Reference Points for Orientation, and
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The formation of soldiers arrayed by rank and file has its four
points of orientation: Front, Rear, Left, Right. Those
points are maintained even if each soldier turns to his right, say.
That is, the Front Proper is still the Front Proper even though the
soldiers are no longer facing in that direction. Compare to a
compass: despite the markings at the rim going every which way
depending upon how the instrument is held, the needle remains true
to the magnetic north. Colonel Barriffe defines a facing: "Facing is a particular turning of the Aspect from one part to another, whereby the Front-proper becomes a Front-accidentall: and a Front-accidentall may be reduced to his proper Front."*
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