it-In fuch fituations, at no time if it is poffible fhould any of the pivot flank leaders be obliged to double or quit the continued line of march; but the other files may be (when impediments are to be paffed) much opened or loofened from thofe pivots, who in the mean time moving free and preferving wheeling distances, are in a fituation at every instant to halt and form in line, the others clofing into them. Fig. 27. 29. Should the march in a ftraight alignement be Obstacles in at any time interrupted by pools of water, or any march in an other obstacle which is impaffable, the march will be alignement. continued ftraight to that obftacle, the obftacle will be furrounded (and always if poffible by deviating to the reverse flank fo as to remain behind the line), and the fame ftraight line will again on the other fide be taken up by the pivots, at the point in it which a detached perfon has prepared.-Allowance will be made, when the line is to form, for the breadth of fuch obftacle, by the doubling of as many divifions as will fill up the vacancy (when it can be done) which is thereby occafioned in the line; nor muft any fmall interruptions in the line, that can poffibly be furmounted, ever make the pivots deviate from the ftraight line, when the intention of forming on the line is evident and known to all. ASSEM ASSEMBLY OF THE BATTALION, AND Affembly of The companies having been infpected by their the battalion. officers on their particular parades fhould arrive and ftand on the parade of the battalion in open column of companies, and with either right or left in front.The ground is given by whichever divifion firft arrives on it, and the others arrange themfelves in front or rear accordingly.-In this fituation are reports made to the commanding officer; companies equalized; mufic, drummers, pioneers, &c. affembled at their proper ftations; all other individuals of the battalion placed; pivot files, and juft wheeling diftances corrected. The battalion is then formed in line by wheels of the quarter circle, and by word from the commanding officer; the colours are fent for and pofted; and the whole are thus in readiness to move, by fub-divifion or company column. March to the ground of exercise. The march to, and from the field in column, fhould be confidered as one of the most material parts of exercise, and be made with attention, equality of step, just diftances, and perfect order.-The front of the march fhould be frequently encreafed and diminished in the manner prefcribed (S. 87.), and the battalion at different periods formed by wheels to the flank, to fhew that distances have been duly preferved. The The exercife of the battalion must frequently be Exercife by preceded by that of companies in detail, according companies to the inftructions given in the fecond part.-Therefore when the battalion is arrived on its ground, the officers will be affebled, and thofe commanding companies informed what particular parts (referring for this po pofe to the numbers marked in the exercife of the company), in what fucceflion, and for what length of time, or how often, each operation of the company is to be repeated.---The companies will Fig. 19. then by a regular procefs be feparated, by taking intervals in one line, or in two lines, fo that each fhall have a free space of 40 or 50 yards fquare.--They will on that ground begin and finish in nearly the fame inftants of time, each of the ordered points of exercife. S. 86. Exercife of the Battalion. The above being accomplished, the companies will Detail of exbe ordered to affemble in line, or in column, and ercife by the the BATTALION again united and formed will proceed battalion. to its particular EXERCISE as contained in the following articles, which may be claffed and arranged according to circumftances, and the views of commanding officers: the modes of executing being detailed hereafter under their proper heads. |