The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-10

Following is another installment Of
memoranda OF decisions on points ON tao
tics.
This time II deals with the execution Of
manual Of arms by guides and fic.closers
II is not in conformity with Upton's
Tactcs Tor guides and iile.closers to exc
cute any OF the manual Of arms from arms
part" except that OF carry arms" and
the position OF "arns part" can only be
taken from carry" [Sre last clause Of
paragraphs So aud 81, Infantry Tactic5.l
The guide Of company, drilling siugly.
when marching in line should hold his
musket habitually at a carry.
Guides and iilc-clo,ers execute parade
rest" on drss parade at the command Of
their captain, given before the band
sounds oil.
Il is incorrect for guides aud tile.closcrs
60 execute arms part OF breaking ranks
OF company
In determining the question as 10 what
guides. under paragraph lS9, are exempt
4 from the carry arms, when marching in
common or quick time, it is 10 be noted
that both right aud left guides Of com.
piuy or division are not stimuli .aneously
charged with the stop and direction Of
,garch. These guides either right or left,
who are NOT ~ charged, arr exempt The
word guide, ~ used in the Tactics, las
two meanings II may mean any sergeant
placed on the TANKS 81 company in line,
o. iis front aud rear in column OF tours,
twOs. or files, aud denomina;cd right and
lett. and leading and rear guides. see
90 u Ia. a
more restricted sense Il may mean that
particular one of these scrgcants who, lor
The time being, il charged with the step,
etc. In paragraph $50 il is used in The
general sense IN the plural aud In the re-
sifictcd sense IN the singular.
There Is no Practical authority for dis
missing a squad In column officers. IL Is
n custom Of service at some posts 10 do So
IL II not positively incorrect 10 give the
command iours in circle right Tor lett
wheel, or march. from any position; but
IL IL better 90 commence the movement
from line. The movement must always
Dc finished In line NJ prescribed Ia para
graph 2l2, infantry tactics.
As the foregoing exercise Is simply Tor
the purpose ol pyricctiug the company IN
wheeling by iours, and not for any iarticai
maneuyer. the flc-closcfs do not follow
the iours around. but remain in their re-
spcctiye positions. and ut the conclusion
OF the cxcrcis, take their proper places, II
not already there.
The about by twos, from column at twos,
II not q proper movement
The following question WIS decided by
the Lieutenant. General commanding the
army ~ follows
GA company being in line, can Il be
marched In column OF twos 10 the front
by the commands |. Right Tor Left for.
ward. 2. TNos right Tor lett. >. march,
A.--Thc movement u practicable bu
not authorized II was prescribed In the
first edition II uplon's Tactics, paragraph
COO, page ~. aud was omitted IN the cdi
ton now authorized. When the move
mcnt IL desirable, Il can be accomplishc,
by forming column OF twos 10 the rgh
and then changing direction 10 the lcii, b!
the commands aud means laid down u
the Tactics.
Upon questions submitted the Genera
oil tie Army decided NJ follows
O.-ls tile distance between ranks II
columns ui twos, when broken iron
columns Of iours. double runk formation
the some as when broken from column
of foun, In single rank iormItion2
An the trst case the distance h te
inches; In the second. thiuy-two inchc.
q. Can the march Of twos be !
double time2
A. The Tactics provide for no sue
movement. On the contrary, Papgrap
?SG Infantry specially says; "Ihc marc
In column u twos Tor dlcsl Is always
quick time" This applies 10 column ,
twns formed from column 81 tours
double rank formation. Paragraph -,
we'll a. many others, indicate TIL
wherever dies have a distance Of ihlri.
two inches they eau be marched
double quick tine. 4 column ui tvs
formed from single rank has this distant
and can therefore be thus marched.
column OF hcs can, II necessary,
marched In double time by increasing u
distance TO thirty-two inches lpau2rar
AZ. No special command h, hoNovc