TACTICS. 
We sliall [now proceed to show the ope- 
rations of a body of men according to the 
existing regulations, illustrating the several 
movements by means of figures, which 
will be found in Plate XV. Miscellanies : 
they will suffice to give a general idea of 
the evolutions of armies on a large scale, 
as well as of small parties, the principles of 
motion being the same in both. 
'I’lie first matter requiring consideration 
is the. act of wheeling, which may be per- 
formed either to a given point, say to the 
right ; or on a given point, say on the left ; 
in either case the front will be to the right. 
.But when a body of men has wheeled to 
the right, as A, in fig. 11 . changing place to 
B, and that it be required to wheel up into 
line, i. e. to the left, such body will have 
gained both to the right and to the front 
equally ; the intermediate angle being 90”, 
and the third position, C, standing at an an- 
gle of 45° from the position, A. Conse- 
quently a succession of wheeling, to the 
riglit and left alternately, will occasion the 
several positions, in succession, to represent 
an escalier, or flight of steps. It requires, 
therefore, but little demonstration to show 
the utility of wheeling backward on the 
left, in the first instance, to proceed along 
an aligneinent, O Q ; because the troops, by 
wheeling to the left, would always come up 
to the line of their left hand pivots (or files.) 
Simple as it may seeni, this precaution is 
not yet sufficiently understood, or, at least, 
not invariably attended to ; whereby many 
oblique movements are made to remedy the 
error thus generated. 
But troops do not always make a full 
wheel, i. e. of 90”, in many instances, as in 
fig. 12; v/here an oblique position, D, is to 
be taken, the whole line, F, wheels by small . 
divisions, only an octave, i. e. the eighth of 
the circle, corresponding with 45”, and thus 
show a succession of fronts, like the teeth 
of a saw, all parallel to the new position of 
45”. This is called eghellon (a French term, 
signifying tlie steps of a ladder). Where 
the angle of the new position is more or less 
acute than 45”, the wheel may be made to 
correspond nearly therewith ; so that, when 
the different divisions marcli to their seve- 
ral places in the new line, they may move 
fully to their fronts, and come up square 
into their places. Where the ground is 
bad, and that file marching is necessary, the 
line may wheel to the riglit in eghellon, to 
the requisite angle, to point the left flanks 
of the divisions to Ihcir proper situations in 
the new line, F. When the right or left 
flank of a corps is the pivot for. the new di- 
rection, it becomes a point d’appui, and the 
division nearest thereto is arranged properly 
upon the new line, wliere it remains as a 
guide for the others, w’hich, arriving in suc- 
cession, prolong the new front. Tiie eghellon 
movement may be considered peculiarly 
safe, af the same time tliat they are rapid 
and regular; tlie line may be tbnned in- 
stantly, provided the leaders of the se- 
veral divisions preserve their appropriate 
distances. 
It is to be remarked, that eghellon move- 
ments may be made in any direction, whe- 
ther to front or rear ; the divisions wheeling 
to front or rear accordingly ; thus, in tia. 13, 
vyhich represents a change of from G to H, 
as the new direction runs tiirough tiie old 
one, tliose divisions which are to be in front 
wheel forward, while those which are to be 
in the rear of the first position, G, face 
about, and wheel towards the rear ; ob- 
serving that the whole wheel the same 
way, i. e. to the right. The two companies 
nearest the line, H, may be previously 
posted thereon to advantage, so as to be 
settled by the time tiie word is given for the 
others to march. When those of the rear 
have come to their places, tliey face about 
to the front, and dress. And here it is ne- 
cessary to remark, that the exterior flank of 
every company, after been settled in its 
post, become the point d’appui for the next 
which is to arrive, and to place itself on 
that flank ; but that the officer always 
looks from the point d’appui towards some 
object, such as a banneret, or a staff of- 
ficer, See. fixed as a guide for the aligne- 
ment, at that point, which is to be on the 
flank, as at S S in this example. 
The column, which is one of the most 
frequent and important figures of the tactic 
system, may be found in a variety of modes; 
the most ordinary is by wheeling, eirlier 
wholly, or in eghellon ; but it is often useful 
to form it, by the march of divisions in files 
towards their posts, as shown in fig. 14. 
When this is done, three files (the leading 
ones) of each division turn towards their 
new stations, at whicli their several pivot- 
men are ready placed ; the whole, when 
ordered, march towards tho.se men, and 
wiien the division, on which the column 
forms, is duly covered, each company, in 
succession, fronts in conformity with tliat 
division. 
This figure shows a battalion, he. form- 
ing upon its sixth company, the left in 
front; to effect this, the five divisions, on 
