Fig. 32. A. CAUTION. If fucceffively.-On the general CAUTION given the leader of the head divifion Left fub-divifion, Halt! orders, Left fub divifion (or whatever is the half of the marching body) Halt!; this it does, until the right one, which continues its march steadily at the then pace, has just cleared its flank-he then Right incline, March! orders, Right incline, March! Left forward! which it does sharply and well forward; and when he perceives that it has doubled properly behind the right one, he gives the word, Left forward! at which it takes the rate of march, and its due diftance, and pivot leaders are on that flank.—Great vivacity is required in command and execution, not to impede the fucceeding divifions, and improperly lengthen out the column. Each other leader performs exactly the fame operation when his divifion "arrives on the spot where his preceding one doubled. Whatever is the front of the column, it is thus diminished one half (without extending it in length) till it comes to sub-divisions; and if a farther diminution becomes neceffary, the fub divifions vifions must break into ranks by two's, and the If all at the fame time.-On the general caution from the fquadron commander, each division leader without waiting for each other, proceeds as above. Fig. 32. 2. When the fquadron column of fub-divifions in march (suppose the right in front) increases its front to divifions.-The fquadron commander gives a loud CAUTION; that column of divifions is to be formed, either fucceffively, or by the whole fquadron at once. CAUTION! If fucceffively.-On the ge neral CAUTION to form divi- Left incline, March! divifion, Left incline, March! on which it brifkly obliques to the left, and when its right is open, it receives the word, Forward! Forward! which brings it up by its right to the firft fub divifion (which has continued Fig. 32. B. to march with the utmost steadiness at its former rate) to which it joins itself; the leader takes poft on the pivot flank of his divifion, and orEyes left!ders, Eyes left! to where he is himself pofted. Each other leader performs exactly the fame operation,when his leading fub-divifion arrives on the fpot where the preceding one doubled up. If all at the fame time,-On the general CAUTION from the fquadron commander, each divifion leader, without waiting for each other, proceeds as above, When divifions double back, or form up in column, ranks must be well clofed, and the tranfition from one fituation to another, made as briskly as poffible, and as foon as the column is in its new order, the pivot leaders place themselves on those pivots. When the front of a column is to be diminished, and the obftacle is before the part which is not to double, fuch part must incline after the doubling is made, in order to pass it; but timely attention is to be given to bring up if poffible, by inclining the part which is not to double, fquare to the opening through which it is to pafs, before fuch doubling begins. -And when a diminution of front is immediately to follow an alteration in the direction of the march, fuch alteration fhould be made with a gradual fweep, fo as to give the head of the column its new perpendicular direction, when it is at leaft twelve or fifteen paces from the point of breaking off. The The fucceffive breakings of each divifion of the column at the point of difficulty, and its fubfequent moving up again as foon as it has paffed it, is the moft general practice, but is the most likely to lengthen it out, which is the great evil to be avoided. -The reduction of front by the whole fquadron at once, is therefore the most eligible; and for the fame reafon the increase of front (when the rear of it has cleared the difficulty) by the whole squadron, is to be preferred. The fquadrons of a regiment or line in column will, as they come up fucceffively to the point where the leading one made.any change, perform the fame operation. When the column has to pass a short defilé, and that there is a certainty of immediately after refuming the front which it has diminished; then fuch part of the reverse flank of the leading divifion, as the defilé will receive, will pass it in front, and fuch part of the pivot flank as is neceffarily ftopt, will by command, Wheel by three's inwards, and follow close.-On quitting the defilé, the doubled part will form up brifkly, but the general rate of the column will at no time be altered; and in this manner divifion fucceeds divifion without any improper extenfion taking place. But if the column must continue any time on a reduced front, and may expect farther alteration, then it should be diminished by the doubling back of divifions. When Fig. 31. Fig. 32. When a close column, or one at a quarter distance, is to pass a defilé; before it enters it must stand on such a front as will require no farther reduction; and therefore on approaching the defilé a halt, if necessary, must › be made, and fuch operation performed as will enable it to enter on fuch a front as it can maintain in paffing. When the defilé is paffed, a new arrangement will determine the advance of the column, From column of files.-The men may at once move up to ranks by two's; or ranks by three's; or fubdivifions, divifions, half fquadrons, or fquadrons. From column of ranks by two's.-The men may file; or they may at once move up to fubdivifions, divifions, &c. but in order to march by ranks by three's, the two's must firft wheel up, and then break into three's, and close up, From column of ranks by three's.-The ranks may aṭ once file off fo as to march two in front, or the rear rank three's may fucceffively double behind their refpective front leaders, and march (as divifions of three's) three in front.-But in order to march four in front, the ranks by three's must first wheel up and then wheel ranks by two's, but without any formal clofing in of the fquadron or retarding the column.Divifions of any kind may at once be formed up to. Column of fubdivifions, divifions, &c. enlarge or reduce their front on the march. CLOSE |