380. The company being formed in two ranks, at a halt, and supposed to form part of a column right in front, when the instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks, he will command:
1. In four ranks, form company. 2. Company left—FACE. 3. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH).
381. At the second command, the left guide will remain faced to the front, the company will face to the left; the rear-rank will gain the distance of one pace from the front-rank by a side step to the left and rear, and the men will form into four ranks as prescribed in Nos. 138 and 142.
382. At the command march, the first file of four men will reface to the front without undoubling. All the other files of four will step off, and closing successively to about five inches of the preceding file, will halt, and immediately face to the front, the men remaining doubled.
383. The file closers will take their new places in line of battle, at two paces in rear of the fourth rank.
384. The captain will superintend the movement.
385. The company being in four ranks, when the instructor shall wish to form it into two ranks, he will command:
1. In two ranks, form company. 2. Company right—FACE. 3. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH).
386. At the second command the left guide will stand fast, the company will face to the right.
387. At the command march, the right guide will step off and march in the prolongation of the front-rank. The leading file of four men will step off at the same time, the other files standing fast; the second file will step off when there shall be between it and the first, space sufficient to form into two ranks. The following files will execute successively what has been prescribed for the second. As soon as the last file shall have its distance, the instructor will command:
1. Company. 2. HALT. 3. FRONT.
388. At the command front, the company will face to the front and the files will undouble.
389. The company being formed in two ranks, and marching to the front, when the instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks, he will command:
1. In four ranks, form company. 2. By the left, double files. 3. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH).
390. At the command march, the left guide and the left file of the company will continue to march straight to the front: the company will make a half face to the left, the odd numbers placing themselves behind the even numbers. The even numbers of the rear-rank will shorten their steps a little, to permit the odd numbers of the front-rank to get between them and the even numbers of that rank. The files thus formed of fours, except the left file, will continue to march obliquely, lengthening their steps slightly, so as to keep constantly abreast of the guide; each file will close successively on the file next on its left, and when at the proper distance from that file will face to the front by a half face to the right, and take the touch of elbows to the left.
391. The company being in march to the front in four ranks, when the instructor shall wish to form it into two ranks, he will command:
1. In two ranks, form company. 2. By the right, undouble files. 3. MARCH (or double quick—MARCH).
392. At the command march, the left guide and the left file of the company will continue to march straight to the front; the company will make a half face to the right, and march obliquely, lengthening the step a little, in order to keep, as near as possible, abreast of the guide. As soon as the second file from the left shall have gained to the right the interval necessary for the left file to form into two ranks, the second file will face to the front by a half face to the left, and march straight-forward; the left file will immediately form into two ranks, and take the touch of elbows to the left. Each file will execute successively, what has just been proscribed for the file next to the left) and each file will form into two ranks when the file next on its right has obliqued the required distance, and faced to the front.
393. If the company be supposed to make part of a column, left in front, these different movements will be executed according to the same principles, and by inverse means, substituting the indication left for right.