As it is extremely difficult even for a single battalion to march to any distance straight lorward in order of battle, this may be considered as impossible in the case of a whole army. It is necessary, therefore, to break the order of battle when setting out on a march, and to proceed in many files behind each other, with as small a front as convenience, or the nature of the road, may re quire. This is called marching in columns. If nothing were apprehended from the enemy, this might be per formed without any great nicety. But as it is neces sary to he prepared against every possible attack, and the enemy can be resisted successfully only when re ceived in order of battle, there arc certain rules which must be observed in marching. In the first place, the march must be so arranged, that the troops may be at any time placed in order or battle, in the most rapid man ner possible. Secondly, all precautions must be taken, according to the description and number of the troops, and the nature of the ground, that the enemy may not be able to attack us before we are prepared to receive him in order of battle. According to these principles, the disposition to all marches, whether of large or small bodies of men, must be regulated.
The ultimate principle of these movements will be found in the evolutions of a single battalion, or what is called petty tactics. Petty tactics are nothing else than the art of placing a battalion or squadron, as rapidly as possible, in order of battle, out of every given position ; and in that order which the nature of the ground, and the position of the enemy requires. A short review of these rules is a necessary preparation for the science of marches.
In most services, the battalion is divided into four di visions, and eight platoons ; and this division is the foun dation of all movements. When under arms, each man occupies a space of about two feet in rank and file, and the whole are placed in three ranks. But upon a march, it is impossible to proceed in such condensed order. Each man then requires the space of three feet on all sides. All step out with the same foot, and march regularly. The length of every step, from heel to heel, is generally thirty inches; and,in ordinary time, seventy-five of these steps are to be taken in one minute. In quick time, one hundred and eight such paces are taken in the minute; and in double quick time, one hundred and twenty. When the word is given to step out, the length of the step is about thirty-three inches. Experience proves that a quick march is incompatible with the pre servation of order even for a short space. The quick marches, therefore, are only used in sight of the enemy, or when the troops are exercised to it on parade. In ordinary marching, the soldier is not required to keep exact time and cadence.
All changes of the order of battle of a battalion on the spot- consist in forming front to the rear, or to either side. The changes on a march are to place the troops in column, and to march forward, backwards, to either side, in an oblique direction ; and in all these varieties of marching, to place them in order of battle towards any side at pleasure.
To form front to the rear, is most easily effected by facing to the right about. The third rank then becomes the first, and the whole position of the battalion is re versed. It is easy for the officers to change their places according to this alteration of position. If it is intended that the entire order of the battalion should remain un changed, it would be necessary to bring round the front by a counter-march of the whole ; a movement which, with a whole battalion, would requiic considerable time, even were it performed at the double quick step. (See Plate CCCLAXXI. Fig. t ) If it be wished that the order of the rank only should be preserved, each platoon might be made to counter-march in itself; by which, however, the platoons would be thrown round, which has its inconveniences. (Fig. 2.) To make a whole battalion wheel about, is a movement much easier conceived than executed; besides, that it would then occupy a different position. (Fig. 3.) If performed round the centre, then one half of the battalion would be obliged to wheel back wards ; while, on the other hand, it would be better that one half, before the wheeling, should face to the right about. (Fig. 4.) Many methods may be imagined of forming front to wards the flank. 1. The battalion faces to the right or left, and either form entirely by marching up, (Fig. 5.) or by deploying. (Fig. 6.) 2. By a single quarter wheel. (Fig. 7.) 3. By each company making one-eighth wheel, with the exception of the flank company forming the centre, which makes an entire wheel ; towards which the others then march straight tip to the flank of their next platoon, and take their proper place in the new front. (Fig. 8.) This is the only method at present prac tised. in all these methods the troops might be made to wheel equally well round the centre. (Fig. 9.) There are two methods of placing the troops in co lumn. 1. By forming in column ; and, 2. by wheeling with any parts of the battalion at pleasure. In forming in column, the whole battalion, with the exception of the head division or section, faces to the right or left. All march off at once, in order to place themselves, ing to their order, behind each other, and all behind the head or leading division. (Fig. 10, 11.) The reverse of
this is deploying, in which a battalion in column places itself again in order of battle by a contrary movement. A battalion may also be formed on the centre, and the deploying likewise be performed from the centre ; the one half of the battalion facing to the right, and the other to the left. (Fig. 12.) In this movement, it will be ob served, 1. That the intervals between the divisions are almost entirely done away ; and, therefore, that thc wheel ing cannot take place separately, nor, in case of a bend in the road, without making a halt ; first behind, and then again before, in order that the rear sections may have time to advance. Farther, a troop, standing thus in co lumn, cannot, without a tedious movement, form front to the flank. Finally, it is impossible, according to this method, to form in column upon a very small front ; and if this were to be done by several battalions, it would not only cause the last battalion to go a considerable way to no purpose, but would often be attended with difficulties. The forming into column by wheeling is performed by each section of a battalion making a wheel of one quar ter by itself ; so that they all stand behind each other at intervals, corresponding to their front. When, after wheeling, the battalion marches so that the first platoon forms the head, it is called to the right ; but if the wheel ing has been to the lett, and the eighth platoon has the head, they are said to march off to the left. (Fig. 13, 14.) In this manner, the march may take place, not only to the flank, but to the front, or the rear. In marching to the flank, all the sections wheel to the right or left, and march off at once. In marching forwards, all the sec tions wheel, except the one which forms the head, which marches straight forward ; and as soon as it has passed the second section, the latter wheels again towards the opposite side, in the true line of march, and follows the first ; the others, in the same manner, follow the second, wheeling as above, upon the same spot. (Fig. 15.) In marching to the rear, the head section makes a half, the others a quarter wheel. All the sections then march straight forward ; and when the second is exactly on the spot where the first has just made its half wheel, the lat ter wheels again into the new line of march ; and the like is done by the others, as they arrive at the same spot. (Fig. 16.) In the same manner a perfect counter-march may be executed ; the head section making immediately a three-quarter's wheel ; and the others, as they arrive at the same spot, making a half wheel. (Fig. 17.) From this method of forming in column, the following advantages arc derived. 1. When the road becomes more narrow, so that it is necessary to break off, this, as well as the march forwards again, can take place with out halting. (Fig. 18.) 2. The column can instantly form front to the flank, merely by wheeling inwards, which is of great advantage, when any thing is appre hended from the enemy in that quarter. 3. The march proceeds immediately without farther preparation; and the columns may be formed on as large or as small a front as we please. The only disadvantage attending this method is, that it requires a tedious movement to place the troops in order of battle to the front of the co lumn, whether this is performed by filing, which besides can only take place on the ground with a long column in a large plain; or by marching up, especially if the head section arrives first on the ground where it is intended to remain. In order to unite all possible advantages, it is usual to make the troops commence the march while the columns arc formed by wheeling. On ap proaching more to the enemy in front, divisions are formed at half distance, which at length advance alto gether, in order to place themselves thereafter in order of battle, by deploying in double quick time. The most simple mode of marching towards every side, and in all directions, is the flank march, with facing to the right or left. When moving under arms, in the neighbourhood of the enemy, and at stunt distances, this method is ex tremely useful ; and the troops ought to be particularly well exercised in it. But it is not adapted for marches in general, because the columns would require to he im mensely extended, in order to enable the soldier to march in this manner without constraint. For this reason the method has been invented of facing to the right with five or six, which is a mode of forming columns by wheeling with quarter platoons, very convenient on nar row roads, and which leavts room enough for the soldier to march unconstrained. The oblique march can he performed on very small distances by stepping out to the right or left, and the oblique On larger dis tances, it is usual to keep the two small sides of the right angled triangle, although it might be possible to wheel by sections into the direction of the large side, and pre serving the respective distance and situation of the sec tions among themselves, to march into the new front, and then to wheel inwards again. (Fig. 19.) In proper marches, the sections wheel into the line of march, and afterwards step into the road precisely behind the first.