We shall endeavour to explain, in as brief terms as the subject may admit, the manner in which the British forces are now trained; commencing with the first stages of the recruit's tuition, and proceeding, in a regular course, through the operations of companies, battalions, and lines; whereby the chain of connection will be best preserved, and the whole be duly exhibited. The following preamble, taken from the "Rules and Regulations for Formation, Field Exercise, and Movements, of his Majesty's Forces," is so admirably suited to our purpose, that we present it to our readers as the best preparation we can afford:

"The great object in view is, one general and just system of movement, which, directing the government of great as well as of small bodies of troops, is to be rigidly conformed to, and practised by, every regiment in his Majesty's service. To attain this important purpose, it is necessary to reconcile celerity to order; to prevent hurry, which must always produce confusion, loss of time, unsteadiness, irresolution, inattention to command, &c.; and to insure precision and correctness, by which alone great bodies will be able to arrive at their object in good order, and in the shortest space of time; to inculcate, and to enforce, the necessity of military dependence, and of mutual sup. port in action, which are the great ends of discipline; to simplify the execution, and to abridge the variety of movements, as much as possible, by adopting such only as are necessary for combining exertions in corps, and that can be required or applied in service, regarding all matters of parade and show merely as secondary objects; to ascertain to all ranks the part each will have to act in every change of situation that can happen, so that explanation may not retard at the moment that execution should take place; to enable the commanding officer of any body of troops, whether great or small, to retain the whole relatively, as it were, in his hand and management, at every instant, so as to be capable of restraining the bad effects of such ideas of independent and individual exertion as are visionary and hurtful, and of directing them to their true and proper objects, those of order, of combined effort, and of regulated obedience, by the united force of all which a well disciplined army can only be defeated. The rules laid down will be found few, simple, and adapted to the understanding of every individual; but they will require perfect attention in all ranks. In

the soldier, an equal and cadenced march, acquired and confirmed by habit, independently of music or sound: in the officer, precision and energy of command; the preservation of just distances; and the accurate leading of divisions on given points of march and formation. These circumstances, together with the united exertions of all, will soon attain that precision of movement, which is so essential, and without which valour alone will not avail."

After this, the work in question proceeds to state: "The recruit must be carried on progressively; he should comprehend one thing before he proceeds to another, and he should not be uselessly fatigued; he is to be trained singly and in squad; nor is he to be allowed to join in battalion until he may be confirmed in every requisite; for one awkward man will frequently derange a whole line." The incipient parts of instruction, however simple they may appear, are by far the most difficult to inculcate; but they are of the most imperious consequence: when a good foundation is obtained, the work will proceed with rapidity and firmness, and the pupil will, from being sensible how much he has acquired at the onset, move and act, throughout the ulterior stages, with promptitude and confidence. Standing perfectly silent and motionless, fixing his eyes steadily either to the front, or to the right or left, as may be ordered; dressing up to the same line with others; carrying his body erect, the toes turned out, the limbs firm, but pliant, erect, raised, and his weight rather borne on the fore than on the hind parts of the feet, are all matters tending greatly to his perfection. He learns to face to the right and left, or about; to move forward in a perfectly straight line, without losing squareness to the front; to move obliquely to the right or left, under the same precaution; and to mark time, to step out, or to step short; to change feet when he does not move with the rest of the company; to close, (or take room,) to the right or left, by the side step; to change from quick to ordinary time, or vice versa, with unerring readiness to march in file; to wheel either forward or backward; and, in general, to acquire a habitude of acting in concert with his companions in arms, so as not only to avoid embarrassing them, but proving a firm support, and becoming a manageable tool in the hands of his officer. All these are indispensably necessary to be fully

miliar, as to seemrather the effect of instinct than of education.

Thus much being duly attained, the recruit is instructed in the use of arms, in which he cannot be too perfect: the great difficulty is to impress him, in a sufficient manner, with the advantages of close motion, and of preserving the body from distortion, or change of position, so far as relates to upright ness, squareness to the front, and undeviating attention to dressing in line. For it is to be observed, that unless very great strictness be observed on the part of the drill serjeant, the whole course will be perverted by the handling of the musket. It would, not suit our purpose, nor could it be equal to the views of our readers, were we to enter upon all the details regarding the motions of the firelock; or what is called the manual exercise in the present posture of political affairs, such would be perhaps unnecessary; it having, within these few years, become the duty of many, and the amusement of all, to acquire some knowledge of that branch of discipline: we shall therefore proceed to treat of the firings, which constitute a very principal part of the soldier's duty, and greatly interest both the officers commanding divisions, and those in charge of whole battalions. We must, at the same time, express our hope, that the frivolous practice of expending so many rounds of light cartridges will be in time much curtailed; in order to make way for a more extended practice with ball; the propriety of enforcing a correctness of aim must be self-evident; and is considerably enhanced by the little execution done by musketry, as has already been shown.

Troops are drawn up in two or three ranks, according to the nature of the service on which they are to be employed, or the enemy to which they are to be opposed. To resist the charge of cavalry, it is found that three ranks are preferable; as is also the case where an enemy advances en masse, or bears down in column; in this arrangement, the front being diminished one third, many objections may be urged under local circumstances, especially when acting behind entrenchments, when covered by morasses, or when the enemy cannot advance with rapidity in Compact heavy bodies. The mode of drawing up in two ranks is peculiarly adapted to the foregoing, and on some occasions must be adopted, in spite of

pose of extending a front; add to this, that both the round and the grape shots, from the enemy's artillery, do less execution among two, than when three ranks are opposed to them. When a battalion is drawn up in two ranks, they both fire standing; but when in three ranks, only the two rear ranks fire, whilst the front kneels, and presents a formidable impediment to the charge of an enemy, both by its reserved fire, and by its line of sloped bayonets.

According to our improved system of discipline, one officer and one covering serjeant perform all the evolutionary duties of each company, when formed in line; the rest being disposed of in the rear, for the purposes of keeping the men to their duty, and of being in readiness to take command of those lesser portions into which the companies occasionally break. By this arrangement the utmost precision is secured; especially as select men are placed on the flanks of all the companies, also of their sub-divisions and sections, whose duty it is to regulate their wheelings, or changes of locality, by constantly preserving the distances and alignements of their respective portions.

Perhaps among the greatest improvements of the day, we may count the modern method of marching by files; formerly this was effected in a kind of open order, the leaders gradually gaining distance, so as to give a greater space between the files, under the apprehension of treading on each other's heels; but it is now the practice to make every soldier retain the same distance on all occasions from his neighbours; by which means, the right leg of one crosses at the side of the left leg of the other, and vice versa. It is obvious, that while the leaders were allowed to gain ground, so as to open the distances between the several files, some time was required for the sear files to close up after the front had hared; and that, if the battalion were to be ordered to front while in the act of marching by files, under the old system, it would appear of double its due extent: for they would be so distant as to allow space for an additional file between every man in the ranks. Our readers cannot fail to perceive the high importance of keeping troops always to the same extent of front as when formed in line; for if allowed to vary, from any inattention to regularity, it would be utterly impossible for the commander to perform his evolutions upon a

given scale; or for any dependance to be placed on the exertions of a line, (particularly in resisting a charge,) of which the solidity, that is, the compactness, could not be ascertained.

The extreme difficulty which prevails in the ordinary course of actual service, in keeping the due distances between marching files, has in a great measure rendered that mode obsolete: besides, the facility with which troops move in small divisions, or even by whole companies, in column, &c. whereby intervals are left between them, tending greatly to the convenience and ease of the men, certainly gives the latter mode every claim to preference, except under particular local circumstances. But even in proceeding by files, it is best to march by fours, causing the files to be doubled previous to stepping off. By this means, the whole corps is broken into ranks of four men each, with one space interval between the several ranks.

A battalion, thus arranged, is formed in an instant, by the files resuming their places. Yet it cannot be said that this method is so eligible as that of marching by divisions, especially when consisting of only two ranks: in such case the front rank moves on with perfect freedom, each man seeing the obstacles he is to surmount many paces before he arrives at them; and the rear rank, keeping a well opened distance, is considerably liberated, in consequence of the great interval behind it. Add to this, the promptness with which the line can be formed either to the right or left, by the several divisions wheeling up accordingly.

We shall now proceed to show the operations of a body of men according to the existing regulations, illustrating the several movements by means of figures, which will be found in Plate XV. Miscellanies they will suffice to give a general idea of the evolutions of armies on a large scale, as well as of small parties, the principles of motion being the same in both.

:

The first matter requiring consideration is the act of wheeling, which may be performed either to a given point, say to the right; or on a given point, say on the left; in either case, the front will be to the right. But when a body of men has wheeled to the right, as A, in fig. 11, changing place to B, and that it be required to wheel up into line, i. e. to the left, such body will have gained both to

the right and to the front equally; the intermediate angle being 90°, and the third position, C, standing at an angle of 45° from the position, A. Consequently a succession of wheeling to the right and left alternately, will occasion the several positions, in succession, to represent an escalier, or flight of steps. It requires, therefore, but little demonstration to show the utility of wheeling backward on the left, in the first instance, to proceed along an alignement, O Q; because the troops, by wheeling to the left, would always come up to the line of their left hand pivots (or files.) Simple as it may seem, this precaution is not yet sufficiently understood, or, at least, not invariably attended to; whereby many oblique movements are made to remedy the error thus generated.

But troops do not always make a full wheel, i. e. of 90°, in many instances, as in fig. 12; where an oblique position, D, by small divisions, only an octavo, i. e. is to be taken, the whole line, F, wheels the eighth of the circle, corresponding with 45°, and thus show a succession of fronts, like the teeth of a saw, all parallel to the new position of 45°. This is called echellon (a French term, signifying the steps of a ladder). Where the angle of the new position is more or less acute than 45°, the wheel may be made to correspond nearly therewith; so that, when the different divisions march to their several places in the new line, they may move fully to their fronts, and come up square into their places. Where the ground is bad, and that file marching is necessary, the line may wheel to the right in echellon, to the requisite angle, to point the left flanks of the divisions to their proper situations in the new line, F. When the right or left flank of a corps is the pivot for the new direction, it be comes a point d'appui, and the division nearest thereto is arranged properly upon the new line, where it remains as a guide for the others, which, arriving in suc cession, prolong the new front. echellon movements may be considered peculiarly safe, at the same time that they are rapid and regular; the line may be formed instantly, provided the leaders of the several divisions preserve their appro priate distances.

The

It is to be remarked, that echellon movements may be made in any direction, whether to front or rear; the divisions wheeling to front or rear accordingly;

thus, in fig. 13, which represents a change of from G to H, as the new direction runs through the old one, those divisions which are to be in front wheel forward, while those which are to be in the rear of the first position, G, face about, and wheel towards the rear; observing that the whole wheel the same way, i. e. to the right. The two companies nearest the line, H, may be previously posted thereon to advantage, so as to be settled by the time the word is given for the others to march. When those of the rear have come to their places, they face about to the front, and dress. And here it is necessary to remark, that the exterior flank of every company, after being settled in its post, becomes the point d'appui for the next which is to arrive, and to place itself on that flank; but that the officer always looks from the point d'appui towards some object, such as a banneret, or a staff offi cer, &c. fixed as a guide for the aligne. ment at that point, which is to be on the flank, as at S S in this example.

The column, which is one of the most frequent and important figures of the tactic system, may be found in a variety of modes; the most ordinary is by wheeling, either wholly, or in eghellon; but it is often useful to form it by the march of divisions in files towards their posts, as shown in fig. 14. When this is done, three files (the leading ones) of each division turn towards their new stations, at which their several pivot-men are ready placed; the whole, when ordered, march towards those men, and when the division, on which the column forms, is duly covered, each company, in succession, fronts in conformity with that division.

This figure shows a battalion, &c. forming upon its sixth company, the left in front; to effect this, the five divisions, on the right, file from their left flanks, and proceed to place themselves behind the sixth company; while the two companies of the left file from their right flanks, towards the front, and cover. Our readers will perceive, that this is on the same principle as the change of front already described; in fact, the formation of a column is tantamount thereto; it being obvious, that the one unavoidably prepares for the other. In this we suppose the operation to be done in a proper manner; for a column may be easily formed, having its flanks reversed, so that, when ordered to wheel up into line, the flanks of companies will all be misplaced; this is called, "clubbing a battalion," meaning that it is thrown into a state of confusion.

The column may, with great advantage, be formed from the centre of a battalion, the colours moving forward, supported by the two adjunct companies, the residue of each wing facing inwards, and following its respective leading company. Thus the whole will exhibit a column of grand divisions, each of which is formed of a company from either wing. When the column is to be of only one company in width, the reserve leads off with the colours, and the companies of either wing follow alternately; in this manner the ten companies will all be separated. To form the line from such a column, it is usual either to face the whole outward, excepting the leading division, and causing each to move out direct to the direct parallel of its place in line, order them respectively to front, and move up in succession: or upon the whole facing outward, they may be led by files to their several sta tions. When the column is in narrow hounds, from which it cannot deploy (or unfold) in either of the above modes, the centre must halt, or step short, while the several divisions close up thereto, and, then wheel, or face, to the right and left, according to the wings they may belong to, and countermarch along the rear until they arrive opposite to their respective stations in line. Fig. 15, shows the deploy from a column of grand divisions ; the companies of the right wing proceeding straight forward to their parallels; the companies of the left wing leading by files into line. Fig. 16, shows a column of companies alternately from the right and left wings; the right wing making a half wheel into eghellon of whole companies, which as they arrive at the paint d'appui dress up into line; the companies of the left wing not having space for deploying, move up nearly to the rear of the centre, wheel to the left, countermarch along the rear of those divisions which precede them respectively, and arriving at the point d'appui, wheel to the right into line.

The column of grand divisions cannot always proceed; otherwise it would be by far the most eligible for the march of single battalions, in situations where the enemy's cavalry might make an attack; the grand divisions should all close up to half distance, so that when ordered to wheel up and form the square, they might leave no gap in either of the flank faces; the two rear companies moving up to the spot on which the grand division immediately preceding them wheeled off, right and left; the front companies halt

ing during the wheel, and closing up to the centre as the reserve, with the colours, passes into their rear. When there

are guns with a battalion, they move on such occasion to the angles most liable to be attacked; four pieces of cannon are needful to render a square perfectly safe; but, for their accommodation, it will be necessary for each face to move forward seven paces; whereby the interior of the square will be greatly increased, and space given for the cannon to be served at the angles; this evolution is exhibited under fig. 17.

The column en potence, that is, in form of a gibbet, is peculiarly deceptive; especially when that column is a close one, having no intervals between the companies; in this the whole form one solid mass. If discovered, the enemy will certainly direct their artillery towards it; thereby doing great execution. The great object of this formation is, to push forward a strong force against some particular point, so as to bear down whatever opposes it, or suddenly to form a flank where a charge of cavalry is expected; in the latter case, the rear division of the column halts until there is space enough for it to wheel, (to the right, if to secure the right flank) and, as each division does the same in succession, it is evident a line is formed, at right angles with the front line, which keeps moving on until all the divisions of the column have wheeled. We have shown, in fig. 18, how this is done on the right flank; while on the left we have shown an eghellon flank, which moves with more ease than the close column, and is not subject to so much mischief from the enemy's artillery; but this is not so deceptive; however, it affords the advantage of being ready either to form a flank, by wheeling backwards an octare, or to move forward into line; which cannot be done from a close column without deploying.

When a column is advancing towards an enemy, it is proper that its cannon should precede it, to clear the way by their fire; but when retreating, the cannon should be in the rear, to check pursuit. The passage of rivers is generally conducted on the same principle; adverting to one point, where a choice can be made; viz. always to cross at a re-entering bend of the stream, as shown in fig. 19, by reference to which it will be seen, that in crossing from A to B, the passage cannot be flanked by the enemy; while it is defended by the troops which first cross change the position, and cross

from B to A, and the enemy will flank the passage, which you cannot defend; because they will enfilade whatever troops or cannon you post for that purpose; they having the command of a greater extent of front than yourself in the latter instance.

One of the most arduous situations in which an officer can be placed is the covering, or conducting, of a convoy ; especially when heavy carriages are in question. A numerous convoy can rarely travel more than six or seven miles within the day, however favourable the roads may be; unless it may be practicable to draw two or three carriages abreast, which can be practicable on plains only; for whenever a pinch or defile might present itself, so as to occasion only one carriage to proceed at a time, though only for a few feet, as in passing a narrow bridge, it would have the same effect as if the whole day's journey were performed in single trains: this is not the case in campaign situations, because one column of waggons may keep moving on while another is stopt; and, if a carriage should break down, others may pass round it in this way the columns should not be far distant. When we con

:

sider that a hundred waggons will cover a mile in length, we cannot but admire the frequent success of officers, perhaps with only four or five battalions under their command, in conducting convoys of many hundreds of heavy carriages, through an exposed country, from one place to another; sometimes, indeed, for full an hundred miles. On such service it is highly necessary to have a body of cavalry; else every little party of the enemy's horse would subject the convoy to perpetual danger and delay.

When a general expects a convoy, he must favour its approach and safety by every possible means: one of the best devices is, that of threatening an attack, so as to prevent the enemy from detaching his cavalry. When the convoy is near, and it is suspected that an attempt will be made to cut it off by a sudden movement, the general must, if circumstances admit, make one retrograde march with his whole force to meet it; or, if that be not practicable, he may send orders for it to follow such route as may be most under cover, or best removed from the danger of assault. We often see instances of a campaign being decid. ed by the safe arrival, or vice versa, by the loss of a convoy. The utmost skill sometimes cannot oppose the overbear