In general, officers remain pofted with their proper Officers companies; but commanding officers will occafionally make fuch changes as they may find neceffary. Whenever the officers move out of the front rank, in Replacing parade, marching in column, wheeling into line, or other- ferjeants. wife, their places are taken by their ferjeant coverers, and preserved until the officers again resume them. When the line is halted, and especially during the firings when engaged, the ferjeant coverers fall back into the fourth rank, and obferve their platoons. S. 72. When the Battalion takes Open Order. Rear Ranks take Open Order. March. At this command-the flank men on the right of the rear ranks of each company step brifkly back to mark the ground on which each rank refpectively is to halt. They face to the right, and cover as pivots, being regulated and dreffed by the adjutant or ferjeant-major on the right.-Every other individual remains ready to move. At this command-the flank dreffers face to the front, and the whole move as follows: The rear ranks fall back one and two paces, each dreffing by the right the inftant it arrives on the ground. The officers in the front rank, as alfo the colours, move out three paces-thofe in the rear, together with the mufick, move through the intervals left open by the front rank officers, and divide themselves, F 3 viz. viz. the captains covering the fecond file from the right, the lieutenants the second file from the left; and the enfigns opposite the center of their refpective companies. The mufick form between the colours, and the front rank. The ferjeant coverers move up to the front rank, to preferve the intervals left by the officers. The pioneers fall back to fix paces diftance behind the center of the rear rank. The drummers take the fame distance behind their divifions. The major moves to the right of the line of officers.-The adjutant to the left of the front rank, The ftaff place themfelves on the right of the front rank of the grenadiers, viz, chaplain, furgeon, quarter-mafter, mate. The lieutenant colonel, and the colonel (difmounted), advance before the colours, two and four paces. The whole being arrived at their feveral pofts-Halt-Drefs to the Right and the battalion remains formed in parade, in the order in which they would receive a fuperior officer. When the battalion is reviewed fingly, then in order to make more fhow-the division of drummers may be moved up, and formed two deep on each flank of the line-the pioneers may form two deep on the right of the drummers of the rightand the staff may form on the right of the whole. S.73. When the Battalion refumes Clofe Order. Rear Ranks take Clofe Order, March. The lieutenant-colonel, officers, colours, staff, mufick, face to the right. The drummers and pioneers (if on the flanks) face to the center. The ferjeants (if in the front rank) face to the right. The rear ranks clofe within one pace, moving up one and two paces, and then halting. The mufick marches through the center interval. The ferjeants, drummers, pioneers, &c. &c. refume their places, each as in the original formation of the battalion in clofe order. The officers move through and into their respective intervals, and each individual arrives, and places himself properly at his poft in close order. On particular occafions, and when neceffary, officers Pofting of commanding platoons, who in line are on the right of officers, their platoons, fhift to the left to conduct the heads of files, or the pivot flanks of their divifions in column or echellon. When the battalion wheels by companies or fub-divi- colours. fions to either flank into column; both colours and the file of directing ferjeants always wheel to the proper front, and place themselves behind the third file from the new pivot. Colour re ferve. Light com pany. Grenadiers. There is no feparate colour referve; the pioneers, mufick, &c. fufficiently strengthen the center; but in the firings the two files on each fide of the colours may be ordered to reserve their fire. The constant order of the light company when formed in line, and united with the battalion, is at the fame clofe files as the battalion.-Their extended order is an occafional exception. When the light company is detached, and the grenadier company remains, it will be undivided on one flank of its battalion, whenever there are several battalions in line but when the battalion is fingle, it is permitted to be occafionally divided on each flank. When the grenadier or light companies are detached, and make no part of the line, they may be formed two deep, if it is found proper. With a very few obvious alterations, these general rules take place when a company or battalion is permitted or ordered to form in two ranks only-and which, on the prefent low establishment of our battalions, may often be done for the purposes of exercise and movement on a more confiderable front: it is alfo evident that they generally apply whether the companies are strong or weak, and whether a greater or leffer number of them compofe the battalion. GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES PRE- S. 74. Commands. ALL words of command, and particularly the words HALT or MARCH, must be given fhort, quick and loud, fo as to be caught and repeated from right to left of a line, or from front to rear of a column, in the shortest time poffible. All Alterations, in carrying ARMS; change of PACE; WHEELING; FACING; OBLIQUING; HALTING; MARCHING; and in general every operation of the battalion whether in line or column, which ought to be executed by the whole battalion at the fame inftant, are made by each in confequence of one word from the commander of each: but there are alfo many occafions in column, and in forming line, where the leaders of divifions repeat, or give the words of March, Wheel, Halt, Front, Drefs, &c. to their several divisions, as is neceffary. Every officer must be accustomed to give his words of command, even to the smallest bodies, in the full extent of his voice, and in a fharp tone:-by fuch bodies he must not only be heard, but by the leaders of others who are dependant on his motions.-The juftnefs of execution, and the confidence of the foldier, can only be in proportion to the firm, decided, and proper manner in which |