of a piece, and then wheels twice to the left, so as to enter near the middle of the distance between the pieces and caissons.

The caissons quicken the pace. Their head of column, conducted by the chief of caissons of the third section, moves forward the length of a piece, and then wheels to the left. After having passed the length of a piece beyond the position of the original line, the head of column again wheels to the left, and marches parallel to this line, until each caisson is opposite its piece.

The captain then commands,

Pieces-right wheel; Caissons-left wheel-MARCH.

Halt. Left dress..

In horse-artillery, the squads wheel to the left at the same time as their pieces, marching opposite the muzzles of their pieces, and they occupy their position in the new line, by wheeling by squads to the right, at the same time as their pieces.

The countermarch in column is executed in like manner. In either case, whether the right or left be in front, the movement is always made by pieces to the left and by caissons to the right, in order that the heads of column may constantly wheel to the left. If it be desirable to give more regularity to this manœuvre, the captain places one of the guides at the position where the head of the column of pieces ought to rest; that is to say, in a line with or near the driver of the wheel-horses of the first caisson. 82. This manœuvre, regular and indispensable when acting with other troops, may, in case of emergency, be advantageously replaced by another, more prompt and more easy, but less regular.

For this purpose, the captain commands,

1. Attention. 2. By inversion-countermarch. 3. Pieces-left-about wheel. 4. MARCH.

(Pl. LII.) At the third command, the officer of the train orders, Caissons-forward-guide right.

At the word MARCH, repeated by the officer of the train only, the line of pieces is wheeled left-about, and, at the command of the captain,

Forward-guide right,

the pieces move to the places which are occupied by their respective caissons. The caissons move forward, cutting the line which the pieces had occupied; they then wheel left-about, and each of them takes the place of its piece.

PART V.

BEING IN BATTERY, TO EXECUTE THE DIFFERENT FIRINGS.

83.

1st. Being in Battery, to fire.

The captain commands,

Commence-FIRING.

If the battery be marching in line, in retreat, it is already formed to fire in the direction opposite to its line of march. To execute the fire in retreat, the captain halts the battery, and commences firing as above. The different chiefs move as rapidly as possible to their positions in battery. In horse-artillery, for firing in retreat, the gunners and matrosses dismount, without the squads wheeling to the left-about. The captain causes the fire to cease by a ruffle of the drum.

84. 2d. To fire advancing by Half-Battery. The captain commands,

1. Attention. 2. Fire advancing by half-battery. 3.

-COMMENCE THE MOVEMENT.

half-battery

(Pl. LIII.) At the third command, the chief of the named half-battery causes its fire to cease, moves his half-battery to the front about twice the length of a piece, halts it, forms in battery, and commences firing.

When the chief of the other half-battery sees that the one which has moved to the front has commenced firing, he causes his to cease firing, and executes, with his half-battery, a similar movement to the front; and so on. During this time, the half-battery which continues firing must take care to fire obliquely, so as not to incommode the half-battery which is moving to the front.

85. 3d. To fire in Retreat by Half-Battery.

The captain commands,

1. Attention; 2. Fire in retreat by half-battery; 3.

-COMMENCE THE MOVEMENT;

and the movement is executed in the same manner as in the preceding

case.

To execute this fire while the battery is marching in retreat, the third command will be,

......

half-battery-commence-FIRING;

and the chief of the named half-battery halts it, and commences the fire. The movement, then continues as has been directed.

After firing by half-battery, either advancing or in retreat, to form battery, the captain causes the fire to cease, and commands,

1. Attention. 2. On ...... half-battery-DRESS.

At this command, the battery is aligned on the named half-battery.

86.

4th. Fire to a Flank.

Being in battery, to fire to a flank, the captain commands,

1

1. Attention. 2. Fire to the right flank. 3. MARCH. (Pl. LIV.) At the second command, the chief of the third section orders,

Fifth piece-in retreat;

the other chiefs of sections,

the officer of the train,

......

section in retreat ;

Caissons-left-about wheel-in retreat-guide right.

The chief of the caissons of the third section cautions the sixth caisson stand fast, after wheeling left-about.

At the third command, the chiefs of sections and the officer of the train command,

MARCH.

The pieces and caissons named march in retreat.

The chief of the sixth piece backs the limber; the gunners turn the trail to the left, and then move the piece forward, until the ends of the pointing. handspikes are even with the ammunition-chest. This piece, being unmasked, commences firing.

The fifth piece marches in retreat, until its muzzle is on a line with the