Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

SECTION VI.-INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMPOSITION, LEADING, AND EMPLOYMENT OF LARGE BODIES OF CAVALRY OVER THE STRENGTH OF A REGIMENT.

COMPOSITION.

Two to three regiments, combined under the command of a general officer, constitute a cavalry brigade, to which a horse artillery battery is usually attached for purposes of tactical employment. Several brigades, combined under one command, constitute a cavalry Division or corps.

TACTICAL ORGANISATION AND DESIGNATION.

The several regiments of the brigade are numbered and addressed according to the same principles as the several squadrons of the regiment, i.e. according to their actual position in the formation; e.g. the right regiment in the brigade, formed in line of regiments deployed, or line of squadron columns at deploying interval, is always the 1st, the left regiment the 2nd, &c. When the regiments, instead of being one beside the other, are one behind the other, the front regiment is the 1st, the next the 2nd, &c. If the brigadier wishes to designate particular divisions or squadrons, he names the number of the division or squadron, and also that of the regiment. When forming up the brigade, the brigadier appoints to each

regiment the position it is to occupy. If the regimental unit is momentarily broken up by sudden or pressing dispositions, the continuity must be restored as soon as possible, that each regiment may constitute in itself a distinct whole.

In cavalry Divisions or corps, the several brigades form as many tactical units, and are designated by the name of the commanding general.

DISPOSITIONS, COMMANDS, SIGNALS.

The manœuvring and employment of a tactical unit, composed of several regiments, must always follow some general idea, whether based on reality or, as in peace manoeuvres, on supposition only.

This general idea must be communicated by the commander to all commanders of independent bodies in a general disposition, which may either determine the sequence of the movements to be executed or supply the objective of the operations only, should he propose to retain in his own hand their further course, which is directed

(a) By short orders, in accordance with the regulations laid down for the manoeuvring of the regiment, given by the brigadier by word of mouth to the several commanders if he is near at hand, or sent them by the orderly officers;

(b) By the trumpet calls laid down in the drill book. Every trumpet call sounded by the brigadier must be prefixed by the signal 'Attention.'

On receiving the order or call, the commanders at once give the corresponding orders to their commands, and proceed at once to carry out the movement, unless the brigadier adds to the order sent the message to delay the execution until he sounds the 'executive signal.'

Each regiment in the brigade sends an officer, the battery a non-commissioned officer, to the brigadier as orderly to carry orders; he has a trumpeter with him to sound the calls.

The

The command of bodies of cavalry over the strength of a brigade is conducted by means of orders or dispositions, sent to the several brigades. larger commands must therefore have a certain number of organs attached to them, among whom is an artillery officer of high rank, who must always accompany the chief, in order, when necessary, himself to take over the command of the artillery, should the batteries of several brigades be combined in support of some important operation, or the artillery of the Division or corps be reinforced by batteries from elsewhere.

FORMATIONS AND MOVEMENTS.

Since the brigade constitutes the tactical unit of large bodies of cavalry, brigade formations only require to be laid down. In a brigade of two regiments, one forms the main body and must always be kept intact, attacking as a rule with all its squadrons united and deployed in line. The main body may be

reinforced by one or two squadrons from the other regiment, and the whole commanded by the regimental commander according to the same regulations as laid down for a single regiment. In a brigade of three regiments two form the main body; the third furnishes the reserve, the advance guard, &c. The main body may be manoeuvred in various manners, according to circumstances; as a rule, it would operate in one body, in exceptional cases, by regiments. The brigadier may apply any one of the formations and movements laid down for a single regiment to the whole brigade, or to one of its component regiments, without interfering with the terms of the disposition.

If the main body is manoeuvred as a whole, the two regiments have similar relations to one another as the divisions of a regiment, and the movements are executed according to the same principles as laid down for the divisions of an independent regiment.

The brigadier must then prefix to the order, applying equally to both regiments of the brigade, the word ' Brigade,' the commanders executing the movement according to the actual station of, and the eventual position to be taken up by, their regiments in the brigade.

Supposing the brigade to be in double column, and it was required to form;

(a) Line of squadron columns at deploying interval to the front, the brigadier's order for both regiments would be ' Brigade-Line of squadron columns at deploying interval to the front'; the 1st regiment

would form right forward, the 2nd left forward, each receiving the corresponding order from its commander;

(b) Oblique line to the left, the brigadier's order for both regiments would be 'Brigade-Deploy halfleft'; the 2nd regiment would receive the order from its commander to deploy half-left, continuing its advance at a walk; the 1st regiment would receive the order to change direction half-right, and when it had gained the proper interval, 'Left wheel into line.'

The interval between the regiments in every formation is 20 paces, called regimental interval.

In advancing over long distances, the brigadier gives the direction; he may tell off the regiment to direct, or a division or even squadron of the regiment.

The flank march may be executed in various manners: when for short distance only, it will suffice to give the signal Attention-Right turn

(Left turn),' when all the component fractions of the brigade form fours to the flank named, resuming, at the signal 'Attention-Forward,' their parallel frontal march; when for a long distance, the order is ' Brigade-Take ground to the right (left),' all the component fractions wheeling by sections to the flank named, and, at the signal Attention-Wheel into line,' resuming their original formation and direction.

Single column is not so much employed from its greater depth as double column. For the same reason

« НазадПродовжити »