Fig. 49.

Fig. 47. 48.

80,

Fig. 46.

Wheel up into Line. S. 118.

13. Change of pofition on a central or flank company by filing, or by the echellon march of companies. S. 120. 159.

14. The battalion may march in file to the flank at the lock ftep, and front. S. 94.

15. The battalion may take 20 or 30 fide fieps to the flank without open3° Ling out. S. 43.79.

S 16. The battalion may advance in line, and halt. S, 166.

17. The battalion may retire in line, and halt front. S. 168.

18. The alternate companies will form two lines and march to front and rear, preferving intervals. S. S. 175.

19. Paffage in file through a fecond line, or wood, to front or rear, from a flank of each company. S. 174.

20. Paffage of the obftacle in the march of the battalion, by divifions doubling as ordered. S. 170.

21. The oblique march of the bat talion, and change of direction by gradual alteration of the fhoulders. S. 169.

22. The

Fig. 14.

22. The battalion halted to be dreffed, by advancing the platoon officers, and moving up the men. S. 167.

23. The whole or a wing of the battalion to be thrown forward on the center or flank, by placing a few files, and the reft turning their fhoulders, and gradually drefling up.-The fame done backwards gradually at a fhort ftep without facing about.-Eyes being directed to the point of forming on all occafions.

24. The battalion will advance, and retire in echellons of companies.-Form in line on any named one.-Throw Fig. 75. 76. backward or forward any number of companies into echellon.-Wheel them into oblique line.

29. March of the battalion by divi fions from one flank towards the other,

Fig. 37. 38. either behind or before the front, each divifion wheeling and following fuc ceffively the one that precedes it. S. 96.

30. The battalion from line forming the fquare or oblong, marching, and again forming in line.-Or from the fquare marching off in double column through a defile.

In Clofe Column.

Fig. 64. 65. 31. The clofe column is formed on any named company. S. 137.

66.

Fig. 74.

Fig. 70. 71. 72.

Fig. 67. 63.

69.

32. The direction of the clofe column is changed. S. 141.

33. The clofe column is opened out from the front or rear, and again clofed upon any divifion. S. 153.

34. The clofe column of two companies in front is formed from the column of one company in front. S. 147.

35. The line formed either from the column (of one or two companies in front) halted, on a front, rear, or central divifion.-Or from the column. moving in file to its flank, on a front or rear division. Or by an oblique deployment of its divifions. S. 144. 148.

36. The

36. The exercife of the firelock in all its parts both by companies and battalion, and especially loading and firing.

The FIRINGS may be applied and intermixed with thefe movements as found proper, and fuch other circumftances of formation and exercife as fpace allows of, and as occur to commanding officers, may agreeable to the established modes laid down, be from time to time executed.-But the above have been more particularly felected, as including almost all the various movements that can be required in the operations of the battalion when fingle, or united with others in line: They may be combined according to the ground, and to the views of the commander, and may arife from different fituations by altering or adding the connecting circumstances, and the particu lar detail of their execution is to be found in the fections referred to.

The light company and grenadiers are generally Light comfuppofed acting in line with the battalion: But the pany. light company may be occafionally placed half of it behind each flank of the battalion; in that fituation it is ready to cover the front, rear, or flanks of the column when in march, to protect the forming of the line, or to cover its retreat.-For thefe purpofes it may from time to time be detached and act in divifion or individually as circumftances may require, and in the manner specified in its particular exercise.---It can feldom be obliged to run or hurry; in fuch cafes as demand it, it will march quick but in order, with files loose but not too open, and always under the command and guidance of its officers.

On all occafions of common parade, a guard, a Mede of inbattalion, or its parts fhould never affemble, or be truction. dimiffed, without performing fome one operation or

14

other

Attention in exercife.

Fig. 20.

Fig. 20.

other of movement, and of the firelock.-In this manner by fimple, and imperceptible practice, the fteadiness and inflruction of every individual is attained, and officers become perfect in the three great and important field duties of precifion and energy in their commands; exact diftances of march; and the correct dreffing, and covering of pivots.---The time often unneceffarily confumed in the field in detail and manual exercife will alfo be faved, and the battalion be there folely employed in executing the prefcribed movements applied to fuch circumftances, and varieties of ground as prefent themfelves to the commanding officer; the modes of execution being already thoroughly understood, and inftantly applied by each individual.

Single companies or battalions when at exercise muft generally confider thenfelves as part of a line, and not always detached, or independant bodies: Their movements and formations fhould be on a fuppofition of lining with other troops already placed on their flanks.---Two or more perfons feparated at a proper diftance from one another, and from the company or battalion, may reprefent the flanks and center of an adjoining battalion, and may always first take their ftation in the new line. This would cause the formations to be made on determined, not on accidental points; the practice of which latter ufage much tends to occafion that incorrectness and deficiency which fometimes appears when any number of our battalions are directed to move, act, or form, in concert.In general the battalion fould not be looked on as a perfect cr feparate body, but only as a member of the line; its movements as relative to and dependant upon those of others, and its principal operations fhould be calculated accordingly.

In exercife the two flank companies may be occafionally feparated from the battalion, and reprefent

the