The Art of War - Khamkoo

the side of the front, they come together so that (the side of) one man
touches the next; but on the other side (of the square) the men are distant
at least two arm lengths from each other, so that the square is longer
from the front to the back (shoulders), then from one side (flank) to the
other. (So that the rectangle thus formed is called two squares).
And as we have to talk often today of the parts in front, in the rear,
and on the side of this Company, and of the complete army, you will understand
that when I will say either head or front, I mean to say the part
in front; when I say shoulder, the part behind (rear); when I say flanks,
the parts on the side.
The fifty ordinary Veliti of the company are not mixed in with the other
files, but when the company is formed, they extend along its flanks.
The other method of putting together (forming) the company is this;
and because it is better than the first, I want to place in front of your eyes
in detail how it ought to be organized. I believe you remember the number
of men and the heads which compose it, and with what arms it is
armed. The form, therefore, that this company ought to have is ((as I
have said)) of twenty files, twenty men per file, five files of pikemen in
front, and fifteen files of shield bearers on the shoulders (behind); two
centurions are in front and two behind in the shoulders who have the office
of those whom the ancients called Tergiduttori (Rear-leaders): The
Constable, with the flag and bugler, is in that space which is between the
five files of pikemen and the fifteen of shield-bearers: there is one of the
Captains of the Ten on every flank, so that each one is alongside his men,
those who are on the left side of his right hand, those on the right side on
his left hand. The fifty Veliti are on the flanks and shoulders (rear) of the
company. If it is desired, now, that regular infantry be employed, this
company is put together in this form, and it must organize itself thusly:
Have the infantry be brought to eighty files, five per file, as we said a
little while ago; leaving the Veliti at the head and on the tail (rear), even
though they are outside this arrangement; and it ought to be so arranged
that each Centurion has twenty files behind him on the shoulders, and
those immediately behind every Centurion are five files of pikemen, and
the remaining shield-bearers: the Constable, with his flag and bugler, is
in that space that is between the pikemen and the shield-bearers of the
second Centurion, and occupies the places of three shield-bearers:
twenty of the Heads of Ten are on the Flanks of the first Centurion on the
left hand, and twenty are on the flanks of the last Centurion on the right
hand. And you have to understand, that the Head of Ten who has to
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