(b) In forming column of twos or troopers only the elements of the right four move in the manner indicated above. Each of the other elements successively turns to the right (par. 389) and then, after advancing in the new direction, turns to the left so as to enter the column at 4 feet distance (par. 331). Gaits are regulated as in pars. 337-a, c. The movements described in (a) and (b) are among those referred to in par. 468-b. (Fig. [45].)
(c) Right (left) by fours is ordinarily unsuited to execution in groups of any size. Should it be necessary to break to the front from the flank of such a unit, column of fours to the front may be formed by executing fours right (left) and then changing the direction of march of the head of the column. The oral commands: 1. Fours right (left), column left (right), 2. MARCH, and 1. Fours right (left), column half left (right), 2. MARCH, are authorized for this purpose. Gaits are regulated as in par. 337d-d.
(d) For cases that are not suitably met by (a) or (c) of this paragraph the commands: 1. Right (left) forward, fours right (left), 2. MARCH, are authorized. The right four is the base and moves forward following the leader, who promptly takes position in front of the guide of the column (pars. 325, 374). The second four from the right starts to move as in fours right (par. 391), its guide decreasing the pace until the right four has partly cleared the second four, when the latter four, by a movement approximating an oblique, enters the column so as to follow in the trace of the leading (original right) four at 4 feet distance. The other fours execute fours right (each slightly decreasing the pace during the turn), and then column left, so as to follow the second four at the proper distance. The fours move simultaneously and, except as noted above, all at the same gait (par. 337d-d).
In the execution of the movement dismounted the right four moves forward; the remainder of the squad executes fours right, column left, and follows the right (leading) four at 92 inches distance. The right four takes four short steps just after it, clears the four next on its left, then resumes the full step. (Fig. [46].)
Fig. 45, par. 403b (b).
Fig. 46, par. 403d (d).