The Mechanics of Advance Fire for the Company and Battalio
To form four ranks from the halt.
This maneuver is very similar to a company "left face." The company is in two ranks facing to the front, with a second sergeant in the front rank acting as the left guide. The captain would command: 1. In fours ranks form company. Company-left face. On the command FACE, the second sgt remains facing to the front. All others, including file closers, face to the left. The rear rank sidesteps one step to the left, and the one's step up to the two's left side, forming a column of fours to the left. Just like a company left face, right? 3. MARCH. On MARCH, the four men forming the front file of fours (or far left of the line) face to the front without undoubling.
All other files march forward until they are about five inches behind the file in front. As each file successively arrives at this point behind the file in front of them, they too halt and face to the front without undoubling. File closers take their new posts two paces behind the rear rank.
To reform the company into two ranks the captain commands:
1. In two ranks, form company. 2. Company Right-FACE. On FACE, the second Sergeant remains facing to the front in place. The rest of the company faces to the right in place, the first Sergeant steps up to the front rank. The captain then commands:
3. MARCH. On MARCH, the first Sergeant and the leading file steps off, the other files stand fast. When there is room for the front file to undouble, then the second file steps off. This procedure is followed for all files except the last file. As soon as their is room between the last file and the one in their front, the captain commands:
1. Company 2. HALT 3. FRONT. On FRONT, the company faces to the front and undoubles. The captain and the first and second sgts return to their original positions. (Hardee's pp. 167-169, paras. 371-379).
II. Forming four ranks while marching to the front.
This is a bit trickier. The company is in two ranks and marching to the front. The captain commands:
1. In four ranks, form company. 2. By the left, double files. 3. MARCH. On MARCH, the second Sergeant and the far left file continue to march straight ahead. The rest of the company automatically marches at a left oblique. The second file from the left place themselves behind the file to the far left. The rear rank must shorten it's step to let the front rank over into place. Each file to the right of the second Sergeant must lengthen it's step in order to stay in line with the second sgt. As the files reach the file to the left, they fellow the above procedure and then march to the front, touching elbows to the left. The file closers also marching to the left oblique and maintain their positions behind the company. (Hardee's 169-170, para. 380-384). Now, at Carnifex we did "by the right, double files" and it seemed to work out just as well.
Commands to reform the company into two ranks from four as it marches to the front.
The captain commands:
1. In two ranks, form company. 2. By the right, undouble files. 3. MARCH. On MARCH, the second Sergeant and the left file march straight ahead. The other files march at right oblique. Each file must lengthen it's step in order to stay on line with the second sergeant. When there is room between the left file and the file to it's right, the files the undouble by moving to the right. Each file undoubles in succession in the same manner.
As the files undouble, the rear rank closes up to it's proper distance (13") and the file closers resume their proper positions. The maneuver can be performed from the left as well. The commands would be:
1. In two ranks, form company. 2. By the left, undouble files 3. MARCH. On MARCH, the file on the right marches straight ahead and all other files march at the left oblique. (Hardee's 169-170, paras. 380-384)
Thanks to Nick Wilson, former Captain of the 49th OVI, for this articl