The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-17
MILITARY MATTERS.
ANOTHER INTERESTING install
MENT OF TACTICAL POINTS.
The Montgomery Guards Making Rapid
Progress--Notes From Various Ar
acknowledgements Drill March 90,
Corner jefferson and Fourth.

The present weeks installment OF
amendments to Upton's Actics, covers
general guides, file closers, cavalry tactics,
companies in echclon, etc.:
GENERAL GUIDES.
Now that flags are to be carried by the
general guides, under the provisions of
paragraph 2,792l OF the regulations (Gen-
eral Order No. 81, OF 1885, from this
office), the practice Of inverting the piece
in the deployment of close column. as set
forth in the last two lines Of paragraph
40S, page 2l7, Infantry Tactics, will be
discontinued. decision Lioutenant-Gen-
eral, letter June "a, lSS5-3,39l A. q. o.
1885.
Passing file closes from one flank 10 the
other in School OF Battalion Mounted. In
Infantry Tactics, paragraphs PA and il5,
also in Cavalry Tpctics, School OF Com
pany and Battalion Dismountcd, para.
graphs 22S and 326, provision is made for
changing column OF tours from right in
front 10 left in front, aud the reverse, by
passing the file closers from one flank TO
the other.
Question--ls II not proper, and in nc
cordance with the spirit OF tactics, 10 do
this mounted by the same commands and
means as when dismountod2 Ii not, why
not2
Answer ismounted, Gle closer can
pass rapidly between sets OF fours, but
mounted they cannot The latter could
pass around the head and rear of their re-
spcctiye companies, and the movement
might he introduced with advantage. Cir
GUAR No. 9, United States Infantry and
Cavalry School, 1884.
Cavalry Tactics, Paragraph 702 Posi-
ton OF Troop Commander in the March OF
the Close Column by the Flank-On cav.
airy battalion drill in close column OF com
panies. right in front at the command
"Fours right, guide right" the troop com.
mander remain on the left, aud No. Is
the guide Of the leading four. In the
march by the flank, OF a battalion in close
column OF companies, the company column
on that flank on which the guide is an
nounced is the directing column, and It's
march Is regulated by lis guido, either on
the right or ON the left, according as tho
column IL right or left Ia front
In regard TO Paragraphs 5i3 and 5S2 Of
tho 1actics the announcement OF tho
guide, in case OF n company In column OF
platoons, marching by the flank, fixes the
position Of the troop commander, just M
in the march by the flank Of battalion In
close column OF companies Il fixes the pc.
sition OF the Major. II is not contemplated
in the Tactics that tho plaioons in the
first case, or the companies In the second,
should be changed from right 10 left In
'front.' 10y the new announcement Of the
guide. Letter 20 Commanding General
Department Of the Missouri May 2, 1885.
Error In Paragraph SlS, Cavalry Tactics
Tho typographical error in the last
clause Of paragraph SIS, Cavalry Tactics.
consists In using the word toward instead
al opposite. Letter 10 commanding
officer United States Infantry and Cavalry
School, March 20, 1885,
Double Column OF FouB Cavalry
When Right and When Left in Front
Provision is made in paragraph S6S, Cav
airy Tnctics, for ploying tho double coli
umn OF ioun with column In double rank
at closed distance, but no reference being
made M 10 when column of TOURS " 10
be considered right and when left In front.
simple and practical rule, announced by
Mai. = u. VI. Young, Third Cavalry, com.
handing cavalry battalion at the United
States Infantry aud Cavalry School, has
been adopted at the school.
Rulc.-"A double column Of iouu Is
right In front when the file cluscn are ut
the rear Of the column, and left In front
when they arc at the head Of the coli
umn."
This rule works we'll In executing the
movement above referred to. A company
column right In front, after entering the
battalion column, wheels by lours 10 the
left, and when left Ia front, by tours 10 the
right. lCifcular No. ., U. s. Infantry aud
Cavalry School, 1854
Designation OF companies ON Echclon 30
As 10 whether the numerical designation
OF companies change In the order OF cchc.
Ion, the general Of tho army says
"Echolon formation Is one parlaking
moro OF the nature Of line of n column.
for the reason that all parts OF Il can do.
liver IL fire 90 the front-a thing TINT can.
not be- done In a column, strictly speaking.
"fOr all tactical purposes u in line
having lis front in the direction In which
the subdivisions face.
"Ihe companies are designated numor.
ioally from right TO left In the same man.
ner, ~ though the line wcro unbrokcn,
and thus, too. independent OF whether the
first h the most advanced or most rctircd
company" Letter 10 Commanding OH
Ger United States Cayay aud Infantry
School, March 20. 1888