line after halt After the march and halt in line of each fquadron Dreffing the by its own center, if a more exact dreffing is required, ing. then two perfons are placed with their horfes heads before the flank files of the regulating fquadron, which is previously dreft in the true direction: each other squadron, from each flank, advances (directly forward) a perfon to prolong that line; all eyes are directed to the regulating fquadron; the whole (by fquadrons, either together or fucceffively, and quickly as ordered) move up and halt in the given line.A ftraight line is in this manner obtained; but if the intervals are false, they must remain fo till corrected by order, and by a separate operation of flank marching. dron. A flank Squadron of a line need never remain an Flank squainftant with a falfe interval, or ill dreffed, as its corrections do not interfere with any other part of the line. in line. When it is necessary for any squadron, on account of Clofing files inaccurate and loofe formation, to clofe its files or parts by paffing, it fhould be done to fuch file of the squadron as will best tend to establish the just interval it ought to keep from the directing hand: this will depend on the quick eye and decifion of the commanding officers of fquadrons, who will hold it in view on fuch occafion. All correction of the dreffing of a line, after forming or halting, is made from the point by which the movement, formation, or halt was made; fhould that point be obliged to shift, then the line formed must be The dreffing of a line cor rected on fixed and determined points Dreffing the line forward. an accidental one.-When the line halts after moving in front, fuch point is the center of the regulating squadron. When from column, the line is formed by wheeling up, fuch point is the flank, which was the leading pivot of the column.. -When the line is formed by the fucceffive marching up of divifions in front, as in change of pofition on a given divifion, fuch point is the outward flank of the given divifion, -In general, when corrections of a line are to be made, the commander places two or three persons in the intended line which is inftantly prolonged by others, and the regiments conform accordingly. In the correction of the partial parts of a line, the reining back, or throwing back fuch parts, cannot always be avoided; but where the whole line is to be new dreffed, and that circumstances admit, much facility attends the operation, if fuch a direction is taken as caufes a drefling forward, however fmall, of every fquadron that compofes it. GENERAL GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REGULATE S. 19. Changes of pofition of the regiment or line from one distant fituation to another are made, in line, or by the Echellon (diagonal) march of divifions in front, or by the movements of the column, especially of the open column. Changes of pofition in open column, are in general movements of previous disposition, made from one distant fituation to another, not liable to the interruption of an enemy. Original or new pofitions, where circumstances allow, are in this manner easiest and fooneft taken, especially in the prolongation or movement of a line to its flank. Changes of pofition of the regiment or line already formed, when made in one or more open columns, may be divided into four parts. r I. The regiment or line 2. A fingle regiment, by the By the Echellon or diagonal movements. other regiment of a line move off separate in regimental columns of divifions, till they arrive at the new pofition, and it is there that their divifions separately and fucceffively enter that pofition. 3. The divifions again form in a general open column, perpendicular to the new direction. 4. When the divifions of each regiment are thus arrived, halted, and adjusted, the line is formed by their wheeling up, fquadron after squadron, regiment after regiment, or the whole together as ordered. The Echellon for diagonal) changes of pofition are the fafeft that can be employed in the prefence of and near to an enemy; they are almoft equal in fecurity to the march of the line in front, or to an uniform wheel of the line, but which is very difficult to execute; they can be used in the most critical fituations where the filings and movements of the open column could not be rifked: they are more particularly used, when the enemy's flank can be taken by throwing the body forward, or when one's own is to be covered by throwing it backward.-The advantages attending them are, the preferving a general front during the march, and allowing fufficient freedom of movement, which in such a situation is indispensible; they they enable to change pofition on any divifion of the line, either on a fixed or moving point, and at any inftant the movement can be ftopt, a line formed, and a fudden attack repulfed.—The Echellon changes require the ground to be nearly of fuch a nature as a full line could advance in; and any of its divifions that meet with obstacles in their march will pass them in the fame manner as they do in line, by doubling divifions, or following ranks by three's, and without interrupting the progrefs of the others. 1. Divifions (generally half fquadrons) of the regiment or line, wheel forward an eighth, quarter, or half-wheel, as ordered towards the hand to which they are to change pofition, and fo as that each thereby ftands perpendicular to the line drawn from its Changes of pofi-inward flank to the point that tion of the regiment flank is to reft at in the new line. or line made by the Echellon march of 2. Each divifion marches on divifions confift of directly in front, by its inward flank, to its proper point in the new line. three parts. 3. Each divifion fucceffively on its inward flank arriving at the divifion preceding it (which is already halted in the line) dreffes up, and forms truly in that line, Each |