PART II. TO MARCH IN COLUMN, CHANGE DIRECTION, AND HALT THE COLUMN; TO FORM SECTIONS, HALF-BATTERIES, AND BATTERY; AND TO BREAK THEM OFF. ARTICLE FIRST. To march in Column, change Direction, and halt the Column. 15. 1st. To march in Column, Right in Front. The captain commands, 1. Attention. 2. Column-forward-guide left. 3. MARCH. At the word MARCH, repeated by the chiefs of sections, the column commences its movement, and is conducted by the chief of the piece by the side of the named guide. The words of command are the same for a column of pieces, except that the guide is not named 16. 2d. To change Direction on the March. The captain commands, Head of column-right (or left) wheel. As soon as this command is given, the chief of the first section orders, First section-right (or left) wheel. (Pl. XXV.) The section makes a wheel to the right (or left) on a movable pivot; that is to say, the pivot-piece describes the arc of a circle, in such manner as to clear the wheeling point. In foot-artillery, the pivot-piece slackens the pace; in horse-artillery, the wheeling flank trots. This is a general rule, in all wheelings on a movable pivot. When the wheel is completed, the chief of the first section orders, Forward, and the section resumes its forward march. The chiefs of the other sections wheel their sections, in succession, on the same ground as the first, and by the same words of command. If the column be in retreat, the chiefs of sections repeat, in succession, the command, Head of column-right (or left) wheel, when their caissons have arrived at the wheeling point, and the senior non-commissioned officer of the caissons of each section gives the command, Caissons-right (or left) wheel. What has been said here is applicable also to the column of half-batteries. In column of pieces, the word of command of the captain is the same; the chiefs of sections give none. 17. 3d. To halt the Column. The captain commands, 1. Attention. 2. Column. 3. HALT. A. the word HALT, repeated by the chiefs of sections, each division of the column halts. 18 ARTICLE SECOND. To form Sections, Half-Batteries, and Battery. 1st. To form Sections. (Pl. XXVI.) Being in column of pieces, on a march, right in front, the captain commands, 1. Attention. 2. Form sections. 3. MARCH. At the second command, the chief of the first section orders, Form sections. At the word MARCH, repeated by the chief of the first section, the second piece, conducted by its chief, and followed by its caisson, moves up abreast the first piece, at the length of a piece on its left. The third piece having arrived on the ground where the first section was formed, the chief of the second section forms his section in the same manner and by the same commands. In foot-artillery, the even pieces lengthen the step; the head of the col umn slackens the pace, so as to make it easy for the sections to form, and close to their proper distance. In horse-artillery, the chiefs of the second and third sections give the word Trot, and the head of the column does not alter the pace. The sections being formed, the captain commands, Guide left. At this command, the head of the column resumes the ordinary pace. To form sections, left in front, the odd pieces oblique to the right, by similar commands. In retreat, the chiefs of sections repeat in succession the command, Form section, and the chiefs of caissons execute with their caissons movements similar to those of the pieces in forming to the front. 19. 2d. To form Half-Batteries. Half-batteries are formed by similar movements and commands, substituting the word half-battery for section. The caissons slacken the pace, to take their distances, the length of a piece from the line of pieces. 20. Being in column of sections, if it be necessary to form column of half-batteries, (which should be avoided if possible,) the chief of the second section commands, Third piece—left oblique; Fourth piece—right oblique. At the word MARCH, given by the captain, the third piece takes its position on the left of the first section, and the fourth piece takes its place in rear of the first piece. The third section obliques to the left, and takes its position by the side of the fourth piece. 21. 3d. To form the Battery. FIRST CASE. Being in Column of Sections on a March, Right in Front. (Pl. XXVII.) The captain commands, 1. Attention. 2. Front into line. 3. MARCH. At the second command, the chief of the first section orders, First section-forward; the chiefs of the other sections order, |