NOTE. THE FOLLOWING PLAN IS CALCULATED FOR A BATTALION, CONSISTING OF TEN COMPANIES.

I. The several companies are to repair at an appointed time to the place of exercise, or to the rendezvous of the battalion, each company is there to have a particular place allotted to it, for the assembling of itself alone, in order as well to avoid confusion and disturbance by mixing with others, as that the state of the arms, ammunition, accoutrements, clothing, and every other necessary, may there be the more conveniently examined and taken an account of.

II. The eldest Serjeant present is to order the men to fall in, forming them three deep, according to their respective ranks, and at open order; and to call them over by his size-roll, taking an account of all those who are absent. Next, he is to complete the files, in which he is to include the Corporals, so as that the eldest Corporal may be posted on the right of the front rank, the next junior on the right of the rear rank; and the third Corporal, on the left of the front rank Then he is to see that the ranks are well sized and dressed, that the men appear decent and clean, and provided with all due necessaries, that the hats or caps are well worn or put on, that the pouches are properly placed, and hang at equal heights, and that the men do stand proper, erect, and steady, and carry well their arms. He is next, with the assistance of the other Serjeants, to examine well the condition of the arms, accoutrements, etc., which being effected, then the Serjeants are themselves to fall in, and take their posts on [2l8] the flanks, according to seniority as the Corporals had done, and on the outside of them, and to plant their halberds, but when the battalion is formed, then the Serjeants are to be posted in another manner, as will then be shown. And as to the Drummers, they are to be posted on the right flank of the company, and on the outside of the eldest Serjeant, in a line with the front rank, having their drums braced and flung, but they are otherwise to be posted when the company is drawn up in battalion, which will then be directed. The inspection of the company being thus finished, and all other matters being carefully adjusted, then the Serjeant is to make a true report in writing of all deficiencies and irregularities to the Lieutenant or Ensign, who is to make the review, after which, he is to conduct and attend him to the company.

III. The Lieutenant or Ensign who is to make this review, is, on his approach to the company, first to salute his men by taking off his hat to them, that they may on their part, by seeing in what degree of respect they are held, conceive the higher opinion of themselves, and thence be induced to behave, on all occasions, with a becoming propriety. Such like ceremonies as these never fail of a due return, for men will always reverence the man the more, who does not overlook them, on account of their misfortune or low condition of life; as they will, on the other hand, secretly resent an haughty neglect of them, and will long for an opportunity to gratify their pique and disgust at such treatment. This compliment being paid, he is next to proceed to an examination of the several particulars of this review, ordering a Serjeant with pen, ink, and paper to attend him, in order to take an account of whatever he shall observe is amiss or out of order. He is, at the same time, to carry with him in his hand, [219] his Serjeant’s report, that he may, by referring to it, see the more readily, whether it tallies with his own observations, and how far his Serjeant has acquitted himself; and should he, on inspection, find it erroneous, and either the effect of neglect, or calculated to screen a delinquent, (as is too often the case, and make his officer the detector of faults, and by that means fling the odium of severity upon him,) then he is, on any discovery of that kind, or the least appearance of such misconduct, to have the Serjeant tried and punished with severity for his offence. For as a corps of good Serjeants may, with great justice and propriety, be termed the very soul of a regiment, it is the more to be lamented, that the above rule is not better observed, since it would infallibly prove the most effectual means to make them diligent and alert in acquitting themselves. I recommend this method the more strenuously, having myself tried the effect of it, and found it to surpass my highest expectations.

IV. The reviewing officer having finished his own inspections, and made a report to his Captain, then the Captain is, with his Lieutenant and Ensign, to post themselves at the head of the company in the following order, holding their spontoons planted. The Captain is to be on the right, the Lieutenant on the left, and the Ensign in the centre. They are to stand on the same line, and at three paces advanced before the front rank, the Captain and Lieutenant placing themselves opposite to the third file of their respective flanks. The company is to be told off into two divisions; and on the signal being given by the Major for forming the battalion, which is by beating, To Arms, the Captain is to order his company to march, himself leading the first division, the Ensign the second and the Lieutenant bringing up the rear, carrying their spontoons underhand. The [220] Drummers are then to fall in between the front and centre ranks of the first or leading division, and to beat the march. The Serjeants are, on marching off, to shoulder their halberds, letting the ferril-end be uppermost; and as they proceed on their march, they are to attend their respective divisions, by taking care that the men carry well their arms, that they step together and carry their bodies upright, and that the ranks do march even and straight, and at proper distances from each other. On the arrival of the company at the ground upon which the battalion is to be formed, the Captain is to draw up so as that the right file of his company may be a full pace distant from the left-hand file of the company on his right; and as soon as the first division has halted, the Drummers are to go into the front, and there beat to arms during the time the battalion is forming. The Ensign is to bring up the second division, drawing it up close on the left of the first, and the Lieutenant is to march up, and take his post in the front, as before directed. The Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign, are, on drawing up, to face their men, in order to see that they come properly up to their ground, and that the Serjeants do then proceed to dress the ranks and also the files; and on thus seeing all matters properly adjusted, the Captain is to order his men to support their arms, by way of easing their hands; and then the officers are, either by word of command from the Captain himself, or by signal from the Major, to come to the right about, standing in proper order and holding their spontoons planted. The ranks and files being dressed, the Serjeants are to fall in and form a rank or line of themselves in the rear of the company, at three paces distance from the rear rank, opposite to their officers[221] in front, and then to plant their halberds. The Drummers are, on being ordered to cease beating in the front to go into the rear and to form a rank in the rear of their Serjeants, six paces distant from them, each Drummer placing himself opposite to the centre space between each Serjeant, where they are to repeat occasionally the different signals (excepting the slam) given by the Major or the commanding officer of the battalion.

V. In forming the battalion, the several companies are to be drawn up according to seniority, alternately from right to left, that is, the eldest company is to be on the right, the next senior on the left, and so on till the two youngest companies are posted on each side of the centre. The reason of which is, that as the defence and preservation of any body of men drawn up, greatly depend upon the skill and address of the officers commanding on the flanks; and as it must be presumed that a senior officer is possessed of a greater degree of knowledge and experience than his junior, therefore the necessity for posting the officers by seniority from right to left, with their companies according to the above method; besides which, there is this farther advantage, that as both officers and men of each company are thus distinct in themselves, and of course acquainted with each other, the men therefore are more cautious of behaving amiss before one that knows and can easily detect them, than they would were they commanded by a person who is a stranger to, and not so capable to recollect them, by which means they become not only more subordinate, but they act with more unanimity and resolution, there being withal, among all distinct bodies of men, a spirit of emulation which continually spurs them on to vie with each other, which they seldom are inspired with when they become a mixed body. [222]

For the foregoing reasons then, I shall consider every company not having an acting Captain, whether by establishment or absence, as a junior company; and therefore those companies, whose Captains are present, are to be posted by seniority from right to left alternately of the battalion, especially on service. But as the two centre companies have more immediately the charge of the colours, and as that situation is esteemed another post of honour; the Colonel’s company is therefore in preference to be posted on the right, and the Lieutenant-Colonel’s on the left of the centre where the colours are stationed.

By the above disposition it appears that I do not subdivide the grenadiers according to custom, in order to cover the flanks of the battalion; and my reason for which is, that it is in my opinion a very bad practice, for it is evident, that a division or separation of the officers and men must not only weaken the whole as well as the parts, but be of insufficient weight for the places at which they are posted; always preferring service to parade.

VI. The companies being thus drawn up, and the Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns posted in the front of the battalion, or at the head of their respective companies, as before directed, the Colonel is then to take his post at the head of the battalion, and opposite to the centre of it, at the distance of five paces advanced before the line of officers. The Lieutenant-Colonel is likewise to post himself three paces to the right of the Colonel, and two retired from him, or three advanced before the line of officers, each holding his spontoon planted. The Major is to be mounted on horseback, for the more expeditious means of executing or dispatching the orders of the Colonel, and for correcting the more readily whatever he may himself see amiss. He is to post himself opposite to the [223] Colonel in the front, and to face the battalion, with his sword drawn: his distance from the battalion is to be such, as that his situation from either flank may be equal to the extent of the battalion; he is there to exercise the battalion, having the Drum Major to attend him, to make the necessary signals. But when the battalion is to be reviewed by a general officer, he is, on having given the word of command to the battalion , viz. present your arms, the usual salute on receiving such General, to take his post then at the head of the battalion, three paces to the left of the Colonel, and in a line with the Lieutenant Colonel; and after he has made his personal salute with his sword, he is to return to his former post in the front. The Adjutant is also to be on horseback for the purpose likewise of dispatch, in the duties I shall hereafter point out. He is also to have his sword drawn, and to post himself in the rear of the battalion, and opposite to the Major in front, where he is to see good order preserved, and to give timely intimations to the men of whatever is intended to be done, having the Serjeant Major to attend and assist him. See the annexed figure.

But when the battalion is only formed for exercise, and not for review, the Colonel is then not to post himself as above directed, but to place himself without his spontoon, close to the Major in front, that he may there the more conveniently direct him as he shall find occasion; then the Lieutenant Colonel is to supply his place, by posting himself in his room, at the head of the battalion.

VII. Matters being thus far regulated and settled, the colours are next to be sent for, which are to be brought to the battalion by the Ensigns of the Colonel’s and Lieutenant Colonel’s companies, or by [224] other Ensigns as shall be appointed in their room. For this purpose, the Major is to make the necessary signal, being two short rolls of the drum, on which the Ensigns for the colours are, first, to recover their spontoons, face to the right, and march. They are to repair to the grenadier company, and to march in the rear of the line of officers, or between them and the front rank of the battalion. On their arrival at the grenadier company, they are to post themselves in the line of officers, at the head of the escort, or of the left hand division of the Grenadiers; and then to face to the front and plant their spontoons.

This escort is to be commanded by the first Lieutenant of Grenadiers, with the appointment of two Serjeants and one Drummer. One Serjeant is to be posted on the right of the front rank. and the other on the left of the rear rank, and the Drummer between the front and centre ranks, who is to beat the Grenadier march. The Lieutenant is to post himself three paces advanced before the Ensigns; and on having received his orders from his Captain, and being made acquainted by his Serjeant that the escort is ready, he is to face about, and to give the following words of command, viz. Escort, handle your arms, March.

Note. The Lieutenant is, as before to carry his fuzee advanced in his left hand, and in the same manner as the Soldiers do their firelocks, when they are so ordered. The Ensigns are to carry their spontoons underhand or trailed; and the Serjeants their halberds shouldered.

When the Lieutenant arrives at the place where he is to receive the colours, he is then to give the following words of command, viz. Escort, halt; at which the drum ceases, the Ensigns plant their spontoons, and the Serjeants their halberds. Fix your bayonets; Shoulder: and then the Lieutenant is to fix likewise his [225] bayonet. On the colours being brought out and delivered to the Ensign, he is again to say, by way of saluting the colours, present your arms, at which the Drummer is to beat a march, and himself to take off his hat or to put his hand to his cap. The colours being thus received and held advanced by the Ensigns, he is to order the drum to cease, and then to give the following words of command, viz. Escort, shoulder. Advance your arms. March. On which the Drummer is again to beat the march.

On the arrival of the colours within forty or fifty paces of the battalion, the Major is, by way of caution, or of fixing the attention of the battalion to his orders, to cause a short roll of his drum, which is to be answered by all the other Drummers, after which he is to give the following words of command, Battalion handle your arms. Present your arms. After which his own Drummer is to beat the march, which is the signal for all the other Drummers drawn up, as before directed in the rear of the battalion, to begin also to beat.

The Lieutenant commanding the escort is to shape his march so, as to bring his right flank almost to join the left of the battalion , and in the same direction with it. On his approach to which, the Major is again to say, Battalion, face to the left; and then the Lieutenant is to say, on bringing up his men to the flank of the battalion, Escort halt. Face to the right. March. On which the Major is again to say, Battalion, face to the right, or to the front. The escort having faced and marched, the men are to march by files, each rank marching in the middle space between those of the battalion, in order that they may the more conveniently join those of their respective company, that is, the Lieutenant is himself to march between the line of [226] officers and the front rank of the battalion, his front rank is to march between the front and centre ranks, the Drummer following and beating, his centre rank is also to pass between the centre and rear ranks, and his rear rank between the rear rank of the battalion and the line of Serjeants. The Ensigns with the colours are to march after each other in the front of the line of officers, keeping at four paces distant from that line, and as many asunder. Each officer is to salute them as they pass by him, by taking off his hat, which is to be done in consideration of the high honour and trust they are invested with, in carrying the colours of their country, and they are, on their part, to acknowledge the attention given them, by taking off their hats in return.

On their approach to the centre of the battalion, they are to incline inwards, so as to fall into the line of officers, where they are to post themselves four paces from each other, and in the rear of the Colonel, and then to face to the front, and to stand in proper order, holding the colours advanced, at which the Major is to order the battalion to shoulder.

The Lieutenant of the escort is, on having returned and joined his company, to give the following words of command, Serjeants and Drummer, to your former posts. Escort, front. Shoulder. Return your bayonets. Shoulder. After which he is to return his own bayonet, and face to the front; and then to go up and make his report to his Captain, and return to his former post.

Note. Whenever the Grenadiers or any part of them are ordered to fix their bayonets, the officers are also to fix theirs at the same time, and likewise to unfix with them. [227]

A Sketch of a Battalion, consisting of ten companies, in each sixty nine private and three corporals, making in the whole 720 men rank and file, drawn up in reviewing order, and according to seniority.

The Front of the Battalion.

Reference.

A. The Colonel

B. The Lieutenant Colonel

C. The Major in Battalion

D. ditto at Exercise

E. The Line of Officers

F. The Front Rank.

G. The Centre Rank

H. The Rear Rank

I. The Line of Serjeants

K. The Line of Drummers

M. The Adjutant

N. The Serjeant Major

O. The Signal Drummer

P. The Colours.

l 2, 3, 4, etc., shew the Companies as they are drawn up by Seniority