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[English Translation] never done, especially since such a thickness prevents half of the soldiers from fighting who are in the body of the battalion, instead of facing it, and if it happened that terror set in, it would be broken as quickly as a smaller one, without hope of being able to put it back, so that there are no other entire troops who can support him. The battalion thus composed, is made to march two or three hundred paces without breaking the order, nor increasing the distances under penalty of being recaptured and punished. Afterwards all the Captains and soldiers having their faces turned back make the counter-march or conversion in this manner. The Captains instead of marching forward, pass at the interval of the ranks leading the soldiers of the files after them, until the soldier of the last rank has reached the place where the first was. In this way the parts of the battalion find themselves having changed their situation and their face, and not their form, always remaining in the same place, then having the Sergeants of the right hand in their heads, the soldiers turn their faces straight there, and marching in files occupy as much space as the battalion costs or more, according to what pleases the Millenier, then turning their faces towards |
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