The directions for the march apply, in a great degree, to this step,
which is 150 steps in a minute, each of thirty-six inches, making 450
feet in a minute.
Double March.--On the word Double March, the whole step off together
with the left feet, keeping the head erect, and the shoulders square
to the front; the knees are a little bent; the body is more advanced
than in the other marches; the arms hang with ease down the outside of
the thighs. The person marching is carefully habituated to the full
pace of thirty-six inches, otherwise he gets into the habit of a short
trot, which defeats the obvious advantages of this degree of march. In
the army, great advantage attends the constant use of the plummet; and
the several lengths swinging the times of the different marches in a
minute, are as follow:--
In. Hun.
Slow time 75 steps in the minute 24,96
Quick time 108 „ „ 12,03
Double march 150 „ „ 6,26
A musket ball, suspended by a string which is not subject to stretch,
and on which are marked the different required lengths, answers the
above purpose, may be easily acquired, and is directed to be frequently
compared with an accurate standard in the adjutant’s possession. The
length of the plummet is to be measured from the point of suspension
to the centre of the ball. In practising all these paces, the pupils
should also be accustomed to march upon a narrow plane, where there is
room for only one foot, upon rough uneven ground, and on soft ground
which yields to the foot.
Walking exercises a greater influence over the economy when it takes
place on inclined planes than on a flat surface. In ascending, the
effort is made in a direction directly opposed to the general tendency
of heavy bodies: the body is strongly bent, the upper part of the
trunk in advance; the action of the posterior and anterior muscles
of the thigh is considerable; and circulation and respiration are
speedily accelerated by the violence of the muscular contractions.
In descending, on the contrary, effort is requisite to keep up the
body, which tends to obey the laws of gravitation; and to moderate
the tendency of gravity to project forward in the centre, the body
is thrown back, the sacro-spinal mass, and the posterior muscles of
the neck, are strongly contracted, the knees bent, and the steps much
shorter. Men with long flat feet, and the heel bone little projecting,
are bad walkers.