New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-27
WARFARE.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN BATTALION TACTICS sU0-
GEsTED FOR THB UNITED STATES ARMY.
The effect of the needle rifle in the present show'
that battalion to form lines quickly than
does under the present system In Wow Of thsh
writer suggests the following changes using battalion Of
six companies to exemplfy them:
l. That the administrative designations of companies
be letters and that the field designations be numbers fol-
lows: The LIST company be the LIST 9Th the I'd to be
the % 5th the Sd to be the Sd 4h the 4h to be
the 4 or 3D. the 5h TO be the 5h or Cd the 9th to be
the 9th or LIST.
That captains quickly tell their companies after they
change numbers.
g. That divisions be designated in the same way, and
that they also change numbers their chiefs telling them
of the change.
a. That these changes TO be made only to avoid nver
sions and change the breaking flank of battalion.
If company understands that it may be in the ghtor
left OF battalion for maneuver II will not feel inverted
and there will be no confusion
ADVANTAGES OF THIS SYSTEM.
The advantages of thisa are:
l. That column can in any case depoy upon leading
company or division without inversion.
That column can form line to either flank without
inversion.
g. That column need in no case bring the rear wing to
the front
column may dcploy upon rear company or division,
when not under ire that the changing Of numbers may
This system is moro applicable to the column by com.
pany than that by division, but be used with BOTH
will be shown.
BxAMPLBs-THg COLUMN BY COMPANY.
II battalion be right in 'front.' III where il must
at once depoy TO the right the heldofcer in command
will say Cleft in front" and company officers will quick
ly number Oh their companes-6 s. 4, 3, l-rom front
to rear. The next moment the field officer will command
"0n 9th, company deploy column, &c., and the column
will deploy, opening fire and unnverted
Again, if battalion be right in front in where il
must form line the right, the feldofcers will
say Left In 'front.' and the company officers will at
do as in the last The nert moment the teldofcer
will commence Right into line Wheel and the column
will form line TO the right, uninverted.
Again. If battalion be right in front in where il
has or ought 10 form form line 10 the left by
companies the field officer will caution il quickly and the
companies viii form ne to the left and the first become
the sixth.
If battalion be in file by fours in a case where IL
ought 10 form line to the directing Its proper 'front.'
by comprehensive field officer cannot caution
It as IN the other cases. but will at once command BY
companies IN succession, on the left into line and
the captains, understanding the maneuver will move
their companies TO the right Of the first become the sixth
its captain saying, "sixth company BY the left flank
march,, aud hating 1t the OF the new line SIX
PAGES from the line OF march.
battalion left III front depoy or form line 10 a
aank, in the same cases, on the same principles.
THE COLUMN BY DIVISION
In all the mentioned for the column By COMPANY
they column by DIVISION depoy form line as fol-
lows II the battalion be In column night in front the
hed-oicer will caution prescribed and chief of d.
visions will change their numbers and shift the
CON panies the tho two guides alignment. The /
will then depoy 10 the right Commanding
80 on the third division depoy column" &c.
TO form line flank, tho change will be made
and the column will wheel into line In the usual way
In where the column has depoy 20 the reverse
flank at once las under ffe the companies will DO shifted
and depoyed at the time, that time may DO lost
while The standing company of the front division he first
become the sIth IN night IN 'front.' and the sixth become