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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
word_n	command_n	file_n	left_a	4,500	5	10.8772	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48253	The military duties of the officers of cavalry containing the way of exercising the horse according to the practice of this present time : the motions of horse, the function of the several officers, from the chief captain to the brigadeer / written originally in French by the Sieur de la Fontaine, ingineer in ordinary to the most Christain king and translated for the use of those who are desirous to be informed of the art of war as it is practised in France, by A.L.	La Fontaine, sieur de.; Lovell, Archibald.	1678 (1678)	Wing L178; ESTC R32445	50,400	157

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 ●●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-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-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-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 ●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 ●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 tha● 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 ●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 ●gainst Dragoons and other Musketeers they must be Attacked on the ●●ght wing which is a considerable ●dvantage being taken seasonably ●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 At●ack a Battallion of Foot before ●hey come within Musket-shot the Cavalrie must have received their Orders sending off some out-riders who ought to advance streight against ●he Plotons or small Skirmishing bo●ies receiving their fire and vigour●usly to force them in disorder to re●reat towards the Pikes o r towards ●he Center of the Battallion and at ●hat time the Squadron should ad●ance by depth Caracolling and En●aging the Battallion by one of the Angles charging the Pikes and ●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 o● 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 i● to be divided by half ranks into fou● Troops and by Caracol to the right and left the two first should pass o● 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 til● 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-ranks or 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

halt he is to go and view the Posts of the Vedettes having the Quarter-Master and the Vedettes that he is to place with him and causing the Quarter-Master observe their Posts to the end he may go relieve and visit them during the night The Captain shall inform himself by the other Captain who is to dismount the Guard of the Orders which he must observe and of what he is to do inquiring exactly into all things and whilst he goes to Post the Vedettes the Lieutenant of the Guard ought to remain on Horseback at the head of the Squadron which is drawn up in Battallia expecting the return of the Captain and Quarter-Master The Captain when he places the Vedettes should inform them how they ought to carry themselves that they should never leave their Posts nor alight from Horseback to have always the Carabin or Pistol in hand to let none whosoever come near them either from the Quarters or from without and in a word to let none pass without making them stand and giving notice to the Court of Guard The Captain should place two Vedettes in one important Post to the end that the one may with diligence come and give notice to the Court of Guard when they have made any to stand or have seen or heard men and that the other in the mean time keep close to his Post and for that effect the Captain ought to command the Vedettes that in case they hear or see men at a distance the one should draw off from the other some twenty or thirty paces towards the Court of Guard to the end that if the Vedette that shall abide at his Post should not stop these men and that on the contrary he should be by them beaten from his Post the other may have time to come at full speed and give notice to the Court of Guard discharging his Carabin or Pistol by the way to make himself be heard and to give the Alarm The Captain should not only recommend all these things to the Vedettes but likewise that they should take heed if in the night time they discover any fire or by day smoke or dust raised by the marching of Horse if they hear Dogs bark more than usually and if they hear the report of Fire-arms and give notice of it to the Court of Guard to the end the Commander may send out Scouts to that side to learn intelligence of what the Vedettes have seen or heard If the Vedettes be far separated that they may possess the avenues there must be a small Court of Guard consisting of twenty or twenty five Troopers less or more placed according to the strength of the Forces betwixt the Vedettes and the great Court of Guard nearer or farther according as the Vedettes are posted at distance as it happens frequently they are that they may possess the avenues of several cross ways or the pass of some River Bridge or narrow passage or else of some eminence or height at the foot of which the Vedette is usually placed and that little Court of Guard is to be commanded by the Quarter-Master who should relieve the Vedettes at the end of every two hours and now and then visit them He is likewise to go with his men or part of them and examine those whom the Vedettes have made to stand making only him to advance who has the word and to tell it him in his ear holding the point of his Sword to his Breast who hath advanced to give the word and from whom he is to take it that he may know if they be Friends or Foes and so stop or let them pass When the Vedettes shall give notice to the Quarter-Master he shall instantly send off a Trooper to acquaint the Captain that the Vedettes have made some to stand and that he is going to examine them to the end that the Captain may have time to cause his men Horse and to put themselves in condition not to be surprised by their Enemies He should send out Scouts to a great distance to beat the Country on all hands and the ways by which the Enemies may come He is to take so great a care because all the Quarter or the whole Army confides in him and therefore he should trust no body but himself seeing there is so great a confidence reposed on him and his Guard that obliges him to all imaginable care in the discharge of his duty for the Enemies coming in great number might beat back the Vedettes surprife and overthrow the little Court of Guard and enter the Quarter or Camp if it happened that the avenues of it were not cut or barricado'd and guarded by some considerable Guard of Foot for if the Enemies met with no other Forces than the Vedettes the little and great Guard of Horse they might make themselves Masters of the Quarter or Camp surprised or afleep for want of timely Alarm given and leisure to take Arms that they might make head against the Enemies As to the manner of sending out these Scouts The Captain is to detach the best mounted and boldest Troopers of his Guard to go out a scouting giving them a word or fignal by which they may know one another when they chance to meet and he is to command them to divide themselves one by one or two by two according to the divers ways and avenues some to the right and some to the left marching always with great silence and stopping and making halt now and then that they may hearken if they can hear the marching of men and to advance a league more or less according as it may be expedient for the security of the Guard by all the avenues by which the Enemies may approach and he is to order them that if any of them find or hear the Enemies that if it be possible they should without being discovered know their number as near as they can and without losing of time return at full speed to give notice to the Court of Guard and Captain that he may with all diligence cause his men to mount and being in readiness in his Court of Guard send immediately notice of the matter to the Generals He is moreover to order his Scouts that if they be at so great distance when they discover the Enemies that they cannot in a long time return to the Court of Guard or that the Enemies march with so much diligence that they may come in as soon as themselves or a little after they should draw aside out of the Enemies way and with all expedition set fire to some House from whence the Vedettes and Court of Guard might see the Fire and even the Enemies for they would not fail to make a halt that they might send and know the reason of that fire and that if they can find no opportunity to make fire soon enough they should propose to themselves to come to some place where their firing and clashing of arms may be seen or heard