1. Line--(Regular Troops Only) Line is formed by placing all the stands of a unit in a line with adjacent stands touching and facing the same direction.

   Artillery Line:

2. Open Order Line-- As for Line but there must be a full stand width between each stand in Line.
3. Open Order Line Column--(Regular Troops Only) A formation that is deeper than it is wide. There are two types of column, Road Column and Field Column. A Road Column can be no more than two stands wide. A Field Column must have more stands in depth than it does in width.

To form Road Column place up to two stands of a unit in a line with the stands touching and facing the same direction. Place the same number of stands directly behind the first rank with adjacent stands touching both front to back and to the sides. Continue placing stands in this manner until all of the units stands have been placed.

In either Road Column (right) or Field Column (far right), if there are not enough stands to fill all of the ranks, put the partial rank in the rear.

To Form a Field Column divide the number of stands in the unit by the number of ranks to be in the column. The result of this calculation will give the number of stands in each rank. Next, place the indicated number of stands of the unit in a line with the stands touching and facing the same direction. Place the same number of stands directly behind the first rank with adjacent stands touching both front to back and to the sides. Continue placing stands in this manner until all of the units stands have been placed.

Artillery Column (at left) 6. Open Order Column -As for Column but with a full stand width and a full stand depth betwee each stand. Open Order Road Column: (at right) Open Order Field Column: (at far right)

7. Skirmish Order (at left)

Sub unit skirmish order.(at right)

Separate each stand by three to four times its stand width and depth. Skirmishers may form up to two ranks in depth and still count all figures for Firing. The last figure at the extremes of the Skirmish Line mark its exact ends. Between these two points the actual soldiers are assumed to be roughly evenly distributed, serving as a screen to friendly force and/or to harass an Enemy while presenting a very poor target.

3. Square--(Regular Infantry Only) The formation must be as close to square or rectangular as possible. To form Square divide the number of stands in a unit by four. The result of the calculation is the number of stands that go in each face of the square. Place the indicated number of stands of a unit in a line with the stands touching and facing the same direction. Next, place the indicated number of stands in a line along the side face of those previously placed facing to that side. Continue in this manner for the other two sides of the square.

Square Even number of stands: (left) Odd number of stands:(right)

All Stands on a side of the Square may Fire, including those on the "corners", but none may Fire twice in the same Turn.

9. Irregular Mass (right)-- All Native Indian Irregular Infantry and Cavalry have only one Formation, a same number of stands in width as in depth.

10. Artillery Formations-- The following formations are for individual gun models and their crew. For groups of gun models use the Line and Column formations to place the gun models and the formations below to place the crew stands around their gun model.

A. Limbered (at left)-- Place the crew in a column one stand wide with the gun model placed at the end of the column facing backwards.

B. Unlimbered (at right)--Gun models face the Front with the crew beside and/or behind the gun with the bases touching the gun models base.

C. Prolong And Fire--The Guns are advanced with the crew figures still behind the pieces as when Firing (see above). Direction changes are made by wheeling.

D. Prolonge (at right)--The Guns are moved facing forward with the crew figures placed to the front or the gun to indicate their dragging the Guns forward. Direction changes are made by wheeling. There will be no Fire during the Turn.

8. Disorder--It can result from Units being Forced Back, Routing, crossing difficult terrain, or other causes. To represent Disorder within a Unit, stagger the stands while remaining in the Unit's current Formation. Note these examples.

Disorder can occur as the result of Movement, Casualties, Mandatory Moves, and/or loss of Resolve.

A Unit is Disordered under one or more of the following circumstances:

1. If the Unit Charged last turn.
2. Enters Close Combat
3. Crosses Rough Terrain
4. Is either Forced Back, Routing, or Panicked.
5. Pursues or is Pursued
6. Is being Charged in Flank or Rear
7. The Unit loses 1 stand in 4 (or 25%) of the units current strength in stands since last check.

Reforming

To Reform from Disorder, the Unit need only be given any legal Order the Unit is capable of. The Player must announce that the Unit is attempting to Reform when he reveals the Order. Until the Unit is Reformed, it is still considered Disordered for all other purposes.

The Unit must make an Reaction test when it reveals its Orders, and if the result is 10 or more it is Reformed. It takes half a Turn to Reform and the Unit may make a half move upon completion. However, If the Unit is under Fire or had to Rally it takes the entire Turn to Reform.

John Company Rules:

Introduction
Part 1: Unit Classifications, Resolve Levels, Command and Control
Part 3: Sequence of Play, Unit Orders, Movement
Part 4: Reaction Tests, Firing, Events

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