Each company is a platoon.-Each company forms two fub-divifions, and alfo four fections.-But as fections fhould never be lefs than five files, it will happen, when the companies are weak, that they can only (for the purposes of march) form three fections, or even two fections. When the company is fingly formed; the captain is on the right, and the enfign on the left, of the front rank, each covered by a ferjeant in the rear rank. The lieutenant is in the rear, as alfo the drummer and pioneer in a fourth rank, at three paces distance. The left of the front rank of each fub-divifion is marked by a corporal.-The right of the left fub-divifion may be marked by the other corporal. When neceffary, the places of absent officers may be fupplied by ferjeants, thofe of ferjeants by corporals, and thofe of corporals by intelligent men. or When the company is to join others, and the battalion, part of it, to be formed; the enfign and his covering ferjeant quit the flank, and fall into the fourth rank, until otherwife placed. S. 70. When the Company is to take Open Order from Clofe Order. Rear Ranks take Open Order. At this command, the flank men on the right and left of the rear ranks, step back to mark the ground on which each rank refpectively is to halt, and drefs at open diftance; they face to the right, and ftand covered; every other individual remains ready to move. At March. At this command, the rear rank dreffes front, and the rear ranks fall back one and two paces, each dreffing by the right, the inftant it arrives on its ground :—the officers move out in front three paces, and divide their ground: one ferjeant is on each flank of the front rank:-the pioneer remains behind the center of the rear rank:-the drummer places himself on the right of the right ferjeant. S. 71. When the Company is to take Clofe Order Rear Ranks take Clofe Order. March. from Open Order. The officers, ferjeants, drummer, face to the right. The ranks clofe within one pace, marching one and two paces, and then halting. The officers move round the flanks of the company in their refpective posts:the ferjeants and drummers fall back, and each individual refumes his place, as in the original clofe order. The above regards the company when fingle; but when united in the battalion, other pofts are allotted to the drummer and pioneer. F Formation of the battalion. the compa tauon. Each company confifts at present of 3 Officers, When the companies join, and the battalion is formed, there is to be no interval between any of them, grenadier, light company, or other; but every part of the front of the battalion fhould be equally strong. Each company which makes a part of the fame line, and is to act in it, must be formed and arranged in the fame manner. Pofition of The companies will draw up as follows from right to nies in bat-left:-grenadiers ;-1ft captain and major;-4th and 5th captain;-3d and 6th captain ;-2d captain and lieutenant colonel;-light company.The colonel's company takes place according to the rank of its captain:the four eldest captains are on the right of the grand divifions:-officers commanding companies or platoons, are all on the right of the front rank of their respective Divifions. ones. The eight battalion companies will compofe four grand divifions;-eight companies or platoons,-fixteen subdivifions,-thirty-two fections, when fufficiently ftrong to be fo divided, otherwife twenty-four, for the purpofes of march. The battalion is alfo divided into right and left wings. When the battalion is on a war establishment, each company will be divided into two platoons.-When the ten companies are with the battalion, they may then, for the purposes of firing or deploying, be divided into five grand divifions from right to left. The battalion companies will be numbered from the right to the left, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.-The fub-divifions will be numbered 1. 2. of each;-the fections will be numbered 1. 2. 3. 4. of each;-the files of companies will also be numbered 1. 2. 3. 4. &c.-The grenadier and light companies will be numbered separately in the fame manner, and with the addition of thofe diftinctions. These feveral appellations will be preserved, whether faced to front or rear. The companies must be equalized in point of numbers, Companies at all times when the battalion is formed for field movement; and could the battalions of a line alfo be equalized, the greatest advantages would arife; but though from the different ftrengths of battalions this cannot take place, yet the first requifite always muft, and is indifpenfable. Ranks are at the distance of one pace, except the Formation fourth or fupernumerary rank, which has three paces. All the field officers and the adjutant are mounted. The commanding officer is the only officer advanced in front, for the general purpofe of exercise when the battalion is fingle; but in the march in line, and in the firings, he is in the rear of the colours. The lieutenant-colonel is behind the colours, fix paces from the rear rank. The major and adjutant are fix paces in the rear of the third and fixth companies. One officer is on the right of the front rank of each company or platoon, and one on the left of the battalion; all these are covered in the rear rank by their respective ferjeants; F 2 of the battalion at close order. Ufe of the fourth or fupernumerary rank. ferjeants; and the remaining officers and ferjeants are in a fourth rank behind their companies.-It is to be obferved, that there are no coverers in the center rank to the officers or colours. The colours are placed between the fourth and fifth battalion companies, both in the front rank, and each covered by a non-commiffioned officer, or steady man in the rear rank.-One ferjeant is in the front rank betwixt the colours; he is covered by a fecond ferjeant in the rear rank, and by a third in the fupernumerary rank.The fole bufinefs of thefe three ferjeants is, when the battalion moves in line, to advance and direct the march as hereafter mentioned. The place of the first of those ferjeants, when they do move out, is preferved by a named officer or ferjeant, who moves up from the fupernumerary rank for that purpose. The fourth rank is at three paces distance when halted, or marching in line.-When marching in column, it must close up to the distance of the other ranks.-The effential ufe of the fourth rank is, to keep the others clofed up to the front during the attack, and to prevent any break beginning in the rear; on this important fervice, too many officers and non-commiffioned officers cannot be employed. The pioneers are affembled behind the center, formed. two deep, and nine paces from the third rank. The drummers of the eight battalion companies are affembled in two divifions, fix paces behind the third rank of their fecond and feventh companies.-The grenadier and light company drummers and fifers are fix paces behind their refpective companies. The mufick are three paces behind the pioneers in a fingle rank, and at all times, as well as the drummers and pioneers, are formed at loofe files only, occupying no more space than is neceffary. The staff of chaplain, furgeon, quarter-mafter, and furgeon's mate, are three paces behind the mufick. |