[COUNTER- 1: cf. prec.]
1. intr. To march in a contrary direction; to march back.
1644. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. II. 690. The Earl of Essex … pretended to Countermarch to the East.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 564. Standing in readiness to march, to countermarch, and change our measures alertly, as occasion shall require.
1811. Hist. Europe, in Ann. Reg., 113/1. Gen. Graham immediately countermarched in order to support the troops left for its defence.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 333. Mackay, meanwhile, wasted some weeks in marching, in countermarching, and in indecisive skirmishing.
2. Mil. To execute a countermarch (sense 2).
1625. Markham, Souldiers Accid., 19. Rankes, countermarch from the right hand to the left.
1832. Prop. Reg. Instr. Cavalry, III. 83. The Regiment in Line is required to countermarch on its centre.
1884. Field Exerc. Infantry, 84. Counter-marching and changing Ranks. [This is the last appearance of Counter-marching in the official manual.]
3. trans. To cause to countermarch (in either sense).
a. 1658. Cleveland, Engagement Stated, 43. He … Must first … Like Witches compact counter-march his Faith.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1803), 125–6. When the column, after changing position, is to proceed in the new direction, and therefore to be countermarched in part.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man. (1862), 11. A Company in line may also be countermarched by Files, or Ranks.
Hence Countermarcher, Countermarching vbl. sb.
1625. Markham, Souldier’s Accid., 20. In counter-marching … you are to name neither Rankes nor Files.
1689. T. Plunket, Char. Gd. Commander, 28. Encounter Countermarchers, and they’ll soon Run Counter-Cross into confusion.
1721. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 49. Their … marchings, counter-marchings … were done with … order.
1889. Spectator, 30 Nov., 747/1. After his [Stanley’s] eighteen months of hideous suffering, of marching and counter-marching.
