Circum ftances in wheeling. LEFT, WHEEL: In wheeling BACKWARD, the command is on THE RIGHT, (or) ON THE LEFT, BACKWARD WHEEL. 8. As the circumference of the quarter circle which a divifion defcribes in its wheel, is one half more, (nearly) than its front; it is neceffary that in open column, it fhould, in the time that it takes to march over a space equal to the extent of its front, not only complete the wheel of the quarter circle, but be enabled to move on at its juft diftance from its preceding divifion, and not to ftop that which fucceeds it. The wheel must therefore be quickened, or the ftep lengthened (or part of both applied) in proportion to the general march. Namber of files in a divifios, each oc- 5. cupying 22 inches. Front of divifions in. In ordinary paces of 3.207. 30 inches. 10. 12. 14. 15. 16. 18. 20. 30. 40. 50. 100. II. 11.22 13.6 14.20 22. 29.1 36 20 70.10 9. A divifion confifting of 10 files, and each occupying 22 inches, will at paces of 30 inches take 7 paces 10 inches for its front.-Now 75 fteps in a minute being the ordinary time, and 120 the wheeling time, 75: 120:: 7:11, nearly the number of wheeling paces of 30 inches each, which the wheeling man can take while the following divifion is making its 7 ordinary paces in front, and 11 of which exactly completes the quarter circle: but if each of thefe 11 paces is lengthened with 3 inches, then the wheel will be completed in 10 steps, and a paufe of one pace and 2-3ds of a pace, or 5-6ths of a fecond of time, will be referved for the Halt, Drefs, and March. of the divifion, after it has at 10 long paces of 33 inches completed the wheel.-This paufe will increafe or diminish according to the greater or leffer extent of the wheeling body, and in the above proportions of time and ftep, it is 1-7th of the time employed by fuch body in wheeling the quarter circle.This allowance, which is barely fufficient in a divifion of 10 files, and which cannot cannot well be increased, either by length of step, or quickness of time, fhews how pointed and quick the commands must be, not to occafion a lofs of ground to each fucceffive divifion at the points of wheeling, recollec 10. It appears that the front of any divifion or body, Neceffary is in ordinary paces of 30 inches, nearly 3-4ths of the tions. number of files of which it is compofed.-That the circumference of the quarter circle which it defcribes is in wheeling paces of 33 inches, the fame as the number of files on which it is compofed.That the number of files being once afcertained in each divifion, the officer commanding it muft on all occafions recollect the number of paces that are equal to his front; alfo the number of wheeling paces which the flank-man must take to complete the quarter circle; alfo the spare time, which he has to regulate the Halt, March of his divifion after wheeling. Wheeling The 6th of the circle, or an angle of 60o. are of the confifts. II. The field officers and adjutants must always recollect the number of paces the front of the battalion and its divifions occupy, in order to take up ground exactly in all formations. S. 81. Movements. 1. Every movement must be divided into its diftinct parts, and each part executed by its explanatory and feparate words of command. 2. Alterations of position in confiderable bodies fhould begin from a previous halt; except giving a new direcG 3 tion fion to the heads of columns, or increafing or diminishing their front, which may be done while in motion. 3. The exercise of small bodies, when within the command of one voice, appears more showy from the keeping fuch bodies conftantly in motion, and by changing from one manœuvre to another while on the march.-But fuch movements, and the formations made from them, must be on accidental points, and however brilliant in battalion practice, and review appearance, where the leffon of the day has been previously arranged, they can only be confidered as occafional exceptions, not applicable to large bodies where hurry must be avoided, and where concert and relative position are indispensable, 4. As the principle of moving, forming, and dreffing upon given and determined points is juft, all quick alterations of pofition of a confiderable body, attempted while on the move, and not proceeding from a previous halt (however fhort) are falfe and defective, the effects of which, though not so apparent in a single battalion, would be very obvious in a line or column of any extent.-A pause between each change of fituation, fo effentially ne ceffary to the movements of great bodies, fhould feldom be omitted in thofe of fmall ones; fquareness of dreffing, the exact perpendiculars of march, and the correct relative pofition of the whole, are thereby ascertained.— Such alterations of fituation made from the halt may, when neceffary, fucceed each other quickly; and in many cafes no unneceffary time need be taken up in scrupulous dreffing, but every one may be inftantly apprized of the following movement, which circumftances require. S. 82. Points of March. 1. Every leader of a body which is to move directly forward in front, must take care to conduct it in a line truly perpendicular to that front.-To march straight on one object only with certainty and without wavering, is not to be depended on; two objects therefore placed and preferved during the march in the fame ftraight line, are neceffary for the purposes of correct movement, when the intent is truly to prolong a given line. 2. Two objects will therefore in general be prepared for the direction of any confiderable body: But fhould a leader, either in file or in front, have only one marked point of march afcertained to him, he will himself inftantly look out for his finall intermediate points, which are always to be found, which he will from time to time renew, and which are to preserve and determine the accuracy of his movement towards the more diftant point, (V. S. 42,) S.83. The Alignement. 1. To march or form in the ALIGNEMENT, is to make troops march, or form in any part of the straight line which joins two given points.-On the juftness and obfervance of this line, depends the accuracy of the most effential movements and formations, and therefore every relative help must be applied to enfure it. 2. In formations of defence the lines occupied may be curved, and following the advantages of the ground, but in those of attack, the lines must be ftraight, other G 4 wife Fig. 12. Fig. 12. wife the troops in advancing muft inevitably fall into confufion. 3. When troops are to form in a ftraight line, two neceffary points in it must always be previously ascertained. One the point of APPUI (A. a. a.) at which one flank of the body, whether small or great, is to be placed, and the other the point of FORMATION DRESSING (D.) on which the front of the body is directed. or 4. When battalions, or divifions of a battalion, come up fucceffively into line, the outward flank of the last formed and halted body is always confidered as the point of APPUI (a. a.) or fupport of the fucceeding one, and in this manner is the general line prolonged from each fucceffive point of Appui, towards the given diftant point of formation (D).-The looking and lining of the foldier in forming is always towards the point of Appui, and the correction of dreffing is always from that point towards the oppofite hand.--This great principle is to be obferved, from the fmalleft body to the most confiderable corps, and regulates the formation of the divifion, the battalion, and the line. S. 84. Points of Formation. 1. In the movements of a single battalion, and in the taking up of a new pofition, it may not feem material whether a flank is placed a few yards to the one hand or other, or whether the line formed on is exactly directed on any certain point.-But when a battalion makes a part of a more confiderable body, then all its pofitions being relative to other battalions and to given points, if its formations are not accurate and juft, it will create general confufion, and give falfe directions and diftances to those Neceffity of whofe fituation must be determined by it.-The neceffity therefore of every fingle battalion being accustomed to formations made on given points. make |