BAT 



BAT 



offipff is in the rear of the colours. From thence, by marked on which the head of the column or columns is halted before 



cautions, he makts his battalion ftep out, or ftep fhort, or the formation begins. Therefore the divifion on which each 



iiiclir.e, as is neceflarv to preftrve its place in the general line, battalion at any time forms, moves up at the proper inftant, 



His great attention is to fee and prevent the beginning of and halts on that line. When feveralclofe battalions, ftand- 



faults, and not wait till they have had their effeft. By ing on the line, are to extend and form, the regulating and 



watching and regulating his advanced ferjeants, he bell regu- 

 lates his battalion. The fquarenefs of the march, the com- 

 paflnefs of the files, and the equality of ftep, are the great 

 objedls he is to have in view. The other mounted officeis 

 are behind the wings, and can afPift mudi in preventing faults, 

 and in correcting them. 



All the battalions of a line muft halt at the fame inftant 

 in confequence of that word, repeated by commanding 

 officers, whether they are then correct, or not in line. Each 

 half battahon from its own colour, and the men looking to 

 it, will be immediately dreflTcd on the colours of the next 

 adjoining battalion. By this means a general continued line 

 will be obtained, or, at any rate, a (Iraight one between each 

 two colours ; and if all the colours fhould have truly halted 



named battalion only can be obliged to form on a central 

 divifion. Each of the others will form on its front or rear 

 divifion, viz. on that which firft arrives at its ground where 

 it halts, fronts, and occupies its proper place, while the 

 others move on, and fucceffively come up to it. In forming 

 line from clofe column, points mull be given beyond both 

 flanks in the direction of the line, and a mounted officer 

 halts, and fronts each divifion, i.vhich is efpecially neceffary 

 for thofe that form upon a rear one, although lefs fo for 

 thofe that form upon a front one. The drelting and corj 

 reftion of the line is from the firft formed divifion towards 

 the other flank, and all the eyes of the battahon are of courfe 

 turned to that firft formed divifion. 



The fame number of points are required for the march 



in one line, the whole corps will be completely formed in a into an alignment, and wheeling up into hnc of art open co 

 flraigKt line. But if the halt is not juftly made, and that a lumn of one battahon, as for that of feveral battahons ; viz. 

 better line muft be obtained, the colours of the defeflive o«f where the line is entered, and always two beyond the 

 battalions will be brought into the general line ; the platoon head of the column. Therefore, although thefe precautions 

 officers will quickly arrange themfelves, eyes will be or- . may appear formal for the movements of the battalion when 

 dcred to the right, and the men will in an inftant move up. fingle, yet they are necefiary m all its exercifes, when it is 

 Too much celerity cannot be ufed in completing this opera- recolleAcd, that fuch battahon is in the place of, and muft 

 tion. confider itfelf as the leading one" of the column, on whofe 

 A fmgle battalion, when it halts, is dreffed on its right or correft pofition that of evei-y following one depends. The 

 left centre company, and is therefore in a ihaight line, fame exadnefs is required in every- extenfion from clofe 

 Two battalions drefs each from its centre on each other's column into hne, and in every forming and change of pofi- 

 colours, their outward wings conforming, and are therefore tion that the battalion makes. In fine, in order to qualify 

 in a ilraight line. Three or more battalions drefs from the the battalion for afting in the general hne, it muil at its 

 centre of each, on their next colour ; and therefore if all the fingle exercifes work on points fixed and relative, and make 

 colours halt in a hne, the line of the whole will be ftraight : no chance and accidental movements or formations. Al- 

 if they are not fo halted, the general line will not be drefled, though on moll occafions of movement and formation, and 

 till a fpecial corredion is made, but no flank will be thrown at all times in inftruftion, determined points marked by de- 

 out of the general dirc6lion. When a battalion retires and tachcd and mounted officers are given ; yet fuch helps can 



halts, it ought neVer to r?main in that fituation, but be im- 

 mediately faced about, and drcfTed to the proper front. The 

 greateft fault that a battalion in line can make, is increafing 

 its interval. Bad dreffing may be remedied without danger. 



not be expended or depended upon, when the line is ad- 

 vancing on an enemy, when a corps is harafled in its retreat, 

 and when it is unfafe to fend out officers, &c. In fuch fitua- 

 tions every thing will depend on the eye and judgment of 



but a falfe diftance prefents a weak part to the enemy, and conducing officers, who muft preferv« fuch diredlion ot 



is not to be clofed without a hazardous movement, and great movement, and feize fuch accidental points as prefent them- 



operation of the line. Commanding officers cannot take felves, and lead to the object which is to be accomplifhed. 



too much precaution to afcertain true points in the hne in In whatever Ihape a battalion is moving, the commanding 



which they are to form, before the arrival of their battalions officer is never to lofe fight of this great principle, that the 



in it. When a battalion is exercifing fingly, a commanding battalion Ihould at no tinie cover more ground than its proper 



officer may have two camp colour bearers behind each flank, extent when formed in line. Therefore if he is marching in 



properly trained, and ready to run out to that flank, to give line, he muft take care that his files do not open ; if in co- 



points-of marching, forming, or dreffing upon the true line ; lumn, his great attention fhould be, that his divifions do not 



in doing which, one flank of the battalion is generally con- open. For this purpoie his march muft be jull and com- 



fidered as in that line, and often both. pacl, his wheels quick, and all doublings up, or back, which 



Words of command cannot be fpecificd for all the variety alter the extent of front, muft be made fo as not to impede 



of circumftances and fituations that occur, but commanding the general movements of the column, or to change its 



officers, being themfclves clear in what is to be done, Hiould diftances. When the front is to be diminiflied, he muft fee 



by diilinft and explicit orders, which they divide and adapt that the doubling divifion flackens its pace, and when dif- 



fur the occafion, lead their battalions through all the points engaged from the other divifion, that it inclines well up, 



of execution with precifion. This will always be found quick, and covers, fo as not to impede the divifion in its rear, 



the ftiorteft path, nor on any account fhould any operation. When the front is to be increafed, the moving up divifion 



more efpecially the correftion of an error or miilake, when does it quick, and by oblique marching, 



once a battalion is affembled under arras, be performed in a The commanding officer muft recolleft, in the winding 



carelefs or flovenly manner, which will always be the cafe if movements of the open column of march, that the wheeling' 



the commander's orders be not pointed, loud, and fufficiently diftances muft be juft ; that the pivots are to follow on the 



explanatory. cxaft tradl which the leading one has traced out ; that the 



A battahon clofe column forms in line on its front divifion, whole, when ordered, halt on the precife ground they then 



on a rear divifion, or on a central one, according as circum- occupy ; and that when they wheel up and form, the hne 



ftances require ; and in all cafes the line formed upon is that will not then be a continued, but probably an irregular curved 



one. 



