Refend

Fr. in architecture, a partition wall, viz. Mur de refend. To RE-FORM , in a military sense, is after some manœuvre or evolution, to bring a line to its natural order, by aligning it on some given point. This frequently occurs in the pa age of lines, . viz. When a line or several battalions hath pa ed another that remains posted, by retreating through by files, it may be reformed in the following manner: To RE- FORM by a flank battalion, on a central battalion, in an oblique position . When by a flank battalion, the line that has pa ed is fronted in column, and the several pivots are dre ed correctly before wheeling up into line. To this effect, the commander of the head battalion will instantly place the pivots of his three first platoons in a true direction, and order the officers of his other platoons to line on them; himself remaining with the head platoon at the point d’appui, will see that this is correctly done. The first battalion thus steadied, will become a sufficient direction for the second, and every other one, to prolong it by their adjutants; and this operation, though succe ive from platoon to platoon, and from battalion to battalion, may be performed quickly and correctly; if the adjutants are timeously detached, and if the head of the column be quickly arranged. To RE- FORM a first line on a central battalion . In order to give the alignment from a central battalion, after halting and fronting, the platoon pivots of the given battalion are from its head to be accurately lined by its commander, in the true direction. This battalion being placed, from which distances and dre ings are taken, the others will instantly proceed to line their pivot flanks upon it: those that are behind it, will readily do this; those that are before it will find more difficulty, as they must take their distances from the rear; to facilitate this nece ary object, their platoon officers will face to the directing battalion, and will then succe ively take their distances and covering from their then front; as soon as each has acquired his true position, he will face about and make his platoon join to and dre to him. The line will then be ready to form, by wheeling up to the pivot flank. To RE- FORM a first line, that has pa ed through a second which remains posted, in an oblique position . When it is found nece ary that the pa ing battalions, which constitute the first line should take a new position not parallel to the second, or to their own original formation, the commander, with his two leading platoons, will first enter it (i. e. the new position) and direct the others to regulate their flanks by them; and if several battalions are pa ing the second line, the new alignment is thus made easier for them. It frequently happens, that a height in the rear is to be crowned by a retiring line. In this case, each officer must not dre exactly to the platoon that precedes him, but in joining it he must halt , and arrange his own in such a manner, that the slope of the rising or ascent can be entirely seen and commanded, which is here the great object, and would not be attained, if the troops were to adhere to a straight line. To Reform , ( Reformer , Fr. ) is likewise to reduce a corps of men, by either disbanding the whole, or only breaking a part, and retaining the rest; or sometimes by incorporating them with other regiments.