319. When the recruits are well established in the principles and mechanism of the step, the position of the body, and the manual of arms, the instructor will unite eight men, at least, and twelve men at most, in order to teach them the principles of alignment, the principles of the touch of elbows in marching to the front, the principles of the march by the flank, wheeling from a halt, wheeling in marching, and the change of direction to the side of the guide. He will place the squad in one rank, elbow to elbow, and number the men from right to left.
LESSON I.
ALIGNMENTS.
320. The instructor will at first teach the recruits to align themselves, man by man, in order the better to make them comprehend the principles of alignment; to this end, he will command the two men on the right flank to march two paces to the front, and having aligned them, be will caution the remainder of the squad to move up, as they may be successively called, each by his number, and align themselves successively or the line of the first two men.
321. Each recruit, as designated by his number will turn the head and eyes to the right, as prescribed in the first lesson of the first part, and will march in quick time two paces forward, shortening the last, so as to find himself about six inches behind the new alignment, which he ought never to pass: he will next move up steadily by steps of two or three inches, the hams extended, to the side of the man next to him on the alignment, so that, without deranging the head, the line of the eyes, or that of the shoulders, he may find himself in the exact line of his neighbor, whose elbow he will lightly touch without opening his own.
322. The instructor seeing the rank well aligned, will command:
FRONT.
323. At this, the recruits will turn eyes to the front, and remain firm.
324. Alignments to the left will be executed on the same principles.
325. When the recruits shall have thus learned to align themselves, ma n by man, correctly, and without groping or jostling, the instructor will cause the entire rank to align itself at once by the command:
Right (or left)—DRESS.
326. At this the rank, except the two men placed in advance as a basis of alignment will move up in quick time and place themselves on the new line, according to the principles prescribed No. 321.
327. The instructor, placed five or six paces in front, and facing the rank, will carefully observe that the principles are followed, and then pass to the flank that has served as a basis to verify the alignment.
328. The instructor, seeing the greater number of the rank aligned, will command: FRONT.
329. The instructor may afterward order this or that file forward or back, designating each by its number. The file or files designated, only, will slightly turn the head toward the basis, to judge how much they ought to move up or back, steadily place themselves on the line, and then turn eyes to the front, without a particular command to that effect.
330. Alignments to the rear will be executed on the same principles, the recruits stepping back a little beyond the line, and then dressing up according to the principles prescribed No. 321 the instructor commanding:
Right (or left) backward—DRESS.
331. After each alignment, the instructor will examine the position of the men, and cause the rank to come to ordered arms, to prevent too much fatigue, and also the danger of negligence at shouldered arms.