ed.

163. Platoons are assigned to the lieutenants and noncommissioned
officers, in order of rank, as follows: 1, right; 2, left; 3, center
(right center); 4, left center.

[Illustration: Plate II. THE COMPANY.]

The noncommissioned officers next in rank are assigned as guides, one
to each platoon. If sergeants still remain, they are assigned to
platoons as additional guides. When the platoon is deployed, its
guide, or guides, accompany the platoon leader.

During battle, these assignments are not changed: vacancies are filled
by noncommissioned officers of the platoon, or by the nearest
available officers or noncommissioned officers arriving with
reenforcing troops.

164. The first sergeant is never assigned as a guide. When not
commanding a platoon, he is posted as a file closer opposite the third
file from the outer flank of the first platoon; and when the company
is deployed he accompanies the captain.

The quartermaster sergeant, when present, is assigned according to his
rank as a sergeant.

Enlisted men below the grade of sergeant, armed with the rifle, are in
ranks unless serving as guides; when not so armed, they are posted in
the line of file closers.

Musicians, when required to play, are at the head of the column. When
the company is deployed, they accompany the captain.

165. The company executes the _halt_, _rests_, _facings_, _steps_ and
_marchings_, _manual of arms_, _loadings_ and _firings_, _takes
intervals_ and _distances_ and _assembles_, _increases_ and
_diminishes intervals_, resumes _attention_, _obliques_, resumes the
direct march, preserves alignments, _kneels_, _lies down_, _rises_,
_stacks_ and _takes arms_, as explained in the Schools of the Soldier
and the Squad, substituting in the commands _company_ for _squad_.

The same rule applies to platoons, detachments, details, etc.,
substituting their designation for _squad_ in the commands. In the
same manner these execute the movements prescribed for the company,
whenever possible, substituting their designation for _company_ in the
commands.

166. A company so depleted as to make division into platoons
impracticable is led by the captain as a single platoon, but retains
the designation of company. The lieutenants and first sergeant assist
in fire control; the other sergeants place themselves in the firing
line as skirmishers.

CLOSE ORDER.

_Rules._

167. The guides of the right and left, or leading and rear, platoons,
ar