A COMPANY IN LINE AND COLUMN

S. 23. Counter-marching

A company in column right or left in front, will be taught to counter-march as follows:-

1. By Ranks

Counter- March By Ranks		The covering serjeant will step up, and cover his captain.
Right and Left-Face		Whether right or left is in front: the front rank will face to the right the rear rank will face to the left the covering serjeant will face to the right about the captain will take one pace outwards and and face inwards, and then take one long side pace in the direction in which the covering serjeant is facing the lieutenant will move up and place himself one pace from the reverse flank of the front rank, facing inwards.
Quick-March		The whole will step off together, each rank wheeling close round to its right, till the pivot man of the front rank comes to the covering serjeant.
Company- Halt-Front, Dress		On the words Halt - Front, Dress, from the captain, the company will halt, front and dress, the covering serjeant will drop back to his place, and the captain and lieutenant will fall in, the former looking to his covering.

2. By Files

Counter- March By Files		The covering serjeant will step up, and cover his captain.
To the Right (or Left)- Face		both ranks will face as ordered the covering serjeant will face to the right about the captain will take one pace outwards and and face inwards, and then take one long side pace in the direction in which the covering serjeant is facing the lieutenant will move up and place himself one pace from the reverse flank of the front rank, facing inwards.
Left (or Right) Counter-march Quick-March		The company will step off the leading file wheeling short round on the front-rank man, the remainder of the company following in the file till it reaches the covering serjeant
Halt-Front, Dress		When on the words Halt - Front, Dress, from the captain, the company will halt, front and dress in the new direction,

In both counter-marches the files must be careful to move up to the lieutenant as they wheel at the reverse flank, and to lengthen their pace during the wheel, in order not to check the rest of the company.

In both cases, the supernumerary rank will face towards the reverse flank, and will counter-march round that flank, each man marking time successively as he arrives at his place and halting and fronting with the company.

A company in line will also be counter-marched by files or ranks.

When a company is to counter-march by files, it will always be faced from the pivot flank, and will be marched up to it.

When a company is to counter-march and continue its march it may move in fours.

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Created 14 July, 2000