A military dictionary

by William Duane

REFOULOIR, Fr. A cannon rammer.

REFUGEE, (Réfugeé, Fr.) See [Emigrant].

To REFUSE. A military phrase, signifying to throw back, or to keep out of that regular alignment which is formed when troops are upon the point of engaging an enemy. This often occurs in order to occupy a particular position, to prevent the enemy’s designs on any particular part of a line, or at least to make him take a greater detour to effect his purpose; or that he may be obliged to align his own on a height which is occupied, and from which he may be flanked. When a first line has passed through a second, and it is found necessary to refuse a wing, the several platoons of that line must pass according to the wing which is to be refused. If the left, for instance, is to be posted, and the right to be refused, the platoons may pass from their left by the facing of the platoon to the left, and marching to the required position in succession; the column will thereby have its left in front, will be more readily directed on the point d’appui, and the preservation of the distances will be facilitated, as they will then be taken from the front. If the right is to be posted, the platoons may pass from their right; but the movement into echellon, and wheeling into line is preferable to any mode, as errors can always be remedied in an instant, and without confusion.

It may happen where the passing line is to post one flank and refuse the other, that the officers will have their distances to take from behind; halt the whole at any time after passing, and countermarch each platoon, which will then cause the future formation to be taken from the front of the column.

A retiring line may also refuse a wing, by forming in line very soon after passing, and then taking up an oblique position to the rear, by the echellon march, or some other of the modes prescribed. See Amer. Mil. Lib.

Frederic, surnamed the great, king of Prussia, who had attentively studied the tactics of the ancients, first adopted the method of refusing a wing in the forming of an attack. This method has been since successfully followed by the best modern generals. It answers to a partial reserve of a force which is always ready at command; and in point of security, it is the reverse of what the French mean in préter un aile, to expose a wing, or post it in a precarious manner. The French during the whole of the action which was fought in Egypt, on the 21st of March, 1801, refused their right wing. Notwithstanding this precaution they were defeated by the British.

As a correct formation of the line by the echellon march, whether it advance or retire in the presence of an enemy, is generally resorted to when it is found necessary to refuse any part of a line, it will not appear superfluous to submit the following mode which is practised by the French.

Formation of the line by the echellon march of divisions, by the covering serjeants or guides running out to mark the point in the new alignment, for their respective divisions.

When the battalion changes position to the front on a fixed flank company, by throwing forward the rest of the battalion, the commander having determined the new line, and wheeled a given company into that line the named number of paces (say 4) the remaining companies wheel two paces on their right forward into echellon. The guide or covering serjeant of the second company instantly moves out, takes about ³⁄₄th distance for his company, faces the point d’appui, and places himself in such a manner, that the outside of his right arm will pass in line with the breast of the men of the company already in the line. He is corrected, if necessary, on the distant point of formation by a proper person placed on the right for that purpose. On the words form line and march being given by the commander, the guide or covering serjeant of the third company runs briskly out, places himself so as to cover the second guide or serjeant, faces the point d’appui, and takes the order ³⁄₄th distance, corrected on the distant point by the person on the right. The officer commanding the second company, marches on till he sees himself clear of the left flank of the right company; he then gives the word quarter face to the right, (his right pivot marking time) and when he observes his company square with the new line, he gives the word forward, runs nimbly out and places himself in front of the third left file of the first formed company, and when the men of his company have their feet off the ground ready to finish the last pace to bring them into line, he gives the word mark time, and dresses his men close to the outside of the right arm of the covering serjeant: and then gives the word halt. Taking care that the outward flank of his company does not shut out the distant point of dressing: he then places himself on the right of his division, covered by his serjeant, who quits his ground and briskly passes through the interval on the right of his division, at the word halt.

In this manner division after division arrives in the new line; and as the covering serjeants of each of the other divisions approach within 15 or 20 paces of the line, they run out to mark the points for their respective companies, face the point d’appui as already directed, and there remain till the word mark time—front—halt, when the guides quit their places in front and take post on the flank or in the rear.