[Dec. 20,

posited with the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society was received from Mr. Davis, Curator.

Donations for the Library were received from the Melbourne Mining Survey Office; Russian Geographical Society; Paris Geographical Society and Revue Politique; Bordeaux Commercial Geographical Society; London Nature; Boston Society of Natural History; Rhode Island Historical Society; Brooklyn Entomological Society; Franklin Institute; Medical News; Journal of Pharmacy, and E. D. Cope, Philadelphia; United States Department of the Interior, and Engineer Bureau, Washington; Mexican Agricultural Bureau, and M. C. Brogniart.

Gen. Russell Thayer read, pursuant to notice, a paper on the "Movement of Troops in Cities in cases of Riot and Insurrection." On motion of Mr. Price, seconded by Mr. Roberts, 1000 extra copies were ordered to be printed for general distribution.

Prof. Frazer exhibited and described a magnified colored picture of the crystals in a transparent slice of trap from Lancaster county.

Mr. Briggs explained away the difficulties about the amount of heat developed in the working of ice machines, which he had brought before the notice of the Society at a former meeting, by reference to a pamphlet transmitted to him from Paris by M. Pictet.

The Annual Report of the Committee on Finance was read and approved, and the resolutions recommended therein were moved and adopted.

Pending nominations 871, 872 and nomination 873 were read.

And the meeting was adjourned.

Morements of Troops in Cities in cases of Riot or Insurrection. By Russell Thayer.

(Read before the American Philosophical Society, Dec. 20th, 1878.)

It is indeed fortunate that the cases are few which demand the intervention of armed troops for the suppression of lawless mobs intent upon acts of violence. It is nevertheless true that at rare intervals the employment of the military force becomes necessary for the preservation of public order and security. Such occasions have arisen in the recent past, and may occur in the future.

It will be understood in the treatment of this subject that the troops referred to are militia, although in general the rules to be observed are, of course, the same whether regulars or militia are employed. The general reader will also understand that, the subject being treated from a military point of view, the serious questions of law and fact which precede the calling out of troops for the suppression of violence are not considered. The case supposed is simply as follows, viz.: an armed and turbulent mob exists in a large city, the civil authorities are powerless to suppress violence. As a last resort the military force has been duly and properly called upon, and lawfully empowered to act.

Now, two cases may occur.

The mob may exist in the city in which the troops already are; or the troops may be called upon to go to a remote point to enforce the laws and restore order. These cases will be considered separately.

Case I. A large city is in a state of tumult. An armed mob exists. The civil authorities have endeavored to suppress the disturbance, and are powerless to do so. The military are called upon. What are the proper precautions to be taken, and the proper movements to be made?

It will be presumed that there is in the city one brigade, consisting of three regiments of infantry, a troop of cavalry, and a battery of artillery. The commands are promptly assembled at their respective armories fully armed and equipped. A proper supply of ammunition is issued to each command. At the several armories the following dispositions will be made. A strong, armed guard should immediately be placed at the doors and in front of the building. If a mob collects outside, and threatens to force its way in, the doors and windows should be barricaded with anything that may be at hand (chairs, tables, benches, etc., will serve for this purpose), and a proper force is to be placed at each opening to repel any attack that may be made. It will, however, in most cases be unnecessary to make such dispositions as these, as in circumstances of this kind the mob is generally occupied at some remote point. It should also be here remarked that it adds much to the esprit de corps of the soldiers, and also materially impresses a mob of undisciplined men, if the troops are in full uniform, provided that uniform is a serviceable one, as it should be. Everything should be adjusted with the same precision as if the troops were going upon parade. White gloves should be worn, the drum corps should be PROC. AMER. PHILOS. Soc. XVIII. 102. L. PRINTED JAN. 10, 1879.

Thayer.]

[Dec. 20,

present, and the proper officers should be mounted; this last is very important, as a commanding officer on foot has not that control of his command which he has when mounted, he cannot see his men, nor can they observe him or understand his orders. The cavalry should also be mounted and horses should be provided for the battery of artillery. In other words the commands should be equipped for the field. They will then be in proper condition to fight, if it is necessary

The commands will be concentrated at some central point, which should be selected somewhat remote from the scene of disturbance. In moving from the respective armories to the place of "rendezvous" the several commands should avoid any unnecessary noise or excitement. If possible they should reach the point at which the brigade is ordered to assemble without coming into collision with any portion of the mob. If, however, the passage of any command is obstructed and meets with armed resistance the command so attacked should immediately halt and prepare to force its way to its destination. If a regiment of infantry, it should be formed in column of companies or divisions. A line of skirmishers should then ' be sent forward from the leading company for the purpose of driving the mob from its position. The skirmishers should approach as near as possible to the enemy's line or defenses, taking advantage of any cover that may be available, and should reply rapidly to his fire. If necessary the skirmish line can be reinforced by successive lines of skirmishers. The firing should continue until the enemy's fire is entirely silenced, when a charge may be made upon his position with the object of driving him from the streets.

Unless protected by barricades it is not probable that the mob will long withstand the fire from the skirmish line, and as soon as it is dispersed the regiment should proceed to its destination.

The cavalry and artillery should pursue somewhat similar tactics: that is to say, they should endeavor to reach the point of concentration quietly and without disturbance; but if the mob should block their way and dispute their passage by force, decisive measures should be resorted to. In other words, it is expected that the several commands of the brigade will be at the "rendezvous" at the appointed hour, and they will go there, peacefully if they can, forcibly if they must.

It is necessary to state that in all cases the General in command should detail a particular battalion of infantry to proceed to the armory of the battery of artillery and escort it to the place of formation of the brigade. This force of infantry will prevent the artillery, should it be suddenly attacked, from falling into the hands of the mob, by holding the mob in check until the pieces can be unlimbered and brought into action. As soon as this is done and fire is opened from three or four pieces with canister, it is probable the artillery will be able to protect itself. The infantry can then be moved to the rear and act as a reserve.

The several commands of the brigade having arrived at the place of for

mation as ordered by the General, should be formed into three columns,* as follows: the centre consisting of the battery of artillery and a regiment of infantry, and the right and left columns consisting of the remaining regiments of infantry; the cavalry being assigned to the weaker command.

The infantry of the centre column should be formed in "close column by divisions." This formation is known as "the order preparatory for battle;" it prepares the troops for rapid deployment, and enables them to be speedily deployed in line of battle.

The infantry of the right and left columns should be formed in column of companies or divisions at full distance. This formation will enable them to form line of battle by a simple wheel of the subdivisions to the right or left, as the case may be, if attacked in flank. The centre column is free from this danger, being protected by the columns on its flanks.

The centre column should be preceded by an advance-guard composed of a company of well-disciplined troops selected from the regiment of infantry assigned to that column. The artillery should follow at a distance of about three hundred yards in column of sections, the pieces leading, and each caisson with ammunition following immediately behind its piece. The regiment of infantry should bring up the rear. By placing the company of infantry as an advance-guard in front of the main column, it will prevent any danger from a surprise; and should the mob be encountered sooner than contemplated, the infantry of the advance-guard will be able to hold it in check for a few moments until the leading pieces of artillery can be unlimbered and loaded.

In moving towards the district occupied by the mob, the three columns should proceed simultaneously by parallel streets, within easy supporting distance of each other; the heads of column should be kept as nearly as possible abreast. They will thus arrive at the scene of disturbance together, and striking the mob at different points, produce a more decided effect. Communication between the three columns should be constantly maintained, and should one of the columns be resisted in its march, the others should halt and reinforce it if necessary. Troops from the column not attacked would thus take the mob in flank and demoralize it. At the head of each column should be a number of workmen equipped with picks, axes, crowbars, and similar tools to enable them speedily to remove any obstructions that may have been placed in the road to impede the march of the troops.

The march of the three columns from the place of formation to the place occupied by the mob is known in war as a "manoeuvre-march," and, "it is so called for the reason that it has not for its object a simple gain of ground,

*The advisability of forming the brigade into three columns of attack is, of course, somewhat dependent upon circumstances. In the case of a brigade organized as the one in question is supposed to be, and in a city which has a system of parallel streets leading towards the district occupied by the mob, this formation would be considered preferable. The brigade may not be of sufficient strength to admit of its being divided, in which case one or two columns should be formed.

as is the case with an ordinary march, but to reach a suitable position on the field when a battle may follow. It is executed in the immediate neighborhood of the enemy, and really under his observation. It should therefore be characterized by perfect order and great celerity."*

Upon arriving near the scene of action a strong line of skirmisherst should be deployed a few hundred yards in front of each column, and a portion of the infantry of the two flank columns should be deployed in line of battle if the ground admits of such deployment. The skirmishers should move forward and endeavor to clear the ground in front of the lines. If the mob yields, the line of battle and the main body of the troops can follow. If the mob holds the ground and resists by force of arms, the skirmishers should fire upon the mob, and availing themselves of any shelter that may present itself, such as trees, telegraph poles, doorsteps, etc., endeavor to silence the enemy's fire. If considered desirable the skirmishers and advance-guard in front of the centre column can be withdrawn, and fire may be opened upon the mob with the artillery. The skirmish line can be reinforced if necessary by successive lines of skirmishers sent forward from the line of battle.

In active street fighting the mounted officers should be careful not to expose themselves unnecessarily to the enemy's fire. The various movements of the skirmish line, "the advance," "the retreat," etc., should be indicated by the trumpet. The trumpeter should remain constantly by the side of the officer commanding the skirmish line and should sound the various calls under his immediate direction.

If the mob is not behind barricades the artillery should use canister (canister being less destructive to property than grape, solid shot, or shell, and probably more effective for this purpose at close range). If the enemy is protected by defenses, it may be necessary to use shell and solid shot to dislodge him,

The firing of the skirmish line and the artillery, if used, should be continued until the enemy's fire is silenced, when a charge should be made by a portion of the infantry from the three columns, and the mob should be driven by the troops until it is entirely dispersed.

If it should be necessary, a portion of the reserves from the rear of each column can be brought into action and the line of battle be extended.

The cavalry in charging should follow the remnants of the mob for a considerable distance, with the view of preventing it from again concentrating.

Upon the dispersion of the mob the troops should be so disposed as to hold the ground. The dispositions that should be made would, of course, depend on circumstances. If necessary, barricades should be thrown up across the principal streets. The commanding ground in the vicinity should be occupied, but, under no circumstances should the troops be sta

* Dufour.

The best method of deploying skirmishers in a street is to form the company, or battalion in line, and then deploy by the numbers as explained in Par 358 Upton's Tactics.