3 
base battery. He can, if he wishes, hand over the leading to a Battery Com¬ 
mander, but the latter, in this case, does not quit his position at the head of his 
battery. Battery Commanders are the guides of their own batteries, which are 
moved by them quite independently at the pace ordered. Swords are always drawn 
at manoeuvres by the Brigade-division Commander and the Battery Commanders. 
The brigade-division is parked at ten yards interval between guns and batteries. 
At manoeuvre, Battery Commanders repeat the words of command of the Brigade- 
division Commander, but give the executive words of command at the proper 
moment. They all give signals (as laid down) with the sword, at the same time 
that they give words of command. 
If the evolution entails the same amount of movement from all the batteries, 
they move at the same pace, and are halted by word of command of Brigade- 
division Commander. 
In other movements the pace is maintained by the directing battery, and in¬ 
creased or reduced by the others, till the formation is completed. Great latitude 
is allowed, both in battery, and section and sub-division intervals, in action, in line 
and all lines of columns, and they need not be the same throughout the brigade- 
division. In changing formation the same intervals are retained in the neAV 
formation, unless other intervals are specially ordered. 
Rapidity, flexibility, and simplicity in manoeuvre, are only to be arrived at by 
wide development of initiative on the part of Battery Commanders. They must 
be able to grasp, and adopt at once, the formation best suited to the movement, 
so as to lead their batteries, by the shortest way, to their places in the new for¬ 
mation. 
Reduced intervals should be largely made use of, as they render command 
easier, and are best suited to the avoidance of obstacles, &c. 
Changes of front and direction of a full right-angle are sometimes unavoidable, 
but are exceptional, and on service, inclinations to the former front would be the 
rule. The Brigade-division Commander may change the direction of the leading 
body during the execution of a change of formation. It should be the practice 
for the Brigade-division Commander and the Battery Commanders to hand over 
frequently, their several commands, at manoeuvre, to the next senior officers, that 
these latter may be practised in handling the brigade-division and batteries. 
The brigade-division may be in the following “ orders of formation,” viz. : — 
The order of advance, 
,, ,, ,, retirement, 
,, ,, ,, flank formation, 
,, „ „ oblique ,, 
,, ,, ,, action. 
Lines and columns are designated lines and columns by the right or left, accord¬ 
ing to whether the first or third battery is on the right, or leading. 
Distance in quarter-column is seven yards between batteries. 
When manoeuvring, the Brigade-division Commander is forty yards in front of 
the lead horses in all formations, except when retiring in action, when he is 
forty yards in rear of the centre of the line, or rear of the column. In retiring, 
the direction is kept by the Centre Section Commander of the centre battery ; or 
by the Section Commander of the leading section. 
Battery Commanders are twenty-five yards in front of their batteries, the same 
distance in rear in retiring, and on the flank in column. 
On the march, the normal formation is column of sub-divisions, but the front 
should always be increased if possible. If there is only room for a front of two 
carriages, the two leading batteries form a double column of sub-divisions (with a 
view to more rapid deployment), and the rear battery forms sections. The wagons 
conform. 
