First Call, Fall In

[erik]

Re: First Call, Fall In

I concur with Greg in this. It is a colloqual expression for the first in a series of calls or one could say an alert that something was coming.
Commands by bugle or drum in the european and Amercan system have always followed this method, an alert then an executive.
Coming from a Regiment that uses the bugle I understand this system completley.

Erik Simundson

[lhsnj]

Re: First Call, Fall In

Gentleman,

I have a question about this manoeuvre. As I read the instructions, it puts the tallest man in the front rank, second tallest in the rear rank and so on. To solve this problem, we have the men do a right flank. Which puts the tallest man in the rear. (After the company is formed, we have the men do an "about face", which puts the shorter man in every file in the front rank.) What am I missing here?

Bill

Actually when you form in the manner you quoted the shortest man in the company stands still as he is next to the left guide, and the next tallest man steps behind him. This repeats, until you have 2 ranks formed.

So you should end up with the taller in the back.

[flattop32355]

Re: First Call, Fall In

I have a question about this manoeuvre. As I read the instructions, it puts the tallest man in the front rank, second tallest in the rear rank and so on. To solve this problem, we have the men do a right flank. Which puts the tallest man in the rear. (After the company is formed, we have the men do an "about face", which puts the shorter man in every file in the front rank.) What am I missing here?

In the quoted text, the men are formed in one rank, not two, and face to the right. This puts the "next tallest man" covering (behind) the "tallest man" in that single rank, and so on. They then front in one rank, then form 2-3 ranks by facing left, marching into files and fronting. That puts the taller man of the two (or three) in the rear.

Often times, we form in one rank by height from the right, as above, but then form two ranks from the right. This puts the shorter man in the rear.

However, I've not been convinced that the ultimate goal of forming the company in two ranks is to absolutely have the taller man in the rear rank, but to have similarly sized men in each file, with slight differences in height being irrelevant. (Does a 1-2 inch difference really matter?)

To be honest, in our modern reenacting world, "Form company by width" may be the more appropriate and efficient method. That can really throw off a formation, either in battle line or marching by the flank.