Formation of a Regiment in Order of Battle. ​

Places of Officers and NCOs in the Order of Battle. ​



(Pl. 1st.)

Places of Field Officers, Adjutant, and Sergeant Major. ​

Places of Drums and Musicians. ​

The Color Guard and General Guides. ​

Instruction of the Regiment. ​

Instruction of the Officers. ​

Instruction of the Non-Commissioned Officers ​

Each battalion is composed of one company of grenadiers, and the first, second, third, and fourth companies of fusiliers.The companies are placed from right to left in the following order: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 2nd.The company of grenadiers is posted on the right of the battalion.When two battalions comprise a regiment, in the first battalion is posted the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 3rd companies. In the second battalion is posted the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 4th companies.Each battalion is divided into two parts. The right-center company, or color company, and all the companies to its right are designated the right wing. The remaining companies to the left are designated the left wing.Each company constitutes a single platoon. Once drawn up in the above order, the companies, regardless of their denomination, are numbered from right to left in the battalion line; first platoon, second platoon, third platoon, fourth platoon.The company of grenadiers retain the designation "grenadiers," and are not included in this number.The regiment is habitually formed in two ranks. On occasion, it may be formed in one, or three ranks, depending on its numbers. The companies of each battalion will be equalized if necessary, by the transfer of men from the strongest to the weakest.The captain, to the right of his company or platoon, in the first rank.The first sergeant, behind the captain, in the second rank. He is called, in the evolutions, the right guide of the company, and replaces the captain in the first rank whenever the captain changes post.The second sergeant, behind the left of the company, in the rank of file-closers (two paces behind the second rank). In manoeuvres, he is designated the left guide of the company.In the last company of the battalion, or in companies acting singly, the second sergeant is placed on the left to act as the left guide. Behind him may be placed a corporal, called the covering corporal.The leading corporal, or corporal fourrier, to the color guard of his battalion.The corporals are placed in the first rank, in the first and last two files of their platoon.If the company has a lieutenant, he may be posted in the rank of file closers, behind the right of the company, provided that the company is of sufficient strength.The captain, and first and second sergeants will be replaced when absent; the captain by his first sergeant or lieutenant, and the sergeants by corporals.Each battalion will contain a field-grade officer, with the rank of major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel, to act as the commanding officer of the battalion. He is to be mounted, and his post is ten or twelve paces to the rear, behind the file of the color guard of the battalion.The adjutant, four to six paces behind the right of the battalion.The sergeant major, four to six paces behind the left of the battalion.The drums of each battalion form a rank, six paces behind the left-center company of the battalion. In charge of them is posted the drum major, in front and center. Musicians, if present, will be in a second rank behind the drums.The color guard of each battalion is composed of five leading corporals and one sergeant chosen to be the color sergeant. The color guard is formed on the left of the right-center company, called the color company, of which the guard makes a part. Two corporals, and the color sergeant between them, are in the first rank. The remaining three corporals are placed in the second rank.The colonel, or lieutenant colonel chooses in each battalion the sergeant who will carry the colors. He should be experienced in marching, and the judging of distance and direction, as to him is entrusted the march and direction of the battalion in line.Selected also from among the sergeants or corporals are two general guides, designated the right general guide, and left general guide of the battalion. They are posted behind the first and last ranker file of the battalion.The colonel, and in his absence the senior officer in command, is responsible for the general instruction of the officers, NCO's, and soldiers of the regiment.The training of commissioned officers is to embrace all that is included in the three schools of the soldier, platoon, and battalion, and can only be firmly established by joining both theory and practice. For this purpose, there will be held also instruction in theory, independent of field exercises.For theoretical instruction, the commander of each regiment will assemble the officers as often as he deems necessary, to explain all the principles governing the different schools.No officer shall be esteemed sufficiently qualified until he is able to command and explain perfectly all that is included in the three schools before mentioned.The instruction of non-commissioned officers is to embrace the school of the soldier and platoon, which they will be required to know and perform with precision.The majors and the adjutant shall begin by instructing with the greatest care all of the first sergeants, and two of the most intelligent non-commissioned officers of each company.Of these NCO's who have been and fully educated, each will choose two or three other NCO's of their respective companies, and instruct them in the same way, under the supervision of the adjutant and sergeant major.The first instruction, comprising only the school of the soldier having been covered, the NCO's from each company and battalion are to form in two ranks, to which is attached a platoon leader, a covering sergeant, and file closers. This field exercise is to be conducted by the adjutant or the sergeant major, or a field officer, in the school of the platoon or company.The principle object of this drill being to enable the NCO's to instruct the recruits, they must explain to them all the principles of the first two drills; first in the field, and afterwards in each particular theory, which should also include the different duties of the guides in the exercises of the battalion.Lastly, in order that this instruction may be constantly maintained, the majors and adjutants should assemble from time to time the NCO's, either to exercise them in the field, or to explain the theory in their apartments.As changes may take place in the column of NCO's, the first sergeants shall be required to instruct the new sergeants and corporals of his company. The majors and adjutants are to assist him.The commanders of regiments shall frequently exercise the color company and the general guides in marching in the order of battle. They must endeavor with the greatest attention to the order, direction, and alignment of the march, to which they are entrusted.