268. When the formation admits of the simultaneous execution by companies or platoons of movements in the School of the Company the major may cause such movement to be executed by prefixing, when necessary, _companies (platoons)_ to the commands prescribed therein: as 1. _Companies, right front into line_, 2. _MARCH_. To complete such simultaneous movements, the commands _halt_ or _march_, if prescribed, are given by the major. The command _front_, when prescribed, is given by the captains. 269. The battalion as a unit executes the loadings and firings only in firing saluting volleys. The commands are as for the company, substituting _battalion_ for _company_. At the first command for loading, captains take post in rear of the center of their respective companies. At the conclusion of the firing, the captains resume their posts in line. On other occasions, when firing in close order is necessary, it is executed by company or other subdivision under instructions from the major. _To Form the Battalion._ 270. For purposes other than ceremonies: The battalion is formed in column of squads. The companies having been formed, the adjutant posts himself so as to be facing the column, when formed, and 6 paces in front of the place to be occupied by the leading guide of the battalion; he draws saber; _adjutant's call_ is sounded or the adjutant signals _assemble_. The companies are formed, at attention, in column of squads in their proper order. Each captain, after halting his company, salutes the adjutant; the adjutant returns the salute and, when the last captain has saluted, faces the major and reports: _Sir, the battalion is formed_. He then joins the major. 271. For ceremonies or when directed: The battalion is formed in line. The companies having been formed, the adjutant posts himself so as to be 6 paces to the right of the right company when line is formed, and faces in the direction in which the line is to extend. He draws saber; _adjutant's call_ is sounded; the band plays if present. The right company is conducted by its captain so as to arrive from the rear, parallel to the line; its right and left guides precede it on the line by about 20 paces, taking post facing to the right at order arms, so that their elbows will be against the breasts of the right and left files of their company when it is dressed. The guides of the other companies successively prolong the line to the left in like manner and the companies approach their respective places in line as explained for the right company. The adjutant, from his post, causes the guides to cover. When about 1 pace in rear of the line, each company is halted and dressed to the right against the arms of the guides. The band, arriving from the rear, takes its place in line when the right company is halted; it ceases playing when the left company has halted.