REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. jrCLELLAN. 109 



formation of close columns by squadrons and by half squadrons being the same, the rules for 

 those by squadrons are alone given. 



Columns having the senior regiment in front are called right columns, those having the junior 

 regiment in front are called left columns, whether each regiment be right or left in front ; in all 

 cases right general columns have the guide left, and the reverse. 



The distance between divisions, brigades, and regiments, in close cohimn, is twice platoon 

 distance, measured as between the subdivisions of a regimental close column. General close 

 columns may be formed either from a deployed line or from a line of close regimental columns. 



FORMATION OF GENERAL CLOSE COLUMNS FROM A DEPLOYED LINE. 



(PI. 14, figs. 2 and 3.) One squadron is designated as that of direction ; the regiment to 

 which that squadron belongs forms close column on it, according to the school of the regiment ; 

 the other regiments each form close column on the flank squadron nearest the regiment of 

 direction, and then move by the oblique march to their respective positions in the general column. 



In all the movements of the regimental columns to form the general column, especially when 

 obliquing, every squadron must be exactly parallel to its original position in line ; the lines of 

 guides on both flanks must be parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the squadron at the 

 head of the column ; and, finally, the several files must be parallel to each other. 



FORMATION OF GENERAL CLOSE COLUMNS FROM A LINE OF REGIMENTAL COLUMNS. 



Kegimental columns in line — i. e., columns having the heads of all the regiments on the same 

 line — are formed with full or closed intervals ; this formation is called a line of columns with 

 full or closed intervals. 



Full intervals are such as to permit all the regiments to deploy into order of battle on the 

 same squadron of every regiment ; closed intervals are : between 6 squadron regiments 2 platoon 

 fronts ; between 8 squadron regiments 4 platoon fronts ; between 10 squadron regiments 6 pla- 

 toon fronts. 



General close column may be formed from a line of columns, either with full or closed 

 intervals. 



The first case has already been explained, when giving the manner of forming general column 

 from a deployed line. 



PL 14, fig. 4, gives an example of the latter case ; one regiment being designated as that of 

 direction, those which are to be in front of it in the column march straight to the front, until 

 arriving abreast of their places in column, when they move straight to their places ; those that 

 are to be in rear of the directing regiment gain their positions by first marching to the rear. 



If the order to form general column is given when the line is in march, the directing regiment 

 halts ; the others acting as just described. 



PI. 14, fig. 0, shows the manner of forming the general column on one of the flanks when 

 the march is to be continued after the formation. 



The 1st regiment marches straight forward ; the 2d moves to the right, by threes in each rank, 

 as soon as the last squadi'on of the 1st regiment is abreast of the 3d squadron of the 2d reo-iment 

 and moves to the left, by threes, when its line of left guides is on the prolongation of that of 

 the 1st regiment ; the 3d and 4th regiments move to the right, in turn, as soon as the regiments 

 next on their right have gained an interval equal to the depth pf a regimental close column — 

 i. e., in a 6 squadron regiment 5 platoon fronts ; in an 8 squadron regiment 7 platoon fronts ; 



