Fig. 54.

S. 81. When the Head of a confiderable open Column in March, arrives at or near the Point where it is to begin to take an oblique Pofition, (B) facing to its then Rear, and at which Point its eighth, ninth, or any other named Squadron, is to be placed.

In general, the column, after entering the new line, would continue its march in that direction till the named fquadron arrived, and was halted at the point of entry; the fquadrons and regiments that had not entered into the line would then break off from the old direction and gain the new one.-But if a line had wheeled into fuch a column, was marching parallel to an enemy's pofition, that its head had paffed the enemy's flank, point as far as was intended, and that the object was to take an oblique line, and attack that flank; in fuch fituation it might be hazardous to allow the rear of the column which was deftined to become the refused flank of the new line, to remain fo long in its parallel direction, and it might be esfential to draw it farther off from the enemy as foon as poffible, especially if cannon could be brought up against it.

Suppose the column confifts of five regiments, that the head of the fourth fhall be placed at the point (d) of interfection. The column moves on, and when

the

the head of it arrives at the point (d) in the new line, the two, or any proportion of the leading regiments, may, by the fucceffive wheeling of their divifions, enter and march along it in the ordinary manner.But as foon as the leading divifion of the column does enter it, the third, fourth, and every other regiment, breaks off feparately to the rear, and march quick in columns to gain the new line: The third affembles in close column a little beyond the point of interfection (d), and behind the new line; the fourth, entering as its adjutant, who marks its rear, forms in open column on the new line with its head at the point (d), and all the other rear regiments form alfo relatively in open column on the new line :-The two leading regiments having in the mean time prolonged the line, when it comes to the turn of the third (now in close column) it fucceffively takes its diftances, follows in open column, as alfo all the others, till the whole are ordered to halt, and the line to be formed by wheeling up.

The juftness of this movement depends;-on the points in the new direction being taken up quickly and with precision ;—on the previous determination that a certain regiment or fquadron fhall pafs or halt at the point of interfection and entry, and that every part of the column which is behind that fquadron or regiment, shall throw itself into open column on the new line, behind the point of entry, ready to prolong, or to form the line, whenever it comes to their turn.

This movement will often take place in the change of pofition of a fecond line, and is performed by all thofe that are behind the divifion which is to stop where the old and new line interfects. At all times when the open column changes into a direction on which it is to form, that the divifion which is to be placed at the point of entry can be determined, and that there is no impropriety in other respects, the operation will be facilitated by making every thing behind that divifion gain the new line as quickly as poffible, without waiting till the head of the column halts.

Fig. 54. C.

Suppose the column marching on a line parallel to an enemy's front, to have entered oppofite one flank, and to be marching towards the other, as if meaning to form in parallel line; but that circumstances determine to form in oblique line (c), and attack the flank it has paffed. The column will be halted when the rear has arrived at a determined point in the line: each divifion of the column will countermarch: the fquadron that is to reft at the point of entry will be named: the whole will be put in motion.-Two or three of the leading regiments continuing their march, will, by the fucceffive wheeling of their divifions, prolong the new direction. Such following ones as are to be before the point of interfection (a) will affemble clofe to it; fuch others as are to be behind it, will at once march off quickly and feparately to their points of entry on the new line, and stand in open column upon it: In proportion as the head advances, the whole will ex

tend

tend along the line in open column, be halted and formed by wheeling up.

Or under the before-mentioned circumftances.-The column when in march parallel to the enemy, may be stopt, at the time that a named fquadron is oppofite to his flank, and fuch part as is before that fquadron will remain in column.-Whatever part is then behind the named fquadron will, from the rear of the whole, countermarch by fucceffive divifions, and from the named fquadron will prolong a new direction oblique to the enemy's flank. The fquadron that is 'to reft at the point of entry will be given, and at the proper inftant the divifions which have remained on the parallel line will each be ordered to countermarch, the regiments to affemble (as before) at the point of interfection, and in fucceffion to join the general column, to form in line.The part of the column which originally halts may be wheeled into line, and for fome time remain faced to the enemy: in that cafe its divifions will have to wheel into column and not countermarch, when they are ordered to regain the new pofition.

A line formed parallel to an enemy changes fituation in the above manner, by wheeling into open column, marching on to the point of interfection, and then taking up the new oblique fituation.

If a column moving parallel to an enemy fhould ftop and take up a new position on any point then within itself, fuch formation would be a central one, and made either on a fixed or moveable divifion.

Fig. 55.

S. 82. Formation in Line on detached Adjutants, from the Affembly in Column.

If a column of feveral regiments has halted at half, quarter, or close distance, or that its regiments have affembled in contiguous columns, with fmall intervals betwixt them, and that they are to extend into a line which is at some distance from their then fituation, on their respective adjutants, and facing either to the front or to the rear.

A regiment is named to be formed on, either a flank or central one of the new line, but it fhould be that one which, being placed at the point of appui, determines the pofition of the line, and therefore will commonly be a flank one.-Each adjutant always marks that flank of his regiment in the new line, at which its head is to enter, and where its rear divifion in column is to reft, and therefore it is that flank which is fartheft from the point of appui; if his regiment is to march with its right in front, he marks its left, and if with the left in front he marks its right.-It is there

fore