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Had some questions on this at Mill Springs. Here's a Primer. Try it at your next Battalion Drill.....say at Rippavilla?
Infantry By the Left/Right FLANK (not by File, and NEVER fileS)
Right: 1/2 of the Forward, then Up notes sounded twice.
Left: 1/2 of the Forward, then Down notes Twice.
If the column/line is at a HALT, we have trained our men to FACE after the first direction change notes. (the fermata's are there for a reason). Then step off IFF the second direction call is made. So if you want the column/line to face sound Left /Right Flank, then only sound one direction call.
(e.g. FRONT!).
When the battalion is formed, field music's to the right of the battalion (maybe you've just concluded dress parade), and you want to march off to drill or battle.....most commanders will Yell out: Battalion, Right Face. Forward...March. Bugle savvy commander's will modify this to Yelling out: Battalion, Right Face. (and then give a nod or softly say to the bugler: Sound the Forward)....and then everyone steps off at the end of Forward...no "March" needs to be shouted/echoed....and the drum cadence begins. We've gone one step further. We no longer use the Forward to do this. We use By the Right Flank instead. With the battalion facing the Colonel, Right in Front. The Colonel simply nods/ indicates/sotto voices 'move em out' to the bugler, who then sounds By the Right Flank. Upon the first direction signal, the entire battalion does a Right Face (field music's wheels right in place), and upon the 2nd direction signal the column marches off upon the release of the last note.
If the column/line is moving, we have trained our men to FACE after the second direction change notes. (the fermata's are there for a reason). The first direction call is the warning. At the end of the 2nd Direction call everyone steps in that direction. As one.
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Infantry and CAVALRY Wheel/Change of Direction/Head of Column to the Left/Right.
Right: The Wheel (7th Note is an E!), then Up notes twice.
left: The Wheel (7th note is a C!), then Down Notes Twice.
If the column/line is at a HALT, we have trained our men to begin wheeling after the second direction change notes sound. (the fermata's are there for a reason). This is a Fixed Pivot (a wheel). The first direction call is the warning. Doesn't matter if you are in a column in Route (By 4's marching by the right flank) or column in manoeuvre -- a column of 4's, platoons, companies, divisions, battalions, etc with the Field Music's opposite the guide adjacent to the left center company or in a column of masses (field music's to the rear of the column). It's head of Column to that direction and the Field Music's COUNT if they are in front (not 1st Company)! (too often I see commander's in the field expecting the wheel to start where 1st company is, ignoring the fact the Band and/or Field Music's is possibly at the head of the column! they usually don't make this mistake on the road....).
With a regular sized (i.e Authentic) battalion of say 350 rifles in 10 companies....you may not want to wheel the entire regiment as a whole. The manuals specify how to Change Direction (Wheel) to the designated new line by successive companies from the center outwards. Or how to Change Front Forward on 10th Company (Left Wheel 90 degrees) or Change Front Forward on 1st Company (Right Wheel 90 degrees). Basically on a wheel of 37 degrees, the colonel (on horseback) indictates the new line, the guides and colors set up on the line, you sound the call, and the battalion reforms by successive companies. See DOM's PIE for a step by step instruction on this.
If the column/line is moving, the wheel (Radius Turn) begins when the second direction change notes sound. (the fermata's are there for a reason). The first direction call is the warning. At the end of the 2nd Direction call everyone begins to wheel in that direction.
"Wheels in marching take place in changes of direction in column, as often as this movement is executed to the side OPPOSITE to the Guide.
The ... men will feel lightly the elbow of the next man towards the pivot, resist pressure coming from the opposite side, and each will conform himself to the marchin flank-shortening his step according to his approximation to the pivot.
Wheels/turns/changes of direction in column TOWARDS the Guide:
each man will advance the shoulder opposite to the guide, turn the head and eyes to the side of the guide, and retake the touch of the elbow on that side, in placing himself on the alignment of the guide, from whom he will take the step. Each man will thus arrive successively on the alignment."
PRACTICE: While moving.....put a column of companies, Guide Left, through a snake dance: Head of column right, left, right, left. Note: The GUIDE does not change! Now repeat this exercise Guide Right. I think you'll find the mantra's about looking out/touching in will fall by the way side.
Example: If the Guide is Right for a Dress Review....where you want perfect alignment on the side of the company/platoon towards the Reviewing stand (and the slightly unbalanced company files towards the infield!) when you wheel left to start marching past the reviewing stand, the Guide is still Right. the arc of the right guides must be preserved, each guide marching in the exact foot steps of the guide who preceded him. If that isn't look 'out'/touch 'out' I don't know what is.
Cavalry Turns (default is all at once or By if so ordered)
Right is 4 down notes, one up note
Left is 3 up notes.
This is NOT head of column, this is FLANK. If you sound Left Flank, the entire column turns the horsies to the left. Left into Line.
This is NOT head of column, this is FLANK. If you sound Right Flank, the entire column turns the horsies to the left. Right into Line. This is NOT On Right into line, you will be out of order if you are marching right in front by 2's or 4's and then sound To the Right.
Author: United States. War Dept.
Title: U.S. infantry tactics.: for the instruction, exercise, and manœuvres of the United States infantry, including infantry of the line, light infantry, and riflemen./ Prepared under the direction of the War department, and authorized and adopted by the secretary of war, May 1, 1861.
Place of publication: Philadelphia,
Publisher: J.B. Lippincott & co.,
Date of publication: 1862.
Cavalry: JR Poinsett "Cavalry Tactics Manual" 1841.
Dom Dal Bello "PIE"
RJ Samp
Infantry By the Left/Right FLANK (not by File, and NEVER fileS)
Right: 1/2 of the Forward, then Up notes sounded twice.
Left: 1/2 of the Forward, then Down notes Twice.
If the column/line is at a HALT, we have trained our men to FACE after the first direction change notes. (the fermata's are there for a reason). Then step off IFF the second direction call is made. So if you want the column/line to face sound Left /Right Flank, then only sound one direction call.
(e.g. FRONT!).
When the battalion is formed, field music's to the right of the battalion (maybe you've just concluded dress parade), and you want to march off to drill or battle.....most commanders will Yell out: Battalion, Right Face. Forward...March. Bugle savvy commander's will modify this to Yelling out: Battalion, Right Face. (and then give a nod or softly say to the bugler: Sound the Forward)....and then everyone steps off at the end of Forward...no "March" needs to be shouted/echoed....and the drum cadence begins. We've gone one step further. We no longer use the Forward to do this. We use By the Right Flank instead. With the battalion facing the Colonel, Right in Front. The Colonel simply nods/ indicates/sotto voices 'move em out' to the bugler, who then sounds By the Right Flank. Upon the first direction signal, the entire battalion does a Right Face (field music's wheels right in place), and upon the 2nd direction signal the column marches off upon the release of the last note.
If the column/line is moving, we have trained our men to FACE after the second direction change notes. (the fermata's are there for a reason). The first direction call is the warning. At the end of the 2nd Direction call everyone steps in that direction. As one.
************************************************
Infantry and CAVALRY Wheel/Change of Direction/Head of Column to the Left/Right.
Right: The Wheel (7th Note is an E!), then Up notes twice.
left: The Wheel (7th note is a C!), then Down Notes Twice.
If the column/line is at a HALT, we have trained our men to begin wheeling after the second direction change notes sound. (the fermata's are there for a reason). This is a Fixed Pivot (a wheel). The first direction call is the warning. Doesn't matter if you are in a column in Route (By 4's marching by the right flank) or column in manoeuvre -- a column of 4's, platoons, companies, divisions, battalions, etc with the Field Music's opposite the guide adjacent to the left center company or in a column of masses (field music's to the rear of the column). It's head of Column to that direction and the Field Music's COUNT if they are in front (not 1st Company)! (too often I see commander's in the field expecting the wheel to start where 1st company is, ignoring the fact the Band and/or Field Music's is possibly at the head of the column! they usually don't make this mistake on the road....).
With a regular sized (i.e Authentic) battalion of say 350 rifles in 10 companies....you may not want to wheel the entire regiment as a whole. The manuals specify how to Change Direction (Wheel) to the designated new line by successive companies from the center outwards. Or how to Change Front Forward on 10th Company (Left Wheel 90 degrees) or Change Front Forward on 1st Company (Right Wheel 90 degrees). Basically on a wheel of 37 degrees, the colonel (on horseback) indictates the new line, the guides and colors set up on the line, you sound the call, and the battalion reforms by successive companies. See DOM's PIE for a step by step instruction on this.
If the column/line is moving, the wheel (Radius Turn) begins when the second direction change notes sound. (the fermata's are there for a reason). The first direction call is the warning. At the end of the 2nd Direction call everyone begins to wheel in that direction.
"Wheels in marching take place in changes of direction in column, as often as this movement is executed to the side OPPOSITE to the Guide.
The ... men will feel lightly the elbow of the next man towards the pivot, resist pressure coming from the opposite side, and each will conform himself to the marchin flank-shortening his step according to his approximation to the pivot.
Wheels/turns/changes of direction in column TOWARDS the Guide:
each man will advance the shoulder opposite to the guide, turn the head and eyes to the side of the guide, and retake the touch of the elbow on that side, in placing himself on the alignment of the guide, from whom he will take the step. Each man will thus arrive successively on the alignment."
PRACTICE: While moving.....put a column of companies, Guide Left, through a snake dance: Head of column right, left, right, left. Note: The GUIDE does not change! Now repeat this exercise Guide Right. I think you'll find the mantra's about looking out/touching in will fall by the way side.
Example: If the Guide is Right for a Dress Review....where you want perfect alignment on the side of the company/platoon towards the Reviewing stand (and the slightly unbalanced company files towards the infield!) when you wheel left to start marching past the reviewing stand, the Guide is still Right. the arc of the right guides must be preserved, each guide marching in the exact foot steps of the guide who preceded him. If that isn't look 'out'/touch 'out' I don't know what is.
Cavalry Turns (default is all at once or By if so ordered)
Right is 4 down notes, one up note
Left is 3 up notes.
This is NOT head of column, this is FLANK. If you sound Left Flank, the entire column turns the horsies to the left. Left into Line.
This is NOT head of column, this is FLANK. If you sound Right Flank, the entire column turns the horsies to the left. Right into Line. This is NOT On Right into line, you will be out of order if you are marching right in front by 2's or 4's and then sound To the Right.
Author: United States. War Dept.
Title: U.S. infantry tactics.: for the instruction, exercise, and manœuvres of the United States infantry, including infantry of the line, light infantry, and riflemen./ Prepared under the direction of the War department, and authorized and adopted by the secretary of war, May 1, 1861.
Place of publication: Philadelphia,
Publisher: J.B. Lippincott & co.,
Date of publication: 1862.
Cavalry: JR Poinsett "Cavalry Tactics Manual" 1841.
Dom Dal Bello "PIE"
RJ Samp