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John Bright's Regiment of Foote
Part of the Roundhead Association in the English Civil War Society
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Filing and Ranking
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Filing is the process of changing a Squadron into one (or more) single files. This is generally used for getting through narrow gaps, over bridges, etc. There are two principle methods of filing and one additional variation.
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1. By File
Order: Files, File to the right/left
The right (or left) hand file leader leads off followed by his file, the next file leader follows on the first file's Bringer Up, and so on.
Reduction: File leaders, lead up your files as you were
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2. By Rank
Order: Ranks, file to the right/left
The right (or left) hand file leader leads off followed by the next, adjacent, File leader and so on down the whole rank. Then the second man in the first file follows on, as do the rest of the second rank. And so on.
Reduction: Files, Rank as you were
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This variant is quite pretty and is as follows:
3. By Rank by division
Order: Ranks, file to the right and left by division
The Left and Right hand file leaders both lead off together. Each file leader is followed by his adjacent file leader, each Rank dividing into right and left hand Half-ranks and following, in the manner of filing by Rank, its respective file leader. Thus two single files are formed, one of the Right Hand Half-ranks and the other of the Left.
Reduction: Files ranks as you were
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Ranking, as you may guess, is the process of changing a File into one (or more) Ranks.
On the whole it is very difficult to find any good reason to do this, but Mr. Barriffe includes it; So here goes.
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The basic method is pretty straight forward
Order: Files, Rank to the right/left
Assuming that the order has been to rank to the left; the right hand file leader leads off followed by his file. Once clear of the block the file will string out into a rank to the left of the file leader. The next file leader has already followed on the previous Bringer up and positions himself behind the first file leader, his file then ranking to the left, and so on. While this process continues the ranked files must keep moving to allow room for the files to form new ranks. However this should be slowly or the following files will have to run to catch up. Once all the files have ranked then the body will stand.
Reduction: Face to your right about; Bringers up , lead up your files as you were
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The following variant possibly has more uses, for passing narrow gaps and whatever. It is called ranking in equal parts. This is done by dividing the files in to ranks, one file forming several ranks.
A note to Officers, equal parts means EQUAL. That is... Don't try and get three man Ranks out of eight man files!
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Order: Files, Rank, Three (or four or whatever) to the right/left
Assuming that the order has been to rank to the left; the right hand file leader leads off followed by his file. Once clear of the block the first three men, including the file leader, will string out into a rank, of three to the left of the file leader. The next man positions himself behind the file leader, the next men then ranking to the left, and so on. Again ranked files must keep moving to allow room for the files to form new ranks. Once all the files have ranked then the body will stand.
Reduction: Face to your right about; Bringers up , lead up your files as you were
Gosh this is fun!! Isn't it?
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A Bit More Doubling
We have already learn to double in the normal way, intire and to the midst. (you remember all that don't you?) Here are three more variants available to the vindictive officer. The previous methods all used Half-ranks or Half-files, this time we're going to use complete files; OOOOOOwweeerrrr!
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1. Doubling Ranks Intire
Order: Double your ranks to the right/left, intire
Even numbered Ranks face to the right/left and march until clear of the body, they then stand, face the front and rank forward even with the stationary ranks.
Reduction: Ranks that doubled, face to the left/right. march forth into your places.
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2. Doubling Ranks Intire, advancing
Order: Double your files to the right/left, intire, advancing
Even number files (from the right) advance forward and stand before the odd numbered files to their right
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Reduction: Files that doubled, face about to the left, march forth into your places.
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3. Doubling Files depth
Order: Files, double your depth to the right/left, intire; everyman falling behind his Bringer up
Even number files (from the right) face to the right about, and the Bringer up moves to stand behind the Bringer up of the file to his left facing forward. The rest of his file follow on standing behind the man in front of him, and facing to the front.
Reduction: Files as you were
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This means we now know all the methods of doubling ranks and files. Unless I find any more in the book.
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