f the command had been as skirmishers, guide left, the base
squad would have been the left or fourteenth Squad instead of the first
squad, for when we speak of the right or left of a company, in the
deployments, the company being in line, we mean the right or left squads
of the company.

Another modification: Suppose the command had been as skirmishers, guide
center. In that case the base squad would be the center or seventh
squad. The base (seventh) squad deploys without moving to the right or
left. There is only one thing for the first six squads to do and that is
to move to the right. There is only one thing for the last seven squads
to do and that to move to the left.

We have considered the company so far to be at a halt; suppose that it
had been moving forward. The corporal of the base squad deploys his
squad as soon as he has sufficient interval, and then continues straight
to the front until the command: 1. Company, 2. HALT, is given by the
captain. The other corporals move their squads to the left front (or
right front), by commanding their squads, Follow me. They conduct their
squads on the shortest and easiest route to their places in the line and
then deploy their squads as they arrive in the general line.

[Illustration]

The corporals should remember that they are not to step out from their
squads to conduct them to their proper places until the captain has
given the command march.

The corporals often fail to take sufficient intervals thus causing a
jam.

The company being at a halt, the corporals should remember to give by
the right or left flank instead of right or left face.

SECOND CASE

Now suppose the company is in column of squads at a halt. It is desired
to form a skirmish line to the front: 1. As skirmishers, guide right
(left), 2. MARCH.

At the command march, the corporal of the first, or leading squad,
deploys his squad without advancing. All of the other corporals move to
the left front and deploy their squads on the line formed by the first
squad. At the preparatory command the corporals command, follow me, and
at the command MARCH, they step in front of their squads and conduct
them to their places.

Had the command been as skirmishers, guide left, of course all except
the leading squad would have moved to the right. For when the company is
in column of squads, as skirmishers, guide right means that the first or
leading squad is to be the right of the skirmish line. If le