S. 53. Change of Front, by the Countermarch of the Squadron, Regiment, or Line. The countermarch changes the front and flanks of a body, and faces it to a rear, and is equivalent to a wheel of the half circle made on any of its parts or points. It is fucceffive (the body being halted) by each of its parts wheeling fucceffively on its own ground as it comes to its turn.Or progreffive (the body being in motion) by each part wheeling, when it comes up to the point at which the leading part wheeled, and begun the countermarch. In the first case the body muft fhift its ground a space at least equal to its front. In the fecond, it will perform this operation of the countermarch on its original ground, exchanging flanks and fronts. The countermarch from one flank to the other may be made either before or behind the body.-When from both flanks, it will be made both before and behind the body.-Markers will always be placed, to give the precife ground on which the countermarch is to be made.The column of countermarch muft at no rate improperly lengthen out, and the wheels of its parts must be firm and rapid. Squadron. 1. The fquadron will countermarch from either flank by file; ranks by two's or ranks by three's, in the Fig. 27. manner prescribed for the divifions of a column. (S. 45.) 2. The Squadron will countermarch from both flanks on its center-by file, or ranks by two's. From the right flank behind the rear rank; from the left flank before the front rank, till they arrive on each others ground, which has been preferved by marking perfons: the following files or two's front, and close in to their leaders, the standard turns about on its own ground, and the half fquadrons drefs to it. 3. The fquadron will countermarch from one flank by fub-divifions.-Sub-divifions will wheel to the flank. The leading one will then wheel the half circle, and proceed along the flank of the fquadron, by the fubdivifions of which it is followed, till the flanks have exchanged places. The whole being then in column, wheel to their pivots into line. 4. The Squadron will countermarch on its center by fub-divifions. -One half squadron wheels about by three's-each half fquadron wheels inwards by fubdivifions, and the ftandard faces about.-Sub-divifions of the half fquadrons move on, and wheel fucceffively into their places beyond the ftandard. The half fquadron that wheeled by three's, again wheels about; and the fquadron ftands faced to the rear on its former ground. 5. The fquadron will change front to the rear by the wheels of half fquadrons.-One half fquadron advances a little more than its own length, and halts. Both Both half fquadrons wheel about inwards.-The retired half fquadron moves up and joins the other. -A half fquadron or divifion, or any fmall body, may change front in the fame manner, by the wheels of its half parts. 6. The Squadron changes front by wheeling on its center. Half the fquadron goes about ranks by three's. The fquadron wheels about on its ftandard. The half squadron comes about by three's, and the fquadron is fronted to its former rear. Half fquadrons or divifions may change front in the fame manner. Regiment, The regiment may countermarch from one or from both flanks, by the wheels of divifions, fub-divifions, ranks by three's or two's: and the fquadrons of regiments will be mindful of the operation of their interval distances, by whatever kind of column they move-or it may countermarch on its center, or any other point by fubdivifions-Or change front each fquadron by wheels of half fquadron, or squadron, in the manner before directed. The line will countermarch or change front, in the fame manner as prescribed for the regiment. 54. Diminishing or increafing the Front of The Column of march or maneuvre, in confequence of obftructions in its route, which it cannot furround, is frequently obliged to diminish its front, and again to increase it when fuch difficulties are paffed: it is one of the most important of movements, and a regiment which does not perform this operation with the greateft exactness and attention, fo as not to lengthen out in the smallest degree, is not fit to move in the column of a confiderable corps. The diminution or increase of the front of the column, is performed by the fquadron when in movement, or when halted. In movement this operation is either done by each divifion fucceffively, when it arrives at the point where the leading one of the column performed it; or elfe by the whole divifions of the fquadron at the fame moment. In either cafe. the chief of the fquadron, at the inftant that it should begin to reduce or increase its front, gives the general CAUTION fo to do, and the leaders of divifions give their words of execution to the fub-divifions to double behind, or move up brifkly to the regulating ones, which preserve their original distances from each other, and never alter the pace at which the column was marching, but proceed as if they were totally unconnected with the operation that the others are performing. When ་ When the column of divifions is to be reduced to that of sub-divifions, it will always be done by the others doubling from their pivot flank, behind their reverse flank fub divifion, fo that the fquadron or regiment may remain ready to form in line, by a fimple wheel up to the flank: therefore the doubling will be behind the right, when the right is in front, or behind the left, when the left is in front.-When the front of the column is to be increased, the fub divifions that doubled will move up to their leading one by a sharp incline. As in diminishing or increafing the front of the column in march, the pivot divifion is the one that quits its direction; the exactness of pivots after fuch operation, will appear to be interrupted; but this is of no confequence, and inftantly regained in a column of march; it can hardly ever take place in a column of manoeuvre, which has entered a line on which it is to form. Squadron. I. When a fquadron in march, and in column of divifions, diminishes its front, either by divifions fucceffively, or the whole divifions at once.-When the leading division (suppose the right in front) arrives within twelve or fifteen yards of the point where it is neceffary to diminish its front.-The fquadron leader will give a loud CAUTION that the doubling is to be made either fucceffively, or by the whole fquadron at once. |