Drill Bits - By the right of companies to the rear into column

[john duffer]

Do you double when performing By the right of companies to the rear into column ? The snap response is yes, you always double when you right face, but do you need to in this case ? SCOTT’S predates doubling and breaks three files for three ranks, two for two ranks. HARDEE’S, et al, break two files and mention two ranks. Their illustrations are the same as SCOTT’S. CASEY’S goes to the trouble to change the illustration, breaks three files and mentions four ranks. Is he modifying the command or just the first one to catch the error ? And do you go literally by whichever manual you’re using ?

SCOTT ‘S
“ 856. At the second command, the battalion will face to the right; each captain will hasten to the right of his company, break three or two files (according as the formation may be in three or two ranks) to the rear; the first file will break the whole depth of the ranks; the second file less; the third, if three, will only advance the left shoulder; which being executed ……….”

HARDEE’S (GILHAM’S / US TACTICS)
“ 89. At the second command, the battalion will face to the right; each captain will hasten to the right of his company, and break two files to the rear; the first file will break the whole depth of the two ranks, the second file less; which being executed ……..”

CASEY’S
“ 111. At the second command, the battalion will face to the right; each captain will hasten to the right of his company, and break three files to the rear; the first file will break the whole depth of the four ranks, and face to the rear, the breasts of the men on a line with the right shoulders of the rear rank of the battalion; the second file half-way of the first, and the third file less, which being executed ……….”

[Silas]

Re: Drill Bits - By the right of companies to the rear into column

Hard to go against the illustration from Casey which shows three broken ranks when each rank has four men in each file. There's also that lack of an admonition NOT to double.

A logistical problem is that remaining in two ranks causes the length of each company - when marching by the flank - to elongate. When the distance between the one's and two's after facing to the right is twenty four inches and the length of the step is 28 inches at quick time or 33 inches at double quick time, the elongation occurs immediately. In a thirty to fifty man company, the tail end has to wait a while before it can commence marching. All the while it's catching lead from our friends the enemy.

Then there's the accordian effect when the company marches in two ranks by the flank. It takes a long time for a decent sized company to finally come to a halt. The captain or colonel could order ranks to be doubled after all the companies have completed the "by file right", but wouldn't an extra step like this be noted somewhere in the tactics? Remaining in two ranks does not seem to conform to the general principles of the modern - meaning, Civil War - tactics.

On page 46 and 47 of my manual of battalion drill, I include illustrations of the Hardee/Gilham and the Casey files. I remember basing them from the illustration in Casey and applying the language from Hardee and Gilham to make the two broken files instead of three. Here's the link to obtaining the manual : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/mcdbooklet.htm It's free to anyone who downloads it.

Back at you, Duffer.

[john duffer]

Re: Drill Bits - By the right of companies to the rear into column

Note that I'm just noting the difference in manuals rather than advocating doubling or lack of same. What would the officer that predated or never had access to Casey have done ?

" Hard to go against the illustration from Casey which shows three broken ranks when each rank has four men in each file. "

There's no doubt that Casey is saying to double, it's the difference from previous manuals that is striking.

"There's also that lack of an admonition NOT to double. "

Versus the mention of 'the whole depth of the two ranks'

"A logistical problem is that remaining in two ranks causes the length of each company..."

Doubling was a definite advancement, both DIGEST OF US TACTICS & the 1845 ORDANNANCE specificaly mention this - but, this manoeuver was done for at least twenty years without and the question is did Hardee, Gilham, etc just copy Scott without thinking it through.


" Here's the link to obtaining the manual : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/mcdbooklet.htm It's free to anyone who downloads it."

Except for very late war access to the Internet was quite limited so your manual may not have been in wide spread use :D I'm kidding of course and I appreciate your opinions on this.