The departure of an element of the column should never be delayed. If the commander is not present at the head of his troops at the proper time, the officer next in rank starts them off, for otherwise the prescribed plan would be destroyed.

THE RATE AND LENGTH OF MARCHES.

226. The rate of progress of a mixed command is regulated by that of the foot troops. It varies with the nature of the country, the condition of the roads, the season of the year, the state of the weather, the length of the march, the size of the command, and the morale and physical condition of the troops. It is of great importance that a uniform rate be maintained throughout the column. The officer who sets the pace at the head of the column should bear in mind that the units in rear are at a disadvantage and that an irregular pace tends to produce alternate checking and hurrying, which is destructive of the condition and temper of the troops. When a change in the pace is to be made, warning should be sent to subordinate commanders.

227. For infantry, the rate prescribed for drill is 3.4 miles per hour; on the road the maximum to be counted on while marching is 3 miles per hour-including halts, 2 miles per hour. Sandy, muddy, or slippery roads, great heat and dust, strong head winds and storms, or broken country reduce the rate of progress. When it is necessary to climb hills, or to wade through swamps, or across submerged fields, a very liberal allowance must be made in time calculations. The rate for infantry columns, under average conditions, may be assumed at 24 to 2 miles per hour. Thus, for a march of 15 miles, a period of six to seven hours is necessary.

228. For cavalry, the usual marching gait is the walk. Although small commands can be trained to make nearly miles an hour under favorable conditions, the rate for forces larger than a squadron will be about 3 miles per hour. Allowing for halts, the rate would be 33 to 31⁄2 miles per hour. Thus a march of 15 miles at a walk would require four and one-half hours. When the weather, the roads, and the horses present favorable conditions, the marching rate should be about 5 miles per hour after the first halt, alternating the walk and trot, and occasionally dismounting and leading for short distances. Level ground is utilized for the trot.

229. In ascending or descending steep slopes cavalry, artillery, and men riding on wagons who are able to walk will be required to dismount. In cold weather, or when men are tired of riding, this is a measure of relief, which should be applied when desirable.

The gait should be slow enough to enable all the horses to keep up without undue exertion. When the walk at the head of the column is too fast, the troopers in rear are forced to trot every minute or two in order to preserve their distance; a fast trot makes a gallop necessary at the tail of the column, the evil in each case increasing with the length of the column. Such methods destroy the uniformity of the march and are extremely fatiguing to both men and horses; they lead to the ruin of cavalry commands, even on ordinary marches in time of peace.

230. The periods of trot alternating with the walk should not, as a rule, exceed ten to fifteen minutes in duration; too frequent changes of gait also are undesirable.

In order to facilitate taking advantage of level stretches of ground for trotting, especially in undulating country, liberal latitude as to distances should be allowed to commanders of subordinate units on ordinary marches, or at considerable distance from the enemy.

231. For field artillery the habitual gait is the walk, 3 to 34 miles per hour. On rapid marches the slow trot alternates with the walk. Horse artillery adopts the rate of the cavalry.

The rate of wagon trains varies with the class of draft animals, the size of the load, the length of the columns, and the condition of the roads. While large mules drawing light loads on good roads can do nearly 4 miles an hour, in long columns a rate of 2 miles, and in smaller commands 22 miles per hour, including halts, is all that can be expected under favorable conditions.

232. The length of the average march for infantry and for mixed commands consisting partly of foot troops is 15 miles per day, with a day of rest at least once a week. Small commands of seasoned infantry marching on good roads in cool weather can cover 20 miles per day, but in extensive operations involving large bodies of troops the average rate of progress will not exceed 10 miles per day. Field artillery marches 15 to 20 miles a day; cavalry, after men and animals are hardened, 25 miles a day; wagon trains about the same as infantry.

ROAD SPACES.

233. The normal distances, in the clear, between units on route marches, should be the same as those prescribed in drill regulations for troops marching at "attention." A change in the normal distances will be ordered by the commanding officer when the circumstances justify such action.

For approximate calculations we assume 2 men per yard for foot troops, 1 man per yard for mounted troops, and 20 yards for each

gun, caisson, or wagon. For troops at war strength the road spaces, including distances, will be about as follows:

These spaces are only slightly greater than the requirements of drill regulations. On the march, after a command is straightened out on the road, a certain amount of elongation always takes place. In calculating the length of a column further allowance must therefore be made in accordance with circumstances-sometimes as much as 25 per cent. An increased distance between units at the start will diminish subsequent lengthening of the column.

DETAILS OF A MARCH.

In

234. As soon as the head of the column takes the road after leaving camp the commander orders the route step (route order for cavalry and artillery). After marching half to three-fourths of an hour the troops are halted for fifteen minutes to allow the men to relieve themselves and to adjust their clothing and accouterments. small commands it will be possible to exercise judgment in selecting the place for the first halt; it would be undesirable to stop the command in the streets of a village or other place which would defeat one of the objects of the halt.

After the first rest there should be a halt of ten minutes every hour-that is, the troops march fifty minutes and then halt ten. This is not intended to be a rigid rule, but may be modified according to circumstances. In very hot weather, for example, it may be necessary to make the halts longer and more frequent.

As a rule troops prefer to finish their day's work as soon as possible. In good weather with favorable temperature long halts will

not be desirable for marches of less than about 15 miles for infantry or 25 miles for cavalry. When the day's march is to be prolonged so that it will run well into the afternoon, a halt of about one hour near mealtime will often be of advantage. Staff officers or mounted men should be sent ahead to find a suitable place for this halt; wood, water, grass, dry ground, and shade are desirable features. Notification as to the proposed length of the halt should be circulated. Arms are stacked and equipments removed; the cavalry dismount and loosen cinchas.

235. In commands not exceeding a regiment, and in wagon trains of less than a mile in length, the halt may be simultaneous, the signal from the head being promptly repeated. The heads of units halt, the elements thereof close up, mounted troops and drivers dismount, and men are permitted to fall out if necessary.

In longer columns it will be necessary to make arrangements so that the march of organizations shall not be impeded by halts of those preceding them. This may be done by causing the infantry and cavalry with their light trains to leave the road clear while resting, so that the units may to a certain extent overlap; or the watches of adjutants may be made to agree before starting, and the regiments. squadrons, and batteries all halt and start off again at prescribed moments. The artillery and trains remain on the road.

236. In the cavalry the hourly halts are of shorter duration-five minutes-and advantage is taken of the opportunity to examine the horses' feet, adjust saddles, and tighten cinchas if necessary. In the field artillery the halts are from five to ten minutes; the harness is adjusted, girths tightened, etc.

237. In ascending or descending slopes, crossing streams or other obstacles, or passing through defiles requiring a reduction of front, every precaution should be taken to prevent interruption of the steady progress of the troops in rear. If the distances are not

sufficient to prevent checks, units should be allowed to overlap; streams and similar obstacles should be crossed at several places at the same time; and while passing through short defiles the pace should be accelerated and the exit cleared at once. In case of delay while crossing an obstacle the head of a company, troop, or battery will slacken its pace or halt beyond the obstacle until all have passed; a faster pace, if necessary, will then be taken up by the unit in a body. The commander of the column should be constantly informed by the leader of the advance guard, or by staff officers designated for that purpose, of near features of the road likely to delay the march, with indication of remedies available.

238. No man shall leave the ranks without permisson of the company or higher commander. If the absence be for a few minutes only, the man will leave his rifle with the company; if he needs medical attention he is sent-if necessary, assisted-to the surgeon with a pass showing his name, company, and regiment. The surgeon returns the pass stating disposition made of the man, who may be admitted to the ambulance, permitted to ride on a wagon of the train, or simply to fall out and rejoin at the end of the day's march, coming in with the rear guard.

When soldiers are separated from their commands on account of wounds or sickness, their arms and equipments will accompany them if practicable.

The horse, saber and horse equipments of a mounted soldier who is admitted to the ambulance or to the hospital are taken back to the troop by the noncommissioned officer who accompanied him.

239. A police or provost guard under an officer marches at the rear of the column of troops in cases where there is no regular rear guard or where it is too far away to be effective for police purposes. An assistant surgeon, with necessary equipment and transportation, should form part of this guard.

It is the duty of all officers and noncommissioned officers to prevent straggling. All enlisted men found away from their organizations without authority will be arrested; they will be returned to their commands at a favorable opportunity, with a statement as to the circumstances of their apprehension. Towns and villages through which the column has passed, and if necessary the country along the road, will be searched by patrols. All persons, whether soldiers, camp followers, or inhabitants, found pillaging, marauding, or committing crimes will be arrested, to be dealt with according to the rules and custom of war.

The guard also takes charge of prisoners captured from the enemy and sent to the rear.

In commands larger than a brigade a provost marshal is furnished with a suitable force and has charge of the police of the camp and the column, or of such portions as may be assigned to him.

240. On the march the company commander goes where his presence may be necessary; his usual place is at the head of the company, but he should occasionally allow it to march past him, in order to observe the condition of the men. When more than one officer is present with a troop or company, one of them will be required to march at the rear of the organization.

The commanding officer of a larger unit informs himself from time to time, especially after passing obstacles, by personal observa