A military dictionary

by William Duane

This is the most rapid movement by which men under arms, or otherwise when formed, should go from line into column, or come from column into line. This is applied chiefly to the purpose of wheeling, and is the rate at which all bodies should accomplish their wheels, the outward file stepping 30 inches, whether the wheel be from line into column, during the march in column, or from column into line. In this time also should divisions double and move up, when passing obstacles in line; or when in the column of march, the front of divisions is increased or diminished.

A March, (La Marche, Fr.) a certain tune or concord of notes, which is adapted to the movement of any particular body of troops, as, the grenadier’s march, the march of the Marseillois, la marche des Janizaires, the march of the Janizaries.

Marching to the front or rear. This is one of the most difficult operations in military movements.

The person instructing a platoon will, before he puts it in motion to front or rear, indicate which flank is to direct by giving the word, mark time! and then forward or march. Should the right be the directing flank, the commander of the platoon himself, will fix on objects to march upon in a line truly perpendicular to the front of the platoon; and when the left flank is ordered to direct, he and his covering serjeant will shift to the left of the front rank, and take such objects to march upon.

The conductor of the platoon, before the word march is given, will endeavor to remark some distant object on the ground, in his own front, and perpendicular to the directing flank, he will then observe some nearer and intermediate point, in the same line, such as a stone, tuft of grass, &c. these he will move upon with accuracy, and as he approaches the nearest of these points, he must from time to time chuse fresh ones in the original direction, which he will by these means preserve, never having fewer than two such points to move upon. If no object in the true line can be ascertained, his own squareness of person must determine the direction of the march.

The same observations hold good in all movements to front or rear, or from either flank; and the only way to execute them with accuracy, is for the leader to look out for small intermediate points of march.

March of a battalion in file, is to advance from the right, left, or centre of any given number of men, for the purposes of countermarching, or of closing, or opening an interval in line. On these occasions the whole step off together at the word march, and dress at the word mark time, the whole front, and the officers and serjeants, resume their several posts in line and then receive the word halt. Whenever more than one company march in file, the officers are out of the ranks during the march, on the left of the leading file when the right is in front, and on the right when the left is in front. They are of use in preserving the line and step, as the rear officer necessarily keeps the pace, and marches on the exact perpendicular line of his coverer. When a company is marched off singly, or files into or out of column, the officer is invariably to be in front. It sometimes happens, that a battalion standing in narrow ground, may be obliged to form open column from its leading flank, either before or behind that flank, before or behind its other flank; or before or behind any central part of the line.

To March in file before the right flank. When the right platoon or company has moved on, the rest of the battalion face to the right, and march in file: the divisions then successively front, following each other, and taking the leading one for their regulating company.

To March in file behind the right flank.

The whole face to the right, and march by word of command; at which instant the right division countermarches to the rear, fronts, and moves forward; whilst every other division successively moves on in the same manner (having previously countermarched) and continues till the whole is in column.