The
46th Mississippi
Infantry

Deployments.

15. A company may be deployed as skirmishers in two ways: forward,
      and by the flank.

By the Flank

Depending on his Position in the Field the Captain may deploy
to the Right or Left Flank (Left Flank is the mirror of Right Flank)

Command -
1. Company - as skirmishers. 2. By the right flank - take intervals. 3. MARCH

The Captain will have brought the Company forward and “on line”. From the halt, the command will be given, at as skirmishers the Sergeants will move up on line to guide their sections.

Once the command “March” has been given

40. At the command march, the second platoon (company) will face to the right and commence the movement; the left group of fours will stand fast, but will deploy as soon as there is room on its right, conforming to what has been prescribed …

As the groups halt, they will face to the enemy, and deploy as has been explained for the left group. (This sounds as though the men should Halt, Front and then move to deploy in their positions)

the men in each group of fours will always deploy at five paces from each other, and upon the front rank man of the even numbered file. The deployments will habitually be made at twenty paces interval; but if a greater interval be required, it will be indicated in the command.

the men composing each group of fours will then immediately deploy at five paces from each other, and to the right and left of the front rank men of the even file in each group, the rear rank men placing themselves on the left of their file leaders

Forward

As an Alternative the Captain can Deploy Forward
without changing his position in the field.

Command -
1. Company - as skirmishers. 2. By the right and left flank - take intervals.
3. MARCH

Groups will halt – front and deploy into line, the same as above.

Firings

To fire at a halt.

107. To cause this fire to be executed, the captain will command: Commence - FIRING.

108. At this command, briskly repeated, the men of the front rank will commence firing; they will reload rapidly, and hold themselves in readiness to fire again.

During this time the men of the rear rank will come to a ready, and as soon as their respective file leaders have loaded, they will also fire and reload. The men of each file will thus continue the firing, conforming to this principle, that the one or the other shall always have his piece loaded.

To fire marching.

111. This fire will be executed by the same commands as the fire at a halt.

112. At the command commence firing, if the line be advancing, the front rank man of every file will halt, fire, and reload before throwing himself forward. The rear rank man of the same file will continue to march, and after passing ten or twelve paces beyond his front rank man will halt, come to a ready, select his object, and fire when his front rank man has loaded; the fire will thus continue to be executed by each file; the skirmishers will keep united, and endeavor, as much as possible, to preserve the general direction of the alignment.



the front rank man of every file will halt, fire, and reload

rear rank man of the same file will continue to march, and after passing ten or twelve paces beyond his front rank man will halt, come to a ready …

the fire will thus continue to be executed by each file; the skirmishers will keep united, and endeavor, as much as possible, to preserve the general direction of the alignment