"Arrivé au point d'attaque, le 5me corps change de direction par un mouvement de tete de colonne à droite; la Division Girard marche à l'ennemi en colonnes d'attaque. La 2me Division derierre, é 150 pas de distance, en colonnes d'attaque par bataillon."

Please correct me if I have it wrong, but I think the distinction is: "...par bataillon." and although I take your point about the "passage of lines", doesn`t the above refer to the disposition of the division, rather than how the battalions within it were ployed?

The terminology still seems rather imprecise, but aren`t the battalions in columns within the regiments of the second division one behind the other - whereas the first would have been arrayed differently ?

Regards,

Mike.