the same manner, substituting, in all that has been here said, the word left for right, and reciprocally.

33. If the ground will permit, it is better to execute the two preceding manoeuvres by pieces; that is to say, that the pieces, followed by their caissons, after wheeling, move forward, the caissons executing the same movements as their pieces, and halting as soon as they have unmasked the column. The pieces halt when they are at the desired distance from their caissons. The commands of the captain then are,

34.

By pieces-left (or right) into line.

By pieces on the right (or left) into line.

4th. To form Line faced to the Rear.

(Pl. XXXI.) The captain commands,

1. Attention. 2. Into line-faced to the rear. 3. Pieces-right oblique. 4. MARCH.

At the word MARCH, repeated by the chiefs of sections, the first piece moves forward the length of a piece, wheels to the left-about, and halts. All the others oblique to the right, and, followed by their caissons, move in succession, in the shortest line, to the point they should occupy in the line, on which they are established, like the first, by a wheel to the leftabout. They are dressed to the right by their chiefs of sections.

The caissons pass their pieces, and are in succession established by wheeling to the left-about at their distance from the line of pieces.

The same movement is executed by similar words of command, when the left is in front, all the pieces except the sixth obliquing to the left.

The foregoing manœuvres (column of pieces) being used only for the park, have been explained in the most concise manner, and by the most simple methods. For the same reason, the formations by inversion, and those in retreat, are withheld. This order (column of pieces) should be avoided in all cases as much as possible.

ARTICLE SECOND.

Being in Column of Sections, to form in Line, or in Battery.

FIRST CASE. Right or Left in Front.

1st. To the Front.
2d. To the Left (or Right.)

3d. On the Right (or Left.)

4th. Faced to the Rear.

SECOND CASE. The centre Section in Front.

1st. To the Front.

2d. To the Right (or Left.)

3d. Faced to the Rear, (by inver

sion.)

FIRST CASE. Column of Sections marching Right in Front.

35.

1st. To form Line to the Front.

The captain commands,

1. Attention. 2. Front into line-guide right. 3. MARCH. At the second command, the dressing is made on the right-hand file. The chief of the first section commands,

At the word MARCH, repeated by the chiefs of sections, the pieces of the first section move forward, about twice the length of the piece, and the chief of this section commands,

First section-halt. Right dress.

When the second section is unmasked, the caissons of the first halt by command of their chiefs.

The second and third sections oblique to the left.

When the second section has gained its interval, it resumes its direction to the front by command of its chief,

Forward-guide right.

It halts four paces in rear of the line of the first, and is established on the same line by the commands,

Second section-halt. Right dress.

The caissons follow their pieces, obliquing as they do, but take care to slacken the pace, so as to arrive on the line with the caissons of the first section at the same time that the pieces arrive near their line.

The third section is arranged in the same manner, in regard to the second, by similar means and words of command.

36.

To form to the Front, in Battery.

The head of the column having arrived within about twice the length of a piece from the line on which the battery is to be formed, the captain commands,

1. Attention. 2. Front into battery-guide right. 3. MARCH.
At the second command, the dressing is made on the right file.
The chief of the first section commands,

First section-forward—guide right;*

the chiefs of the other sections,

......

section-left oblique.

At the word MARCH, repeated by the chiefs of sections, the first section moves forward, and, when its caissons have unmasked the pieces of the second section, its chief, in foot-artillery, commands,

Into battery-MARCH.

At this command, the caissons halt, and the pieces wheel to the leftabout, and are halted and dressed by the commands,

In horse-artillery, the chief of the first section commands,

Front into battery—MARCH.‡

At the word MARCH, which must not be given until the pieces have moved the length of a piece to the front, the pieces wheel to the leftabout, and are immediately halted and dressed by their chiefs.

The other sections oblique to the left, and are moved up to the line, on the same principles as in the formation front into line. They are then formed in battery in the same manner as the first section.

When the left is in front, the formation to the front, in line or in battery, is effected by applying to the third section what has been said of the first, and substituting the word left for right, and reciprocally.

* In horse-artillery, the chiefs of sections command, Trot.

† General rule.-In the formation in battery the alignnient is always made on the piece which serves as guide of the column.

In horse-artillery, at the command, Front into battery, the squads halt and dismount, by word of command from their chiefs.