BAT 



divifions purfue their proper path, at the famemiiform equal 

 pace, the true diltaiKcs will be prcfervcd, which is the great 

 recrulation objcfl on this occafion, and to which every 

 other mull give way. 



XIII. Countermarch ly Files. The plutoon, when it is 

 to countermarch, mull always be coiilidered as a divifion 

 of a battalion in column. The inftruclor of the drill will 

 therefore, previous to his giving the caution to counter- 

 march, fignify whether the right or left is fuppofed to be 

 in front, that the commander of the platoon and his co- 

 vering ferjeant may be placed on the pivot flank, before 

 fnch caution is given ; as it is an invariable rule in the 

 countermarch of the divifions of a column by files, that the 

 facings be made from the flank, then the pivot one, to 

 the one which is to become fuch. On the word 2o the 

 Ri\^ht or Left Face, the platoon faces ; the commander of 

 it immediately goes to ihe other flank ; and his covering 

 ferjeant, advancing to the fpot which he has quitted, faces 

 to the right about. At the word Qjiick Alar J), the whole, 

 except the ferjeant coverer, fteps ofl together ; the platoon 

 officer wlieeling fliort round the rear rank (viz. to his 

 right, if lie has fliifted to the right of the platoon ; or to 

 his left, if he remains on the left of it) ; and proceeds, fol- 

 lowed by the platoon in file, till he has condufted his pivot 

 front-rank man clofe to his ferjeant, who has remained im- 

 moveable. He then gives the words Hall, Front, Drefs ; 

 fquares, and clofes his platoon on his ferjeant, and then re- 

 places him. All countermarches by files neceflarily tend to 

 an extenfion of the files. Unity of flep is therefore abfo- 

 lutely indifpenfible, and the greatefl care mull be taken, 

 that the wheel of each file be made clofe, quick, and at an 

 increafcd length of ftep of the wheeling man, fo as not to 

 retard or lengthen out the march of the whole. 



XIV. IVheeling on the Centre of the Platoon. The platoon 

 muft be accuftomed to wheel upon its centre, half backward, 

 half forward, and to be pliable into every fliape which cir- 

 cumftanccs qan require of it ; birt always in order, and by 

 a decided command. The words of coamiand are. Platoon 

 — on your Centre, to the Right Wheel, to the Left Wheel ; to 

 the Right about wheel ; to the Left about li'heel ; (3'e. When 

 the wheel is to be made to the right, or right about, the 

 riijht half platoon is the one to wheel backward, and the 

 left forward. The reverfe will take place when the wheel is 

 to be made to the left, or to the left about. On the word 

 Jllarch, the whole move together in the quickefl time, re- 

 gulating by the two flank men, who, during the v.'heel, prc- 

 fcrve themfclves in a line with the centre of the platoon. As 

 foon as the required degree of wheel is performed, the com- 

 mander of the platoon gives the word f/alt — Drefs, and in- 

 ilantly fquares it from that flank on which he himfelf is to 

 take port. 



XV. Oblique Marching. The inftruftorof the drill will have 

 the oblique march frequently praftifed in platoon, in fub- 

 divifions, and in file. He will fee, when in divifions, that 

 the rear ranks lock well up, and cover exaiSlly ; when in file, 

 that the exad dillances are prclerved between the files ; and 

 in both cafes, that the platoon, during its march, continues 

 parallel to the pofition from which it commenced obliquing. 



XVI. Increafing and dimini/hing the Front of an Open Co- 

 lumn, <zuhen halted, i. Increafing. The company {landing 

 in open column of fubdivifions (fuppofe the right in front) 

 receives from the inftruftor of the drill the caution to form 

 platoon. The commander of the platoon inftantly orders 

 Rear Suldivifion, to the Left oblique — Qjiick March. When 

 it has obhqued, fo as to open its right flank, i. e. when its 

 riglit flank has room to march paft; the left flank of the di- 

 vifion that was in its front he gives the word Forvjard; 



BAT 



?nd, on its arriving in a line with the firll divifion, he order* 

 Hjlt — Drefs, and takes poll on the left, the pivot flank of 

 the platoon. 2. Diminiflning. On the cautionary command, 

 from the inflruftor of the drill, to form SubJivifwns, the 

 commander of the platoon orders. Left Subdivifton — to 

 the Right Face ; and inllantly on facing, the three leading 

 files difengage to the rear, the ferjeant coverer running 

 round to head them. On the word Sl<iich March, the fer- 

 jeant condufts the fubdivifion in file, to its proper dillancc, 

 in the rear of the firll fubdivifion. The commander of the 

 platoon, having moved to the left flank of the leading divi- 

 fion, as foon as he fees the rear file of tlie fecond in a line 

 witli his own perfon, gives the words Halt — Front and Left 

 — Drrfs. The ferjeant coverer at the fame time moves 

 briikly to his poll on the left flank of the rear fubdivifion, 

 and fquares it. It is to be obfcrved as a general rule, in 

 dimiuHhiiig the front of a column by the doubling of fub. 

 divifions or feflions, whether the column be halted or in 

 motion, that the fubdivifion or fcftion on the reverfe flank 

 is the one behind which the other fubdivifions or feftions 

 double. Thus, when the right is in front, the doubling 

 will be in rear of the right divifion, and -vice versa when 

 the left is in front ; by which means the column is at all 

 times in a fituation to form line to the flank, with its di- 

 vifions in their natural order, by finiply wheeling upon the 

 pivot flanks. In increafing the front of a column, the rear 

 fubdivifions or feftions oblique to the hand the pivot flank 

 is on ; fo that when the right is in front, the obliquing will 

 be to the left ; and the reverfe when the left is in front. 



XVII. Increafing and diminl/l.ting the Front of an open 

 Column on the March. I. Increafing : The platoon march- 

 ing at the ordinary time in open column of fubdivifions (fup- 

 pofe the right in front), receives from the inflruftor of the 

 drill the cautionary command Form Platoon. The com- 

 mander of the platoon jnflantly gives the words Left ob- 

 lique — !ihiick March; on which the rear fubdivifion oblique 

 to the left, and as foon as its right flank is open, receives 

 the word Forivard. When it gets up to the firll fubdivi- 

 fion, which has continued to march with the utnioft fteadi- 

 nefs at the ordinary pace, the commander of the platoon 

 gives the words Halt — March, and takes poll; on the pivot 

 flank. 2. Diminifliing : When the inftruftor of the drill gives 

 the caution to form fubdivifions, the commander of the pla- 

 toon immediately orders, Left Subdlvijion, Mark Time. This 

 it does til; the right one, which continues its march fteadily 

 at the ordinary pace, has cleared its flank. He then orders 

 the left fubdivifion, ^lick oblique ; and when he perceives 

 that it has doubled properly behind the right one, he gives 

 the word Foriuard, on which it takes up the ordinary 

 march, and follows at its due diftance. The fame direc- 

 tions that apply to increafing or diminifliing by fubdivifions, 

 apply equally by feftions, which individually repeat the 

 fame operations'. The words for the fubdivifions or feftions 

 increafing or diminifliing the front of a column, are given 

 by the commander of a company, and not repeated by 

 thofe of its divifions. Increafing and reducing the front 

 of a column is an operation that will frequently occur in 

 the march of large bodies ; and it is of the utmofl; import- 

 ance that it be performed with exaftnefs. The inflruftor 

 of the drill muft: therefore be particularly attentive, tliat 

 the tranfition from one fituation to the other be made as 

 quick as poffible ; that the leading divifion continues its 

 march at the regular time and length of pace ; and that the 

 cxaft diftances between the divifions be accurately preferved. 

 During the operation, the ranks muft be well clofed, arms 

 carried, and the greatell attention required from each in- 

 dividual. 



XVIII. The 



