School of the Brigade
School of the Brigade Arranged into Lessons
The first thing in drilling any Company, Brigade, or Battalion, is to get the men into marching order.
Bring the men to “Attention”
The regiments in sequence await their turn and march at a quarter turn to their place in line.
Using the same principles of Company Drill, exercise the Brigade in the following:
By Regiment (or Company) - Forward March
Forming into three wings on the Field
Advancing the colours
The charge
Wheelings
Abouts
Right, left, front onto skirmish lines
Close order firings
Then, all of the below:
Lesson First
ARTICLE I. - Parade the Brigade. Putting the Brigade through all marching orders.
ARTICLE II. – Close Order Firing - Different firings faced by the front rank, and faced by the rear rank.
By Company - odds / evens
By Wing
By Brigade
By Files
By Rank
Lesson Second – Columns
ARTICLE I. - Wheel by company to the right into column, or to the left, “By company, right (left) wheel”
ARTICLE II. - March in column. Change of direction. “Head of Column to the right (left)”. March by column in retreat “Right about”.
ARTICLE III. - Halt the column. Form it to the left or right into line of battle. “Left (right) into line - wheel”. Execute this formation, the column marching.
Lesson Third
ARTICLE I. - Break by company to the rear by the right or left, the brigade being at a halt, or marching.
ARTICLE II. -March in the route step. Cause to be executed, at this gait and in double quick time, the diverse movements incident to the column in route, and cause the cadenced step to be resumed.
ARTICLE III. - Form the column forward into line of battle. Form the column forward into line, and continue the march in this order.
ARTICLE IV. - Form the column on the right (“on the right, into line”), or the left, into line of battle.
ARTICLE V. - March by the flank and form companies into line, marching.
ARTICLE VI. - Change front forward, or in rear, on the right or left of companies, in directions perpendicular or oblique.
ARTICLE VII. - March by the right flank, or by the left flank. Change direction by file. Form the brigade into line of battle, on the right or left by file. “On the right, by file into line.”
Lesson Fourth - Division Drill for Individual Companies
ARTICLE I. - Break by division to the rear, by the right or left, the battalion being at a halt or marching.
ARTICLE II. - March in column by division. Diminish and increase front by company. This is the oblique method, which will cause the distance between companies to be full wheeling distance.
ARTICLE III - Close the column in mass on the headmost or rearmost division.
ARTICLE IV. - Take distances by the head.
ARTICLE V. - The column being by company, form divisions from a halt, or in march.
ARTICLE VI. - The column being by division, to form it to the left or right into line of battle at a halt, or in march. This is the closed in mass method caused by facing to a flank instead of moving at the oblique.
Lesson Fifth - Drill by Wings
ARTICLE I. - The brigade being in line of battle, and at a halt to deploy it by wings into column closed in mass on the right wing or on the left wing or on an interior wing, the right or left in front, deploy the brigade marching in line of battle on the right or left wing.
ARTICLE II. - Execute the countermarch.
ARTICLE III. - Change direction to the right, to the left, by the flank of the column.
ARTICLE IV. - Deploy the column on the right division, on the left division, or on any interior division, the column being at a halt, or marching.
ARTICLE V. - Ploy the brigade by company, closed in mass, and form it on the right or left into line of battle.
ARTICLE VII. - Ploy the brigade into double column closed in mass, the brigade being at a halt, or marching.
ARTICLE VIII. - March in this order, and change direction.
ARTICLE IX. - Deploy the column at a halt, or marching, and without suspending the march.
Lesson Sixth
ARTICLE I. - March in line of battle. Halt the brigade, and align it. “Guides on the Line”
ARTICLE II. - Change direction in line of battle, advancing, or in retreat (the dreaded brigade wheel). Execute passage of obstacles.
ARTICLE III. - Oblique march in line of battle.
ARTICLE IV. - Disperse and rally the brigade in line of battle.
The Charge
Background: This maneuver is based on research conducted by Matt Springer in his seminal PhD thesis “With Zeal and Bayonets Only,” soon to be released by Oklahoma University Press as a book. It is based on his statements on the type of bayonet attacks delivered by British troops throughout the war, but especially by the Army of Canada (Carleton and Burgoyne’s Army.) I have assembled the actual drill from a number of sources in the interest of making the maneuver as SAFE as possible while presenting to the public the kind of attack that British and Loyalist soldiers ACTUALLY delivered, vice the ponderous and slow bayonet attacks we often see. I recommend that every officer and man read Springer to understand how thoroughly the British Army in America disdained any SLOW maneuver. They were always willing to trade good order for speed, a decision that horrified the drillmasters at home.
The basis for the maneuver comes from the “Volley and Charge” of the 1778 manual. The 1778 manual was never employed in America, but there is good reason to believe that it reflected the practice of America in its composition. In addition, the “Port Arms” or “Carry Your Firelocks” position of arms comes from Townshend’s Instructions as well as Instructions for the Volunteer Exercise (1792) which contains the following important quote,
“At one motion throw the musket from the shoulder across the body, to a low diagonal recover, a position known of old in many regiments by the name of porting arms or preparing to charge, in which the lock is turned to the front, and at the height of the breast, the muzzle slanting upwards, so that the barrel may cross opposite the point of the left shoulder, with the butt proportionally depressed, the right hand grasps the small of the butt [the wrist], and the left holds the piece at the swell, close to the lower band, the thumbs of both hands pointing towards the muzzle.”
The Maneuver:
Assume the Brigade is drawn up in two ranks at loose or open order with ranks closed and officers in the ranks. At no point is any officer to depart from the ranks, nor are the men to cheer in any way.
The Brigadier will order, “Prepare to Charge!” and will pace himself at the head of the Brigade, with the colors. At this command, officers will assure themselves that their men are loaded, and all soldiers will come to the “Carry” or “Port” position.
The Brigadier will order, “At the double, march!” The Brigade will set off at the double, with the drums sounding the time, and the best possible dress and order being kept. The Brigadier will lead the brigade to the closest SAFE distance from the enemy—at the Brigade level, this distance will be about thirty yards. (NB—in small units, 30 yards seems very far, but when you have 100+ under your command, an optical illusion occurs and it will seem very close! Commanding officers must practice observing this distance!) At thirty yards, the Brigadier will order “Halt! Make ready!” He should pause long enough to make sure that late arrivals and men breathing hard are not going to spoil his volley (I give a long three count). “Present!” and “Fire!”
· The whole Brigade fires a single volley.
· The Brigadier orders, “Prepare to charge!” and the men return to the ready.
· The Brigadier orders, “Charge!” and the men charge—full out, as fast as they can move, with the following requirements:
1. No man to pass the Brigadier. The Brigadier is responsible for safety, and thus, he will always be the lead man in the attack.
2. No man to come within five yards of a soldier on the opposing side. Five yards is a good long way—roughly four musket lengths. Don’t screw it up.
3. The men are to charge silently, and halt automatically in achieving the ground originally occupied by the retreating enemy, or at the order of the commander.
This maneuver requires that either the cooperation of the enemy has been won, so that they know what is coming and “break” at the moment the volley is fired, or ABSOLUTE control of your men, so that if the enemy is not broken, the charge can be halted.
Retreating by Alternate Ranks (as found in Scott's Manual)
ARTICLE I. - The retreat by alternate, or odd and even companies, will be executed as follows:
The general, intending to execute the retreat by alternate companies, will give information of his purpose to the two next officers in rank, who are respectively to command the lines of odd and even companies, and at the same time indicate to the one who is to commence the movement the position in which he will halt his line. The general will then command:
1. Retreat by alternate companies. 2. Odd (or even) companies, commence the movement.
These commands having been repeated, the officer entitled to command the line of odd companies, and which line it is supposed ought to commence the movement, will command:
1. Odd companies, face to the rear.
This having also been repeated, the captains of the designated companies will cause them to face about.
The commander of the odd companies will then add:
1. The (—) the company of direction.
2. Companies, forward 4. Quick—MARCH.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the captains of the odd companies, these companies will commence the march, and direct themselves perpendicularly to the rear. The captains of the subordinate companies will maintain them abreast with the directing one in conformity with what is prescribed, when the line arrives at the position indicated by the brigadier general, the commander of this line will command:
1. Companies. 2. HALT.
At the second command, the line will halt, each captain will immediately face his company about, the commander of the line will rectify the alignment of the directing company, the other companies will be dressed by that, without constraint, however, as to being absolutely on the same general alignment.
As soon as the odd companies, which form the second line, have faced about, the commander of the first line (of even companies) will command:
1. Face to the rear.
This will be executed as prescribed, the commander of this line will then command:
2. The (—) the company of direction. 3. Companies forward. 4. Quick—MARCH.
The first line will march in retreat by the means prescribed, each company will be directed upon the middle of the corresponding interval in the second line, cross this line, and march perpendicularly to the rear. When it arrives at the position indicated by the Brigadier general, the first line will be halted and faced about, by the commands and means indicated.
The second line, become first, will execute the same movement, and so on alternately.
The Brigadier will superintend both lines, and determine, according to the ground and the distance he may wish to have between the lines, the position each ought successively to occupy.
To re-form the line.
The Brigadier, wishing to re--form the line, will cause the drums to beat a short roll after the first line (the one actually in front) is put in march, which roll will be briskly repeated by all the drums of this line.
The companies of the first line will continue to march, and when they find themselves exactly in their intervals of the second, their respective captains will halt them, face them about and rectify their alignment: the Brigadier will then give a general alignment if he judge it necessary.
Remarks on the retreat by alternate companies
The commander of each line will endeavour to maintain the necessary harmony between its companies, notwithstanding the intervals between them; to this end, he will look to the strict execution of what is prescribed.
He will more particularly see that all the companies, after crossing the second line, direct themselves perpendicularly to the rear, this being the only means by which the intervals can be preserved with sufficient accuracy to enable the two lines to re-form into one.
Remarks on the School of the Brigade (by Wm. Hardee)
In every course of instruction, the first lesson will be executed several times in the order in which it is arranged; but as soon as the brigade shall be confirmed in the principles of the lesson, the fires will be executed after the advance in line, and after the various formations. Into line of battle, and into square. Particular attention will be given to the fire by file, which is that principally used in war.
Every lesson of this school will be executed with the utmost precision; but the second, which comprehends the march in column, and the march in line of battle, being of the most importance, will be the oftenest repeated, especially in the beginning. Great attention ought, also, to be given to the fourth lesson, which comprehends the march in column by division, and the dispositions against cavalry.
The successive formations will sometimes be executed by inversion. In the beginning, the march in column, the march in line of battle, and the march by the flank, will be executed only in quick time, and will be continued until the battalion shall have become well established in the cadence of this step. The non-cadenced step will be employed in this school only in the repetition of the movements incident to a column in route, or when great celerity may be required. When it may be desired to give the men relief, arms may be supported, if at a halt, or marching by the flank. In marching by the front, arms may be shifted to the right shoulder; but not in the march in line of battle until the brigade shall be well instructed. After arms have been carried for some time on the right shoulder, they may be shifted, in like manner, to the left shoulder.
When a battalion is maneuvering, skirmishers will cover all movements. All the companies will be exercised, successively, in this service.
Dress Parade
“There shall be daily one dress parade, at Troop or Retreat, as the commanding officer may direct. A dress parade once a day will not be dispensed with, except on extraordinary and urgent occasions.”
- Refer to the beginning of this chapter to view Brigade Formation. From this formation, the Brigade will be marched to the Battalion Dress Parade and reform.
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A signal will be beat or sounded half an hour before troop or retreat, for the music to assemble on the regimental parade, and each company to turn out under arms on its own parade, for roll-call and inspection by its own officers.
Ten minutes after that signal, the Adjutant's call will be given, when the Captains will march their companies (the band playing) to the regimental parade, where they take their positions in the order of battle. When the line is formed, the Captain of the first company, on notice from the Adjutant, steps one pace to the front, and gives to his company the command, "Order-ARMS! Parade-REST!" which is repeated by each Captain in succession to the left.
The Adjutant takes post two paces on the right of the line; the Sergeant major two paces on the left. The music will be formed in two ranks on the right of the Adjutant. The senior officer present will take the command of the parade, and will take post at a suitable distance in front, opposite the centre, facing the line.
When the companies have ordered arms, the Adjutant will order the music to beat o, when it will commence on the right, beat in front of the line to the left, and back to its place on the right.
When the music has ceased, the Adjutant will step two paces to the front, face to the left, and command,
1. Attention! 2. Battalion. 3. Shoulder-ARMS! 4. Prepare to open ranks! 5. To the rear, open order! 6. MARCH!
Note: In Brigade order, the Dismounted Cav is already in open ranks and does not need to “open”. Maintain attention while the infantry executes this maneuver. At the sixth command of “March” the officers will complete the following, doing so as the Infantry officers move forward:
At the sixth command, the ranks will be opened according to the system laid down in the Infantry Tactics, the commissioned officers marching to the front, the company officers four paces, field officers six paces, opposite to their positions in the order of battle, where they will halt and dress.
The Adjutant, seeing the ranks aligned, will command, FRONT! and march along the front to the centre, face to the right, and pass the line of company officers eight or ten paces, where he will come to the right-about, and command, Present-ARMS! when arms will be presented, officers saluting.
Seeing this executed, he will face about to the commanding officer, salute, and report, "Sir, the parade is formed." The Adjutant will then, on intimation to that effect, take his station three paces on the left of the commanding officer, one pace retired, passing round his rear.
The commanding officer, having acknowledged the salute of the line by touching his hat, will, after the Adjutant has taken his post draw his sword, and command,
1. Battalion. 2. Shoulder-ARMS! and add such exercises as he may think proper, concluding with Order-ARMS! then return his sword, and direct the Adjutant to receive the reports.
The Adjutant will now pass round the right of the commanding officer, advance upon the line, halt midway between him and the line of company officers, and command,
1. First Sergeants, to the front and centre. 2. MARCH!
At the first command, they will shoulder arms as Sergeants, march two paces to the front, and face inward. At the second command, they will march to the centre, and halt. The Adjutant will then order,
1. Front-FACE. 2. Report.
At the last word, each in succession, beginning on the right, will salute by bringing the left hand smartly across the breast to the right shoulder, and report the result of the roll-call previously made on the company (Brigade) parade (Formation).
The Adjutant again commands,
1. First Sergeants, outward-FACE! 2. To your posts-MARCH!
when they will resume their places, and order arms. The Adjutant will now face to the commanding officer, salute, report absent officers, and give the result of the First Sergeants' reports. The commanding officer will next direct the orders to be read, when the Adjutant will face about and announce,
Attention to Orders.
He will then read the orders.
The orders having been read, the Adjutant will face to the commanding officer, salute, and report; when, on an intimation from the commander, he will face again to the line, and announce,
Parade is dismissed.
All the officers will now return their swords, face inward, and close on the Adjutant, he having taken position in their line, the field officers on the flanks. The Adjutant commands,
1. Front-FACE! 2. Forward-MARCH!
when they will march forward, dressing on the centre, the music playing, and when within six paces of the commander, the Adjutant will give the word,
Halt!
The officers will then salute the commanding officer by raising the hand to the cap, and there remain until he shall have communicated to them such instructions as he may have to give, or intimates that the ceremony is finished. As the officers disperse, the First Sergeants will close the ranks of their respective companies, and march them to the company parades, where they will be dismissed, the band continuing to play until the companies clear the regimental parade.
All field and company officers and men will be present at dress parades, unless especially excused, or on some duty incompatible with such attendance.