"2 strange? Russian tactical formations" Topic

In the Russian School of the Battalion (Fig. 311 in the book of illustrations published in 1826 *) there is this formation : закрытие флангов колонна от кавалерии / zakpytie flangov kolonna ot kavalerii / column with flanks closed against cavalry.

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The numbers are the platon numbers (recall that the 1st Platoon is Grenadiers and the 8th Platoon is Marksmen).
Each number represents a block of 3 files by 3 ranks. The hypen – means empty space.

The 1st and 8th Platoons are facing "out" to the flanks. The remainder of the formation is the usual "attack column" formed on the center division (the 4th and 5th Platoons)

There is also this one (Fig. 310) : закрытие флангов фронта от кавалерии / zakpytie flangov fronta ot kavalerii / deployed line with flanks closed against cavalry.

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The 1st and 2nd Platoons on the right and the 7th and 8th Platoons on the left have each formed small open squares, with each face formed by a half-platoon.

Do any other nations have these formations, or similar?

* PDF link

That last formation looks bizarre- I can't see the worth of it- unless platoons 4-6 are putting bayonets up, stocks on the ground facing both directions?? Or, do you suppose the mini squares, if pushed toward the enemy, were meant to disrupt the integrity of a charge? It doesn't seem it would help enough against cavalry once it was around the short distance of the flank platoon?

The second one in particular looks like one of those ideas which seems wonderful in some desk warrior's office but is quickly discarded by actual combat soldiers.

That would probably explain both of them, yea…

Well, the second one, especially, doesn't look like it would slow down French cuirassiers much, does it?

Actaully, I am thinking these were for defense against cavalry skirmishers, or light/harrassing native, Turkish and Persian horse. There are a good number of references to the Russians receiving these "in line", but if such cavalry gained a totally open flank (3 guys and a couple of drummers), even a few horse could disprupt a deployed line. So, I am thinking that this might be a way to put some more fire down on the flanks while not stopping the main work of the battalion.