FRONT FORM PLATOON. Eyes left. FRONT FORM SUB-DIVI SIONS. Front form. manner, either by platoon, fub-divifions, Should the order have been, TO THE FRONT FORM SUB-DIVISIONS (FORM SECTIONS), the leading fub-divifion, or fection, will proceed in the manner already detailed for the platoon; the fucceeding fub-divifions, or fections, will each continue moving on, until its front file arrives at the proper forming distance from the divifion in its front, when it will receive from its commander the word, To the front form, and will inftantly form up by files, in the manner already defcribed. S. 61. Forming from File to either Flank. The platoon marching in file (fuppofe from the right) has only to halt, and front to be formed to the left flank. To form to the right it will receive Right form. the word, To the right form; the front rank man of the leading file, inftantly turns to his right, and halts; his center and rear rank men at the fame time move round and cover him.-All the other files S.62. To form to either Flank, from Open Column of Sub-Divifions. HALT, LEFT WHEEL INTO LINE. MARCH. PLATOON. Halt, right wheel. Halt, right drefs. The platoon marching in the ordinary time in open column of sub-divifions, to form to its left, receives the words, HALT, LEFT WHEEL INTO LINE.-MARCH, &C. and proceed as has already been fhewn in Section 50. To form the platoon to its right flank, the instructor of the drill gives the cauRIGHT FORM tionary word of command, TO THE RIGHT FORM THE PLATOON; on which the commanders of the feveral divifions fhift to the right flank, and the commander of the leading fub-divifion inftantly gives the word to his divifion, Halt, right wheel; and when it has wheeled fquare, he orders, Halt, right dress; goes to the right flank of his divifion, and dreffes it on the intended line of formation.-The commander of the other fub-divifion, on the leading one being ordered to wheel, gives the word, To the left oblique, and gradually inclines, fo as to be able to march clear of the rear rank of the divifion forming; this being well effected, the word, Forward, will be given to the division, and it will move on in the rear Left oblique. Forward. Halt, Right wheel. Halt, dress up. of the one formed.-When the fecond fub-divifion is arrived at the left flank of the firft, its commander gives the word, Right wheel, then Halt, dress up; on which the divifion moves up into the line, with the one formed; and its commander, from the left of his first divifion, dresses his own on the given flank point as quickly and as accurately as poffible, and refumes his proper platoon place. S. 63. The Platoon moving to the Front, to gain Ground to a Flank, by a March in Echellon, by Sections. Fig. 8, SECTIONS, FORWARD. In the drill of the platoon, when the foldier is completely formed, he may be taught to march in echellon, by fections. This is a very ufeful movement for a battalion, or large body moving in line, that is required to gain ground to a flank, and may be fubftituted inftead of the oblique march.- It will be performed in the following manner; The platoon marching to the front in the ordinary time, receives the word, BY SECTIONS TO THE RIGHT; the right hand men of the front rank of each section, turning in a small degree to their right, mark the time two or three paces, during which the fections are wheeling in ordinary time on their pivot men; at the fourth pace, and at the word, Forward, the whole move on direct to the front that each fection has now acquired, and the FORM PLA TOON. FORWARD. the commander of each fection, having taken poft on the right of his divifion, the platoon continues its march in echellon. On the word, FORM PLATOON, the pivot men mark the time for three paces, turning back in a small degree to their left, the original front, and the fections inftantly wheel backward into line; at the fourth pace the whole move forward, When the platoon is in two ranks only, two paces inftead of three will be fufficient to mark time, and to ftep off at the third, inftead of the fourth pace. S. 64. From three Ranks forming in two Ranks. FORM TWO DEEP. LEFT FACE. Fig. 9. Halt, front. The platoon halted, is ordered, FORM TWO DEEP; the rear rank men of the left fub-divifion inftantly step back one pace; on the word LEFT FACE, the rear rank of both fub-divifions face; the word QUICK MARCH is then given, on which the men of the rear rank of the left fub-divifion step short, until thofe of the right get up to them; they then move on with them in file; as their rear is clearing the left flank of the platoon, the commander (who has fhifted to this flank during the movement) gives the words Halt, front, dress up, he inftantly dreffes them on the standing part of his platoon, and resumes his poft on the right.-One third, or one more fub-divifion, is thus added to the front of the company. If a battalion is ftanding in open column, it may thus increase the front of its companies, before it forms in line: -But if it is already in line, and is thus to increase its front, its companies must take fufficient intervals from each other, before their respective rear ranks can come up.-If a battalion in line is pofted, and without deranging its front is to lengthen out a flank by the aid of its rear rank; it would order that rank to wheel backwards by fub-divifions: The laft fub-divifion of each company would close up to its first one: All the fub-divifions (on the head one) would move forward to open column: An officer would be named to command thofe of each two companies: The open column would move on, and wheel into line on the flank of the battalion.-In this manner alfo would a line of feveral battalions lengthen itfelf out by the rear ranks of each. S. 65. From two Ranks forming into three Fig. 9. FORM THREE DEEP. RIGHT FACE. QUICK MARCH. Halt, front. Ranks. The platoon being halted and told off into three fections, it receives the word FORM THREE DEEP; on which the third fection inftantly fteps back one pace; the word RIGHT FACE is then given, and the man on the right of its front rank, on facing, difengages a little to his right; on the word QUICK MARCH, the front rank. men of the third fection ftep off, those of the other rank mark the time till they have paft, and then follow.--When the leading man has got to the right of the platoon, the commander gives the word Halt, front, on which each man halts, faces to his left, and inftantly covers his proper file leader. A rear |