101. The company being in the direct march, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to march obliquely, he will command:
1. Right (or left) oblique. 2. MARCH.
102. At the command march, the company will take the oblique step. The men will accurately observe the principles prescribed in the S. S., No. 340. The rear-rank men will preserve their distances, and march in rear of the man next on the right (or left) of their habitual file leaders.
103. When the instructor wishes the direct march to be resumed, he will command:
1. Forward. 2. MARCH.
104. At the command march, the company will resume the direct march. The instructor will move briskly twenty paces in front of the captain, and facing the company, will place himself exactly in the prolongation of the captain and covering sergeant; and then, by a sign, will move the directing sergeant on the same line, if he be not already on it; the latter will immediately take two points on the ground between himself and the instructor, and as he advances, will take new points of direction, as is explained No. 89.
105. In the oblique march, the men not having the touch of elbows, the guide will always be on the side toward which the oblique is made, without any indication to that effect being given; and when the direct march is resumed, the guide will be, equally without indication, on the side where it was previous to the oblique.
106. The instructor will, at first, cause the oblique to be made toward the side of the guide. He will also direct the captain to have an eye on the directing sergeant, in order to keep on the same perpendicular line to the front with him, while following a parallel direction.
107. During the continuance of the march, the instructor will be watchful that the men follow parallel directions, in conforming to the principles prescribed in the school of the soldier, for preserving the general alignment; whenever the men lose the alignment, he will be careful that they regain it by lengthening or shortening the step, without altering the cadence, or changing the direction.
108. The instructor will place himself in front of the company and face to it, in order to regulate the march of the directing sergeant, or the man who is on the flank toward which the oblique is made, and to see that the principles of the march are properly observed, and that the files do not crowd.