Surely it could mean no harm to any man.
The men lacked experience in column travel, the animals were unruly.

The train formation--clumsily trying to conform to the orders of Wingate to travel in four parallel columns--soon lost order.

At times the wagons halted to re-form.

The leaders galloped back and forth, exhorting, adjuring and restoring little by little a certain system.

But they dealt with independent men.