The artillerist's manual and British soldier's compendium

by F. A. Griffiths

MOVEMENTS OF A BATTALION.

Part 3.—Section 1. Commands.

All words of command must be given short, quick, and loud.

S. 2. Degrees of march.

The Slow step is particularly applicable to purposes of parade, and occasionally to the march of extended lines.

The Quick march is the usual pace to be applied to all general movements of Battalions, or greater bodies, in Column, or Line.

The Double march is only to be applied to the movements of the Divisions of a battalion, except upon peculiar occasions for short distances.

S. 3. Marching in line.

The March in line is generally adopted where the country is open.

S. 4. Wheeling.

Wheels are made on a Halted pivot from Line into Column, and from Column into Line. The principle of the Moveable pivot must always be applied to the wheel of divisions marching in column. Wheels of divisions may be either made forward, or backward. In progressive movements they are to be made Forward, but particular occasions require that they should be made Backward on the pivot flank. The Backwards wheel need not, however, be practised where the ground is uneven, and the Divisions stronger than 15 or 16 files: where this is the case, the Command will be

Form open column, right (or left) in front—Right about face—Right (or left) wheel—Quick march.

Halt, Front.

S. 5. Movements.

Every movement must be divided into its distinct parts, and each part executed by its cautionary and executive words of command. All field movements and firings are to be performed with fixed bayonets, except when troops are acting as Light infantry.

S. 6. The Alignement.

To march in an Alignement is to make troops march in any straight line, which joins two given points—or to form upon any such given line. When troops are to form in a straight line, two necessary points in it must always be previously ascertained. One, the point of Appui at which one flank of the Body is to be placed, and the other the distant point of formation or dressing, on which the front of the body is directed.

S. 7. Points of formation.

The line on which troops move, or are successively to form, may be taken up to any extent by the prolongation of an original short base, given in the direction which the Commander of a line will point out.

S. 8. Dressing.

The Officer in dressing is placed on that flank of his division to which the men’s eyes are turned on the word “Dress,” and from the second file from the flank of the Company towards which his wheeling flank moves from column, or his inward flank from echellon: he makes his corrections on his intermediate point. In all wheelings into line the word “Eyes Front” will be given as soon as the dressing is completed. When Officers change from one flank to the other in order to close, they will pass by the front, and repass by the rear of their Companies. On all other occasions, when it is necessary to change their flanks in line, they will pass and repass by the rear.

S. 9. Open column.

All changes of position, by means of the Open column, will be effected by the formation of a column, right or left, in front, on the named division. If on a flank division, the caution will specify whether the other flank is to be thrown back, or forward: if on a central division, the caution will in like manner specify which wing is to be thrown forward. An open column may effect a change of position upon its front, rear, or any central division by the named division wheeling up according to the front to which it is intended to change; and the other divisions facing, and filing into the new alignement.

S. 10. Column at Quarter distance, and Close column.

When Close columns are formed, the Companies or Divisions must be at one pace distance. In the wheel of a Column at quarter or close distance, the leading division acts as a moving base for the rear Companies to follow; its length of step is regulated according to the depth of the column, and when at quarter distance must be very short to enable the rear to circle simultaneously round at the usual pace. Upon the wheel being ordered, all the rear divisions make a half face to the wheeling flank; but at a quarter distance, the leading division will advance six paces on the word “Quick (or Double) March,” and will wheel round the pivot file at a shortened pace, while each succeeding division will advance, in circling round, to quarter distance, which will leave room for the rear divisions to circle into their relative positions at that distance. In wheeling on the Moveable pivot, the rear divisions make a half turn towards the shoulder brought forward, and the front division wheels and advances at a shortened pace in the new direction, the rear divisions circling round. In Close column, the supernumeraries will form on the reverse flanks of companies; and when the column marches to a flank, they will move with their companies; when the Close column is to countermarch they will remain on the reverse flank, and countermarch on their own ground. When a Column deploys on a rear division, the named division when uncovered will move up to the front (which its covering Serjeant will mark); the points, therefore, necessary for the formation of the Battalion will be taken in prolongation of these points, and the Divisions which successively move up must Halt, Front, until their front is clear.

S. 11. Echellon.

The Echellon position and movements are applicable to the oblique or direct changes of situation, which a Battalion may be obliged to make to the front or rear, or on a particular fixed division of the line. The oblique changes are produced by the wheel (less than the quarter circle) of divisions, which places them in the echellon situation. The direct changes are produced by the perpendicular and successive march of divisions from line to front or rear. In Echellon, the inner flank, (or that which first joins its preceding division when the line is to be formed forward,) is the directing one; and in Oblique echellon the wheels are made on it, into echellon—forward, and into line—backward.

Practical rule for the Battalion and Line on all occasions of Wheeling by Companies into echellon.

“Each covering Serjeant having previously placed himself before or behind a given file (the 8th) from the standing flank, will take the named number of paces from the centre of that file on the arc of the circle, and thereby become a direction for the Company to wheel up to, and halt.”

As eight paces from the eighth file complete the Quarter circle, so four paces give the One-eighth, and two paces the One-sixteenth of the circle. All changes of front by the Echellon march are performed by the forming divisions wheeling half the angle wheeled by the division to be formed upon. In all changes of position by echellon, whether direct or oblique, the leaders of companies will invariably be on that flank towards which the change of position is to be made. But in taking ground to a flank on the march, in echellon of Sub-divisions or Sections, Companies’ leaders remain in their places as when in line.

S. 12. Squares.

Squares are formed either from Line, or from Column at full, half, or quarter distance. The Hollow square, four deep, is sufficiently solid to oppose an attack of Cavalry: it possesses, at the same time the advantage of rendering the fire of all the men available to the resistance of the enemy. The Solid square should seldom be adopted, because a proportion of the men cannot give their fire. Close columns should in all cases when practicable, open therefore to quarter distance, and form Square (as in Sec. 21, No. 1, Part III.). But as every position in which a Battalion may be placed should be susceptible of ready resistance against Cavalry, the Close column can always assume an efficient posture of defence, by the six centre Companies wheeling outwards by Threes, and closing to the front, and the two rear Companies facing to the right about: the Officers and Serjeants taking post in the centre. The wing of a battalion can in like manner form the solid square from a Close column of Sub-divisions. When Cavalry is not to be resisted, it will be sufficient to form the Square two deep to the rear. The formation of Battalion squares, either from Line or Column, is to be completed as expeditiously as possible; and the Squares may afterwards be placed in direct echellon for mutual defence.

S. 13. Firings.

In all movements, Firing should commence after a formation. In firing by Companies, the Leaders will give the Word “Ready” when the previous division fires, preserving the pause of slow time between this and “Present,” the men firing when they have covered their objects. In firing by wings, one wing will receive the word “Ready,” the instant the other has completed its loading. Great care must be taken in file firing that it is not hurried, and that the men “Present” deliberately. The value of a soldier’s ammunition, and a jealousy of its expenditure without effect, must be carefully inculcated; for in proportion as a cool and well-directed fire serves to distract and throw an enemy into disorder, so is a wild, confused, and hurried fire (which is always without effect) calculated to give him confidence, and a contempt for his opponent. Soldiers should, therefore, bear in mind that nothing makes so strong an impression on an enemy, as the thinning of his ranks by a well-directed fire; and that nothing tends more to animate and encourage troops than the diminished fire from ranks so thinned; affording also the most favourable opportunity for a successful charge. In firing in square, the two front ranks are to come to the kneeling position without cocking, on preparing to receive cavalry. The standing ranks in square will fire independently from the right of faces.

Street firing.

A Column at open, half, or quarter distance, formed in a street or narrow ground where deployment is impracticable, may be required to fire previous to charging forward, or by successive divisions in retiring. It will be performed in the following manner:—

If advancing, the two front Companies only will fire in succession; the leading Company firing and loading kneeling, the second Company closing to the front, and firing standing. When the enemy’s fire has been overcome, or at any favourable moment that may present itself, the column will charge briskly forward, and make good the ground it is contending for.

In retiring, the leading division will give its fire; Slope arms; Face outwards by sub-divisions; File to the rear; Re-form Company; Load; and remain halted, until its front is again clear, or the whole column is put in motion. The moment the front of the second company is clear, it will give its fire; Face outwards by sub-divisions; and file to the rear as above directed: and so on by companies in succession: the companies thus follow each other, and when the front of the column occupies the whole breadth of the street, the outward files of companies will double in the rear, to give the companies which have fired room to pass. It must never be forgotten, in entering towns or villages occupied by the enemy, that the first thing to be done, on gaining a footing in the place, is to clear the houses on both flanks, and the column should on no account proceed through the streets without previously occupying the houses on either side; the troops employed for that purpose breaking through partition walls, or pushing on from house to house, so as to accompany the march of the main body, and protect its flanks.

FORMATION OF THE BATTALION.

When the Battalion is formed, there is to be no interval between any of the Companies, and every part of the front of the Battalion should be equally strong. The Grenadiers will be on the right, Light company on the left, the other companies from right to left. The Battalion will be told off into Right, and Left wings.

FORMATION OF THE BATTALION, AT CLOSE ORDER.

The Commanding officer is advanced in front for the general purpose of exercise when the Battalion is single; but in the March in line, and in the firings, he is in the rear of the Colours. The Lieutenant-colonel is behind the colours, twelve paces from the supernumerary rank. The 1st Major is six paces in the rear of the second Battalion company from the right flank; 2nd Major at the same distance in the rear of the second Battalion company from the left; the Adjutant at the same distance in rear of the colours. One Officer is on the right of the front rank of each company, and One on the left of the Battalion; all these are covered in the rear rank by their respective Serjeants; and the remaining Officers and Serjeants are in a third rank behind their companies. The colours are placed (both in the front rank) between the two Centre companies. The supernumerary rank is at three paces distance when in Line; and when in Column, it is at the distance of one pace.

When the Battalion takes Open order.

Rear Rank take Open Order—March.

Officers of Companies and those with the Colours dress three paces in front of the Line. The 1st Major is on the right of the Officers, the 2nd Major on the left. The Adjutant on the left of the front rank. The Colonel ten paces, and the Lieutenant-colonel six paces, in front of the Colours.

When the Battalion resumes Close order.

Rear Rank take Close Order—March.