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Do you get tired of having to run after the race horses in the companies in front of you? Well, here's your passage from Butterfield which gets overlooked and needs some attention. The section has the title :
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1. It is of great importance that the men should not be hurried on the march, nor step out beyond the regular step, or run, unless by word of command.
2. When the proper distances can not be preserved without an alteration in the step, it must be effected by making the head of each regiment or company step short, instead of allowing others to step out.
3. After passing an obstacle or ascending hill, the leading company of each regiment will step short until the last company of the regiment has passed and closed up, although a large interval should be thereby occasioned between it and the preceding regiment.
4. The leading section of each company will also step short until the last section has passed and closed up, even although a large interval should take place between that and the preceding company.
5. When the head of a company, suppose the 4th, cannot keep up without overstepping, leaving too great a distance, the officer commanding must call out,
which must be repeated aloud by the sergeants on the flanks of the companies in front of the 4th, until it comes up to the commanding officer, who will, of course shorten the step at the head of the column, unless he perceives that some obstacle, ascent, or difficult ground in front will give time to the 4th to close up; in the mean time, the 4th, if no answer is returned to the notice of its having increased distance, will continue at the regular step.
6. In like manner, if the head of a regiment can not keep up with the preceding regiment, the commanding officer will forward the notice to the head of the column, detaching files at the same time to preserve the communications with the preceding regiment.
7. When obstacles which delay the march are frequent, it may be desirable or necessary, in order to avoid loss of time, that each company, after passing, should march on at the usual rate, without shortening its step, as the following company may overtake it at the next obstacle or ascent ; but it can never be necessary, and must not be suffered, that a company be broken and disorganized on the march. The intervals between companies may be occasionally increased with advantage and without disorder, but, unless each company in itself be kept compact, disorder and disorganization will ensue.
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I'm working on an article about route marching and saw this passage which is contained in my booklet on Guards, Pickets, Camps and Marches. The passage is something which every company commander ought to know, but few have ever read, let alone used. You can pull down a copy of my primary source filled booklet FOR FREE by following this link : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/guidespickets.htm Give the men in the ranks a break by applying some good advice from Butterfield.
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4. Hurry and Stepping out to Be Prevented
1. It is of great importance that the men should not be hurried on the march, nor step out beyond the regular step, or run, unless by word of command.
2. When the proper distances can not be preserved without an alteration in the step, it must be effected by making the head of each regiment or company step short, instead of allowing others to step out.
3. After passing an obstacle or ascending hill, the leading company of each regiment will step short until the last company of the regiment has passed and closed up, although a large interval should be thereby occasioned between it and the preceding regiment.
4. The leading section of each company will also step short until the last section has passed and closed up, even although a large interval should take place between that and the preceding company.
5. When the head of a company, suppose the 4th, cannot keep up without overstepping, leaving too great a distance, the officer commanding must call out,
Fourth company cannot keep up,
which must be repeated aloud by the sergeants on the flanks of the companies in front of the 4th, until it comes up to the commanding officer, who will, of course shorten the step at the head of the column, unless he perceives that some obstacle, ascent, or difficult ground in front will give time to the 4th to close up; in the mean time, the 4th, if no answer is returned to the notice of its having increased distance, will continue at the regular step.
6. In like manner, if the head of a regiment can not keep up with the preceding regiment, the commanding officer will forward the notice to the head of the column, detaching files at the same time to preserve the communications with the preceding regiment.
7. When obstacles which delay the march are frequent, it may be desirable or necessary, in order to avoid loss of time, that each company, after passing, should march on at the usual rate, without shortening its step, as the following company may overtake it at the next obstacle or ascent ; but it can never be necessary, and must not be suffered, that a company be broken and disorganized on the march. The intervals between companies may be occasionally increased with advantage and without disorder, but, unless each company in itself be kept compact, disorder and disorganization will ensue.
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I'm working on an article about route marching and saw this passage which is contained in my booklet on Guards, Pickets, Camps and Marches. The passage is something which every company commander ought to know, but few have ever read, let alone used. You can pull down a copy of my primary source filled booklet FOR FREE by following this link : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/guidespickets.htm Give the men in the ranks a break by applying some good advice from Butterfield.
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