paces, oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the third man, cover their file leaders, and mark time; the right guide steps back, takes post on the flank and marks time.

The fourth command is given when the last man is 1 pace in rear of the new line.

The command Halt may be given at any time after the movement begins; only those halt who are in the new position. Each of the others halts upon arriving on the line, aligns himself to the right, and executes front without command.

The difference between this movement and squad right is slight. The rear rank acts a little differently, and the company waits for the command to move forward. The idea is exactly the same.

2D MOVEMENT ON THE MOVING PIVOT

Being in line, to change direction: 1. Right (left) turn, 2. MARCH, 3: Forward, 4. MARCH.

Executed as described in the School of the Squad, except that the men do not glance toward the marching flank and that all take the full step at the fourth command. The right guide is the pivot of the front rank. Each rear-rank man obliques on the same ground as his file leader.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THIRD MOVEMENT TO CHANGE FROM LINE TO COLUMN AND MOVE FORWARD]

Being in line, to form column of squads and move forward: 1. Right (left) by squads, 2. MARCH.

At the command march, the right squad marches forward; the remainder of the company executes squads right, column left, and follows the right squad. The right guide, when he has posted himself in front of the right squad, takes four short steps, then resumes the full steps; the right squad conforms.

A common error is for the guide to forget to take the four short steps.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The diagram shows the movement completed]

Keep dressed accurately on the side of the guide. (He is always on the side opposite from the file closers This is a rule of thumb that should be memorized at once.) The guide in every squad should keep 40 inches from the man in front. So many new men forget about the 40 inches. They usually take a little over 30. When the company is moved into line there is of course a jam. Hold your head up. Don't look down to the ground.

You will be in the formation more than any other. Try to keep the following cautions in mind: The leading men of the company should have four inches interval. Better to have too much than too little if mistakes are to be insisted upon. Keep the pieces in the correct positions at right shoulder and then have heads and rifles in a bee line. When the movement is completed the company will be in the formation shown in the drawing.

FOURTH MOVEMENT COLUMN RIGHT

Being in column of squads, to change direction: 1. Column right (left), 2. MARCH.

At the second command the front rank of the leading squad turns to the right on moving pivot as in the School of the Squad; the other ranks, without command, turn successively on the same ground and in similar manner.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

It is a very common error for the pivot man to take too short a step and thereby cause a jam. Bear this in mind. Another very common error is for the flank man (or men) to take a very long step. This is caused by the pivot man's forgetting to glance and see when the flank man arrives on the line, before he takes the full step. Another common error is to get out of column while making this movement. Bear this in mind and walk straight to the turning point.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THIS SHOWS THE COMPANY IN COLUMN OF SQUADS, CORRECT POSITION]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THIS SHOWS THE COMMON ERRORS]

Now we come to the last two movements. They cause more trouble than any others.

FIFTH MOVEMENT ON RIGHT (LEFT) INTO LINE

Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line on right or left: 1.

On right (left) into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.

(On right [left] into line, means turn in the direction that is on your right and get into line. You have to be in column before the movement is begun.)

Let us first consider the company in column of squads.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the captain's command on right into line, the corporal of the leading squad commands right turn. The corporals of all the remaining squads, if halted, command forward, if marching they caution their squads to continue the march. At the captain's command march, the leading squad turns to the right on a moving pivot. The remaining squads march straight to the front.

Each corporal commands right turn before arriving opposite the right of his squads place in line. When the front rank of his squad has arrived opposite that place he gives the command march.

The command halt is given when the leading squad has advanced the desired distance in the new direction. Only the leading squad halts. The corporal then commands right dress.

The remaining corporals before arrival on the line, command, squad, and add the command halt just before the right front rank reaches the line.

Then, they, command right dress.

The captain then dresses the company and commands front.

If executed in double time the leading squad marches in double time until halted.

Now let us consider the company in columns of platoons. See ill.u.s.tration on next page.

At the captain's command on right into line, the leader of the first platoon commands right turn, the leaders of the rear platoons, if halted, command forward; if marching, they caution their platoons to continue the march. The first platoon executes the right turn at the captain's command march. Having completed the turn the platoon commander gives the command, forward, MARCH.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The remaining platoon commanders give right turn, MARCH, when opposite their places, and the command, forward, MARCH, when the turn has been completed.

When the leading platoon has advanced the desired distance the captain gives the command, company, HALT. At the command company, the leading platoon leader gives the command, platoon. His platoon only halts at the captain's command, halt. The platoon leader then gives the command, right dress, and takes his post in the file closers. The remaining platoons are successively halted and dressed by their leader. The captain gives the command FRONT.

SIXTH MOVEMENT RIGHT FRONT INTO LINE

Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line to the front: 1.

Right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.