are or pass for strangers are Colonels Lieutenant-Colonels the first Captains who are commonly Majors Lieutenants Cornets and Quarter-masters The Officers of the Gend'armes Are Lieutenants of the Gend'armes and Sub-lieutenants in the Kings Gend'armes Ensigns Guidons Quartermasters first and second Brigadeer They never fight but with the General and are not sent out on parties I mean they are not employed to beat the rode The Officers of the Light-horse of Ordinance Are Lieutenants Cornets Quartermasters first and second Brigadeer The particular Officers Are the Master de Camp the first Captain commanding the Regiment the Captains the Master de Camp 's Lieutenant Major the Lieutenant Cornets the Aid-major Quarter-Masters first and second Cavalier or Trooper We have besides in our Cavalrie the Kings Musketeers who attend his Majesty when they are commanded In the Cavalrie then we may observe six sorts of Horsemen 1. To wit the Kings Gend'armes 2. The Guards du Corps 3. The Light-Horse of the Kings Guard 4. The Kings Musketeers 5. The Cuirasseers 6. The Dragoons When two three or more Troopers as necessities require are sent out to scout on the avenues or to any place to discover the Enemy they are called the Vedette as in Foot the Sentinel Of the Exercise of Horse It is certain the Horse may perform the same motions as the Foot do whether it be by Caracols or by facing about and other words of Command which shall be shewed hereafter How a Squadron is to be formed Double the Cavalrie on the left Wing by three Ranks successively which is the usual depth of Squadrons and when they draw off to march they are to file off by files beginning at the right Wing or otherwayes the Squadron being formed they are to begin to march by one of the wings without breaking the Squadron and by Caracol the Squadron will be formed The Horse fight in a large Front three and sometimes four in depth according as the Army is strong in Cavalrie and sometime five or six deep c. and that is it which we call a Squadron The Horse march commonly Troop by Troop according to their Regiment and every Troop marches in two files if they march in body of a squadron they make a large Front and have their depth as is beforesaid Two Troops are sometimes squadroned together the one marching on the rear of the other and sometimes both a breast they are each of them to march in one file and the first has the right and the other the left hand but before the Command be given they must dress their files and ranks that is straighten their files and even their ranks as hath been shewed in the Exercise of the Foot To close the Files The right wing file stand Close your files to the right To the left as ye were The left wing file stand To the left by files close the squadron To the right as ye were The right and left-wing file stand By half ranks close your files to the right and â—â—ft The Command may be given thus Cleave the Squadron by closing your files All these Motions are performed in Marching To close the Ranks File leaders stand By ranks close the squadron to the front On the front as ye were Or thus Open your ranks on the front to your first distances To double the Ranks By half files to the right double your ranks to the front File-leaders advance your ranks Half files take your ground The same Command is made to the left The first half-file stand By half-file leader on the left wing double your ranks to the front To reduce them again the Command must be given Right-wing half-rank advance your ranks Half file-leaders take your ground The first half-file stand By half file-leaders on the right and left wings double your ranks to the front caracolling to the right and left The last half-file stand The first half file by Caracol to the right and left on the wings double your ranks to the reare By half-file leader in the centre double your ranks to the front At this word of Command the first half file must open the half rank to the right and left The first half file by caracol to the right and left double your ranks to the reare To the front as ye were For obeying of this word of Command the last half file must open the half rank to the right and left It is to be observed that the Horse turn neither to the right nor left about to reduce themselves as they were nor to close their ranks to the rear A Fight of Foote against Foote Of Counter-marches Here the Command is to be given is it is done to the Foot but it is most necessary for Cavalrie to gain ground on the front How Conversion is to be performed Before we speak of Conversions we must distinguish between wheeling by conversion and wheeling by â—aracol wheeling by conversion is performed by the front of the squadron so that it is the rank and not the file which makes the motion Of wheeling by Caracol Wheeling by Caracol is made by â—he depth of the squadron and it is the file that makes the motion by Passades which is a serpentine moving on a ground some this and some thaâ— way Of the volte-face or facing about To face about one must turn to the right or left about as shall appear by the following words of Command The motions of Conversion and Caracol are performed by wheeling making a circle or part of one so that the only difference between them is that wheeling by Conversion is made by the front of the squadron and the Caracol by the depth or flank of it as may be seen by the following Commands The words of Command Mind me to the right by conversion At this word of command the right leg is to be closed to the Horse and the knee to touch the right hand mans The same command is made to the â—ft thus Close the left wing Close the left leg Words of Command By half ranks and by conversion divide the squadron into two Troops And to reduce the squadron this word of command is to be given Mind me by Conversion the squadron into one Troop Or otherwayes thus Mind me the left wing advance by conversion The words of Command for wheeling by Caracol Mind me the right wing to the left by Caracol face about to the rear The Caracol may be performed by half ranks but it is to be observed that they who command the half rank make use of the word of command above-mentioned The word of Command By quarter-ranks and by Caracol divide the squadron into four Troops To reduce them again Quarter Ranks mind me the squadron into one Troop To Command the Volte-face or to face about To the right about is taken for facing about as in the subsequent words of Command The words of Command Face about to the right Face to the right By conversion face about to the right By
caracol face about to the right By half file face about to the right and left To draw up in Haye By half ranks to the right and left draw up in hay to the front To reduce them again By Caracol to the right and left as ye were By half rank and by Caracol to the right and left draw up in hay to the rear To the front as we were By half rank to the right and left draw up in hay By Caracol to the right and left as ye were By Caracol to the right draw up in hay By Caracol to the left as we were How Horse are to fire Horse must fire by ranks and by files and are to detach by Caracol gaining the hand if possibly they can that is to say using their endeavours to have the enemy on the right hand They should detach at a trot then put on to a gallop and having discharged return to their bringers up It is to be observed likewise that they should detach by the right wing wheeling by Caracol to the left and by that means they will have the Enemy on the right hand The rank may fire by the front and draw off by caracolling to the right and left They may be made to fire by ranks by conversion and alwayes fall back to the bringers up of the squadron Horse may fire by files but in that case the squadron ought to be six or eight in depth making the right wing-file detach by caracolling to the left and having discharged fall back again by the same order to the place from whence they advanced So that Horse may fire in the same manner as Foot How to fight in a retreat To fight in a retreat some small parties backed by greater bodies are sent off and if it be thought convenient that they should discharge then these small parties shall make use of the orders of drawing up in Hay each party firing at the same time and retreating by the help and assistance of the other small parties who ought to second them till afterward obeying the same orders again they come to the assistance of those that seconded them How to make Horse file off On the right wing file off by ranks On the left wing form the squadron File off by ranks on the left wing Form the squadron on the right File off by three files On the left wing form the squadron I think it more convenient to file off by files than by ranks since that three files make a squadron which one rank does not CHAP. II. How Horse are to fight against Horse HE that commands the Squadron must know who they are he is to fight to wit if they be Gend'arms Light-horse Dragoons or Musketeers because the two former of these are to be attacked by the left wing and the others by the right H. A Fight of Horse against Horse We have told you that in fighting â—gainst Dragoons and other Musketeers they must be Attacked on the â—â—ght wing which is a considerable â—dvantage being taken seasonably â—or it is getting the hand of those against whom we fight How Horse are to fight against Foot When Cavalrie has a design to Atâ—ack a Battallion of Foot before â—hey come within Musket-shot the Cavalrie must have received their Orders sending off some out-riders who ought to advance streight against â—he Plotons or small Skirmishing boâ—ies receiving their fire and vigourâ—usly to force them in disorder to reâ—reat towards the Pikes o r towards â—he Center of the Battallion and at â—hat time the Squadron should adâ—ance by depth Caracolling and Enâ—aging the Battallion by one of the Angles charging the Pikes and â—assing sidewayes by them and not advancing streight towards them otherwayes out of every Troop there may be three or four detached in a File which ought to advance at a gallop and so soon as they come within Musket-shot charge the Plotons and afterward by Caracol pass by the Front and wings obliging the Battallion to charge to the Horse at the same time the Squadron ought to follow Charging on the angle oâ— the Battallion setting on the Pikes by the flank and in that manner the Battallion is to be broken It is to be observed that Horse should alwayes have their files closed and not their ranks Foot may likewise be fought in the following order making a double Squadron and when they approach within Musket-shot the squadron iâ— to be divided by half ranks into fouâ— Troops and by Caracol to the right and left the two first should pass oâ— the front and on one of the wings the third ought to Charge streight on the angle or according as occasion requires Attack the Pikes side-wayes whether it be on the front or flank and then the fourth Troop should make good what the third could not It is to be observed that so soon as the Horse are within ten paces of the Battallion they ought to fire and at the same time draw their swords How Foot are to fight against Foot If a Regiment of Foot marching in an Enemies Country find a Regiment of the Enemies in an advantagious Post which hinders their march the Regiment that is to pass must use endeavours to draw the Enemy to an Engagement making as if they intended to retreat that they may allure them out of their Post and having drawn them out into a convenient ground they are to face about to the right and march towards the Enemy in order of Battel and advancing two steps shall let flie their Pistols and return to their ranks then all the Musketeers shall fire three ranks together at the same time drawing their Swords and presenting the Pikes and all the Companies being engaged pell-mell should fight tilâ— the one be overcome and ask Quarters The figure A clearly represents the way of fighting How Squadrons are to be detached and formed at the same time The Horse are to Caracol to the right and left and open the half rank then form the Squadron fifty in Front By Caracols to the right and left open your half Ranks and form the Squadron fifty a breast fronting about to the Rear How Squadrons are to be formed They are to double on the left Wing by three Ranks and on the same Front with the first There are two things to be observed when the Squadron is formed and that the Front is to be changed into any other place whatsoever to do it by Caracols or to do it by Conversion by half-half-ranks or quarter-Quarter-ranks if by Conversion but if by Caracol it is done in a whole body Two Troops that can Squadron themselves together to form their Squadrons in the order of a march if they march in the same Front the first should take the right and the other the left hand and in that order march If they desire to form the Squadron the Troop on the right hand should advance about twenty paces and reduce themselves to three in depth That which holds the left in its
received it to write it down with the Counter-word that he may remember them and according to the duty of his place carry it to his Officers where they are He ought to have a care to learn the manners of every private Trooper that on occasions he may know who are fit to be commanded having considered their Horses and from thence being able to judge of those who are most proper to execute the intended service It is his part to be careful frequently to visit the Troopers Horses obliging them to feed dress and shoe them well to keep their Equipage in good condition and severely to punish those that neglect that duty He is also to take notice of their Arms and oblige them to keep them always clean and cause them to be refitted when they want any the least thing It belongs to him to entertain friendship amongst the Troopers making them live orderly punishing the quarrelsome and those that love tumult as also Swearers Drunkards and such as lead a life of bad example and if he cannot reclaim them by reproofs he is to complain of them to the Captain that he may order them either by Prison or dismounting and shamefully casheering them as men unworthy to carry a Sword far less the name of Trooper and on the other hand he is to shew kindness to such as are of merit doing them all the good Offices he can either of himself or with the Officers yea and in their Quarters and that so long as they shall not abuse them and shall do their duties In Marches the Quarter-Master should daily receive Orders from the Captain to go to the Quarters and take occasion to go before that he may arrive in time So that the Captain when he comes with his Troop may find his Quarters and the provisions if any be to be given out ready that the Troop may not be obliged to remain long on Horseback in the Streets which wearies and spoils the Horses particularly after a long march and especially in the heat of Summer or otherways in bad weather when the days are short and they come late to their Quarters a thing that may prove very prejudicial to the service of the King and of the Captain himself And therefore the Quarter-Master when he goes to take up Quarters should with his Captains consent take with him two or three Troopers whom he may judge fit to assist him in preparing the Quarters with greater diligence and he should not fail so soon as he is come to the place and has shewed his Orders to the Magistrates and those that have authority to inform them of the number of servants that the Captain entertains and of the condition of his Equipage and of the Equipages of the other Officers that the Magistrates or others in authority may commodiously quarter them He shall therefore with all expedition cause the Officers Billets be made or else shall inform himself of their Quarters and go view them that he may see that their Lodgings be convenient and that they may not have afterwards cause to complain of his negligence and when he knows that the Troop draws near he is to go meet them that he may conduct the Captain and Troop to their Quarters provided he be intrusted to deliver them their Billets But if the Magistrates or others in authority have a mind to reck on the number of effective Quarterings he is to conduct the Captain with his Troop to the Town-House causing the effective Quarterings to be reckoned and their Billets being delivered he is to conduct the Captain to his Quarters where he is to draw up the Troop in Haye before the Gate or Door to whom he is to distribute the Billets making them in order draw them out of a Hat desiring all the Troopers to be civil to their Landlords and to have a care not to give them any cause of complaint If they be to stay there any time in distributing the Billets he ought to take in writing the names of the Troopers and their Landlords and to make a list of them then next day go and visit the Horses to see if any be hurt and if any Landlord complain to the end he may remedie every thing by bringing necessary orders for that effect When the Trumpet sounds to Horse and that they must be gone the Quarter-Master ought to be the first on Horse-back to hasten the Troopers and make them in diligence repair to the Captains Quarters chiding those that come last and if he observe that any of them be accustomed so to do whether it be for laziness or out of design to stay behind to steal and pilfer from their Landlords he shall severely punish them for an example to the rest When he comes into Winter-Quarters he ought to visit all the Troopers Quarters and know the conveniences of them and the condition of the Landlords and acquaint the Captain therewith to the end that he may order the distribution of a part of the Billets that he may accommodate those who have most need and then cause the rest to be drawn by Lot On a march of importance he is to march on the Wings of the Troop or Squadron and from time to time go from the Front to the Rear and from the Rear to the Front to make them keep their distances and march in good order hindering the Troopers to break out without permission If there be an occasion of fighting he should march on the Wings of the Squadron with his Sword in his hand making them close their ranks observe their distances and hinder them from breaking Of the duty of Brigadeers The Brigadeers ought to be men of experience old Troopers and as capable as the Qâ—arter-Master and endowed with the same qualities because in his absence one of them must always discharge his Functions and besides they must read and write and each of them keep a Roll of their Brigade that they may make the Troopers do duty by turns The Troop being so divided into Brigades the duties will be far better performed and the detachments made in order and without confusion whether by Brigadeer with his whole Brigade and successively the one after the other or by Troopers detached from each Brigade with one of the Brigadeers at their head and by that means the Quarters will be given out with less confusion when the Troop is to be separated that it may be the more easily quartered and lodged in scattered Houses dividing these Precincts by Brigades CHAP. IV. Of the Guard of a Camp or Quarter THE most important thing for the Guard of a Camp is to place aright the Courts of Guard and the Vedettes and it is usually a Mareschal de Camp or the Quarter-Master General of the Horse who chuses these Posts and appoints them to the Captains who are to mount the Guard The Captain being come to the Court of Guard ought to cause his Troop and those that he has for the Guard to
up their Quarters he is to dispose his men in this manner Being come near the Quarter he shall divide them into six Squadrons of sixty Troopers a piece and shall divide the fourty remaining into two Plotons or small parties of twenty a piece under good Commanders and shall give to each of them one or two Trumpeters to the end that when he shall set upon the place by which he hath proposed to himself to enter the Quarter these little bodies with their Trumpets may give the Alarm on all hands some on the right and some on the left and at the places which are strongest and best guarded by that great noise to perswade the Enemies that the Assailants are very numerous and stronger than they and by that means to put them into confusion and hinder them from escapeing or drawing out that they may rally and put themselves in defence And therefore he shall prohibit these little Bodies to enter the Quarter commanding the one to keep on the avenues the others to ride always round the Quarter with prohibition to make Prisoners of any that would come out to save themselves or to rally but on the contrary they are to be ordered to kill all without quarters until they receive new Orders The Captain having so disposed his men an hour before day in the order that we have said and having Commanded them all to put white Paper in their Hats that they may know one another he shall order the little bodies to march without makeing of noise towards the flanks of the quarters and in the mean time he shall march with the six other Squadrons each according to their ranks in good order with great silence and without Out-riders that he may not be so soon perceived nor heard by the Vedettes and so soon as he is discovered he ought instantly without the least hesitation or pause make the first Squadron fall in and beat back the Vedettes with great diligence the other five following close behind and in good order and all if it be possible should be in with the Court of Guard as soon as the Vedettes that they may desperately fall on surprize and force the Court of Guard and enter all together into the quarter and when the Captain is entered with his six Squadrons he shall cause one of them seize the place of arms and in the mean while without losing of time shall cause the other five to advance as far as the extremities of the quarter and to all the sides of it with order to kill and destroy all they meet with and prohibition to make any other Prisoners but the Commander of the quarter if they find him that the Enemies may not mount on Horseback and rally to put themselves in defence and that is to be continued so long till the Captain be absolutely Master of the quarter and that he shall find the Enemies no more in a condition to draw out nor to gather together to make resistance and then he shall make as many of his men as he thinks convenient to alight that they may enter into the Houses make Prisoners take Horses set on fire and force the Houses that are refused to be opened and where the Enemy would make resistance and in the mean he shall keep a body of men moving up and down through the quarter because part of the Enemy may perhaps rally together in some places and all this while the other little bodies shall keep still without the quarter exactly obeying their orders and by this means the Captain may render himself Master of the quarter force the Enemies and bring off a considerable booty When the Army leaves the Field to go into Winter Quarters the King sends as many of the Cavalry as is requisite into the frontier places there to lie in Garison during the Winter by reason of the great advantages that arise therefrom for by that means the Countrey about is preserved the Enemies not daring to make courses and inroads to waste and pillage it without running great risk of being lost By that means the Cavalry have occasion to keep themselves in exercise having daily opportunity of seeing the Enemy making frequent Courses into their Countrey and subsisting at their cost so that the places are in far greater security against the Enemies attempts than if there were no Horse in them There is nothing truer than that the General of the Army during the next Campagn finds a great deal of difference betwixt the Horse that have had their Winter Quarters on the Frontiers and who have kept themselves in Warlike exercise and those that have spent the Winter in idleness and in Quarters remote from an Enemies Countrey When a Captain of Horse is in Garison in a frontier place and that there are other Troops in Garison with his own all which he commands yet he cannot go out with the Cavalrie nor part of them without giving notice to the Governour of the place and receiving his approbation as likewise the Governour cannot dispose of them without acquainting the Captain who Commands them and without his permission But if the Captain be in Garison in any Frontier Town where there is no Governour but that the Magistrates keep the Keys and give the word which happens but seldom though it may happen Then may the Captain dispose absolutely of the Horse without acquainting the Magistrates of the Town or asking their consent and approbation Of the duties of the Horse in a frontier place A Captain being in Garison in a Frontier place ought to keep continually two Troopers in the Governours Court of Guard or in the Court of Guard of the place of Arms who are to be relieved from time to time that these Troopers may be always ready to give him notice so soon as they have any news of the Enemy and of the least Alarm and to bring to him also the Governours Orders with all expedition Moreover the Captain shall appoint daily twenty or five and twenty Troopers for a guard in the place of Arms or near the Gate that looks to the avenues of the Enemies to the end that being always ready to mount on Horseback they may sally out in diligence in case the Enemy does appear or that they send a small body as far as the Gates of the place to make Prisoners or to carry away bootie or cattel which the Enemies do commonly to oblige all the Horse to sally out upon them and to engage them to pursue them in hopes of great booty or rewards from the Prisoners whom they might retake and by that means to draw them into some ambush But if these Troopers of the Guard sally out in time and with diligence they will be sufficient to hinder the Enemies design though they should even come in great number because these twenty five sallying out upon them with diligence under a good Leader may amuse and keep them in play and give leisure to all the Horse that