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PART I - LESSON IV.

Having become thoroughly acquainted with the mechanism of the above step we will proceed to Illustrate the

PRINCIPLES OF THE OBLIQUE STEP.

The recruit being at a halt - to oblique to the right - carry the right foot obliquely to the right, and twenty-six inches from the left, reckoning from heel to heel, and eighteen inches to that side - the toe pointing direct to the front (to avoid twisting the shoulders) - the weight of the body falling on that leg. Next pass the left foot by the shortest line, eighteen inches in front of the right heel - throw the weight of the body on that leg - then step off with the right as before, and then with the left, and so on: continue until the principles above are perfectly familiar - learn to preserve the cadence at the same time, by counting regularly with each step: ONE, TWO, ONE, TWO.
The oblique to the left will be executed in the same way, stepping off with the left foot instead of the right; be particular and avoid twisting the legs in practicing this step; the heel of the left foot, if obliquing to the right should be perpendicular to the right heel, and vice versa, and not to exceed that line to the right or left in the least. This is perhaps one of the most important steps in the evolutions of the company, and should therefore be thoroughly understood.
After practicing this step, as above, the recruit will be commanded in the regular way, without analyzing each step, as follows:
(The recruit is supposed to be marching to the front.)

Right - Oblique.    MARCH.

At the command, march, given the instant the left foot comes to the ground, step with the right foot, obliquely to the right, observing particularly the instructions above.
Be careful as to the head and shoulders, keep them square to the front, and preserve the cadence of ninety steps to the minute.

To resume the step to the front, the command will be

Forward.    MARCH.

The command, march, will be given the instant the right foot comes to the ground; make the step to the front with the left foot, twenty-eight inches, reckoning from heal to heel.

Left-Oblique.    MARCH.

The command march, will be given the instant the right foot comes to the ground in front; step off with the left foot obliquely to the left. To resume the direct step-

Forward.    MARCH.

March will be given the instant the left foot strikes the ground to the left and front; commence the direct step with the right foot.

TO MARCH BY THE FLANK.

The squad being in one rank and correctly aligned, the instructor will command:

In two ranks form squad.    By the right flank, right.

FACE.    MARCH.

At the third command, face to the right, the man on the right will face to the rear, and at the command MARCH, he will make one step to the rear, (now front,) at the same time all will step off with the left foot, the second man from the right stepping behind the first, the third man along side of him and on his right, the fourth behind the third, and so continue until all are formed in two ranks, each man as he comes into line turning his head and dressing to the left and then resume his front. As the two ranks now face the rear, to face them to their proper front, the instructor will command,

Squad.   BOUT.    FACE.

At the second and third commends he will face about.

The ranks being correctly aligned the Instructor will command:

Squad.   By the right flank.   Right.   FACE.

At the word FACE both ranks will face to the right. The files will be distant from each other thirteen inches, measuring from the breast to the back of the man in front; the rear rank man will find himself on the right side of his file-leader if faced to the right, and on his left if faced to the left.

Squad.    Forward.   MARCH.

At the second and third commands, execute what has been prescribed for the direct step; avoid looking down at the feet of the man in front of you, or straddling the legs.

By file left (or right).    MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the first file will change direction to the left (or right) in describing a small arc of a circle, and win then march straight forward: the two men of this file in wheeling will keep up the touch of the elbows, and the man on the side to which the wheel is made, will shorten the first three steps. Each file will come successively to wheel on the same spot where that which preceded it wheeled.

To face by the right or left flank in marching, the command is,

Squad by the left (or right) flank.   MARCH.

At the command MARCH, which will be given as the left foot is coming to the ground, if it be by, the left flank, (and as the right foot is coming to the ground if by the right flank,) (see fig. 11,) the men will turn the body a half face to the left, plant the right foot obliquely in front of and near to the right toe, and step off with the other foot in the new direction without altering the cadence.

Explanation to Fig. 11.

The recruit is supposed to be marching on the perpendicular line A, and the instructor wishes to change the direction to the left. The command, MARCH, is given as the left foot (marked 2) comes to the ground. The right foot (marked 1) is carried obliquely in front of and near to the left foot, and the latter steps off in the new direction, B, which is at right angles with A.

Squad.   HALT.

At the second command, the squad will halt, and afterwards no man will stir, although he may have lost his distance.

Front.   FACE.

At the second command, each man will front by facing to the left, if marching by the right flank, and by a face to the right, if marching by the left flank.

WHEELING.

Wheelings are of two kinds ; from halts or on fixed pivots, and in march or on moveable pivots.
Wheeling on a fixed pivot takes place in passing a corps from the order in battle to the order in column, or from the latter to the former.
Wheels in marching take place in changes of direction in columns, as often as this movement is executed to the side opposite to the guide.
In wheels from a halt, the pivot man will flank and stand fast in his place.
In the wheels in marching, the pivot man takes steps of full nine inches, to clear the wheeling point before the next subdivision arrives on the same ground, which is necessary in order that the succeeding subdivisions may not lose their distances by being delayed.
In both cases, the man on the wheeling flank will always take the full pace of twenty-eight inches.

Wheeling from a halt, or on a fixed pivot.

The Squad being at a halt the instructor will place a well-instructed man on the wheeling flank to conduct it, and then command:

By squad, right wheel.    MARCH.

At the command MARCH, the squad will step off with the left foot, turning at the same time the head a little to the left, the eyes fixed on the line of the eyes of the men to the left; the pivot man will face to the right, the man next to him on the left will make very short steps, or merely mark time in gradually turning his body, in order to conform himself to the movement of the marching flank; the man who conducts this flank, will take steps of twenty-eight inches, and from the first step advance a little the left shoulder, cast his eyes from time to time along the rank, and feel constantly the elbow of the next man lightly, but never push him.
The other men will feel lightly the elbows of the next man toward the pivot, resist pressure coming from the opposite side, and each will conform himself to the marching flank - shortening his step according to his approximation to the pivot.
The instructor will make the rank wheel round the circle once or twice before halting, in order to cause the principles to be better understood, and he will be watchful that the centre does not break.
The wheel to the left will be executed according to the same principles. To arrest the wheel, the instructor will command.

Squad.   HALT.

At the second command, the squad will halt. The instructor going to the flank opposite to the pivot, will place the guide of that flank in the direction he may wish to give the rank, taking care to leave between him and the pivot only the space necessary to contain the other men.
He will then command:

Left (or right).    DRESS.

At this the squad will place itself on the alignment of the man established as the basis in conformity with the principles prescribed for dressing.

The instructor will next command FRONT.

Wheeling in Marching, or on a movable pivot.

The squad being in march, the instructor will command:

Right (or left) wheel.    MARCH.

The first command will be given when the rank is yet three paces from the wheeling point.

At the second command MARCH, the wheel will be executed in the same manner as from a halt, except that the touch of the elbow will remain toward the marching flank (or side of the guide) instead of the side of the actual pivot;  that the pivot man, instead of merely turning in his place, will conform himself to the movement of the marching flank, feel lightly the elbow of the next man, take steps of full nine inches, and thus gain ground forward in describing an arc of a small circle, to clear the point of the wheel. The middle of the rank will bend slightly to the rear. As soon as the movement shall commence, the man who conducts the marching flank will cast his eyes on the ground over which he will have to pass.

The wheel being ended, the Instructor will command:

Forward.   MARCH.

The first command will be pronounced when three paces are yet required to complete the change of direction.

At the command MARCH, which will be given at the instant of completing the wheel, the man who conducts the marching flank (or guide) will direct himself straight forward; the pivot man and all the men will retake the step of twenty-eight inches, and bring the head direct to the front.

TURNING

To change direction to the side of the guide in marching, the instructor will command:

Left (or right turn.)    MARCH.

The first command will be given when the rank is yet four paces from the turning point.
At the command MARCH, to be pronounced at the instant the rank ought to turn, the guide will face to the left (or right) in marching, and move forward in the new direction without slackening or quickening the cadence (rate of march), and without shortening or lengthening the step. The whole rank will promptly conform itself to the new direction; to effect which, each man will advance the shoulder opposite to the guide, take the double quick step, to carry himself in the new direction, turn the head and eyes to the side of the guide, and retake the touch of the elbow on that side in placing himself on the alignment of the guide, from whom he will take the step, and then resume the direct position of the head. Each man will thus arrive successively on the alignment.