MANCEUVRE& 



MANCEUVRES. 



HI 



; 



in UK intended alignemeut, into which Uicy then march u 



The evolution* are nude u above stated when the regiment U in 

 column with iU right in front ; but it i* easy to apply the preoepU to 

 the contrary cue. 



The umon why the tquadron* are made to break into division* by 

 three* U that, since the breadth of three horaea ia about equal to the 

 length of one, each division of three can wheel within a tpace equal 

 to that which it occupiea in line : the practice however has been 

 objected to on account of the extension of the files which is pro- 

 duced when marching in this order. Movements by the usual divi- 

 ions or sub-divisions have been preferred on this account, but the 

 former method prevails. 



nJuiiumi of an Army. The general principles upon which the 

 evolutions of armies, divisions, or brigades are performed, correspond 

 nearly to those of single battalions. When a whole line has to advance 

 jaralk-l to itself, one of the battalions is considered as the regulator, 

 and all the others should conform to its movements. The comm uidcr 

 of this battalion must therefore devote hu whole attention to the 

 preservation of the direction which has been indicated by the general, 

 commanding the army, while the flank officers of tin; other battalions 

 must endeavour to preserve the regularity of their own battalions by 

 the line of the colours^ 



Columns of route or manoeuvre are formed of any number of 

 battalions, each in column of companies or of sub-divisions, in roar 

 of one another : it in then termed a mass of columns ; and if the columns 

 are at close order, the interval between every two battalions is only 

 six paces, or the same as if all the troops were drawn up in line. If 

 the distances of the companies are equal to one quarter of the length 

 of their front, the intervals between the battalions are twelve paces ; 

 but when the columns are at open order, the intervals of the battalions 

 should be equal to the breadth of the column, together with the six 

 paces which should be the intervals between the battalions in line. 

 Such columns as the last can instantly be thrown into line to a flank 

 by each company making simply a wheel on its proper pivot. When a 

 mass of columns is required to form into what is called a line of 

 columns, the heads of all the columns must be placed in one aligne- 

 ment, but the distances of the several columns from one another in the 

 direction of the line may, according to circumstances, be of any extent, 

 from six paces (in which case the columns are said to be contiguous), 

 to the proper distance for deployment, that is, a distance equal to the 

 length of a column. 



A column whose divisions ore either at quarter distance from each 

 other, or in close order, can always wheel into .1 line of columns, 

 because each battalion, in performing the wheel, leaves room for the 

 wheel of that which is in iU rear ; but a line of contiguous columns, 

 when the depth of each battalion exceeds the extent of its front, 

 cannot for want of room be wheeled into a single column. When such 

 a manoeuvre becomes necessary, the line of columns must open out to 

 the right or left far enough to allow the wheel to be performed. When 

 a line of columns is required to be changed into one column, for the 

 purpose of performing a march towards either flank, the most con- 

 venient disposition would be that in which all the columns in the line 

 stand with their right wings in front, if it is intended that the march 

 should be towards the right ; and the contrary, if it is to be towards 

 the left, for then a simple wheel to the front brings the divisions into 

 the alignement in their proper order. 



When a column is on a march, the baggage should be in the rear ; 

 or if, on any account, it is placed within the line, it should be, together 

 with the artillery which accompanies the column, in the intervals 

 between brigades, and never between the battalions of a brigade. The 

 preservation of the original extent of a column in front is of im- 

 portance, and defiling, in order to pass an obstacle, should be avoided 

 if possible, on account of the loss of time which it occasions ; in fact, 

 it will frequently happen that, on arriving at a stream, a ditch, or a 

 bank, the obstacle will be more conveniently passed by extending than 

 by contracting the front. 



Echellon movements of an army are almost always those which are 

 made when in presence of the enemy, the inequalities of ground 

 generally preventing Urge bodies of troops, if it were otherwise 

 advisable to do so, from acting against one another in continuous lines. 

 Lake the echellon movement* of battalions, those of an army may be 

 either direct or oblique : the former are executed by advancing 

 brigade*, battalion*, or companies parallel to and at unequal distances 

 from their front ; and this advance may be made from the centre of 

 the line when it U intended to refuse both wings to an enemy, or from 

 one flank when it u intended to turn that of the enemy. The direct 

 echellon may also be produced by posting column* in proper situations, 

 ready for deployment, parallel to the enemy'* position : the distances 

 between the battalions in echellon should be sufficient to allow them 

 tu form *quan* checquerwise, so a* to flank one another. 



Obltque echellons of an army are formed by wheeling, and then 

 marching in the new directions so as to gain ground obliquely towards 

 a flank ; each of the aeveral bodies performing the manoeuvre should 

 not exceed a company, as it might be hazardous to present one flank of 

 a large body toward* an enemy in position, and thus ex|>oso the line to 

 be innUdc.l And, a* the enemy would endeavour to counteract the 

 intended project of outflanking him, should he observe it, advantage 



ought to be taken of the localities to conceal some of the division*, and 

 to gain point* of support for the bodies placed in advance of the rest 

 of the army. When it is intended to refuse one wing, the battalions 

 of that wing may retreat en eeheUoH as far a* necessary, and the artillery 

 of that part of the line which is stationary should be ready to enfilade 

 the enemy on hi* advance towards the retiring divisions. Movements of 

 attack may be made in columns, which should deploy in line at from 

 1200 to 1400 pace* from the enemy ; the destructive effects of an 

 enfilading fire preventing a nearer approach in column. 



Generally speaking, the most convenient order for an army, whether 

 on the offensive or defensive, u in column, provided the columns can 

 be covered by the ground from the enemy's artillery ; since it may be 

 readily moved up to any given jwint of attack, while the enemy ha* 

 few means of judging where that point of attack will ' 



Change* in the front of a position, when under fire, are best effected 

 by an echellon march of compauie* ; but when the line is extensive, 

 the battalions which are most remote from the new alignement. and 

 which may be attacked by cavalry during the movement, should be 

 marched up in columns of battalions, the divisions being at quarter 

 distances from one another. 



The retreat of a line is accomplished by causing each alternate 

 battalion to retire, perpendicularly to the front, to a certain distance 

 towards the rear, not exceeding 200 yards, that the divisions may be 

 able to support each other by their fires ; the remaining battalions pro- 

 tecting the retreat of the others, and then retiring as far as the intervals 

 between the former battalions, who then retreat still further, and so 

 on. The intervals in the lines should be occupied by light infantry ; 

 and if the enemy should press closely, the second line of the army, 

 after the first battalions have passed through it, must contribute by its 

 fire to the defence of the intervals in the first line. 



This retreat by alternate battalions, or by half -battalions, is indis- 

 pensable when it is made over a plain ; and if the retreat is to be 

 continued, defiles and commanding spots of ground must be occupied 

 and defended as long as possible ; by degrees the bodies may diminish 

 their fronts and form themselves into columns of march. 



If a gradual retreat of the whole line is not intended, on a flank of the 

 army being attacked, that flank only may be retired in direct echellon 

 by alternate battalions or half-battalions, beginning with th.it which is 

 at the extremity of the flank attacked ; the remaining battalions then 

 retire, still en echtllun, thus keeping the menaced flank refused to the 

 enemy, taking care that the distances between the corps are not so 

 great as to render it impossible for them to defend each other by their 

 fire. Each body must repel an attack, if made upon it by infantry, by 

 a counter-attack ; if by cavalry, it may dispose itself in a square ; or 

 a new line may be fanned in the oblique position, if it be thought best 

 thus to resist a general attack of the enemy. 



The movements of the second line of an army should correspond 

 exactly to those of the first, the two lines always preserving their 

 parallelism and distance. The second is however frequently kept in a 

 line of columns of battalions, and U made to move in that order even 

 when the first line is deployed. 



The most proper stations for cavalry ore on the wings of an army, 

 because troops of this class are unfit for resisting an attack ; and should 

 they be compelled to retire when placed in the centre, there would bo 

 left an interval which the enemy might immediately occupy, and from 

 thence enfilade the wings. This false disposition waa made by the 

 French at the battles of Hochstet and Minclen, and was the cause of 

 their defeat in those actions. Cavalry are generally employed in the 

 operation of turning a line ; and it is evident that this manoeuvre 

 must be more readily made from the nearest wing than from the 

 centre. 



Man'eurrei of Light Troopt.To the light infantry and riflemen, or 

 troops acting as such, are entrusted the guard of tho encampments or 

 cantonments. When an army is on the inarch they reconnoitre the 

 country, repel any parties of the enemy which might get between the 

 columns while advancing; and they check tho pursuit of the enemy in 

 a re-treat. 



\\ hen a battalion is employed as light infantry, not more than one- 

 third of the men should actually engage as skirmishers; these extend 

 themselves in line, in two ranks, to the right and left, from some given 

 file, at any distance which may be appointed ; or, if no order is given, 

 at the regulated distance of six paces. The rest of the battalion is 

 divided into parties, as supports and as reserve, the supports, of hich 

 one party is usually in rear of the centre, and another is towards each 

 flank, should be equal in strength .to the skirmishers, and when the 

 skirmishers have advanced about 200 paces to the front, these support* 

 follow them, and are themselves followed by the reserve, at about 300 

 yards, the main body being about fiOO yards behind. Each of the 

 supporting bodies and the reserve should be kept in compact order ; 

 and when the skirmishers retire upon their support, they form in 

 sections in its rear. The skirmishers advance or retire, as the case 

 may be, in one general line, and they should avoid standing exposed if 

 any cover, as that of a hedge, ditch, or copse, can be obtained on the 

 ground : for this reason, when obliged to cross an open plain, their line 

 should make a simultaneous rush towards the spots where they may 

 lire under cover. On open ground, they fire kneeling or lying down, 

 the front rank man discharging his piece first, then retiring in rear of 

 the second rank and loading : as soon as he has loaded ho gives the 



