Marching Commands
by Charles Knutson
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The following commands are based on the book Pallas
Armata, or Military instructions for the Learned, by Sir Thomas Kellie.
Printed at Edinburgh, 1627 (facsimile reprint, 1971 Da Capo Press). The
book gives both the English the Scottish forms. Only the Scottish
versions are listed here. The commands are based on a formation ten
ranks deep and twenty "strings" (files) across the front, 100 Muskets
and 100 pike. To use the period definitions: Strings are lines of men
standing "back to belly”. Ranks are the lines standing "shoulder to
shoulder”.There were four distances used between ranks and strings:
"First Distance" = Open order, 6', about half of one of our pikes' length apart, used for drills.
"Second Distance" = 3', or an arm's length apart.
"Third Distance" = 1.5' apart, far enough to avoid tripping on your neighbor's scabbard. Used by pikemen when they charge the enemy, or receive an attack. Musketeers never stand this close because they need room to load their weapons.
"Double distance" = 12', or one pike length apart. Used to let musketeers march through the formation, or when approaching a fort and minimize casualties from an enemy cannon/gun volley.
"The Most usefull wordes of Command":
(Using The Scots words of command)
Because some of the commands are easily confused, hyphens have been inserted to suggest pauses for emphasis and to help set tempo.
Facings:
"Right - about" = Right face
"Left - about" = Left face
"Right and left - About" = Right Half of formation faces right, left half, left, i.e. facing the flanks.
"To your first order" = To resume previous position
"Right - round about" = About face, turning right
"Left - round about" = About face, turning left.
"Sixt rank - right (or left) - round about" = Rear half (Ranks 6-10) turn left, or right, as ordered, to face the rear. (To form a double-faced battle front & rear)
"To your first order" = To resume previous position.
Wheelings (Turns)
"Great turn - to the right - about" = A 90 degree turn to the right.
"Great turn - to the left - about" = A 90 degree turn to the left.
"Great turn - to the right - round about" = A 180 degree turn to the right.
"Great turn - to the left - round about" = A 180 degree turn to the left.
Doublings:
Doublings change the formation to present twice the number of men to the enemy without changing the width of the formation.
"Double your ranks - to the right hand" = Even numbered ranks step forward to stand at the right of the man in front them.
"Double your ranks - to the left hand" = Even numbered ranks step forward to stand at the left of the men in front of them
"Ranks - to your first order" = Resume previous position.
Example: "Double your ranks - to the..”.
"Right hand" "Left hand"
x x x x 1 xxxxxxxx X X X X 1 XXXXXXXX
to / / / / or to \ \ \ \
x x x x 2 . . . . X X X X 2 . . . .
"Tenth rank - to the right - advance to the front" = Moving to the right of the men in front the of them, the tenth rank marches through the files to stand next to the first rank doubling the files. Ranks 9 - 6 follow rank ten as it passes.
"Tenth rank - to the left - advance to the front" = Moving to the left of the men in front the of them, the tenth rank marches through the files to stand next to the first rank doubling the files. Ranks 9 - 6 follow rank ten as it passes.
"Tenth rank - to your first order" = To resume previous position.
Example: "Tenth Rank - to the right - advance to the front":
X X 1 X X 1 X X X X
X X 2 X X 2 X X X X
X X . X X 3 X X X X
X X . X X X X X X
X X . to X éXé Ending: X X X X
X X 6 X XX X 10 . . . .
X X 7 X X X X 9 . . . .
X X 8 .X .X 8 . . . .
X X 9 . . . . . .
X X 10 . . . . . .
"Sixt rank - to the right - advance to the front" = Ranks 6 - 10 step to the right and march forward to double the files
"Sixt rank - to the left - advance to the front" = Ranks 6 - 10 step to the left and march forward to double the files
"Sixt rank - to your first order" = To resume previous position.
Example: "Sixt rank - to the right - advance to the front"
X X 1 X X 1 X X X X
X X 2 X X 2 X X X X
X X 3 X X 3 X X X X
X X 4 X X X X X X
X X 5 XéXé X X X X
X X 6 to: . X . X 6 Ending:. .
X X 7 . X . X 7 . .
X X 8 . X . X 8 . .
X X 9 . X . X 9 . .
X X 10 . X . X 10 . .
"Double your strings - to the right hand" = Men in even numbered strings step back and stand behind the men on their right.
"Double your strings - to the left hand" = Men in odd numbered strings step back and stand behind the men on their left.
"Strings - to your first order" = Resume the previous position.
Example: "Double your strings - to the right hand”.
Front
4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1
X X X X . X . X
\ X \ X
X X X X . X . X
To \ X \ X
X X X X . X . X
\ X \ X
X X X X . X . X
\ X \ X
Closings & Openings
Used to open or close the distance between ranks and strings.
"Close your strings - to the right hand - to your second (or third) distance" = Right flank string stands still, all other strings step to the right to stand shoulder to shoulder.
"Open your strings - to your left hand - to your first (second, or double) distance" = Right flank string stands still all other strings step left to open formation.
"Close your strings - to the left hand - to your second (or third) distance" = Left flank string stands still, all other strings step to the left to stand shoulder to shoulder.
"Open your strings - to the right hand - to your first (second, or double) distance" = Left flank string stands still all other strings step left to open formation.
Example: "Close your strings - to the right hand - to your third distance”.
Front
X X X X X X > . . . XXXXXX
X X X X X X to . . . XXXXXX
"Close your strings - to your second (or third) distance" = Close the distance to the center of the formation.
Example: "Close your strings - to your third distance"
Front
X X X X X X > . .XXXXXX. .ç
X X X X X X to . .XXXXXX. .
"Ranks - to your second (or third) distance" = First rank stands still, all other men step forward to stand 3 feet from the man in front of him (1.5 feet for third distance). This command has been changed from the original so that it makes more sense. The original command was "Ranks close to your second, or third order”.
"Open your ranks - to your first distance" = First rank stands still, all men behind, step back to stand 6 feet from the men in front of them.
Countermarches
Used to turn a formation around in a minimum amount of space to present your stronger side to the enemy.
"Strings - to the right hand - Countermarch" = First man in each string takes one step forward, one step to the right and faces the rear. The rest of the men follow single file and fall in behind.
"Strings - to the left hand - Countermarch" = First man in each string takes one step forward, one step to the left and faces the rear. The rest of the men follow single file and fall in behind
Example: "Strings - to the left hand - Countermarch”.
X X X5
X X X4
Ç Ç Ç X X X3
2X X X X X X3 X X X2
é ^ ^ ^ 1X X X X X X4 X X X1 New Front
X X X1 to: ê X ê X êX5 Ending: . . .
Front X X X2 é é é . . . ê
X X X3 . . . . . .
X X X4 . . . . . .
X X X5 . . . . . .
"Ranks - to the right hand - Countermarch" = The formation faces to the right. The men now at the rear begin marching through the ranks to become the front. The men in front follow them as they pass.
"Ranks - to the left hand - Countermarch" = The formation faces to the left. The men now at the rear begin marching through the ranks to become the front. The men in front follow them as they pass.
Example: "Ranks - to the right hand - countermarch”.
Front
X X X X X X X X New
X X X X X X N. . X X X X . . . . . . Front
To X X Ending X X X X X X
X X X X X X N. . X X X X . . . . . .
Additional Commands
These commands are also used by Clann Tartan and have evolved through use in the field until period terms can be located to replace them.
1. "Stand to your pikes! Post on the drum (or corporal)!" = Fall in (with weapons) to the left of the drum at "First Distance”.
To size the troops:
"Advance your pikes.
Right about.
Tallest man to the fore.
Left about”.
To form a column of march.
"Count by your twa's (or three's)
By your twa's (or three's), right about”.
In groups of two's (or three's) wheel right 90 degrees to form a column.
Front X X X X X X3
to: X X X Ending: X X X2 Front>
X X X X X X X X X . . X . . X . . X . . X . . X . . X1
3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1
"Guide on the Colors!" (or sergeant, corporal etc.)
To follow the leader without constant turning commands:
"Great wheel - to the right (or left)- about" = The formation turns gradually right, or left as commanded, with each rank turning as if spokes of a wheel. the formation continues to wheel until given the command "Forward - march”.