BAT 



BAT 



of each platoon, the rething divifion may pafs thvougli 

 the centre of the cohiran to the rear. It looks well, and 

 has a good effctt on a day of parade ; but it is too com- 

 plicated to be attempted with fafety in the prefence of an 

 enemy. 



General Ohfervations . 

 There is no doubt but that the fire of the miifquetry may 

 be reduced to a theory ; but far from that being the cafe, 

 the foldier has no principle given him, for at the diftance or 

 fitnation of the objefts, be what they may, he fires at random. 

 It is principally owing to the exercife of the target being fo 

 little praCtifcd, that this ignorance and deficiency of principle 

 is fo feverely felt. 



In our filings, the foldier is inftruiSed always to fire low, 

 yet no rcafon is given him why it fliould be fo, but that the 

 ball rifcs. To coniider this a moment ; the line of levtl 

 [The hue of level is the ftraight line by which is feen the ob- 

 jeil on wliich the bdl (hoiild be carried to.] and the hue 

 of fire [The line of the fire is a flraight line which reprefents 

 the axis of the mufquet.] are by no means parallel; for accord- 

 ing to the different weights of metal which the barrel has at 

 its breeching, and at its aperture, fo they defcribe an angle 

 more or lefs acute beyond the tube. As the eye feeks its 

 aim from the length of the line of level, it is therefore fixed 

 at the exterior of the barrel. But entirely different to this 

 principle, the motional body, ths bullet, is impelled from the 

 interior part of the inftrument, and the length of the line of 

 fire ; therefore the line of fire and the line of level cut each 

 other. From the law of attra£lion impofed on all bodies 

 obliquely thrown, at its delivery from the mouth of the 

 cylinder, the bullet or ball defcribes a curve, vi'hich rifing 

 from the muzzle, cuts the line of level at a fraall diftance 

 from the mouth of the barrel. It will, at about the diftance 

 of 60 toifes, or 360 feet, be found to be at afoot and a half 

 or two feet, its grcatell elevation above the line of level. 

 From ulience drawn to the earth by that gravitation to 

 which all bodies arc fubjefted, it again inclines to the former 

 line, and at the diftance of about 120 toifes, cuts it a fecond 

 time. It is this fecond point of interfeclion which is called 

 the mufquet-fhot, or point blank, after which the bullet 

 finiihes to defcribe its parabola to the end of its fall. 

 What is here faid is a common property to all fire-arm^. 



It follows, that to make the ball arrive at the mark in- 

 tended, the fight muft not be always precifely levelled at 

 that mark. Suppofe a mark fix feet high, divided into three 

 equal parts, if the diftance from it is 50 or 60 toifes, or 360 

 feet, then to ftrike the upper dimenlion aim muft be taken 

 at the middle one, two feet under the mark. If meant to 

 ftrike the middle, aim muft be taken at the lower dimcnfion, 

 &c. 



If at 100 toifes, the aim muft be taken one foot belov/- 

 the mark in order to hit it. If the diftance is more than 

 too toifes, to ftrike any of the dinienfions, aim Kiuft be 

 taken above the mark, and fo keep raifing in proportion to 

 the diftance. 



Suppofe a battalion of the enemy in front ; if at 300 toifes 

 dillanee, aim ftiould be taken three feet over the battalion. 

 If at 200 toifes, about a foot and a half. If at 150, aim 

 fhould be taken at their hats. If at 100, at the middle of 

 the body, &c. Although the horizontal fliot of a mufquet 

 may be computed at 180 toifes, yet, where the fire of a line 

 of infantry can have cffe£t, it is feldom more than at 80 

 toifes, or 1 60 yards. 



We (hall clofe this article with fome account of the form 

 of a review of a battalion of iiifantry, and the method of 

 performing the eighteen manccuvres, as praAifed by his 

 majefty's forces. 



Receiving the General. 



At tha time appointed f6r the review, the battalion 

 uill, as directed above, draw up in open order. Four camp 

 colours are to be placed fo as to form a fquare, round the 

 angles of which the wheelings are to be made. A fifth 

 camp colour is to be placed eighty or a hundred paces in 

 front of the centre of the battaUon, where the general is 

 fuppofed to take his ftation ; and a fixth at the fame 

 diftance, in the rear of the battalion, and oppofite to the 

 one in the front ; but although the general may choofe to 

 quit that pofition, ft ill the colour is to be confidered as the 

 point to which all movements and formations are relative. 

 The colour muft be fo placed, that the right flank of the 

 divifions, when marching paft in review, (hall be about four 

 yards diftant from the general. 



When the reviewing general is within fifty or fixty paces 

 of the centre, he will be received with a general falute ; the 

 colonel, with his back to the regiment, gives the word 

 prefent arms. The men prcfent arms, and the officers falute: 

 the miific will pl?.y, and the drums beat. The ofSceis, in 

 fainting, take their time from tlie flugel man ; as he comes 

 to the poize, they bring their fwords to the recover; as he 

 finks his firelock to the laft motion oi' the prefent, they drop 

 the points of their fwords ; when he comes to the (houlder, 

 they bring their fwords to the recovers and then, taking 

 their time from the colonel, bring them gracefully acrofs 

 their bodies to the port, and remain perfectly fteady and 

 fquare to the front. The colours only falute fuch per- 

 fons as, from their rank, and by regulation, are entitled 

 to it. 



The coIoBel then gives the vrordjhouhler arms. While 

 the general is going round the battahon, every perfon re- 

 mains perfeiflly fteady : no compliment is paid. The mufic 

 will play, and the drums beat, but they will ceafe as foon 

 as the general has returned to the right flank of the batta- 

 lion. While the general is proceeding to place himfelf in 

 the front, the colonel turns to the regiment, and gives the 

 word rear ranis tahe clofi orHer — march. He will then, as 

 alfo the lieutenant-colonel, mount on horfeback, in the rear 

 of the centre, giving the words companies, on the hfrback- 

 wrtrds wheel — quick march. Pioneers and mufic are ordered 

 to the head of the column. Officers commanding companies 

 muft be very attentive when they give the words halt — drefs, 

 to fee that they are well obeyed. 



Column — March. The -companies wheel fuccefllvely at 

 the firft and fecond angles of the ground. When the lead- 

 ing company has made the fecond wheel, it brings them on 

 the line on which they pafs the general. Each hader of a 

 company, when it has advanced fix paces from the wheeling 

 point, changes quickly by the rear to the right flank of his 

 company, and gives the words cfes right, then rear ranks take 

 open order. The mufic begins to play, the oificers move 

 three paces in front of the company, dividing the ground 

 equally, the captain on the right, ttie lieutenant on the left, 

 and the enfigu in th; centre. The captain's place is fupphed 

 on the right fiaiili by his covering fcrjeant, who is refponfibie 

 for keeping the companv at the proper wheeling diftance 

 from the one prec-.diiig it. The colonel is at the head of 

 the grenadiers, or leading company, with the major a little 

 behiiid him on his left. ' The mufic are in two ranks, fix 

 paces before the colonel. The pioneers are in two ranks, 

 fix paces before the mufic, having ■\ corporal at their head to 

 lead them. The drummers and fifeis are on the left flank of 

 their rcfpeflive companies, and the fupemum.erary ferjeantii 

 three paces in the rear of their feveral di\uions. The lieu- 

 tenant-colonel is in the rear of the light company ; the 

 adjutant a little behind him on his left. The colours arc 

 5 N 2 three 



