APPENDIX I

The Manoeuvres of General Howe as practised in 1774 at his light infantry camp at Salisbury. Extracted from Williamson's "Elements of Military Arrangement."

GENERAL HOWE'S MANOEUVRES FOR THE LIGHT INFANTRY

These manoeuvres are principally calculated for a close or woody country. They are all done from the centre, and the two centre files of battalion, grand, and sub-divisions must be told off for the purpose. They are comprehended in the following table:

Wings and platoons might be added in the table, and the same movements might take place from them; but as the above will answer all the purposes that can be intended, to add any more will only serve to increase the trouble and confusion in the telling off.

These movements are nothing more than double Indian files from the centre of the battalion, or one file from the left of the right wing, and another from the right of the left wing. When the whole battalion has filed off, the right wing is in one file, and the left wing in the other.

NO. 1 BATTALION! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE FRONT - MARCH

The two centre files march out, and all the others face inward and march to the centre: as soon as they come on the ground on which the centre files stood, each file on the right of the centre turns to the right, and each file on the left of the centre to the left, and march out to the front abreast, covering the two centre files of battalion.

TO THE FRONT, FORM BATTALION

The two centre files stand fast; all the others run up in charging time, and form on the right and left of them, dressing by the centre.

NO. 2 BATTALION! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE RIGHT - MARCH

The two centre files lead out, and wheel to the right, the other files follow the centre files as before, and wheel where they did.

TO THE FRONT, AND TO THE RIGHT, FORM BATTALION

The left centre file stands fast, and the whole left wing runs up by files, and forms on the left of it. The right centre file faces to the right, and the whole right wing runs up by file, and forms on the right of it.

NO. 3 BATTALION! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE LEFT - MARCH

The two centre files lead out as before, and, when clear of the front rank of battalion, wheel to the left. The wings file off, as above directed.

TO THE FRONT, AND TO THE LEFT, FORM BATTALION

The right centre file stands fast, and the right wing forms on the right of it, running up by files. The left centre file faces to the left, and the remaining files of the left wing run up, and form on the left of it.

NO. 4 BATTALION! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE REAR - MARCH

The two centre files go to the right about, and march out to the rear. The wings file off as before and follow them.

TO THE REAR, FORM BATTALION

The battalion is formed as in No. 1.

This manoeuvre should seldom or never be practised; not only on account of the danger in forming the battalion with its rear to the enemy, in which situation it is well known by experience that a few shot will discourage men more than a much heavier fire in front, but likewise on account of the length of time required for the whole battalion to file off. As was before observed of columns in retreating, a battalion should file off from the flanks, and the less the columns are, the sooner will the manoeuvre be completed: therefore in retiring before an enemy, it should be from right or left of sub-divisions.

When the battalion is to change its front to right or left, it is likewise best done by sub-divisons.

NO. 5 SUB-DIVISIONS! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE RIGHT-MARCH

The two centre files of each sub-division lead out, and wheel to the right, and each sub-division acts in the same manner as was described in No. 2 for the whole battalion.

FORM BATTALION

The two centre files of the right sub-division halt, and the other files run up and form to the right and left of them. All the other sub-divisions march obliquely to the left, and when the leading files are arrived upon their ground, the officers commanding sub-divisions order their respective divisions to form, and dress by the right.

NO. 6 SUB-DIVISIONS! FROM THE CENTRE TO THE LEFT - MARCH

This is done in like manner with the above, when the battalion is to change its front to the left.

When a double front is to be formed, it is indifferent whether the movement be made from the centre of grand or sub-divisions, or from the centre of battalion. It should be remembered that when the battalion forms to the front and right, the left wing forms to the front, and the right wing to the right: if to the front and left, the right wing forms to the front, and the left wing to the left. That wing which is to form to the flank will be always the first formed, as the rear files of it will have the least ground to go over.

Thus we have taken a view of nearly all the manoeuvres now practised by the regiments of infantry: the greater part of which, it must be confessed, are more curious than useful, more calculated to please the eye on a parade, than to answer any good purpose in action. Very few manoeuvres will suffice for a battalion, if their utility upon service be the only object considered, and those few judiciously chosen and well performed will do a regiment more credit, even on the parade, than twice the number here collected slatterned over in an imperfect manner. Yet numerous as the particular movements are, if we consider them attentively, we shall find that the general intentions are but few, and that practising a variety of manoeuvres is nothing more than employing a number of different means in order to attain the same end. For the different kinds or species of manoeuvres may be reduced to the following heads:

(1) Moving in file.

(2) Moving in column.

(3) Changing front.

(4) Changing order or disposition.

(5) Forming square and oblong.

In treating of the manoeuvres we have insisted the more, as they depend more on principles than any other part of the exercise: and further, as it is incumbent on every officer to study the theory before he attempts to enter upon the practice of them. The former may be acquired to a tolerable degree in the closet: the latter is to be acquired only in the field.

No rules have been laid down for the time or step with which the different movements are to be made: but none certainly should be done slower than with the common quick step: some, and particularly in forming, should be conducted in charging time. When a battalion, being already in motion, is to perform any manoeuvre, the word March should not be given, unless when meant as an order to take up a quicker step. Thus, if a battalion marching forward in slow time is to retire in quick time from the right of sub-divisions, the word of command may be given.

SUB-DIVISIONS FROM THE RIGHT RETREAT BY FILES - MARCH

On which they march out to the rear with the quick step.

Many of the manoeuvres are useful only in particular circumstances of ground and position. Therefore when regiments are taken out to exercise, it should not be confined, as is but too frequently the case, to plains and level country; but the scene should be varied. to every situation in which they may find themselves on real service. By this means they will learn the application as well as the practice of the manoeuvres, and will discern the occasions on which they may be found useful.