from the center of battalions or lines, fhould feldom be made, are partial, and not adapted as the others are to movements and formations in all fituations.

2. The chief objects of the OPEN column are, faci- Columns of lity of movement, the quick formation of the line to march and the flank, and the change of fituation in the fhortelt manoeuvre. lines from one pofition to another. It is named the column of march or ROUTE, when applied to common marches, where the attention of men and officers are not fo much kept on the stretch. It is named the column of MANOEUVRE, when being within reach of the enemy the greateft exactaefs is required in order to its speedy formation at any inftant into line during its tranfition from one pofition to another.

tent of co

lumn.

3. Columns of march or manoeuvre will generally Front and exbe compofed of companies or fub-divifions.-For the purposes of movement they need not exceed 16, or 18 files, nor fhould they be under 6 files in frout, when the formation is three deep, otherwife there will not be fpace to loofen the ranks, and the battalion will of courfe be lengthened out.-An open column occupies the fame extent of ground as when in line, minus the front of its leading divifion: But a body obliged to march any diftance in file, will at least occupy one half more ground than it requires in line; fuch fituation is therefore to be avoided.

Jomn from

line.

4. From line the column is formed, and marches Formation of to the front, flanks, rear, or in any intermediate the open cooblique direction, with either its right or left in front. In each cafe the battalion or line WHEELS the quarter circle by divifions to either flank and HALTS, The whole MARCH.-The leading divion wheels into, or moves on, in the preferibed direction, and the reft follow in column.

5. The open column, or the column at half o quarter diftance, may also be formed oblique or perpendicular to the line, on any giving divifion; by the other divifions (according to which flank is ordered to lead) wheeling, filing, and placing themfelves in front, and rear of the given one.

6. Columns of march or manoeuvre will be formed with the left in front, whenever it is probable that the formation of the line will be required to the right fank; and vice verfa, when required to the left flank.

BATTALION OPEN COLUMN.

Dreffing in column.

Fig. 13.

Distance of ranks.

1. In column divifions cover and drefs to the proper pivot flank: To the left, when the right is in front: and to the right, when the left is in front. The proper pivot flank in column is that which when wheeled up to preferves the divifions of the line in their natural order, and to their proper front: The other may be called the reverfe flank.

2. In column rear ranks (if not ordered to be locked up) are one pace afunder.-When a confiderable diance is to be marched, they may be opened half a pace more, but without encreafing the diftances of v.fions, which remain fuch as are prefcribed ac

cording

cording to the object of the movement, and which are always taken from front rank, to front rank.

3. The poft of commanding officers in column, is each near the flank of the leading divifion of his battalion.

4. Each divifion of which a column is compofed Leading offi is conducted by a leader placed on its pivot flank cers. of the front rank which is his general poft-In a column of companies or platoons fuch leader is the platoon officer. In a column of fub-divifions the officer leads the head fub-divifion of his company; and his covering ferjeant in battalion the fecond.In a column of fections the platoon officer leads the head fection of his company; his ferjeant the middle one; and an officer or ferjeant from the rear the laft one. When divifions are filing from column into a new pofition, their feveral leaders conduct their heads. When any confiderable continuation of the, march is the object, and that pivot officers are permitted to be in front of their diviñions, their flank pofts must be occupied by non-commiffion oflicers, who remain anfwerable under their direction for the prefervation of the proper diftances.

5. In open column, the artillery, mufic, drummers, Mufic, dri m &c. of battalions wheel with and remain clofed up to meis, &c. the rear of their refpective divifions.-In column at half or quarter diftance, they may occafionally if there is fpace move in file, on the flank which is not the pivot one-luftead of being kept collected, they may in column of march be fent to their refpe&ive companies to remain in the rear of each: But on no occation whatever is the affembling of them to be allowed to lengthen our, or interfere with the movements of the battalion or column, or to encrcale the intervals betwixt battalions in column.

6. On all occafions of wheeling from line inta open column (except where the narrownefs of ground prevents it) the divifions WHEEL BACKWARDS on their Fig. 21. 59. pivot flanks.-The advantage fo great, and the neceffity fo evident of having the pivots remain covering each other truly, as well as having juft diftances preferved, is thereby fecured, which will never be the cafe in wheeling forward, from the different ftrength of battalions in a line, and of companies or divifions in the fame battalion.In wheeling backward if divifions do not exceed 16 or 18 file, they may readily WHEEL back without facing about, but if divifions are ftronger and the ground uneven, they must FACE about-WHEEL-and then Halt, front.

Wheelingfor

ward into

line.

Fig. 25.

Wheeling on the center.

Filings.

7. When an open column is to form in line to its proper front, the divifions will always WHEEL FORWARD on their pivots: But fhould it be meant to reverse the front, the Pivors themfelves must then wheel forward, which will prevent any falfe diftances, that unequal divifions would occafion, although the flanks they do wheel upon, may not then be in a regular line. Should the divifions of the column be of equal ftrength the front may then be reverfed by wheeling back upon the pivots which will preferve the regularity of the alignement.

8. Platoons must be accustomed to wheel occafionally upon their CENTER, half backward, half forward, and to be pliable into every fhape which circumftances may require, but always in order, and by the decided commands of their officers.

9. All marches of battalions are made in column of companies, or other divifions, never by files where it can poffibly be avoided.--Filings are only applied to the internal movements and formations of the divifions of the battalion and in fome changes of

pofition,

pofition, not to any confiderable manoeuvres of the entire battalion, or of greater bodies.

10. All wheelings, and filings made from the halt, Wheelings in from line to form in column, or from column to form column. in line, are made at a quick step.

11. When the rear ranks clofe or open on the Opening or march, in the one cafe they will ftep nimbly up, in clofing of the other they will flacken their pace until the due rear ranks.

diftance is attained.-In both cafes the front rank continues to proceed at its then rate of march.

tentions in

12. In an open column of manoeuvre of one or Peculiar atmore battalions, the divifions ought as much as the open copoffible to be equalized.-The whole must be put lumn of main march at the fame inftant, and the ftep preferved, nœuvre. equal as to time and length whether marching on level or inclined ground-Every divifion must trace out the exact track which the leading one does; nor muft any part make a partial alteration of pace.-Thefe circumstances obferved which will preferve the justnefs of wheeling diftances, and the covering of pivot flanks; and no embarraffments being allowed in the intervals of battalions, an exact line to the flank is at any inftant procured, by the wheel of the quarter circle; and all clofing in, unfteady fhifting, and after dreffing is avoided.

Counter

13. The countermarch by files of the divifions of Fig. 40 B. a column each on its own ground; changes a column that is itanding with its right in front, into a column march by with its left in front, and thereby enables it to return' files. along the ground it has gone over, and to take new pofitions without altering or inverting the proper front of the line (S. 53. 100.)

14. The