Drill tactics for select knights of A. O. U. W. : containing school of the knight, division and battalion : sword manual : rules for camps, parades, competitive drills ...

Front matter

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

DRILL TACTICS

Preface

This system of drill is so closely assimilated to those prepared by the Author for other semi-Military Orders, as well as to the U. S. Infantry Tactics, that any one familiar with either will feel little embarrassment in comprehending and using the other.

Societies often experience great difficulty in assembling a sufficient number of members to make a creditable appearance ; hence, a formation with four as the unit is not deemed best to secure the most satisfactory results. Considering the meager number, of even moderately well-drilled men, who can usually be induced to report for society "parades" — three has been selected as the unit, and this appears, heretofore, to have met with general approval ; because it gives the greatest display with the fewest number. If the numbers are such as to warrant a wider column (a rare occurrence), subdivisions may be formed by doubling the front, by double rank formation, or both.

In the Army, file closers are essential, among other measures, to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of a line in action. No such reasons

PREFACE.

obtain in uniformed societies Besides, the file closers diminish the length of the line by drafts from the body ; and detract from the shapeliness of the column by giving it a "ragged" appearance. Again they interfere, somewhat, with display movements which have become popular, hence file closers have been dispensed with.

To still further utilize every available uniform, and avoid other objectionable features for a civic society, subordinate officers are posted in the line and serve as guides — except on the few occasions when they are needed as chiefs of subdivisions.

Such arrangements have heretofore met with the favorable opinions of skilled tacticians; and intimate acquaintance with the use of these means, adopted to "swell the ranks" in public demonstrations, confirm the conviction as to correctness of the theory advanced.

From what has been said of file closers, it is deemed expedient to merge the subordinate officers in the line.

In recent publications, the author's illustrations from other works have been used without authority.

Contents

Preface

Indorsement

Nomenclature 9, 10