An important evolution of a battalion is that of placing itself in a square or oblong form, with the men on the four aides facing outwards, so as to be enabled to resist an enemy who may attempt to surround them. This figure is generally formed hollow, or so as to inclose a space in which are the officers, or in which baggage or treasure may be placed for security; if otherwise, it is evident that great numbers of the men would be useless, since they could not use their fire-arms.
When a battalion iu open column forms square on the leading , company, the leading compauy, if moving, halts—the second company closes up to it and halts, the remaining companies, except the two last, wheel outwards by sections successively on coming up to quarter dis. tance from those that precede them, the flank sections halting when they have wheeled the quarter circle, the others closing up to them. The two rear companies closing up and being faced about form the rear of the square.
When a battalion in line is to form a hollow square, the mamaceuvre may take place upon any given company, generally the left centre company, or upon one formed of the two contiguous subdivisions of two companies, which then for the moment remain at rest; while the other companies break out of the line and march to the rear of the troops who are stationary. ,.The second division in the column marches close in rear of the first, end these two form the front of the square ; the remaining companies march by fours, so as to form a column of companies at quarter distance in rear of these, when all, except the two last, wheel by sections outwards, as in forming square from column, and form the sides of the square : the last closes up to the next to it, and these two form the rear of thesequare. If the square is to resist an attack of cavalry, the two front ranks kneel and slope their firelocks outwards till, at the word of command, they fire a volley: the men in the two standing ranks fire by files, or in. dependently of one another. In England, when the 2 rank formation is employed, the square will be four ranks deep, but with continental nations, where the 3 rank formation is employed, it would be six ranks deep ; for instance, Bonaparte, while in Egypt, formed" hie infantry in squares whose aides were six ranks deep, in order to resist the Mame luke cavalry, while at Waterloo the English squares were four deep.
When several battalions form themselves into squares, they dispose themselves either en echellon or in two lines, each square in the first line being at some distance in front of the Interval between two squares in the second line ; by which means the tire of one square may defend the face of another.
Squares may be reduced to columns, and these to line, by reversing the processes above mentioned. One square consisting of several battalions is not recommended, as much time would be spent in its for mation, and the safety of the troops might be endangered should they be attacked while so occupied.
A battalion in column may be obliged to engage in a street or narrow pass where deployment is impossible. In this case, if the column is advancing, the two front companies or divisions fire, the first kneeling and the other standing ; after which, on a favourable occasion present ing itself, the whole column moves forward : if the column is to retire, the first division, after firing, faces outwards, half to the right and half to the left; these subdivisions file away to the rear, where they re-load , the second division fires, then files to the rear in like manner, and so on.
Evolutions of a Regiment of Cavalry.—The movements of cavalry on a field of battle, like those of infantry, consist of marches to the front or rear, in line or en echelon; deploying from open or close columns into line, and the converse.
If it be required to form a line for attack from an open column of divisions upon any particular division, those divisions which are in front go about by threes and make a wheel forward on the outward flank equal 'to one-eighth of a circle, and those which are in the rear wheel forward one-eighth ; all the divisions being thus parallel to each other, they march in this order up to the alignement on the division which remained stationary, wheeling into it as they arrive. On the contrary, if the column be in retreat, and it be required to form a line on the defensive from an open column of divisions, suppose on the first division of the first or leading squadron, the leading squadron countermarches and all the remaining divisions make a wheel equal to one-eighth of a circle, and in this order march up and wheel into the alignement. It must be observed that the line first formed in these eases is to be at the distance of two horses' length in rear of the intended alignement, in order to allow the officers in front of each squadron to dress the troops, which they can do more correctly than the officers of divisions who are in the line Itself.