Raymond Rammeloo 16 March 2019 Battalion Drill Raymond Rammeloo 16 March 2019

Battalion Drill for Infantry W.J. Hardee: Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, 1855 Title Fourth: School of the Battalion is the same for all later editions Free text on Google Books Volume I & Volume II For infantry = BIBLE For horse troops = knowledge of strength/weakness of infantry For foot artillery = basic drill as infantry

Today’s topics 1. Structure of Hardee’s Infantry Tactics 2. The basic formations of a battalion 3. Selected movements between these basic formations Questions and (short) discussions welcome.

Structure of Hardee’s Infantry Tactics 1. Formation & Instruction of a Battalion 2. School of the Soldier [SoS] 3. School of the Company [SoC] Volume I - Instruction for Skirmishers 4. School of the Battalion [SoB] Volume II What is Hardee’s? A handbook on how to teach soldiers how to fight as an infantry battalion. Written for the instructor. Based on centuries of experience.

Basic formations CLOSE ORDER SKIRMISH ORDER in line in line in column in column (the reserve only) by the flank (moving only) by the flank (firing & moving) Today’s focus is on changing formation in close order. Note: position of Officers/NCOs often different in same formation when at a halt, marching or firing.

Formation of a company in line Example = a functional small company Captain + 1st Sergeant + 2nd Sergeant + 16 Men Guide = Captain In the manoeuvres: “Left guide” In the manoeuvres: “Right guide”

Formation of a battalion in line Example = functional small battalion 4 Companies (with small Color Guard) + Colonel + Adjutant + Sergeant-Major Guide = color-bearer 4th company 3rd company 2nd company 1st company 8 paces SM A ≤ 30 paces SoS no. 38: no color guard if < 5 companies.

Formation of a “full” battalion in line 4th company 3rd company 2nd company 1st company 8 paces 12 paces SM A ≤ 30 paces 3 paces

Formation of a company in column Difference from line? Positions of Captain + Sergeants Guide = Sergeant on left or right 2 paces

Formation of a battalion in column “Column of companies at full distance right in front” Differerent with line? → Position of Captains + Sergeants Guide = Sergeant of company at head of column (left or right) ? ? SM A 15-20 paces 6 paces 4th company 3rd company 2nd company 1st company

Movements between basic formations LINE ↔ COLUMN LINE→ flank → COLUMN & COLUMN → flank → LINE LINE ↔ flank COLUMN ↔ flank COLUMN → flank → COLUMN LINE → flank → LINE March by the flank is an intermediate manoeuvre only.

LINE → COLUMN From: battalion in line of battle To: column of companies at full distance, right in front Hardee’s SoB no. 68 and following Note: from a halt and to a halt Many other options for columns: distance (full, half, closed in mass), width (by division, company, platoon) and directions (on any company, front, rear, by inversion).

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Commands Colonel: By company, right wheel Captains: (caution companies to wheel to the right) Colonel: MARCH Captains: <Such> company – HALT Left – DRESS FRONT

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 1 – Colonel: By company, right wheel Captain moves to front of his company Captain cautions his company to wheel to the right First Sergeant takes his place SM A By company, right wheel

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 1 – Colonel: By company, right wheel right wheel right wheel right wheel right wheel SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH Company breaks to the right as per SoC no. 173 Right front rank man faces to the right Captain move beyond left flank end point Company wheels on fixed pivot SM A MARCH

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Second company - HALT First company - HALT Fourth company - HALT Third company - HALT 3 paces 3 paces 3 paces 3 paces SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Left guide advances to Captain & Captain aligns him on the right man Right guide aligns on right man SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 4 – Captains: Left – DRESS SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 4 – Captains: Left – DRESS SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 5 – Captains: FRONT FRONT FRONT FRONT FRONT SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 5 – Captains: FRONT A SM

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Result – A column of companies at full distance, right in front “the guides not in the direction will readily come into it when the column is put in march” (SoB no. 73) A SM

COLUMN → LINE From: column of companies at full distance, right in front To: battalion in line of battle, to the left Hardee’s SoB no. 390 and following Note: from a halt and to a halt Other options to form a line, facing in different directions relative to the column: on the right, forward, faced to the rear.

COLUMN → left into LINE Commands Colonel: Left into line, wheel MARCH => Captains: MARCH Captains: <Such> company – HALT Right – DRESS FRONT Colonel: Guides - POSTS

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 1 – Colonel: Left into line, wheel Right guide of First Company takes post on the alignment, assured by Lt. Colonel (or Adjutant) Left into line, wheel SM A 15-20 paces 6 paces 4th company 3rd company 2nd company 1st company

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 1 – Colonel: Left into line, wheel SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH Left front rank man faces to the left, touching left guide Company wheels to the left as per SoC no. 239 Captains turn to observe MARCH SM A MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Third company - HALT Second company - HALT Fourth company - HALT First company - HALT SM A 3 paces

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Captains align on the left front rank man of the company on their right Captain of first company remains in place SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 4 – Captains: Right – DRESS Companies dress up between their Captain and left front rank man First company dresses in man opposite right guide Right – DRESS Right – DRESS Right – DRESS SM Right – DRESS A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 4 – Captains: Right – DRESS SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 5 – Captains: FRONT FRONT FRONT SM FRONT

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 5 – Captains: FRONT Correct alignment: Colonel, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major return to their places in line SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS Guides return to their places in line Captains and First Sergeants momentarily make space for this SM A Guides - POSTS

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

Summary LINE ↔ COLUMN Colonel commands the change of formation By company, left wheel Left into line, wheel Change of formation by wheeling by company from a halt Pivot of the wheel is the man who faced left or right Captains halt and align their companies Sergeant (left or right guide) = basis in column Captain = basis in line Into line only: Colonel adds “Guides – POSTS”

LINE ↔ flank March by the flank = parallel to front Companies are arranged in battalion in LINE or COLUMN Men in each company are arranged in rank & file = “in line” Manoeuvring by the flank for a company = always “from line” for a battalion = from either LINE or COLUMN

Formation of a company in line Ranks front and rear Files numbered one, two Every man = front/rear + one/two (F1, F2, R1, R2) Instructor: “Count - TWOS” F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

LINE → by the right flank SoC no. 135 & SoS no. 325 Instructor: Company, right – FACE Front rank: face to the right, then double Rear rank: face and side step to the right, then double Captain steps out & First Sergeant replaces him File closers side step to 2 paces from rear of company

LINE → by the right flank Front rank: face to the right, ... Rear rank: face and side step to the right, ... F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

LINE → by the right flank Front rank: ..., then double Rear rank: ..., then double F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

LINE → by the right flank File closers side step to 2 paces from rear of company F1 F1 F1 F1 F2 F2 F2 F2 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 2 paces

Formation of a company by the right flank 2 paces Guide = First Sergeant File leaders preserves their distance and follow in path of guide

Formation of a battalion by the right flank Last Sergeant covers Captains in file Sergeant-Majors takes step from Adjutant, who takes step from leading First Sergeant ? SM A 6 paces

LINE → flank From: battalion in line of battle To: battalion by the right flank Hardee’s SoB no. 722 → SoC no. 136 → SoS no. 352 (single rank) Example of principles working through the Tactics Note: from a halt and to a halt One option: by the left flank

LINE → by the right flank Commands Colonel: Battalion. Right – FACE Movement = same as for a company + Staff takes positions

flank→ LINE From: battalion by the right flank To: battalion in line of battle Hardee’s SoB no. 732 → SoC no. 146 → SoS no. 360 (single rank) Note: from a halt and to a halt Options: left FRONT right on the right, by file into line forward by company into line

by the right flank → LINE Commands Colonel: FRONT Movements same as for a company + Staff takes positions in line.

by the right flank → LINE Instructor: FRONT F1 F1 F1 F1 F2 F2 F2 F2 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2

by the right flank → LINE Each man fronts by facing to the left... ... at the same time, the doubled men quickly move into their places F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

by the right flank → LINE Next, rear rank closes to its proper distance Captain + Sergeants return to their places in line F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

by the right flank → COLUMN From: battalion by the right flank To: column of companies at full distance, right in front Hardee’s SoB suggested in Article Ninth (to pass a defile) & as lesson with no. 722 → SoC no. 153 Note: in marching

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance From this... SM A

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance ...to this! SM A

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance Commands Colonel: By companies, into line – MARCH Guide left Example = one single company Captain: By company, into line – MARCH

by the right flank → COLUMN of one single company Step 1 – Captain: By company, into line – MARCH Captain faces his company & First Sergeant marches straight F1 F1 F1 F1 By company, into line – MARCH F2 F2 F2 F2 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company Men take double quick to take their places in line Rear rank follows front rank F1 F1 F1 F1 F2 F2 F2 F2 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company Men take double quick to take their places in line Rear rank follows front rank F1 F1 F1 F1 F2 F2 F2 F2 R1 R1 R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company Men take double quick to take their places in line Rear rank follows front rank All take the step from the First Sergeant & eyes front F1 F1 F1 F2 F2 F2 F2 R2 R1 R1 R1 R1 F1 R2 R2 R2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company Guide left Step 2 – Captain: Guide left As soon as the companies are formed Captain takes his position before the center R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company Step 2 – Captain: Guide left As soon as the companies are formed Captains before the center Note: basis of alignment = right, until company is formed. Second Sergeant takes place and takes over guiding upon command. R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1 R2 F2 R1 F1

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance Result = a column of companies at full distance, right in front SM A

LINE → flank → COLUMN → LINE From: battalion in line of battle Via: battalion by the right flank Via: column of companies right in front To: battalion in line of battle What are the commands? Note: If doing the above movements at a halt, companies of different sizes collide. Why?

Summary Structure of Hardee’s Tactics Basic formations: line, column, by the flank Selected manoeuvres between basic formations LINE → COLUMN: By company, right wheel – MARCH COLUMN → LINE: Left into line, wheel – MARCH LINE → flank: Battalion, right – FACE flank → LINE: FRONT flank → COLUMN: By companies, into line – MARCH

Extra material “Full” company in line Formation of a company by the left flank

Formation of a “full” company in line Captain + 3 Lieutenants + 5 Sergeants + 4 Corporals + 28 Men 2nd platoon 1st platoon 4th section 3rd section 2nd section 1st section 13 inches 2 paces 2nd 2nd 3rd 4rd 3rd 5th

Formation of a company by the left flank From a company in line Instructor: Company, left - FACE F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

Formation of a company by the left flank Step 1 – Each man faces to the left Rear rank also side steps to the left with the facing Captain steps out & First Sergeant replaces him F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 F2 F1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1

Formation of a company by the left flank Step 2 – Numbers 1 double on numbers 2 in front of them Second Sergeant leads with Captain on his right F2 F2 F2 F2 F1 F1 F1 F1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R1 R1 R1 R1