Rear S. divi- Fig. 5. A. FORM SUB DIVISIONS. Left Subdivifion, inwards face. 2. March. Halt, Front. mander of the platoon turning round inftantly orders, Rear Sub-divifion, left Oblique,-2. March. When it has obliqued fo as to open its right flank, he gives the word Forward; and on its arriving in a line with the firft divifion he orders, Halt, Dress, and takes post on the left, the pivot flank of the platoon. Diminishing. On the cautionary command from the inftructor of the drill to FORM SUB-DIVISIONS, the ferjeant coverer falls back to mark the point where the left flank of the fub-divifion is to be placed.-The commander of the platoon advancing one step, orders Left Sub-divifion, inwards face, and inftantly on facing, the three leading files difengage to the rear. At the word 2, March, the file paffes round, and behind the ferjeant, and at the proper inftant receives the words; Halt, Front-Left, Drefs.-The commander of the platoon is now on the left flank of the firft fub-divifion, and his ferjeant on that of the fecond. It is to be obferved as a general rule in diminishing the front of a column, by the doubling of fub-divifions or fections (whether the column be halted or in motion) that the fub-divifion or fection, on the reverfe flank, is the one behind which the other fub-divifions, or fections, double. Thus, when the right is in front, the doubling will be in the rear of the right divifion; and, vice verfa, when the left is in front; by which means, the column is at all times in a fituation to form line to the flank, with its divifions in their natural order, by fimply wheeling up on the pivot flanks.-And in increafing E the the front of a column, the rear fub-divifions, or fections, oblique to the hand the pivot flank is on; fo that when the right is in front, the obliquing will be to the left; and the reverse when the left is in front. S. 57. Increafing and diminishing the Front of an Open Column on the March. Fig. 6. B. FORM PLATOON. Increasing. The platoon marching at the ordinary time in open column of fub-divifions (fuppofe the right in front), receives from the inftructor of the drill the cautionary command, FORM PLATOON; the commander of the platoon instantly turning round gives the words, Left obliqueLeft oblique. Quick march; on which the rear subQuickMarch. divifion obliques to the left, and as foon as its right flank is open, receives the word, Forward.-When it gets up to the firft fub-divifion (which has continued to march, with the utmost steadiness, at the ordinary pace), the commander of the platoon gives the word Ordinary, and takes poft on the pivot flank, towards which he has been moving. Forward. Ordinary. Fig. 6. A. FORM SUB DIVISIONS. Left Sub-divifion, Mark time. Diminishing. When the inftructor of the drill gives the caution to FORM SUB-DIVISIONS, the commander of the platoon advancing one ftep, immediately orders, Left fub-divifion, Mark time; this it does until the right one, which continues its march fteadily at the ordinary pace, has cleared its flank; he then Forward. Quick Oblique then orders the left fubdivifion, Quick oblique, and when he perceives that it has doubled properly behind the right one, he gives the word, Forward, on which it takes up the ordinary march, and follows at its due diftance of wheeling, he himfelf being then placed on the pivot flank of the fub-divifion, and his ferjeant on that of the fecond. The fame directions that apply to increafing or diminishing by fub-divifions, apply equally by fections, which individually repeat the fame operations. Increafing and reducing the front of a column, is an operation that will frequently occur in the march of large bodies; and it is of the utmost importance that it be performed with exactnefs.-The inftructor of the drill must therefore be particularly attentive, that the tranfition from one fituation to the other be made as quick as poffible; that the leading divifion continues its march at the regular time and length of pace, and the exact distances between the divifions be accurately preferved. During the operation, the ranks must be clofed, arms carried, and the greatest attention required from each individual. S. 58. The Platoon in Open Column of Sub-divifions to pass a fhort Defilé, by breaking off Files. Fig. 7. C. BREAK OFF 3 FILES. The platoon is fuppofed in open column of fub-divifions, with the right in front, marching in ordinary time; when the leading divifion is arrived within a few paces of the defilé, it receives from the inftructor of the drill an order to break off a certain number of files, (fuppofe E 2 Three files, right turn. Two files, right turn. pose three). The commander of the leading divifion inftantly gives the words, Three files on the left, right turn; the named files immediately turn to the right, and wheel out in rear of the three adjoining files. The commander of the fub-divifion himself clofes into the flank of the part formed.-When the fecond fub-divifion comes to the fpot where the first divifion contracted its front, it will receive the fame words of command from its own leader, and will proceed in like manner. Should it be required to diminish the front of the column one or two files more, the commander of the leading divifion will, as before, order the defired number of files to turn; on which those already in the rear will incline to the right, fo as to cover the files now ordered to break off, and which are wheeling out in the manner already prescribed. In this movement, the files in the rear of the fubdivifions must lock well up, fo as not to impede the march of the fucceeding divifion. Three files to the front. As the defilé widens (or the inftructor of the drill fhall direct) the commander of the leading fub-divifion will order files to move up to the front, by giving the word, One, two, or three files to the front; on which the named files turn to their front (the left), and lengthening their pace, march up, file by file, to the front of their fub-divifion, and immediately resume the ordinary pace.-Thofe files which are to continue in the rear will oblique to the left, lengthening alfo their ftep, till they cover, and are closed up up to the three files on the left flank of their fub-divifion. S. 59. Marching in Quick Time. The platoon must frequently be practised to march in quick time, particularly in file, until the men have acquired the utmost, precision in this movement, which is fo effential in all deployments from clofe column.-The platoon will alfo occafionally be marched in front at the fame step, as it may be frequently required from fmall bodies. S. 60. Forming to the Front from File. HALT, FRONT. CAUTION. MARCH. The platoon when marching in file may form to its front, either in fections, fubdivifions, or in platoon.--The right flank being fuppofed to lead, on the word, HALT, FRONT, the platoon instantly halts, and faces to its left: the CAUTION is then given, BY SECTIONS, SUB DIVISIONS, or PLATOON, ON THE LEFT But in fituations where it may have been neceffary to order an extension of files, (fuch as will fometimes occur in marching through the ftreets of a town) a body thus moving, in order to avoid incorrect distances between the divisions, may form to the front in the following E 3 manner, |