Halt.

Right Drefs.

the wheeling man encreafing them as they are placed nearer to him. The recruit in this wheel must not bend forward, nor be fuffered to look down ; but by casting his eyes to the wheeling flank, preserve the dreffing of the rank.On the word Halt, the whole remain perfectly fteady, ftill looking to the wheeling flank till they receive the word Right Drefs.

The recruits fhould be first practised to wheel backwards at the ordinary step; and at all times it will be neceffary to prevent them from hurrying the pace; an error foldiers are very liable to fall into, particularly in wheeling backwards. Where large bodies wheel from line into column, this wheeling is neceffary to preferve the covering of pivot flanks, and the diftances of the divifions, which the line is to break into.

S. 22. Wheeling of a fingle Rank on a moveable

Pivot.

In wheeling on a moveable pivot, both flanks are moveable, and defcribe concentric circles round a point, which is removed a few paces from what would otherwife be the standing flank; and eyes are all turned towards the directing pivot man, whether he is on the outward flank, or on the flank wheeled to.

Right Shoulders, forward.

When the wheel is to be made to the directing pivot flank (fuppofe the left), -the rank marching at the ordinary pace, receives the word, Right Shoulders, forward; on which the pivot man, without altering either the time or length of his pace, continues his march on the circumference of the leffer circle, and tracing C 2

out

Forward.

Left Shoulders, forward.

out a confiderable arch, on the principle of dreffing, gradually brings round his rank to the direction required, without obliging the other flank, which is describing the circumference of a larger circle, to too great hurry:-On the word Forward, fhoulders are fquared, and the pivot marches direct to his front.

When the directing pivot is on the outward flank, and has to defcribe the circumference of the larger circle, on the word Left Shoulders, forward, he will, without changing the time, or length of his pace, gradually bring round the rank to the required direction, fo as to enable the inward flank to defcribe a fimilar arc of a leffer circle, concentric to the one he himfelf is moving on.-During both these wheels, the rank dreffes to the proper pivot, and when he defcribes the fmaller circle of the wheel, the other flank, which has more ground to go over, will quicken its march, and ftep out.-When the pivot defcribes the greater circle of the wheel, the other flank, which has lefs ground to go over, will step fhorter, and gradually conform.-In the first cafe, the recruit must be cautioned against opening out from the pivot; and, in the latter, from crowding on him.

The juft performance of this mode of wheeling depends fo much on the directing pivot, that a well-drilled foldier fhould, at first, be placed on the flank named, as the proper pivot, and changed occafionally.-It is used, when a column of march (in order to follow the windings of its route) changes its direction in general, lefs than the quarter circle.

WITH ARMS.

S. 23. Pofition of the Soldier.

WHEN the firelock is given, and is shouldered, the perfon of the foldier remains in the position described (Section 1.) except, that the wrift of the left hand is turned out, the better to embrace the butt, the thumb alone is to appear in front, the four fingers to be under the butt, the left elbow is a little bent inwards, without being feparated from the body, or being more backwardor forward than the right one.-The firelock is placed in the hand, not on the middle of the fingers, and carried in fuch manner that it fhall not raife, advance, or keep back one fhoulder more than the other; the butt muft therefore be forward, and as low as can be permitted without constraint; the fore part nearly even with that of the thigh, and the hind part of it preffed by the wrist against the thigh; the piece muft be kept fteady and firm before the hollow of the fhoulder; fhould the firelock be drawn back or attempted to be carried high, in that cafe, one fhoulder will be advanced, the other kept back, and the upper part of the body diftorted, and not placed fquare with refpect to the limbs.

Each recruit must be feparately taught the pofition of fhouldered arms, and not allowed to proceed until he has acquired it.

S. 24. Different Motions of the Firelock.

The following motions of the firelock will be taught and practifed as here fet down, until each recruit is perfect in them; they being neceffary for the ease of the foldier in the courfe of exercise.

Supporting arms.

As mentioned Carrying arms.
in the ma-Ordering arms.
nual exer-

cife.

Standing at eafe.
Attention.

Shouldering from the order.

The recruit must be accustomed to carry his arms for a confiderable time together; it is most effential he should do fo, and not be allowed to fupport them so often as is practifed, under the idea of that long carrying them is a pofition of too much constraint.

A platoon, company, or battalion, are never to MARCH, or HALT, or FORM IN LINE, or to DRESS (which are fituations where the greatest accuracy of front is required), but with carried Arms.-When fuch bodies are standing and halted, arms may be occafionally fupported.-When marching in column, or that small divifions are moving any distance in file, firelocks may also be supported.

S. 25. Attention in forming the Squad.

When the SQUAD or divifion (confisting of from six to eight files) is ordered to fall in, each man with carried arms, will as quick as poffible take his place in his rank, beginning from the flank to which he is ordered to form; he will drefs himfelf in line by the rule already given; affume the ordered pofition of a foldier, and stand per

feur

fectly ftill, and fteady, until ordered to ftand at ease, or that fome other command be given him.-Attention must be paid, that the files are correctly closed; that the men in the rear ranks cover well, looking their file leaders in the middle of the neck;-That the ranks have their proper diftance of one pace (30 inches) from each other;That all the ranks are equally well dreffed:-That the men do not turn their heads to the right, or left; and that each man has the proper unconstrained attitude of a foldier.

Rear Ranks

take Open Order.

S. 26. Open Order.

The recruits being formed in three ranks at close order, on the word Rear Ranks take Open Order, the flank men on the right and left of the center, and rear ranks, ftep brifkly back one and two paces refpectively, face to their right, and stand covered, to mark the ground on which each rank is to halt, and drefs at open order; every other individual remains March. ready to move. On the word March the dreffers front, and the center and rear ranks fall back one and two paces, each dreffing by the right the inftant it arrives Lon the ground.

Rear Ranks take

Clofe Order.
March.

S. 27. Clofe Order.

On the word Rear Ranks take Clofe Order, the whole remain perfectly fteady;-at the word March, the ranks clofe within one pace, marching one and two paces, and then halting.