Formation of the fquadron.

Compleating the files, and posting offi

cers.

Telling off the fquadron.

When the Squadron is to be formed, the two troops that compofe it clofe in to each other-the officers then move out, and form in a rank advanced two horfes length, fronting to their troops. The ferjeants and covering corporals rein back, and drefs with the quarter-mafter in the rear.

The commanding officer of the fquadron compleats the files, and equalizes the troops, by fhifting a file or two if neceffary. The officers are then ordered to their pofts in fquadron, viz. one in the center for the ftandard, and one on each flank of the front rank: each of these three is covered by a corporal. The other officers place themselves in the rear as ferrefiles, at two horfes length diftant from the rear rank.

The commanding officer then tells off the fquadron-by two, or half fquadrons-by four or divifions, and places a ferjeant, covered by a corporal or dragoon, on the right of each of the four divifions, except the right one. He then tells off each half fquadron by ranks, by three's, and each half fquadron by alternate files, right and left, beginning from the ftandard (exclufive) and telling off to each flank; The non-commiffioned officers to be included in thefe tellings off, and it is to be obferved that the file on the right of the standard is to be told a left file, and that on the left of the standard, a right file, in order to favour the movements of ranks by two's.

Where

Where the strength of the fquadron admits of each divifion being told off exactly into three's, it is an eligible circumstance; but at any rate care must be taken that the center divifions divide exactly by three's (and their flank ferjeants be posted accordingly) although the flank ones do not, and are thereby a file or two stronger or weaker. If there is at laft a two or a four on either flank, it must so remain, as in the most advantageous fituation for aiding the wheels.

The squadron is alfo told off in fub-divifions, each being the half of a divifion.

"

When the Squadron is formed, the officers and noncommiffioned officers are thus placed.

numeraries or

The fupernumerary or ferrefile officers, and ferjeants, Poft of fuperthe quarter mafters and trumpeters, are in the rear of

ferrefiles.

Replacing of officers, &c.

Quarter Maf

ter.

Officers or

ferjeants in the ranks.

Coverers of officers and ferjeants.

their troops, divided in a line, at two horfes distance from the rear rank, and their business is to attend to the movements of the fquadron, and particularly to the good behaviour of the rear rank, Farriers are behind ferrefiles a horfe's length,

By this diftribution, allowance is made for fick and abfent officers, and non commiffioned officers; and if a fufficient number of any rank is not prefent, then ferjeants replace officers, corporals replace ferjeants, and intelligent men replace corporals.

The effential poft of the quarter mafters is always in the rear of the fquadron when in line; but in changes of position in column, they may, when neceffary, be ordered to conduct pivots of divifions; and when the line is forming or dreffing in a given direction, they may be usefully employed in giving true points in that line to their respective regiments.

Such officers or ferjeants, and their coverers (except the standard) as are on the flanks, or in the ranks, are told off as files and as flank men of divisions, and on all occafions file or wheel with them; except when the ranks wheel by three's or by two's, then the standard, together with the flank officers, and thofe that cover" them, turn fingly about, each man on his own ground, and retain the fame relative place in the fquadron, whether going to the front, or rear, or flanks.

When any of thofe officers or ferjeants fhift from their proper places, to conduct pivots, &c. as here

after

after directed, their coverers occupy fuch place during

their absence, and on their return again refign it. When fuch officers or ferjeants, without fhifting, naturally become pivot leaders, their coverers place themselves behind the third file of the divifion their leaders conduct; because pivot leaders of divifions are never in column to be covered, but each to remain fingle on the flank of the front rank of his divifion, that he may thereby be the more confpicuous, and that thofe feveral leaders may the more accurately and eafily cover each other, when the march is in a ftraight alignement; or when the column is halted in fuch alignement, and is to form the line by the wheel up of its divifions to its proper flank.

In order to preferve each troop entire, it is not material, if one divifion is a file stronger than another; and in general, the flank divifions will be strongest from the addition of officers. Officers will be posted with their troops as much as poffible. Corporals not wanted to mark the divifions, or to cover officers and ferjeants, will be in the ranks according to their fize, or placed on the outward flank file of their troops. Farriers are confidered as detached, in all fituations of

manœuvre.

General cirformation.

cumstances of

All these general circumftances of formation apply and take place, whether the fquadron is compofed of two or more troops, and whether the troops are more or lefs ftrong.

When the
£quadron takes
order.

S. 3. When the Squadron takes Order.

The SQUADRON being formed at clofe order, if (parade) order is to be taken, the commanding officer gives the word, REAR RANK TAKE ORDER ! and the distance is immediately afcertained by an officer or non-commiffioned officer of the rear, and behind which ever flank the dreffing is to. At the word, MARCH! the rear rank reins back to its proper distance; the ftandard, as also all the officers, move out briskly a horfe's length, and divide themselves in front of their own troops and of the fquadron, at equal diftances the whole are dreffed to a flank, and the commanding officer is a horfe's length in front of the standard. The trumpeters move up on each flank of the front rank, and the quarter mafters and farriers remain in the rear.

When the

clofe order.

S. 4. When the Squadron takes clofe Order,

When from order the fquadron is to take clofe order

Squadron takes The word, TAKE CLOSE ORDER! is a caution. At the word, MARCH! the rear rank moves forward to clofe order, and officers, non-commiffioned officers, trumpeters, &c. take their posts as before.