Column Formation
Column formation – a formation in which elements are placed one behind the other.
A military column is a formation of soldiers marching together in one or more files in which the file is significantly longer than the width of ranks in the formation. The column formation allows rapid unit movement and a very effective charge (due to the weight of numbers), and it can quickly form a square to resist cavalry attacks, but by its nature, only a fraction of its muskets can open fire. The line formation offers a substantially more extensive musket frontage than the column, allowing for more excellent shooting capability, but requires extensive training to allow the unit to move over the ground as one while retaining the line. It is also applied by modern armies to vehicles, troops, and naval vessels.
Французько-українсько-англійський міжвидовий словник з тактики та логістики. Dictionnaire interamées de termes tactiques et logistiques français-ukrainien-anglais: [в 2-х т.] / Центр розробки Доктрини застосування Збройних Сил Французької Республіки, Київ p.633
Appleman, Roy (1989), Disaster in Korea: The Chinese Confront MacArthur, College Station, TX: Texas A and M University Military History Series, 11, ISBN 978-1-60344-128-5