at company distance in rear of the preceding companies, then take positions as in column by battalion.

426. The battalions thus formed will be numbered from front to rear; first, second, third, &c.

427. The music when the movement commences, will move briskly to the rear of the column; the lieutenant-colonel will successively assure the right guides upon the direction.

428. The regiment in line being in march, should the colonel wish to form the double column at company distance, he will command;

1. Double column at half distance. 2. MARCH.

429. At the first command the chief of the third battalion will caution it to continue straight forward; all the other majors will caution their battalions to face to the right or left.

430. At the command march, the third battalion will continue straight forward, the major commanding, guide right; the color will retake its place in the front rank, and the men will take the touch of elbows to the right, the four right companies will face to the left in marching, and the four left companies to the right; each company conducted by its captain will place itself behind the company of the wing to which it belongs, gaining as much ground as possible towards the head of column.

431. The corresponding companies of each wing will unite into battalion on taking their positions in column, and each captain at the instant his company arrives at the centre of the column, will command:

Such company by the right (or left) flank-MARCH. 432. The majors conforming to what is prescribed in No. 425 will at the instant the companies face to the front, place himself before their centre, and command:

Guide right.

433. The double column closed in mass will be formed according to the same principles, and by the same commands, substituting closed in mass for that of at half distance.

Deployment of the double column faced to the front.

431. The double column being at a halt, should the colonel wish to deploy it, he will cause a marker to be posted before the right and left guides of the third (now first) battalion, and a third before the left guide of the right company of this battalion, this being done the adjutants of the first and fifth battalions

will move rapidly on the alignment of those markers and a little beyond where the right and left flanks ought to rest, he will then command:

1. Deploy column. 2. MARCH.

435. The column will deploy itself on the third battalion, upon the principles prescribed for the deployment of columns in mass, as heretofore explained.

436. The deployment being ended, the lieutenantcolonel will correct the alignment, and then command, FRONT, when the markers will resume their places in line,

To form from double column into line, faced to the right.

437. The double column being at a halt and at company distance, may be formed into line, faced to the right or left, should the colonel wish to reform on right into line, he will command:

1. Right into line. 2. Guide right. 3. MARCH.

438. At the first command, each captain will face to his company, and those of the right companies will briskly command: such company right wheel, those of the left companies, such companies forward, guide right. 439. At the command march, all the right companies will wheel to the right, halt, and be aligned by their chiefs; the left companies will conform to what is indicated in No. 276 and following, on forming on right into line.

440. To form from double column, left into line may be executed according to the same principles and by inverse means, the colonel commanding:

1. Left into line. 2. Guide left. 3. MARCH.

441. At the command march, the left companies will wheel left into line, and the right companies will form on left into line, as indicated in No. 281.

Dispositions against cavalry.

442. The regiment being in column by company at full distance, right in front, and at a halt, should the colonel wish to form squaré, he will first cause battalions to be formed, and then command:

1. Form square. 2. Close column at half distance.

3. MARCH.

443. At the command march, the column will close to company distance, by the principles heretofore explained; the music will promptly place itself in the rear of the centre of the second, and the surgeon and

other staff officers in rear of the centre of the third battalion.

444. At the moment the movement commences the aide-de-camp will place himself on the right of the column, abreast with the leading battalion; these dispositions being made, the column may be put in march or caused to form square by the command:

(Fig. 34.) 1. Form square. 2. MARCH.

445. At the first command the lieutenant-colonel facing to the left guides, and the aide-de-camp facing the right, will each align these guides on the right and left guides of the fifth or rear battalion; the major of the first battalion will caution it to stand fast, that of the second, third and fourth will promptly command: such battalion right and left wheel; the chief of the fifth battalion will give the caution, forward, guide left.

446. At the command march, the first battalion will stand fast, its officers taking post as in line of battle, its right file facing to the right, and its left file facing to the left, the second, third and fourth battalions will wheel the right companies right into line, and the left companies left into line, the music, surgeon, &c. will advance a space equal to half the front of a company, and the fourth battalion will close up to form the square, be halted, faced about and aligned by the rear rank by its chief.

447. At the moment the alignment is completed, field and staff, battalion and company officers will enter the square.

448. The fronts of the squares will be designated as follows: the first battalion will always be the first front, the fifth or last battalion the fourth front, the right companies of the other battalions the second front, and the left companies of the same battalions the third front, the first and fourth fronts will be commanded by their respective chiefs; the second and third fronts by the senior majors, each taking post as in line of battle, the colonel attended by the lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp will take position in the centre.

449. The regiment being in line, should the colonel wish to form rapidly into a square, he will first form column doubled on the centre, according to the principles prescribed in No. 422 and following, preceding the command, double column at half distance, with that of to form square, he will then form square by the same commands and principles indicated in No. 444 and following; in this case the third battalion will form the first front, the two rear companies the

fourth, the companies of the right wing the second, and those of the left wing the third.

450. The regiment being formed into square should the colonel wish to advance a short distance without breaking into column, he will command:

1. By first (or such) front, forward. 2. MARCH.

451. At the first command the chief of the first front will give the caution, such front forward, guide centre, the chief of the second will command, second front left FACE, the chief of the third will command, third front right-FACE, and the fourth about―FACE, forward guide centre.

452. At the command march, the square will put itself in motion, the right guide of the left company of the first front will be charged with the direction, the companies marching by the flank will be prompt in preserving their distances, and the fourth front will keep constantly closed on the flanks of the second and third fronts.

453. To halt the square the colonel will command:

1. Regiment. 2. HALT.

454. At the second command the square will halt, the second and third fronts will be faced outwards, and the fourth about, by commands of their respective chiefs.

455. The square may be moved by either front, according to the same principles.

456. To reduce the square and break into column the colonel will command:

(Fig. 35.) 1. Form column, 2. MARCH,

457. At the first command the chief of the first front will caution it to move forward, the chief of the second will cause it to face to the left, and then command, by company by file left, the chief of the third front will cause it to face to the right, and then command, by company by file right, the chief of the fourth will caution it to stand fast.

458. At the word march, the first front will move forward, be halted and aligned by the left, when it has attained a distance equal to half its front, the corresponding companies of the second and third fronts, will wheel by file to the left and right, and march to meet each other behind the centre of the first battalion, and at the moment they unite, the captain of each, will halt his company and face it to the front, the battalion being re-formed, its chief will align it by the left.