1. Raymond Rammeloo 16 March 2019
Battalion Drill
Raymond Rammeloo
16 March 2019

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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).

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

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

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

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

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

24. 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

25. 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.

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

27. 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

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

29. 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

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

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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

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

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

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

38. 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

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

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

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

42. 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”

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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

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

50. 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

51. 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

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

53. 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

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

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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

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

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

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

67. by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

68. by the right flank → COLUMN of one company

69. 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

70. 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

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

72. 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?

73. 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

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

75. 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

76. 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

77. 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

78. 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