being thereby loaded togetner, will be ready for the next command of movement.-In these firings of the line advancing or retiring, the two first ranks will fire ftanding, and the rear rank fupport their arms. 4. In this manner alfo may the alternate battalions of a line advance or retire, and when the whole are to form, and that the last line moves up to the first, every previous help of advanced perfons will be given to enfure its correctness. S. 206. Firing in Line. fire. 1. The chief object of fire against cavalry is to keep Object of them at a distance, and to deter them from the attack ; as their movements are rapid, a referve is always kept up. But when fire commences against infantry, it cannot (confiftent with order, and other circumstances) be too heavy or too quick while it lasts, and till the enemy is beaten or repulfed. 2. The fire of 3 ranks ftanding is hardly, with our prefent arms, to be required, efpecially if the ground fhould be broken, and that the foldiers are loaded with their knapsacks. fire. 3. Where infantry are posted on heights that are to be Defenûve defended by the fire of mufquetry, the front rank will kneel, that one-third of the fire that may be given fhould not be loft, for otherwise the rear rank in fuch fituation could not fufficiently incline their pieces to raise the slope. As foldiers generally present too high, and as fire is of the greatest confequence to troops that are on the defenfive, and who are posted if poffible on commanding grounds, the habitual mode of firing fhould therefore be rather at a low level than a high one; and the fire of the In line advancing. Platoon firing. File firing. Oblique firing. Regularity the front rank kneeling, being the most efficacious as being the most raifing, fhould not be difpenfed with when it can be fafely and usefully employed. 4. When infantry marches in line to attack an enemy, and in advancing makes ufe of its fire; it is perhaps better to fire the 2 first ranks only ftanding, referving the third, than to make the front rank kneel and to fire the whole; but volleys fired at a confiderable distance, or on a retiring enemy, may be given by the three ranks, the front one kneeling. 5. A line pofted, or arriving at a fixed fituation, will fire by platoons, each battalion independant, and fuch firing generally commencing from the center of each.— The first fire of each battalion will be regular, and establish intervals; after the first fire each platoon shall continue to fire as foon as it is loaded, independant and as quick as it can, 'till the battalion or line is ordered to ccafe. 6. Behind a parapet, hedge, or abbatis, the two first ranks only can fire, and fuch fire may be file firing, deliberate and cool, the 2 men of the fame file always firing together: It may begin from the right or left of platoons, and fhould be taught in fituations adapted to it, not in open ground.-Should the parapet, hedge, or abbatis, be but little raifed, platoon firing may be used. 7. Oblique firing by battalions is advantageous on many occafions, as when it is proper, or that time does not allow to give an oblique direction to part of a line, or that their fire can in this manner be thrown against the opening of a defile, the flanks of a column, or againft cavalry or infantry that direct their attack on fome particular battalion or portion of the line. 8. As long as the fire by battalion, half battalion, of firing. or companies, can be kept up regular, it is highly advantageous, advantageous, and can be at any time ftopped; but, fhould file-firing be allowed, and once begun, unless troops are exceeding cool and well difciplined, it will be difficult to make it finish, and to make them advance in order. 9. When a line halts at its points of firing no time is to be loft in fcrupulous dreffing, and the firing is inftantly to commence.-But a line that halts and is not to fire, or when its firing ceases after the halt, may immediately be ordered to drefs from colours to colours. 10. The attention of the officers and non-commiffioned officers of the rear to the locking up of the ranks in firing, cannot be too often repeated. S. 207. When the Square or Oblong is compofed 1. Two battalions may form column of companies, Fig. 110. B. each behind its inward flank one, and close the interval between them. The oblong when formed will be fix deep, if the companies are at half diftance and wheel outwards by fub-divifions, except the 2 firft and 2 laft which clofe and face outwards: The grenadier and light companies may be confidered as making no part of the oblong, but be applied according to circumftances. 2. If a greater degree of fpace is required in the interior of the figure, the fide columns will be of sub-divifions, and formed behind the 2d or 3d company from the inward flank; a proportional number of the laft companies will compofe the rear face; the oblong when formed will be 3 deep, and the grenadier and light companies will be in the interior, to be applied as is found neceffary. Fig. 108.C. 3. If 3 or more battalions are to form a fquare or oblong. 110.C.-It depends on circumftances what part of the line, whether flank or center, compofes the front face, but the line is fub-divided accordingly, and the parts of it protecting each other in the movement, march in echellon or column to take up their different fituations.-The flank faces when the fquare marches will move in columns of fub-divifions.-When the fquare is halted, the 2 flank sub-divifions of each face wheel back the quarter circle, and obtain a crofs fire at the angles: The grenadier and light companies are ready to reinforce any particular part. When the retiring fquare has arrived at a point where it can diminifh in fafety, the rear face may halt and front inwards; the fide faces continue their march in column, and their heads if neceffary unite; the front face, halts, fronts, when it arrives at the rear face; that face then retires in 2 columns, followed by the front face, which in this operation is protected by fuch posted companies as make the rear of the whole. If the retiring Square arrives at a favourable pofition, as a wood, heights, &c. which it is to occupy, the flank faces extend along it in columns of fub-divifions, protected by the other 2 faces, which afterwards take up their own ground. These operations being fuppofed of neceffity, will invert parts of the line, which must be afterwards remedied as opportunity offers. 4. The fquare or oblong is a fhape which infantry have at all times taken, when obliged in open ground to march in the face of cavalry.-Though the mode of placing one or two battalions in this manner may be prefcribed, yet the various formations, of which a greater number are fufceptible, depend on ground, the pofition of the troops, the movements of the enemy, &c. and must be made in confequence of the local orders of the commander: It is therefore from circumftances, and from the flexibility of the military order; that in an inftant, he will determine into what fhape the body which he conducts must be thrown. Should fuch bodies be at at the fame time liable to the united attacks of a very fuperior infantry or artillery; fuch fituation would be critical indeed, and from which nothing but the most determined refiftance could extricate them. CHEQUERED RETREAT OF THE LINE. 1. ALL manœuvres of a Corps retiring, are infinitely more difficult to be performed with order, than thofe in advancing. They must be more or lefs accomplished by chequered movements; one body by its numbers or pofition, facing and protecting the retreat of another; and if the enemy preffes hard, the whole must probably front in time and await him; as the ground narrows or favours different parts of the corps must double; mouths of defiles and advantageous pofts must be poffeffed; by degrees the different bodies muft diminish their front, and throw themselves into column of march when it can be done with fafety. 2. The chequered retreat, by the alternate battalions or half battalions of a line going to the rear, while the others remain halted, cover them, and in their turn retire in the same manner, is the quickest mode of refusing a part of a corps to the enemy, and at the fame time protecting its movement, as long as it continues to be made nearly parallel to the firft pofition. 3. If fix battalions are in line, the 2d divifion or the three even ones (2d, 4th, 6th) counting from the right, will go to the right about, retire in line about 200 paces, and then halt front, having carefully preferved their intervals. The two outward battalions of the retiring ones Fig. 126. will each, when it firft faces about, form a flank of its outward platoon.-As foon as the fecond divifion begins to retreat, all the battalions of the first one will immediately Аа |