UC-NRLF 
 
\xU^ 
 
THE EECEUIT: 
 
 A COMPILATION 
 
 OF 
 OP 
 
 INFANTRY, LIGHTINFANTRY 
 
 AND 
 
 RIFLEMEN, 
 
 ACCORDING TO THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. 
 RESPKCTFULLT DEDICATED TO THE 
 
 RECRUITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 BY OAPT. JOH]^ T. CAIRNS. 
 
 SIXTH EDITION. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 LEWIS H. E M B R E E, 
 
 184 BOWEET. 
 1855. 
 
Ull3 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by 
 
 JOHN T. CAIRNS, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District 
 of New York. 
 
FELLOW-SOLDIERS: 
 
 The much approved and beautiful system of 
 Tactics prepared by Major General Winfield Scott, 
 being too voluminous to reach recruits, and hav- 
 ing myself for twenty years met w^ith a large 
 number of soldiers (rank and file) who deplored 
 the want of an exposition of first principles, at a 
 low price ; the following work is most respectfully 
 offered for your consideration. 
 
 When this work was first compiled, it was 
 intended as a book of reference for myself and the 
 members of my command (the Independence 
 Guard), but, on submitting it to some military 
 friends, I have been induced to offer it to my fellow- 
 soldiers generally. 
 
 The information of the recruit, has been kept 
 always in view, as it should be by every man who 
 has the least pretension as an Instructor. The first 
 lessons to the recruit may be likened to the foun- 
 dation of a house ; lay a good foundation, and you 
 can rear your superstructure to any height ; make 
 a good infantry soldier, and you have the man pre- 
 pared for any other arm. 
 
 The frontispiece (description of a musket) will 
 be found useful; every recruit should know the 
 principal parts of the piece, before proceeding to 
 the manual of arms. 
 
 M176GSG 
 
Flank companies that wish to conform strictly 
 to the rules and regulations, have found the want 
 of a camp color in Reviews, &c. To obviate that 
 difficulty, the author makes the following sugges- 
 tion : — Let each company appear w^ith a single 
 regimental camp color, or one adapted to the com- 
 pany for company days, which can be used to 
 advantage in reviews ; in forming line by file, and 
 from column on the right into line ; to mark the 
 change of direction, &c. On regimental days the 
 same color-bearers to act as general guides, and 
 posted in the line of file-closers, the first in the 
 rear of the right, and the second in the rear of the 
 left flank of the battalion. 
 
 The compiler's chief delight, during twenty 
 years in the volunteer service of the State of New 
 York, has been his association with recruits, 
 hoping thereby to serve his country more eifec- 
 tually ; and that feeling alone has prompted him to 
 yield to solicitations, and submit this work for their 
 particular benefit. Whether it be adapted to that 
 purpose he leaves for others to decide. 
 
 If this effort of the compiler should meet with a 
 favorable reception, you may hear from the same 
 source again. 
 
 JOHN T. CAIRNS. 
 
w 
 
 Flank companies that wish to conform strictly 
 to the rules and regulations, have found the want 
 of a camp color in Reviews, &c. To obviate that 
 difficulty, the author makes the following sugges- 
 tion: — Let each company appear with a single 
 regimental camp color, or one adapted to the com- 
 pany for company days, which can be used to 
 advantage in reviews ; in forming line by file, and 
 from column on the right into line ; to mark the 
 change of direction, &c. On regimental days the 
 same color-bearers to act as general guides^ and 
 posted in the line of file-closers, the first in the 
 rear of the right, and the second in the rear of the 
 left flank of the battalion. 
 
 The compiler's chief delight, during twenty 
 years in the volunteer service of the State of New 
 York, has been his association with recruits, 
 hoping thereby to serve his country more effec- 
 tually ; and that feeling alone has prompted him to 
 yield to solicitations, and submit this work for tlieir 
 particular benefit. Whether it be adapted to that 
 purpose he leaves for others to decide. 
 
 If this effort of the compiler should meet with a 
 favorable reception, you may hear from the same 
 source again. 
 
 JOHN T. CAIRNS. 
 
♦ s 
 
DESCRIPTION OF A MUSKET. 
 
 The principal parts of a Piece (Fusil, Musket, or Firelock), 
 are the following :— 1st. The Barrel. 2d. Lock. 3d. Stock. 
 4th. Rammer. 5th. Mounting. 
 
 Fia. T. 
 No. 1— The Upper. 2. Middle. 3. Tail-bands. 
 No. 4— The Swell. 
 No. 5— The Trigger. 
 No. 6— The Guard. 
 No. 7— The Swivels. 
 
 No. 8— The Small of the Stock (or Handle of the Piece.) 
 No. 9— The Bult. 
 No. 10— The Heel of the Butt. 
 No. 11— The Front Screw of the Butt Plate. 
 No. 12— The Butt Plate. 
 No. 13— The Toe (or Beak) of the Butt. 
 No. 14— The Lock. The plate opposite the Lock is called the 
 
 S (or Counter Plate). 
 No. 15 — The Bayonet. 
 No. 16— The Rammer. 
 
 There is Upper, Middle, and Tail Pipe; Butt of, and Little 
 End of Rammer. 
 
 The names belonging to the Barrel are, the Muzzle, Breech, 
 Bore, Sight, Breech Pin, and Tang-Screw, which fastens the 
 breech to the stock. 
 
 Fig. IL 
 No. 1 is the Flint (or Cock) screw ; 1 is also the head of the 
 cock. No. 2— The Chops for the Flint. No. 3— The Flint. 
 Nos. 4 and 1 inclusive — The Cock or Hammer. No. 5 — ^The 
 Tumbler Screw which fastens the cock to the screw plate: the 
 tumbler is that into which this is screwed. No. 6 — The Screw 
 Plate. No. 7— The Pan Steel and its Screw. No. 8— The Pan 
 No. 9— The Feather Spring. 
 
 Fio. IIL 
 No. 1 is the Blade of the Bayonet. No. 2— The Shank. No. 
 S—The Socket. 
 
SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER. 
 
 First Principles. 
 
 This will be taught, if practicable, to one recruit 
 at a time ; but two, or at most three recruits may 
 be united when the number is great compared with 
 that of the instructors. In this case the recruits 
 will be placed in a single rank, at one pace apart. 
 The recruit, or recruits, in this part, will be with- 
 out arms. 
 
 Position of the Soldier. 
 
 Heels on the same line, and as close together as 
 the conformation of the man may permit ; the feet 
 forming with each other something less than a 
 right-angle, the toes equally turned out ; the knees 
 straight without stiffness ; the body erect on the 
 hips, the upper part inclining a little forward ; the 
 shoulders square and falling equally ; arms hang- 
 ing naturally, elbows near the body, the palm of the 
 hand turned a little to the front, the little finger 
 behind the seam of the pantaloons, or the centre 
 of the thigh ; the face well to tho front, the chin 
 
10 THE RECEUIT. • > 
 
 a little drawn in without constraint, and the eyea 
 striking the ground at the distance of fifteen paces. 
 
 Remarks, 
 
 Heels on the same lAne; 
 
 Because, if one were in the rear of the other, the 
 ehoulder on that side would be thrown back, or the 
 position of the soldier would be constrained. 
 
 Heels more or less closed ; 
 
 Because, men who are knock-kneed, or who 
 have legs with large calves, cannot, without con- 
 straint, make their heels touch while standing. 
 
 Toes equally turned out, and not forming too large an angle; 
 
 Because, if one toe were turned out more than 
 the other, a shoulder would be deranged, and if 
 both toes be too much turned out, it would not be 
 practicable to incline the upper part of the body 
 forward without rendering the whole position un- 
 steady. 
 
 Knees extended without stiffness ; 
 
 Because, if stiffened, constraint and fatigue 
 would be unavoidable. 
 
 The body erect on the hips ; 
 
 Because, it gives equilibrium to the position. 
 The instructor will observe that many recruits 
 have the bad habit of dropping a shoulder, of draw- 
 ing in a side, or of advancing a hip, particularly 
 the left, when under arms. These are defects 
 which he will labor to correct. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 11 
 
 The upper part of the body inclined forward ; 
 
 Because, commonly recruits are disposed to do 
 the reverse, to project the belly, and to throw back 
 the shoulders when they wish to hold themselves 
 erect — great inconveniences in marching, as will 
 be explained in the remarks on the princinles of 
 the step. The habit of inclining forward the upper 
 part of the body is so important to contract, that 
 the instructor must enforce it at the beginning, 
 particularly with recruits who have naturally the 
 opposite habit. 
 
 Shoulders square ; 
 
 Because, if the shoulders be advanced beyond 
 the line of the breast, and the back arched (the 
 defect called round-shouldered, not uncommon 
 among recruits), the man cannot align himself, 
 nor use his piece with address. It is important, 
 then, to correct this defect, and necessary to that 
 end that the coat should sit easy about the shoul- 
 ders and arm-pits ; but, in correcting this defect, 
 the instructor will take care that the shoulders be 
 not thrown too much to the rear, which would 
 cause the belly to project, and the small of the 
 back to be curved. 
 
 The arms hanging naturally, elbows near the body, the palm of 
 the hand a little turned to the front, the little finger behind the 
 seam of the pantaloons ; 
 
 Because, these positions are equally important 
 to the shoulder-arms, and to prevent the man from 
 occupying more space in a rank than is necessary 
 to a free use of the piece ; they have, moreover, 
 the advantage of keeping in the shoulders. 
 
12 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 The face well to the fronts the chin a little drawn in, wiUiout 
 constraint ; 
 
 Because, if there be stiffness in the latter posi- 
 tion, it would communicate itself to the whole of 
 the upper part of the body, embarrass its move- 
 ments, and give pain and fatigue. 
 
 Eijes cast direct to the front ; 
 
 Because, this is the surest means of maintaining 
 the shoulders in line — an essential object, to be 
 insisted on and attained. 
 
 1. Eyes — ^RiGHT. 2. Front. 
 
 At the word rights turn the head gently to the 
 right, so as to bring the inner corner of the left eye 
 in a line with the centre of the body, the eyes fixed 
 on the line of the eyes of the men in, or supposed 
 to be in, the same rank. 
 
 At the word front, resume the direct position. 
 
 Eyes — Left will be executed by inverse means. 
 
 The instructor will take care that the movement 
 of the head does not derange the squareness of the 
 shoulders. 
 
 Rest. 
 
 At the word rest, carry the right foot six inches 
 in rear of the left heel, cross the hands in front, 
 the backs of tliem outward, the left hand upper- 
 most, and stand at ease. 
 
 1. Attention. 2. Squad. 
 At the first word, the recruit will fix his atton- 
 
THE RECKUIT. 13 
 
 tion ; at the second, he will resume the prescribed 
 position and steadiness. 
 
 Facings. 
 
 1. Squad by the right ( or left) flank 2. Right 
 (or leff) — Face. 
 
 At the second command, the recruit will turn 
 on the left heel, raising a little the left toe, and at 
 the same time bring the right heel to the side of 
 the left, and on the same line, so that this new 
 line of the heels shall be exactly at right angles 
 with their former line. 
 
 1. Squad. 2. About — Face. 
 
 At the word about, turn on the left heel, brmg 
 the left toe to the front, carry the right foot to the 
 rear, the hollow opposite to, and three inches from 
 the left heel, the feet square to each other ; seize 
 at the same time the inner corner of the cartridge 
 box with the right hand. 
 
 At the word face, turn on both heels, raise the 
 toes a little, extend the thighs and face to the rear; 
 bring the right heel by the side of the left, and quit 
 the hold of the cartridge box. 
 
 When under arms, turn the left hand at the word 
 about, as in the first motion of present arms, and 
 replace the hand and piece at the instant of bring- 
 ing the right heel to the side of the left. 
 
 The instructor will take care that these motions 
 do not derange the erect position of the body. 
 
14 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Principles of the Direct Step. 
 
 The length of the direct step, or pace, in com- 
 mon time, is twenty-eight inches, reckoning from 
 heel to heel, and in swiftness, at the rate of ninety 
 in a minute. 
 
 The instructor will place himself ten or twelve 
 paces from, and facing to the recruit, he will ex- 
 plain minutely the principle and mechanism of the 
 step ; he will himself execute slowly the step in 
 the way of illustration, and then command : 
 
 1. Squad, forward. 2. March. 
 
 At the first command, feel the weight of the 
 body on the right leg, without bending the left 
 knee. 
 
 At the second command, step off with the left 
 foot, and carry it straight forward (the body moving 
 at the same instant), the sole near the ground, the 
 thighs extended, the toes pointed a little down- 
 wards and slightly turned out, plant the foot flat, 
 without shock, twenty-eight inches from the right. 
 Next advance the riglit foot and plant it as above, 
 the heel twenty-eight inches from the heel of the 
 left foot, and thus continue to march without cross- 
 ing the legs, or striking the one against the other, 
 without turning the shoulders, and preserving al- 
 ways the face direct to the front. 
 
 1. Squad, 2. Halt. 
 At the command halt, which will be given as a 
 foot is coming to the ground, stop short on the foot 
 then forward and bring up the foot in rear to the 
 side of the other without shock. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 16 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Feel the weight of the body on the right leg at the command 
 ^'- forward ;^* 
 
 In order to prepare for taking more smartly the 
 first step, which is essential in a body of men. 
 
 The toes depressed, without constraint or affectation ; 
 
 Because, the depression of the toes extends the 
 thighs, and prepares the foot for coming flat to the 
 ground. 
 
 The toes and knee slightly turned out ; 
 
 Because, if too much turned, it would render the 
 body unsteady. 
 
 The upper part of the body forward ; 
 
 To the end that its weight may fall on the foot, 
 when planted on the ground, that the foot in the 
 rear may be easily raised, and that the step be not 
 shortened. 
 
 To march with the thigh extended ; 
 
 Because, a rank cannot, without jostling and 
 separating elbows, march, as each man would, by 
 himself, walk ; and as no two men walk precisely 
 in the same manner, it is essential that recruits 
 learn to march in a uniform step, marked and 
 cadenced, without which there would be no har- 
 mony of movement (ensemble). 
 
 To pass the foot near the ground ; 
 
 Because, if the foot were raised more than ne- 
 cessary, time would be lost, and the soldiers 
 
16 THE RECKUIT. 
 
 fatigued uselessly. Besides, without some fixed 
 
 {)rinciple, some would raise the feet and bend the 
 mee more, and others less; the feet would not 
 come to the ground at the same instant, and thus 
 there would be a loss of cadence and harmony. 
 
 To plant the foot fiat, without shock ; 
 
 In order to avoid the wavering of the body, 
 which would necessarily happen if the heel first 
 reaches the ground, or if the flat of the foot comes 
 down with a shock. The latter fault would be 
 attended with the inconvenience of much useless 
 fatigue, besides a loss of cadence. 
 
 The face or eyes direct to the front ; 
 
 Because, this position of the head prevents the 
 shoulders from turning, and assures the direct 
 march to the front. 
 
 The instructor will indicate, from time to time, 
 to the recruit, the cadence of the step by giving 
 the command one, two, observing the cadence of 
 ninety steps in a minute. 
 
 The Oblique Step, 
 
 I. Right oblique. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, given at the instant the 
 left foot comes to tlie ground, carry the right foot 
 obliquely to the right and front, twenty-six inches 
 from the left, and eiuliteen inches on that side, 
 turnin<j; the toes iothv front in order to keep square 
 the riglit shoulder ; lu^xt carry the left foot, by the 
 shortest line, eighteen inches in front of the right 
 heel. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 17 
 
 The oblique march to the left will be executed 
 according to the same principles ; the command 
 niarchi will be given at the instant the right foot 
 comes to the ground, and care taken to keep for- 
 ward the left shoulder. 
 
 When the recruit shall be well established in 
 the oblique stej), the instructor need not too rigor- 
 ously observe the lengths prescribed for it. He 
 will give as an essential principle, to gain as much 
 ground as possible to the right (or left), and pro- 
 portionally less to the front, without deranging the 
 line of the shoulders or position of the head, which 
 must always be the same as in the direct march. 
 
 To resume the Direct March. 
 
 1. Forward. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, given at the instant 
 either foot comes to the ground, resume the direct 
 march. 
 
 Principles of Shouldered Arms. 
 
 The recruit being in the position of the soldier, 
 the instructor will cause him to turn up tlie left 
 hand and bend the arm a little, the left fore-arm 
 only acting-. The instructor will raise the piece 
 perpendicularly, and place it as follows : 
 
 The piece in the left hand, the arm but a very 
 little bent, the elbow back, near the body, the palm 
 of the hand pressing on the outer flat of the butt ; 
 the outer edge of the butt on the upper joints of the 
 fingers, (the inner edge on the lower joints of the 
 fingers, and the ends inside), the heel of the butt 
 2 
 
18 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 between the fore and middle fingers, the thumb on 
 the front screw of the butt plate, the remaining 
 fingers under the butt, the butt more or less kept 
 back, according to the conformation of the recruit, 
 BO that the piece, seen from the front (or side), 
 shall appear perpendicular, and also that the 
 movement of the thigh, in marching, may not raise 
 it or cause it to waver ; the stock, below the tail- 
 band, resting against the hollow of the shoulder, 
 just within the joint, the right arm hanging natu- 
 rally, as prescribed in the position of the soldier. 
 
 Manual of Arms, 
 
 The manual of arms will be taught to two men 
 placed in the same rank, elbow to elbow, and next 
 in two ranks, that is one thirteen inches behind 
 the other. 
 
 Each command will be executed in one time (or 
 pause), which will be divided into motions, the 
 better to make known tl^a mechanism. 
 
 The rate (or swiftness) of each motion, with the 
 exceptions herein indicated, is fixed at the ninetieth 
 part of a minute ; but, in order not to fatigue the 
 attention, the instructor will, at first, look more 
 particularly to the execution of the motions, with- 
 out requiring a nice observance of the cadence, to 
 which he will bring the recruits progressively, and 
 after they shall have become a little familiarized 
 with the handling of the piece. 
 
 The motions relative to the cartridge, to the 
 rammer, and the fixing and unfixing of the bayonet, 
 cannot (well) be executed at the rate prescribed. 
 The instructor will, however, labor to cause tliese 
 
THE RECRUIT. 19 
 
 motions to be executed with promptness, and, 
 above all, with regularity. 
 
 In all the other time* (or pauses), in the manual 
 of arms, which are composed of three or four mo- 
 tions, the first two motions will be a little quick- 
 ened. 
 
 The last syllable of the command will decide the 
 brisk execution of the first motion of each time (or 
 pause). The commands two, three, and four, will 
 decide the brisk execution of the other motions. 
 As soon as the recruits shall well comprehend the 
 positions of the several motions, they will not rest 
 on the motions ; the mechanism of the time will 
 nevertheless be observed, as well to give a perfect 
 use of the piece, as to avoid the sinking of, or 
 slurring over, either of the motions. 
 
 Before proceeding to the manual of arms, the 
 recruits, at shouldered arms, repeat the movements 
 of eyes — right, left, 2iud front, and the facings. 
 
 Present — Arms . 
 
 First Motion. — Turn the piece with the left 
 hand, the lock out, and seize the small at the same 
 time wifh the right hand, the piece perpendicular 
 and detached from the shoulder, the left hand 
 remaining under the butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Complete the turning inwards 
 of the piece, so as to bring it erect before the cen- 
 tre of the body, the rammer to the front, the right 
 hand under and against the guard ; seize it smartly 
 at the sam.e time with the left hand above the lock, 
 the little finger against the feather-spring, the 
 thumb extended along the barrel and on the stock, 
 
20 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 the fore-arm resting on the body without constraint, 
 and the hand at the height of the elbow. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Turn the piece with the right 
 hand, the barrel out ; (with the thumb on the S 
 plate, and the fore-finger against the cock), raise 
 and support it against the left shoulder with the 
 right hand, drop the left hand under the butt, the 
 right hand resting on, without grasping the small. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop quickly the right hand 
 into its position. 
 
 Support — Arms . 
 
 First Motion. — With the right hand seize briskly 
 the small of the stock, four inches below the lock, 
 raising a little, but not turning the piece. 
 
 Second Motion. — Take the left hand from the 
 butt ; extend the left fore-arm upwards across the 
 body, under the cock, the hand flat on the right 
 breast. 
 
 Third Motion. — Drop the right arm smartly into 
 its position. 
 
 REST. 
 
 At the command rest, carry the right foot six 
 inches in rear of the left heel, bring up smartly 
 the right hand to the small of the stock, and stand 
 at ease. 
 
 1. Attention. 2. Squad. 
 At the first command the recruit will fix his 
 
THE RECRUIT. 31 
 
 attention ; at the second he will resume the posi- 
 tion of the third motion of support arms. 
 
 Carry — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — CaiTy quickly the right hand to 
 the small. 
 
 Second Motion. — ^Place quickly the left hand 
 upon the butt. 
 
 Third Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position, and drop with the left, at the same 
 time, the piece into the position of shoulder arms. 
 
 Order — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — ^Drop the piece smartly by ex- 
 tending the left arm, seize it at the same time with 
 the right hand above and near the tail-band; 
 (without the least pause) quit the hold of the left 
 hand, and carry the piece opposite to the right 
 shoulder, the rammer in front, the little finger be- 
 hind the barrel, the right hand supported against 
 the hip, the butt three inches from the ground, the 
 piece erect, the left hand hanging by the side. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let the piece slip through the 
 right hand to the ground without shock, and take 
 the position about to be described. 
 
 Position of Order Arms. 
 
 The hand low, the barrel between tlie thumb 
 and fore-finger extended along the stock ; the other 
 fingers extended and joined; the muzzle about 
 two inches from the right shoulder ; the rammer 
 in front ; the toe (or beak) of the butt, against, and 
 
22 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 in a line with, the toe of the right foot, the barrel 
 perpendicular. 
 
 REST. 
 
 At the command rest, carry the right foot six 
 inches in rear of the left heel, the piece resting 
 against the hollow of the right shoulder, the hands 
 crossed in front, the backs of them outward, the 
 left hand uppermost, and stand at ease. 
 
 Attention. 2. Squad. 
 
 At the second w^ord, the refer uits will resume 
 the position of order arms. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise smartly the piece with the 
 right hand, carry it against the left shoulder, turn- 
 ing it, so as to bring the barrel to the front ; place 
 at the same time the left hand under the butt, and 
 slip the right hand down to tlie lock. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position. 
 
 Charge — Bayonet. 
 
 First Motion. — Make a half face to the right on 
 the left heel, bring the left toe to the front, place 
 at the same time the right foot behind, and at riglil 
 angles with the left, the hollow of the right loot 
 opposite to, and about three inches from the left 
 heel ; turn the piece with the left hand, the lock 
 outwards, and seize tlie handle at the same time 
 
THE RECRIHT. 23 
 
 with the right hand, the piece perpendicular, and 
 detached from the shoulder; leave the left hand 
 under the butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Bring down the piece with the 
 right hand into the left, the latter seizing it a little 
 in advance of the tail-band, the barrel up, tlie left 
 elbow near the body, the right hand supported 
 against the hip, the point of the bayonet at the 
 height of the eye. The recruits of the rear rank 
 will take care not to touch their file-leaders with 
 the points of their bayonets. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — ^Face to the front by turning on 
 the left heel, bring up the right by the side of the 
 left heel ; at the same time spring up the piece 
 , with the (left hand into the right, the cock falling 
 on the fore-finger, the thumb on the S plate, and 
 carry it with the) right hand to the left shoulder ; 
 place the left hand under the butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position. 
 
 Trail — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — As the first motion of order 
 arms. 
 
 Second Motion. — ^Incline a little the muzzle to 
 the front, the butt to the rear, and about three 
 inches from the ground, the right hand supported 
 at the hip, will sustain the piece so that the men 
 in the rear rank may not touch with their bayonets 
 the men in front of them. 
 
24 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 At the command shoulder, raise the piece per- 
 pendicularly in the right hand ; at the command 
 arms, execute what is prescribed for the shoulder 
 from the position of order arms. 
 
 To Right Shoulder, shift— Arms, 
 
 First Motion. — Turn the piece with the left 
 hand, lock to the front, seize it at the same time 
 with the right hand at the small. 
 
 Second Motion. — With the right hand place the 
 piece on the right shoulder, the left hand not quit- 
 ting the butt, the cock above and resting on the 
 shoulder, the muzzle up ; (slip the right hand down 
 to the toe of the butt), and sustain the piece in this 
 position by placing the right hand on the flat of the 
 butt, so that the toe of the butt may be between 
 the first two fingers, the other two on the butt- 
 plate. 
 
 Third Motion.— Let fall the left hand by tha 
 side. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece and extend tha 
 right arm, seize it with the left hand above the 
 lock. 
 
 Second Motion. — Carry the piece against the 
 left shoulder, turning the barrel to the front (in 
 turning place the thumb on the S plate), the riffht 
 hand being at tlie small, place the left hand under 
 the butt. 
 
 Third Motion. — Let the right hand fall into its 
 position. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 26 
 
 Arms — At will. 
 
 Carry the piece at pleasure on eitlier shoulder, 
 with one or both hands, the muzzle always well 
 up. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 Retake smartly the position of shoulder arms. 
 Unfix — ^Bayonet. 
 
 First Motion. — Drop the piece by a smart ex- 
 tension of the left arm, seize it with the right hand 
 above and near the tail-band. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the piece with the right 
 hand along the left thigh, seize it with the left 
 hand above the right, lengthen out the left arm, 
 rest the butt on the ground, without shock, and 
 carry at the same time the right hand to the bayo- 
 net, seize it at the socket and shank, so that the 
 lower end of the socket may be about an inch be- 
 low the heel of the palm, and that, in wresting off 
 the bayonet, the thumb may be extended on the 
 blade. 
 
 Third Motion. — Wrest off the bayonet, return 
 it to the scabbard, place immediately the right little 
 finger on the butt of the rammer, lower the left 
 hand along the barrel, in extending the arm, without 
 depressing the shoulder. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece with the left 
 hand, along the left side, the hand at the height of 
 the chin, the fore-arm touching the piece, the bar- 
 
26 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 rel to the front ; drop at the same time the right 
 hand to seize the piece a little above the small, the 
 fore-finger touching the cock, and the thumb on 
 the S plate. 
 
 Second Motion. — Raise the piece with the right 
 hand, drop the left, and place it under the butt ; 
 support the piece with the right hand against the 
 shoulder, in the position prescribed for shoulder 
 arms, the right hand resting on, without grasping, 
 the piece. 
 
 Third Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position by the side of the thigh. 
 
 Secure — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Seize quickly the piece with the 
 right hand, the thumb on the S plate, and the fore- 
 finger against the cock ; detach the piece from the 
 shoulder at the same instant, the barrel to the front, 
 seize it at the tail-band with the left hand, the 
 thumb extended on the rammer, the piece erect, 
 opposite to the shoulder, the left elbow on the 
 piece. 
 
 Second Motion. — Reverse the piece, pass it un- 
 der the left arm, the left hand remaining at the 
 tail-band, the tliumb on the rammer to prevent it 
 from sliding out, the little-finger resting against 
 the hip, and the right hand falling at the same 
 time into its position. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece with the left 
 hand, but not too suddenly, lest the rammer should 
 
THE RECRUIT. 27 
 
 fly out; seize the small with the right hand to 
 support it against the shoulder, quit the hold of the 
 left hand, and place quickly this hand under the 
 butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position ; drop at the same time the piece 
 into the position of shouldered arms. 
 
 Fix — Bayonet. 
 
 First and Second Motions. — As the first and 
 second motions of unfix haijonet^ except that at the 
 end of the second motion the right hand will go to 
 seize the bayonet by the socket and shank, so that 
 the lower (now upper) end of the socket shall ex- 
 tend about an inch above the heel of the palm. 
 
 Third Motion. — Draw the bayonet from the 
 scabbard, carry and fix it on the muzzle ; place the 
 right little-finger on the butt of the rammer. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 As shoulder arms in unfix bayonet. 
 
 Load in Twelve Times, 
 1. Load. 
 
 First Motion. — As the first motion of charge 
 bayonet, except that the hollow of the right foot 
 will be brought up against the left heel. 
 
 Second Motion. — Bring down the piece with the 
 right hand into the left, which will, at the instant, 
 seize it at the tail-band, the thumb extended on the 
 stock, the butt under the right fore-arm, the small 
 
28 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 against the body, and about two inches under the 
 right breast, the muzzle at the height of the eye, 
 the guard turned a little out, the left elbow sup- 
 ported against the side. At the instant the piece 
 falls into the left hand, the right thumb will be 
 placed on the steel above the flint, the other fingers 
 closed, the right fore-arm along the butt. 
 
 2. Open — Pan. 
 
 Open the pan by pushing forward the steel with 
 the right thumb, the left hand resisting and holding 
 the piece firm ; draw back immediately the right 
 elbow, carry the hand to the cartridge-box in pass- 
 ing it between the butt and the body, and open the 
 box. 
 
 3. Handle — Cartridge. 
 
 Seize the cartridge with the thumb and the two 
 next fingers, and place it between the teeth, the 
 right hand passing between the butt and the body, 
 
 4. Tear — Cartridge. 
 
 Tear the paper down to the powder, hold the 
 cartridge upright between the thumb and next two 
 fingers, near the top; in this position place it 
 against the pan, the palm of the right hand turned 
 towards the body, the right elbow supported on the 
 butt. 
 
 6. Prime. 
 
 Drop the head a little, fix the eyes on the pan, 
 till it with powder, press together tlie top of the 
 cartridge with the thumb and fore-finger, raise th* 
 
THE RECRUIT. 29 
 
 head, and place the last two fingers of the right 
 hand firmly behind and against the steel. 
 
 6. Shut—VAi/i. 
 
 Resistmg the motion with the left hand, shut the 
 pan smartly with the fingers behind the steel, 
 holding carefully the cartridge witli the two next 
 fingers and the thumb ; seize immediately the 
 small with the two remaining fingers and the 
 palm of the right hand, the right wrist touching 
 the body, the elbow back, and a little detached 
 from the body. 
 
 7. Cast — About. 
 
 First Motion. — ^Pass the piece along the left 
 thigh, after bringing it upright near the body ; to 
 effect this press the butt strongly, extending smartly 
 the right arm, without lowering the shoulder ; turn 
 at the same time the rammer towards the body, 
 open the left hand to let the piece slide through it 
 towards and near the middle-band, the elbow re- 
 maining near the body (and on the piece), the cock 
 bearing on the right thumb ; at the same instant 
 face to the front, turning on the left heel, and carry 
 the right foot forward, the heel against the hollow 
 of the left foot. 
 
 Second Motion, — Quit the hold of the right hand ; 
 through the left let the piece descend to the ground, 
 without shock, along and near the body ; raising 
 at the same time the right hand to the height of, 
 and near the muzzle, holding the top of the cart- 
 ridge up. the left hand against the body, tlie piece 
 
30 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 touching the left thigh, the muzzle opposite to the 
 centre of the body. 
 
 8. Charge — Cartridge. 
 
 Fix the eye on the muzzle, turn quickly the 
 back of the right hand towards the body, in order 
 to discharge the powder into the barrel, raise the 
 elbow to the height of the v/rist, shake the cart- 
 ridge, force it into the muzzle, and leave the hand 
 reversed, the fingers closed, but not clenched (the 
 fore-finger on the butt of the rammer). 
 
 9. Draw — Rammer. 
 
 First Motion. — Drop smartly the right elbow, 
 and seize the rammer betw^een the thumb and fore 
 finger bent, the other fingers shut ; draw it smartly, 
 extending the arm ; seize the rammer again at the 
 middle, between the thumb and fore-finger, the 
 hand reversed, the palm to the front, the nails up, 
 the eyes following the movement of the hand ; clear 
 the rammer from the pipes by again extending the 
 arm. 
 
 Second Motion. — Turn rapidly the rammer be- 
 tween the bayonet and the face, closing the fingers, 
 the rammer of the rear-rank man grazing the right 
 shoulder of the man of the same file in front, re- 
 spectively, the rammer parallel to the bayonet, the 
 arm extended, the butt of the rammer opposite to 
 the muzzle, but not yet inserted, the eyes fixed on 
 the muzzle. 
 
 Third Motion. — Insert the butt of the rammer, 
 and force it down as low as the hand. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 31 
 
 10. Ram — Cartridge. 
 
 Extend the arm to its full length to seize the 
 rammer between the right thumb extended and the 
 fore-finger bent, the other fingers closed; with 
 force ram home twice (the right elbow down and 
 near the piece), and seize the rammer at the little 
 end, between the thumb and fore-finger bent, the 
 other fingers closed, the right elbow touching the 
 body. 
 
 11. Return — Rammer. 
 
 Fin'.t Motion. — Draw briskly the rammer, re- 
 seize it at the middle between the thumb and fore- 
 finger, the hand reversed, the palm to the front, the 
 nails up, the eyes following the movement of the 
 hand, clear the rammer from the barrel by extend- 
 ing the arni. 
 
 Second Motion. — Turn rapidly the rammer be- 
 tween the bayonet and the face, closing the fingers, 
 the rammer of the rear-rank man grazing the right 
 shoulder of the man of the same file in front, the 
 rammer parallel to the bayonet, the arm extended, 
 the little end of the rammer opposite to the first 
 pipe, but not yet inserted, the eyes fixed on that 
 pipe. 
 
 Third Motion. — Insert the little end, and with 
 the thumb, which will follow the movement, force 
 it as low as the middle band ; raise quickly the 
 hand a little bent, place the little f iiger on the butt 
 of the rammer, and force it down : lower the left 
 hand on the barrel to the extent of the arm, without 
 depressinff the shoulder. 
 
32 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 12. Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece with the left 
 hand along the left side, the hand at the height of 
 the chin, the fore-arm touching the piece, the barrel 
 to the front ; drop at the same time the right hand 
 to seize the piece a little above the small, the fore- 
 finger touching the cock, and the thumb on the S 
 plate. 
 
 Second Motion. — Raise the piece with the right 
 hand, drop the left, and place it under the butt, 
 bring back the right heel to the side of the left, and 
 on the same line ; support the piece with the right 
 hand against the shoulder, in the position pre- 
 scribed for shoulder arms, the right hand resting 
 on, without grasping, the piece. 
 
 Third Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position by the side of the thigh. 
 
 To Load in Four Times. 
 
 The object of this is to prepaie the recruits to 
 load at will, and to cause them to distinguish the 
 times which require the greatest regularity and 
 attention, such as prime, charge ct' rtridge, and ram 
 cartridge. It will be divided as lollows : 
 
 The first time will be executed at the end of the 
 command ; the three others at the words two, ihree^ 
 and four. 
 
 1. Load in Four Times. 2. Load. 
 
 Execute the first time of load, open pan, hnndle 
 cartridge, tear cartridge, drop the hand to the pan 
 and prime. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 33 
 
 TWO. 
 
 Shut pan, cast about, charge cartridge, shake it 
 and force it in. 
 
 THREE. 
 
 Draw rammer, enter it as far as the hand, and 
 ram twice. 
 
 FOUR. 
 
 Return rammer, and shoulder arms. 
 To Load at Will 
 1. Load at Will. 2. Load. 
 
 Execute the loading as in four times, but without 
 resting on the times. 
 
 First Motion. — As the first motion of the first 
 time of load. 
 
 Second Motion. — Bring the piece with the right 
 hand to the middle of the body, place the left hand, 
 the little finger touching the feather-spring, the 
 thumb extended on the stock at the height of the 
 chin, the S plate almost turned towards the body, 
 the i*ammer obliquely to the left and front. 
 
 Third Motion, — Place the thumb on the head 
 of the cock, the fore-finger under and on the guard, 
 the other three fingers joined to the first, the elbow 
 at the height of the hand. 
 
 Fourth Motion. — Close the right elbow smartly 
 to the body in cocking, seize the piece at the 
 3 
 
34 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 small, let it descend along the body in the left 
 hand to the tail-band, which will remain at the 
 height of the shoulder (and opposite to the centre 
 of the body). 
 
 AIM. 
 
 Drop smartly the muzzle, the left hand remaining 
 at the tail-band, support the butt against the right 
 shoulder, the left elbow a little down, shut the left 
 eye, direct the right along the barrel, drop the head 
 upon the butt to catch the object, and place the 
 fore-finger on the trigger. 
 
 The rear rank will, at the same time, carry the 
 right foot about eight inches towards the left heel 
 of the man next on the right. 
 
 Apply the fore-finger with force to the trigger 
 without further lowering or turning the head, and 
 remain in that position. 
 
 First Motion. — Bring back the piece quickly, 
 and take the position of the second motion of the 
 first time of loading, except that the right thumb, 
 instead of being placed against the steel, will seize 
 the head of the cock with the fore-finger bent, and 
 the other fingers closed ; the rear rank will bring 
 back the right foot behind the left. 
 
 Second Motion. — Half cock, taking care not to 
 cock, carry the right hand immediately to the 
 cartridge-box, passing it between the butt and the 
 body, and open the box. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 35 
 
 When, after firing, the instructor, instead of re- 
 loading, shall wish to bring the squad to a shoulder, 
 he will command : 
 
 Shoulder — Arms . 
 
 At the word shoulder^ take the position of the 
 second motion of the first time of loading, half cock 
 as has just been explained, shut pan and seize the 
 handle of the piece. At the word arms, complete 
 the time, and face to the front. 
 
 The squad being in the position of aim, to ha- 
 bituate the recruits to wait for the word fire, the 
 command is sometimes given : 
 
 Recover — Arms . 
 
 Withdraw the finger from the trigger, throw up 
 smartly the muzzle, and retake the position of the 
 fourth motion of ready. 
 
 If from this position the squad is to be brought 
 to a shoulder, the command is given : 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 At the word shoulder, face to the front, bring the 
 piece to the middle of the body, the left thumb at 
 the height of the chin, the little-finger touching the 
 feather-spring ; next place the right thumb on the 
 head of the cock, support the fore-finger on the 
 trigger, sustain at the same time the cock in its 
 descent till the flint nearly touches the steel, raise 
 the cock to the half-cock notch, the reaching of 
 which will be both felt and heard, and seize the 
 
86 THE RECRXHT. 
 
 handle of the piece with the right hand. At the 
 word arms^ carry the piece smartly to the shoulder, 
 and retake the position of shoulder arms. 
 
 Firings, 
 The firings are direct or ohlique. 
 
 The Direct Fire, 
 
 The instructor will give the following com- 
 mands : 
 
 1. Fire by Squad. 2. Squad. 3. Ready. 
 4. Aim. 5. Fire. 6. Load. 
 
 These several commands will be executed as has 
 been prescribed under manual of arms. At the 
 third the men will take the positions which have 
 been indicated ; after the sixth, they will load and 
 shoulder arms. 
 
 The Oblique Fire, 
 
 Oblique firing will be executed to the right and 
 Ifeft, and by the same commands as the fire direct, 
 with this single difference — ^the command aim will 
 always be preceded by the caution i^ght (or left) 
 oblique, which will be given after the command 
 ready. 
 
 Position of the Ranks in the Oblique Fire to the 
 Right. 
 At the command ready, both ranks execute what 
 has been prescribed for the direct fire. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 37 
 
 At the cautionary command i^ight oblique, both 
 ranks throw back the right shoulder, and look 
 steadily at the object at which they ought to fire ; 
 in this position the rear rank will be ready to take 
 aim through the same interval as in the fire direct, 
 though in an oblique direction. 
 
 At the command aim, the front rank takes aim 
 to the right without stirring the feet. The rear 
 rank man will advance the left foot about six 
 inches towards the right toe of the man of the front 
 rank in the same file, incline the upper part of the 
 body forward, in be-iding a little the left knee, and 
 take aim to the right. 
 
 At the command load, both ranks will resume 
 the position which has been prescribed for the fire 
 direct; the rear rank brings back the left heel 
 against the hollow of the right foot, at the instant 
 the piece is brought to the priming position. 
 
 Posiiion of the Ranks in the Oblique Fire to the 
 Left. 
 
 At the command ready, both ranks will execute 
 what has been prescribed for the fire direct. 
 
 At the cautionary command left oblique, both 
 ranks throw back the left shoulder, and look stea- 
 dily at the object on which they ought to fire ; in 
 this position the rear rank will be ready to take 
 aim in the interval to the left of the men of the 
 same file in front, and in an oblique direction. 
 
 At the command aim, the front rank takes aim 
 to the left without moving the feet. The rear 
 rank men advance the left Toot about six inches 
 towards the right heel of the front rank men of 
 
38 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 their files ; they will advance also the upper part 
 of the body in bending a little the left knee, and 
 take aim through the intervals to the left of their 
 file leaders. 
 
 At the command load, both ranks come to the 
 priming position, the pieces still obliqued to the 
 left, and prime ; the rear rank brings back the left 
 heel to the hollow of the right foot. In casting 
 about both ranks take the same position as in the 
 fire direct. 
 
 The Fire hy File. 
 
 1. Fire by File. 2. Squad. 3. Ready. 4. Com 
 mence Firing. 
 
 At the command ready, both ranks take the posi 
 tion prescribed in the direct fire. 
 
 At the command commence firing, the right file 
 will aim and fire, the two men together ; the one 
 in the rear rank, in taking aim, will carry the right 
 foot eight or nine inches to the right ; the next file 
 aims at the instant the first has fired, and so on 
 successively to the left ; after the first fire, every 
 man will load and fire without waiting for the 
 others. Each man faces to the front in casting 
 about, and, after returning the rammer, will spring 
 up his piece with the left hand, causing it to slip 
 through this hand, which will place itself on tlie 
 feather spring, and at the height of the chin ; at 
 the same tijne he will half face to the right, in 
 order to return to the position of ready, cock the 
 piece and resume the position of ready, again pre- 
 pared to fire. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 39 
 
 To Arrest the Fire. 
 
 ROLL. 
 
 At this command, the fire will cease ; each man 
 will half cock, if his piece be cocked, load, or 
 finish loading, if not already loaded, and shoulder 
 arms. 
 
 Remarks, 
 
 With cartridges, in all the cases, it will be en- 
 joined on the recruit to observe, in half cocking, if 
 smoke issue from the touch hole, a certain indica- 
 tion that the piece has gone off; if no smoke issue, 
 instead of reloading, he will only prick and prime. 
 If, thinking that he has fired, he put in one cartridge 
 on another, he ought at least to discover the error 
 by the length of the charge, in ramming, and he 
 will deserve punishment if he put in a third. Ac- 
 cordingly, the instructor will always inspect arms, 
 after tiring with cartridge, to ascertain whether 
 any piece contains two or more cartridges. 
 
 The instructor ought also carefully to observe 
 whether, in half cocking, the pieces have not been, 
 through precipitancy, cocked — a fault from which 
 the most serious accidents might result. 
 
 Inspection of Arms, 
 
 The squad being at order arms, with bayonets in 
 the scabbards, to cause an inspection of arms, the 
 instructor will command : 
 
40 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Inspection of— Arms. 
 
 First motion — Face to the right once and a half 
 on the left heel, carrying the right foot perpendicu- 
 larly to the rear of the alignment, about six inches 
 from, and at right angles with, the left foot ; seize 
 promptly the piece with the left hand a little above 
 the miadle band, incline the muzzle to the rear 
 without displacing the heel of the butt, the rammer 
 turned towards the body ; carrying at the same 
 time the right hand to the bayonet, and seize it as 
 prescribed inj^o: bayonet. 
 
 Second motion — Draw the bayonet from the 
 scabbard, carry and fix it on the muzzle ; seize 
 next the rammer, draw it as explained in loading, 
 in twelve times, and let it glide to the bottom of 
 the bore. 
 
 Third motion — ^Face promptly to the front, seize 
 the piece with the right hand, and retake the posi- 
 tion of order arms. 
 
 The instructor will then inspect in succession 
 the piece of each recruit, in passing along the 
 front of the rank. Each, as the inspector reaches 
 him, will raise smartly his piece with his right 
 hand, seize it with the left between the tail band 
 and the feather spring, the lock to the front, the 
 left hand at the height of the chin, the piece oppo- 
 site the left eye ; the inspector takes it with the 
 right hand at the handle, and after inspecting it, 
 returns it to the recruit, who will receive it back 
 with the right hand, and replace it in the position 
 of order — arms. 
 
 When the inspector has passed him, each recruit 
 retakes the position prescribed at tlie command 
 
THE RECRUIT. 41 
 
 inspection of arms^ and returns the rammer ; after 
 which he will face to the front. 
 
 If, instead of inspection of arms, bayonets only 
 are to be fixed, the command is : 
 
 Fix — Bayonet. 
 
 Take the position prescribed in the first motion 
 of inspection of arms ; fix bayonet and face to the 
 front. 
 
 Bayonets fixed, if it be the wish of the instructor, 
 after firing, to ascertain whether the pieces have 
 been discharged, he will command : 
 
 Spring — Ramme RS . 
 
 Put the rammer in the barrel as explained 
 above, and immediately face to the front. 
 
 The instructor, for the purpose stated, can take 
 the rammer by the small end, and spring it in the 
 barrel, or cause each recruit to make the rammer 
 ring in the barrel. 
 
 Each recruit, after the instructor passes him, 
 will return rammer and face to the front. 
 
 TO STACK ARMS. 
 
 The squad being in two ranks at order arms, the 
 instructor will command ; 
 
 Stack — Arms. 
 
 At this command the front rank man of every 
 even numbered file will pass his piece before him, 
 seizing it with the left hand above the middle band, 
 and place the butt outside and near his left foot, 
 
42 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 the barrel turned to the front, the muzzle opposite 
 the right shoulder. At the same time the front 
 rank man of every odd numbered file will pass his 
 piece before him, seizing it with the left hand below 
 the middle band, and hand it to the man next on 
 the left ; the latter will receive it with the right 
 hand two inches above the middle band, throw the 
 butt about thirty-two inches to the front, opposite 
 to his right shoulder, inclining the muzzle towards 
 the right shoulder, and lock the shanks of the two 
 bayonets, the barrel remaining to the rear and its 
 shank above that of the first piece. The rear rank 
 man of every even file projects his bayonet forward, 
 the barrel to the right, and introduces it (using 
 both hands) between the muzzles and under the 
 shanks of the two other bayonets. He will then 
 abandon the piece to his file leader, who will re- 
 ceive it with the right hand under the middle band, 
 bring the butt to the front, holding up his own 
 piece and the stack with the left hand, and place 
 the butt of this third piece between the feet of the 
 man next on the right, the barrel to the right. The 
 stack thus formed, the rear rank man of every 
 odd file will pass his piece into his left hand, the 
 barrel turned to the front, and, sloping the bayonet 
 forward, rest it on the stack. 
 
 To disperse, the instructor will command : 
 
 Break Ranks — March. 
 
 To Resume Arms. 
 
 The squad, on a signal, or order to fall in, will 
 le-form in two ranks, and the instructor will com- 
 mand : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 48 
 
 Take — Arms. 
 
 At the command take arms, the rear rank man 
 of every odd file will withdraw his piece from the 
 stack ; the front rank man of every even file will seize 
 his own piece with the left hand, and that of the 
 man on his right with the right hand ; the rear rank 
 man of every even file will seize his piece with 
 the right hand at the middle band, advancing for 
 tlie purpose the hollow of his right foot as far as 
 the right heel of his fiile leader ; these two men 
 *V\^ill raise up the stack to loosen the shanks *, the 
 front rank man of every odd file receives his piece 
 from the hand of the man next on the left, and 
 the four men will retake the position of the soldier 
 at order arms. 
 
 When organized companies stack arms, the 
 sergeants, and also corporals, if in the rank of file 
 closers, will rest their pieces against the stacks 
 nearest to them respectively, after ranks are broken, 
 and resume their pieces on the signal to reform 
 ranks. 
 
 FOR RELIEVING SENTINELS. 
 
 Arms — Port. 
 
 Throw the piece diagonally across the body, the 
 lock to the front, seize it smartly at the same in- 
 stant with both hands, the right at the small, the 
 left at the tail-band, the thumbs pointing towards 
 the muzzle, the barrel sloping upwards and cross- 
 ing opposite to the point of the left shoulder, the 
 butt proportionally lowered. The palm of the 
 
44 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 right hand above, that of the left under the piece, 
 and the nails of both hands next to the body, to 
 which the elbows will be closed. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms . 
 
 First Motion. — Bring the piece smartly to the 
 left shoulder, placing the left hand under the butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the right hand smartly 
 by the side. 
 
 FOR DISMISSION. 
 
 Recover — Arms. 
 
 Turn the piece quickly with the left hand, the 
 barrel to the rear, seize it smartly with the right 
 hand at the small ; carry the left hand above the 
 lock, the little-finger touching the feather-springe 
 the lock as high and in front of the left shoulder, 
 the piece perpendicular, and elbows close. 
 
 This recover arms is used for dismission at the 
 close of drills, exercise, &c. The command is — 
 Squad, Company, or the like, Right — Face^ Re- 
 cover — Armsj Break — Ranks, March. At the 
 word march, each soldier strikes the butt of his 
 piece smartly with his left hand, seizing it again 
 above the lock, and break. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 When, after some days of exercise in the manual 
 of arms, the men shall be well established in their 
 use, the instructor will terminate the lessons by 
 marching the men some distance in one rank, and 
 
THE RECRUIT. 45 
 
 at a pace apart, in order to confirm them more and 
 more in the mechanism of the direct and oblique 
 steps. He will also teach them how to mark time, 
 to change step, to step short, and the side step. 
 
 To Mark Time. 
 
 The men marching in the direct step in common 
 or quick time, the instructor will command : 
 
 1. Mark Time. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, which will be given at 
 the instant a foot is coming to the ground, the 
 recruits will make a semblance of marching by 
 advancing first one foot, and then the other, always 
 bringing back t-he advanced foot and placing its 
 heel by the side of the heel of the other. 
 
 1. Change Step. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, which will be given at 
 the instant the foot is coming to the groun-d, the 
 squad will bring up quickly the foot in the rear, to 
 the side of that just come to the ground, and step 
 off with the latter. 
 
 1. Step Sliori. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, the foot advanced will 
 finish its pace, and afterwards each recruit will 
 step as far as the ball of his toe, and not farther, 
 until the w^ords, forward march, when he will re- 
 sume the twenty-eight inch step. 
 
46 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 1. Side Step to the Right (or Left). 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, each recruit will glance 
 his eyes to the right, and at the same time carry 
 his right foot about ten inches to the right (or 
 towards the left foot of his right-hand man), and 
 instantly bring up his left foot, and so on, the whole 
 with perfect precision of time, shoulders square to 
 the front, and each man halting in his own person, 
 when he has closed on the fixed point, or on the 
 man next to him. 
 
 When the side step is used for the purpose of 
 gaining ground to the right or left, at the command 
 halt, each recruit will bring up the foot in the rear 
 to the one in advance. 
 
 Alignments. 
 
 Six or nine men will be united in one rank, 
 elbow to elbow, and numbered from right to left, 
 in order to teach them the principles of alignment 
 (dressing on a line), the principle of the touch of 
 elbows in marching by the front, the quick and 
 back steps, the principles of the march by the flank, 
 wheeling from a halt, wheeling in marching, and 
 the change of direction to the side of the guide 
 (turning). 
 
 The instructor will at first teach the recruits to 
 align themselves man by man, in order the better 
 to make them comprehend tlie principles of align- 
 ment ; to this end, he will command the two men 
 on the right flank to march two paces to the front, 
 and having aligned them, he will caution the re- 
 mainder of the squad to move up, as they may be 
 
THE RECRUIT. 47 
 
 successively called, each by his number, and align 
 themselves successively on the line of the first two 
 men. 
 
 Each recruit, as designated by his number, will 
 turn the head and eyes to the right, march in com- 
 mon time two paces forward, shortening the last, 
 60 as to find himself about six inches behind the 
 new alignment, which he ought never to pass ; he 
 will then move up steadily by steps of two or three 
 inches, the thighs extended, to the side of the man 
 next to him on the alignment, so that, without de- 
 ranging the head, the line of the eyes, or that of 
 the shoulders, he may find himself in the exact line 
 of his neighbor, whose elbow he will lightly touch 
 without opening out his own. 
 
 The instructor seeing the rank well aligned, 
 will command : 
 
 At this tlie recruits will turn eyes to the front, 
 and remain firm. 
 
 Alignments to the left will be executed on the 
 same principles. 
 
 When the recruits have learned to align them- 
 selves man by man, correctly, the entire rank will 
 be aligned at once by the command : 
 
 Right (or Left) — Dress. 
 
 At this, the rank, except the two men placed in 
 advance as a basis of alignment, will move up in 
 common time, and place themselves on the new 
 line, according to the principles above prescribed. 
 
48 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 The instructor seeing the rank aligned, will 
 command : 
 
 FRONT. 
 
 Alignments to the rear will be executed on the 
 same principles, the recruits stepping back a little 
 beyond the line, and then dressing up by steps of 
 two or three inches, the command is : 
 
 Right (or Left) Backward — Dress. 
 
 The March by the Front and the Different Steps. 
 
 The instructor will place a well-instructed man 
 on the right or left of the rank, according to the 
 side on which he may wish the guide to be, and 
 command : 
 
 1. Squadf Forward. 2. Guide Right (or Left) 
 3. March. 
 
 At the command march, the rank will step off 
 smartly with the left foot ; the guide will take care 
 to march straight to the front, keeping his shoulders 
 always in a square with that line. 
 
 The instructor will cause the following rules to 
 be observed : 
 
 Touch lightly the elbow towards the guide. Not to open out 
 the left elbow nor the right nrin. Yield to pressure coming 
 from the side of the guide, and resist that coming from tht- 
 opposite side. Recover by insensible degrees the slight touch of 
 the elbow, if lost. Maintain the head direct to the front, no 
 matter on which side the guide may be. Perceiving himself 
 before or behind the alignment, the man in fault will correct 
 himself by shortening or lengthening the step, by degrees almost 
 insensible. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 49 
 
 The recruits will next be exercised in the 
 oblique march. In the oblique, as in the direct 
 march, the touca of the elbows will always be to 
 the side of the guide ; they will also be taught to 
 pass from common to quick time, and the reverse ; 
 but the oblique march in quick time should not be 
 practised until recruits are well established in com- 
 mon time. 
 
 The rank being in the direct march in common 
 time, the instructor will command : 
 
 1. Quick Time. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, which will be given as 
 either foot is coming to the ground, the rank will, 
 without altering the length of the step, change the 
 rate of march to one hundred and ten steps in a 
 minute. 
 
 To Resume tlie Direct Step in Common Time. 
 
 1. Common Time. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, which will be given on 
 eitlier foot, as above, the rank will retake the step 
 in common time. 
 
 To March in the Back Step. 
 To effect this, the instructor will command : 
 
 1. Squad, Backward. 2. Guide Left (or Right). 
 3. March. 
 
 At the command march, the rank will step off 
 gmartly, with the left foot to the rear, carrying: it 
 
 4 
 
60 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 about fourteen inches, reckoning from heel to heel, 
 and so on with the feet in succession, till the com- 
 mand halt, which will always be preceded by the 
 caution squad. The men will halt at this com- 
 mand, and bring back the foot in front, by the side 
 of the other. 
 
 The instructor will be watchful that the men do 
 not lean on each other ; that they march straight 
 to the rear, and that the erect position of the body 
 and the piece be not deranged. 
 
 To March by the Flank. 
 
 The rank being at a halt, and aligned, the in- 
 structor will command : 
 
 1. Squad, by the Right (or Left) Flank. 2. Right 
 (or Left) Face. 3. Squad, Forward. 4. March. 
 
 At the second command, the rank will face to 
 the right (or left). 
 
 At the command march, it will step off smartly 
 with the left foot, in the common step, both in 
 length and time. 
 
 The instructor will place a well-instructed sol- 
 dier by the side of the leading recruit to regulate 
 the step, and to conduct him ; the recruit will 
 march elbow to elbow with the soldier. 
 
 The instructor will cause to be observed in the 
 march, by the flank, the following rules : 
 
 That the Btep be executed according to the principles ptc- 
 Bcribed for the direct step. That, at each step, the advancing 
 heel of every following man be planted about six inches in ad- 
 vance of the opposite heel (yet on the gromd) of the man 
 Immediately precedinjj. That (to avoid treaJinp on tJie heels 
 of (he men who precede) the knees be not bent. That the head 
 
THE RECRUIT. 151 
 
 of the man who immediately precedes cover the heads of all 
 who are in front. 
 
 To Halt the Squad and Face it to the Front. 
 
 1. Squad, 2. Halt. 3. Front Face. 
 
 At the second command, the rank will halt, and 
 afterwards no man will budge, although he may 
 have lost his distance. 
 
 At the third command, each man will front by 
 facing to the left, if marching by the right flank, 
 and by a face to the right, if marching by the left 
 flank. 
 
 To Change Direction Marching by a Flank. 
 
 1. By File, Left (or Right). 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, the leading man of the 
 rank will change direction to the left (or right), 
 and then march straight forward ; each man, on 
 coming up, will successively change direction on 
 the same place? as the first. 
 
 The rank marching by the front, the instructor, 
 to cause it to march by a flank, will command : 
 
 1 . Squad, by the Left (or Right) Flank. 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, which will be given a 
 little before either foot comes to the joroiind, the 
 recruits will turn the body, plant the foot that is 
 raised in the new direction, and step ofi' with the 
 other foot without altering the cadence of the step. 
 
 Flank marching will be executed first in com- 
 mon time, afterwards in quick time. 
 
62 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Wheelings. 
 
 General Principles of Wheeling, 
 
 Wheelings are of two kinds ; from halts or on 
 fixed pivots, and in march, or on movable pivots. 
 
 Wheeling on a fixed pivot takes place in passing 
 a corps from the order in battle to the order in 
 column, or from the latter to the former. 
 
 Wheels in marching take place in changes of 
 direction in column, as often as this movement is 
 executed to the side opposite to the guide. 
 
 In vv^heels from a halt (if a single rank), the 
 pivot man only turns in his place, without advanc- 
 ing or receding. 
 
 In the wheels in marching, the pivot man takes 
 steps of full nine inches, to clear the wheeling 
 point before the next subdivision arrives on the 
 same ground, which is necessary in order that the 
 succeeding subdivisions may not lose their dis- 
 tances by being delayed. 
 
 In both cases, the man on the wheeling flank 
 will always take the full pace of twenty-eight 
 inches. 
 
 The movement of turning to the right or left, 
 will take place only when the change of direction, 
 in column, is to the side of the guide, and great 
 care is necessary not to confound this movement 
 with that of wheeling in marching. 
 
 Wheeling from a Halt^ or on a Fixed Point. 
 
 The rank being at a halt, the instructor will 
 place a well-instructed man on the wheeling flank 
 to conduct it, and then command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 63 
 
 1. By Squad, Right Wheel 2. March. 
 
 At the second command, the rank will step off 
 with the left foot, turning at the same time the 
 head a little to the left, the eyes fixed on the line 
 of the men to their left ; the pivot man will merely 
 mark time in gradually turning his body, in order 
 to conform himself to the movement of the march- 
 ing flank ; the man who conducts this flank will 
 take steps of twenty-eight inches, and from the 
 first step advance a little the left shoulder, cast 
 his eyes from time to time along the rank, and feel 
 constantly the elbow of the next man lightly, but 
 never push him. 
 
 The other men will each feel lightly the elbow 
 of the next man towards the pivot, resist pressure 
 coming from the opposite side, and conform him- 
 self to the marching flank — shortening his step 
 according to his approximation to the pivot. 
 
 The instructor will make the rank wheel round 
 the circle once or twice before halting, in order to 
 cause the principles to be the better understood, 
 and he will be watchful that the centre does not 
 break. 
 
 The wheel to the left will be executed according 
 to the same principles. 
 
 To halt the wheel the instructor will command : 
 
 1. Squad. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the second command, the rank will halt, and 
 no man stir. The instructor, going to the flank 
 opposite the pivot, will place the two outer men of 
 that flank in the direction he may wish to give the * 
 rank, taking care to leave between them and the 
 
54 THE RECRXnr. 
 
 pivot only the space necessary to contain the other 
 men. He will then command : 
 
 Left (or Right) — Dress. 
 
 At this, the rank will place itself on the align- 
 ment of the two men established as a basis, in 
 conformity with the principles prescribed in the 
 alignments. 
 
 The instructor will next command Front, which 
 will be executed as prescribed in the alignments. 
 
 Wheeling in Marchings or on a Movable Pivot, 
 
 To cause the rank to change direction to the 
 reverse flank (to the side opposite to the guide or 
 pivot flank), the instructor will give the following 
 commands : 
 
 1. Right (or Left) Wheel. 2. March. 
 
 The first command will be given when the rank 
 is yet four paces from the wheeling point. 
 
 At the second command, the wheel will be 
 executed in the same manner as from a halt, ex- 
 cept that the touch of the elbow will remain 
 towards the marching flank (or side of the guide) 
 instead of the side of the actual pivot ; that the 
 pivot man, instead of merely turning in his place, 
 will conform himself to the movement oi the 
 marching flank, feel lightly the elbow of the next 
 man, take steps of full nine inches, and thus gain 
 ground forward in describing an arc of a small 
 circle, to clear the point of the wheel. The mid- 
 dle of the rank will bend slightly to the rear. As 
 
THE RECRUIT. 56 
 
 soon as the movement shall commence, the man 
 who conducts the marching flank will cast his 
 eyes on the ground over which he will have to 
 pass. 
 
 The wheel being ended, the instructor will com- 
 mand: 
 
 1. Forward, 2. March. 
 
 The first command will be pronounced when 
 four paces are yet required to complete the change 
 of direction. 
 
 At the command march, which will be given at 
 the instant of completing the wheel, the man who 
 conducts the marching flank will direct himself 
 straight forward ; the pivot man and all the rank 
 will retake the step of twenty-eight inches, and 
 bring the head direct to the front. 
 
 Turning, or Change of Direction to the Side of 
 the Guide. 
 
 The change of direction to the side of the guido 
 in marching, will be executed as follows: ''" 
 instructor will command : 
 
 1. Left (or Right) Twrn. 2. March. 
 
 The first command will be given when the rank 
 is yet four paces from the turning point. 
 
 At the command march, to be pronounced at 
 the instant the rank ought to turn, the guide will 
 face to the left (or right) in marching, and move 
 forward in the new direction without slackening 
 or quickening the cadence (rate of march), and 
 without shortening or lengthening the step. The 
 
56 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 whole rank will promptly conform itself, without 
 running, to the new direction : to effect which, 
 each niarn will advance the shoulder opposite to 
 the guide, take the quick step or time, to carry 
 himself in the new direction, turn the head and 
 eyes to the side of the guide, and retake the touch 
 of the elbow on that side, in placing himself on the 
 alignment of the guide, from whom he will take 
 the step, and then resume the direct position of the 
 head. Each man will thus arrive successively on 
 the alignment of the guide. 
 
SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY. 
 
 Manner of Forming Company, 
 
 The company being assembled on its ground, 
 the sergeants, by the command fall in, will cause 
 the rank and file (corporals and privates), to form 
 in one rank, faced to the right, and in the order of 
 height from right to left, the tallest man on the 
 right (now head of the rank), the next tallest man 
 immediately covering the first, and so on to the left 
 or rear of the rank. 
 
 The first sergeant will then command : 
 
 Front — Face. 
 
 At the command face, the company faces to the 
 front, and the second sergeant will place himself 
 on the left of the rank, and the first sergeant will 
 command : 
 
 1. In two Ranks form Company. 2. By the Left 
 
 Flank, 3. Left — Face. 4. March. 
 
 At the third command, the whole rank will face 
 to the left, except the guide and man on the left, 
 who stand fast. 
 
68 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 At the command march, the men who have faced 
 to the left will step off together ; the second man, 
 counting from the left, will place himself behind 
 the man next to the guide, and face to the front ; 
 the two following men will, in like manner, on 
 closing up, form the next file, and all the other men 
 will come successively to form files, two deep, to 
 the right of those already formed. The distance 
 between the ranks is thirteen inches, measured 
 from the breasts of the rear-rank men to the backs, 
 or knapsacks (if they be on), of the front-rank 
 men. 
 
 The captain will now divide the company into 
 two equal platoons, and each platoon into two equal 
 sections. The platoon on the right is called the 
 first platoon, and that on the left the second platoon. 
 The sections are numbered from right to left, ^rs^, 
 second, third, fourth. The files will be numbered 
 from right to left, first the whole number and after- 
 wards by twos. 
 
 The officers and sergeants will now take their 
 posts as follows : 
 
 The captain, in the front rank on the right of 
 the company. 
 
 The first lieutenant, two paces in rear of the 
 rear rank, and equi-distant between the centre of 
 the second platoon and^tlie second file from the 
 left of the company. 
 
 The second lieutenant, opposite the centre of the 
 first platoon, and two paces in rear of the rear 
 rank. 
 
 The third lieutenant, opposite the centre of the 
 second plafoon, nud two paces in rear of the rear 
 rank. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 59 
 
 The first sergeant, on the right of the rear rank 
 covering the captain ; he is denominated covering 
 sergeant, or right guide of the company. 
 
 The second sergeant, two paces in rear of the 
 second file from the left of the company ; he is de- 
 nominated the left guide of the company. In the 
 left company of a battalion, this sergeant is on the 
 left of the front rank, and is covered by a corporal 
 in the rear rank ; he is designated as the closing 
 sergeant, and the corporal, the covering corporal. 
 
 The third sergeant, two paces in rear of the 
 second file from the left of the first platoon. 
 
 The fourth sergeant, two paces in rear of the 
 second file from the right of the second platoon. 
 
 The fifth sergeant, two paces in rear of the rear 
 rank, and eqiii-distant between the second lieute- 
 nant and the third sergeant. 
 
 The officers and sergeants thus posted in rear 
 of the company, constitute the rank of file-closers ; 
 this rank is two paces in rear of the rear rank. 
 
 The pioneer is posted in the line of file-closers 
 on the right ; and the music in a line with the 
 front rank, four paces on its right, the drum on tlie 
 right of tJie fifer, or bugler. 
 
 Absent officers and sergeants will be replaced — 
 officers by sergeants, and sergeants by corporals, 
 according to rank and the necessity of the case. 
 
 To pass from Two Ranks into One Rank. 
 The instructor will command : 
 1. Inane Rank, form Company. 2. March. 
 
60 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 At the first command, the left guide will face to 
 the left. 
 
 At the second command, the left guide will step 
 off, and march in the prolongation of the front 
 rank. 
 
 The next file will step off at the same time with 
 the guide ; the front-rank man will turn to the left 
 at the first step, follow the guide, and be himself 
 followed by the rear-rank man of his file, each of 
 whom will turn on the line where their file-leader 
 had turned. The second file, counting from the 
 left, and successively all the other files, will march 
 as has been prescribed for the first, the front-rank 
 man of each immediately following the rear-rank 
 man of the file next on the left ; the captain will 
 stand fast, and as the last man on the right turns 
 into the rank, he will halt it, and face it to the 
 front. The file-closers extend themselves with the 
 movement. 
 
 Posts of Officers in Column. 
 
 In Column by Company. 
 
 The captain two paces in front of tlie centre of 
 his company ; the first sergeant on the right of the 
 front rank, and is the right guide of the company ; 
 the second sergeant on the left of the front rank, 
 and is the left guide of the company. 
 
 In Column by Platoon. 
 
 The captain commands the first platoon, the 
 first lieutenant the second platoon ; each two paces 
 in front of the centre of his platoon ; the first ser- 
 
THE RECRUIT. 61 
 
 geant is the guide of the first platoon ; the second 
 sergeant is the guide of the second platoon ; they 
 will be on the left of the front rank of their respec- 
 tive platoons, if the column be right in front, and 
 on the right if the left be in front. 
 
 In the route step, the chiefs of platoon take the 
 place of the guides on the directing flank, and are 
 covered by the latter in the rear rank. 
 
 In Column by Section. 
 
 This column takes place only in column of route, 
 and then only when platoons have a front of ten 
 or more files. The captain commands the first 
 section ; the first lieutenant the third ; the second 
 lieutenant the second ; and the third lieutenant the 
 fourth section ; each taking post on the directing 
 flank in the front rank of his section; the two 
 guides, who are thus displaced, will each fall back 
 to the rear rank of his section and cover its chief; 
 the remaining file-closers place themselves in the 
 rear rank of their respective sections, all on the 
 side of direction. 
 
 In column, except in column by sections, the 
 file-closers, not otherwise provided for, are in their 
 proper places behind the rear rank of their respec- 
 tive subdivisions. 
 
 In column right in front, the left flank is the 
 directing flank, the reverse is the case in column 
 left in front. When marching in review, right in 
 front, the right flank is the directing flank. 
 
 In column, each chief of subdivision will always 
 briskly repeat the commands march, and Jialt. the 
 instant he hears them given 
 
62 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 To Open Ranks. 
 
 The company being at shoulder arms, to cause 
 the ranks to be opened, the instructor will give the 
 intimation, Prepare to open ranks. At this, the 
 left guide will place himself on the left of the rear 
 rank. 
 
 To the Rear, Open Order, 
 
 The covering sergeant and the left guide will 
 step off smartly to the rear, in the back step, four 
 full paces from the front rank, and align themselves 
 parallel to the rear rank. 
 
 The front rank will stand fast ; the rear rank 
 steps ofi" in the back step, in common time, without 
 counting steps, places itself on the alignment 
 marked out for it, and is aligned by the right on 
 the left guide, by the covering sergeant. The file- 
 closers will step off at the same time with the rear 
 rank, and place themselves two paces in the rear 
 of that rank. 
 
 The ranks being aligned, the insh*uctor will 
 command : 
 
 Alignments in Open Ranks. 
 
 The ranks are first aligned man by man, three 
 men being placed two or three paces in advance of 
 the right or left of each rank, to serve as a basis, 
 
THE KECRUIT. 63 
 
 and the command given, By file, Right {ox Left) — 
 Dress. The men of each rank will move up suc- 
 cessively on the alignment, each man being pre- 
 ceded two paces by his neighbor. 
 
 The ranks are next aligned at once, forward and 
 backward, in both parallel and oblique directions, 
 by the commands, RigU (or Left) — Dress, or 
 Right (or Left) Backward — ^Dress ; three men in 
 each case being placed as a basis. 
 
 Before closing the ranks, the company will be 
 exercised in the Manual of Arms and the Loading 
 in Tioelve Times. 
 
 
 Manual 
 
 of Arms. 
 
 1. 
 
 Present Arms. 
 
 2. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 3. 
 
 Support Arms. 
 
 4. 
 
 Carry Arms. 
 
 6. 
 
 Order Arms. 
 
 6. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 7. 
 
 Charge Bayonet. 
 
 8. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 9. 
 
 Trail Arms. 
 
 10. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 11. 
 
 To Right Shoulder, 
 Shift Arms. 
 
 12. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 13. 
 
 Unfix Bayonet. 
 
 14. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 15. 
 
 Secure Arms. 
 
 16. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 17. 
 
 Fix Bayonet. 
 
 18. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 19. Load in Twelve Times. 
 
 The instructor will take care that the position 
 of the body, of the feet, and of the piece, be always 
 exact, and that the times be briskly executed, and 
 close to the person. 
 
64 THE KECKUIT. 
 
 To Close Ranks, 
 
 1. Close Order. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the rear rank will close 
 to the front, and each man cover his file-leader. 
 
 Alignments in Closed Ranks, 
 
 In this case the ranks are aligned at once, for- 
 ward and backward, by company, in both parallel 
 and oblique directions, by the right and left. 
 
 Manual of Arms in Closed Ranks, 
 
 Manual of arms, and loading in twelve times, in 
 closed ranks, will be commanded and executed as 
 has been prescribed in open ranks. Loading in 
 four times, and at will, as also the Jirings, will be 
 executed as follows : 
 
 Load in Four Times. 
 
 Loading in four times, will be commanded and 
 executed as prescribed in the squad drill. 
 
 Load at Will, 
 
 Loading at will will be commanded and executed 
 as prescribed in the squad drill. 
 
 In the first time of loading in four times, and 
 also, at will, the captain and covering sergeant will 
 half-face to the right with the men, and face to the 
 front when the man next to them, respectively, 
 casts about. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 65 
 
 To Fire by Company. 
 1. Fire by Company. 2. Commence Firing. 
 
 At the first command, the captain will promptly 
 place himself opposite to the centre of the company, 
 four paces in rear of the rank of file-closers ; the 
 covering sergeant retires and places himself in that 
 rank opposite to his interval. This rule is general 
 for the captain and covering sergeant, in all the 
 different firings. 
 
 At the second command, the captain will add : 
 1. Company; 2. Ready; 3. Aim; 4. Fire; 
 5. Load. 
 
 At the command load, each man will bring back 
 his piece, load and shoulder. The captain will 
 immediately recommence the fire by the same 
 commands, and thus continue it till the roll of the 
 drum. 
 
 The captain wull sometimes cause aim to be 
 taken to the right and left, simply by giving the 
 words, right (or left) oblique, after the command 
 ready and before that of aim. He will also some- 
 times give the command recover arms, after that of 
 aim, in order to habituate the men to composure 
 of mind and attention to commands. 
 
 To Fire by File. 
 
 1. Fire by File. 2. Company. 3. Ready. 
 4. Commence Firing. 
 
 The third and fourth commands will be executed 
 as prescribed in the squad drill. 
 5 
 
66 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 The instructor will cause the firing to cease, 
 whether by company or by file, by a roll of the 
 drum ; and, at the instant the roll commences, the 
 men will cease firing. If they have fired, they will 
 reload and shoulder ; if they are in the position of 
 ready, they will front, half-cock, and shoulder ; if 
 in the position of aim, they will, of themselves, 
 recover arms, front, half-cock, and shoulder. 
 
 The roll will always be followed by a tap on the 
 drum ; at this signal the captain and covering ser- 
 geant will promptly resume their places in line, 
 and rectify, if necessary, the alignments of the 
 ranks. 
 
 In actual firing, at the roll of the drum, tlie 
 captain and all the file-closers will repeat, cease 
 firing, and enforce the command. 
 
 When the command roll is substituted for the 
 actual roll of tlie drum, the instructor will add the 
 command tap, as the signal for the return of the 
 captain and covering sergeant to their places in 
 line, as soon as he sees arms shouldered. 
 
 To Fire by the Rear Rank, 
 
 1. Face by the Rear Rank, 2. Company, 
 3. About — Face. 
 
 At the first command, the captain will step out 
 and place himself near to, and facing the right file 
 of his company ; the covering sergeant, and file- 
 closers, will pass quickly through the captain's in- 
 terval, and place themselves laced to the rear, tlie 
 covering sergeant a pace behind the captain, and 
 the file-closers two papes from the front rank oppo- 
 
THE RECRUIT. 67 
 
 Bite to their places in line, each passing behind 
 the covering sergeant. 
 
 At the third command, which will be given at 
 the instant the last file-closer shall have passed 
 through the interval, the company will face abcnt ; 
 the captain will place himself in his interval in the 
 rear rank, now become the front, and the covering 
 sergeant will cover him in the front rank, now 
 become the rear. 
 
 Faced by the rear rank, the different firings will 
 be executed in the manner already prescribed. 
 The fire by file will' commence on the left, now 
 the right flank. 
 
 To Resume the Proper Front, 
 
 1. Face by the Front Rank. 2. Company, 3. 
 About — Face. 
 
 At the first command, the captain, covering ser- 
 geant, and the file closers, will conform themselves 
 to what is prescribed in the face by the rear rank. 
 
 At the third command, the company having 
 faced about, the captain and covering sergeant will 
 retake their places in line. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 The instructor will habituate the ranks to take 
 aim horizontally. 
 
 He will reconimend to the captain to make a 
 short pause between the commands aim and^re, 
 to give the men time to adjust the sight well. 
 
 He will recommend to the soldiers, in the firings, 
 
68 THE RECRXnT. 
 
 the highest degree of composure or presence of 
 mind, which may be consistent with a due vivacity 
 of execution. 
 
 He will give to the men, as a general principle^ 
 to maintain, in the direct fire, the left heel in its 
 place, in order that the alignment of the ranks and 
 files may not be deranged. The instructor will 
 observe, in addition to these remarks, all those 
 which have been prescribed in the squad drill. 
 
 To Advance in Line of Battle. 
 1. Company, Forward. 
 
 At this command, a sergeant, previously select- 
 ed, will move six paces in advance of the captain, 
 and is correctly aligned by the instructor, on the 
 prolongation of the captain and the covering ser- 
 geant. This advanced sergeant, who is charged 
 with the direction, will take two points on the 
 ground in the straight line to the front. 
 
 2. March. 
 
 At this, the company will step off with life. 
 The directing sergeant observes, with the greatest 
 precision, the length and cadence of the step, 
 marching on the two points he has chosen ; lie 
 will take in succession and a little before arriving 
 at the point nearest to him, new points in advance, 
 exactly in the same line with the first two, and at 
 the distance of some fifteen or twenty paces from 
 each other. The captain marches in the trace of 
 the directing^ sergeant, keeping always six paces 
 
THE RECRUIT. 69 
 
 from him. The men march with the head and 
 shoulders square to the front, touch lightly the 
 elbow towards the captain, and resist pressure 
 coming from the opposite side. The file-closers 
 will march in their places, two paces behind the 
 rear rank. 
 
 If the men lose the step, the instructor will 
 command, To the — Step. At this, the men will 
 cast an eye on the directing sergeant, retake the 
 step from him, and again direct eyes to the front. 
 
 To Hall the Company, Advancing in Line, and to 
 Align it. 
 
 1. Company. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the second command, the company will halt ; 
 the directing sergeant will remain in advance, 
 unless ordered to return to the line of file-closers. 
 The captain rectifies the alignment. 
 
 Advancing in Line, to Oblique to the Right or Left. 
 1. Right (or Left) Oblique. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the movement will be 
 executed as prescribed in the squad drill ; the men 
 preserve the touch of the elbow towards the ca]> 
 tain, who conforms his march to that of the direct- 
 ing sergeant. 
 
 To Resume the Direct March. 
 
 1. Forward. 2. March. 
 At the command march, pronounced at the in- 
 
70 THE RECRtriT. 
 
 stant a foot is coming to the ground, the company 
 will take the direct march. 
 
 The company is next instructed to mark time 
 by the command mark time — march ; to resume 
 the march by the command forward — march ; 
 to march in quick time by the command quick 
 TIME — march ; and to resume the common time 
 by the command common time — march ; the word 
 MARCH being given as either foot is coming to the 
 ground. The backward-march will also be prac- 
 tised here. 
 
 To Retire in Line (March in Retreat.) 
 I, Company. 2. About — Face. 
 
 At the command face, the company will face to 
 the rear. 
 
 3. Compamjy Forward. 
 
 At this, the covering sergeant moves up, oppo- 
 site to his interval into the rank of file-closers, 
 now leading, and the captain will place himself in 
 the rear rank, now become the front ; the directing 
 sergeant places himself in front of the captain, six 
 paces in advance of the rank of file-closers, and 
 m the manner prescribed for the advance in line. 
 
 . 4. March. 
 
 At this, the directing sergeant, the captain, and 
 the men, will conform themselves to what is pre- 
 scribed in the advance in line. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 71 
 
 The company retiring in line, executes all that 
 is prescribed for advancing in line. 
 
 To Halt the Company Retiring in Lnte^ and to 
 Face it to the Front. 
 
 1. Company, Halt. 2. About — Face. 
 
 As soon as the company faces about, the cap- 
 tain, covering sergeant, and the directing sergeant, 
 resume their places in line. 
 
 To March by the Flank. 
 
 1 . Company, by the Right Flank. 2. Right — Face. 
 3. Company, Forward. 4. March. 
 
 At the second command, the company will face 
 to the right, and the covering sergeant places him- 
 self at the head of the front rank, the captain on 
 his left. 
 
 At the command march, the company will step 
 off smartly in common time ; the captain and 
 covering sergeant will direct their march straight 
 forward ; the men of the rear rank march abreast 
 of their respective front rank men, and the file- 
 closers opposite to their places in line. 
 
 The march by the left flank will be executed by 
 the same command, substituting left for right. At 
 the instant the company faces to the left, the left 
 guide will place himself at the head of tlie front 
 rank ; the captain will pass rapidly to the left, and 
 place himself by the right side of this guide ; the 
 covering sergeant replaces the captain in the front 
 rank. 
 
72 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 To Change Direction hj File. 
 
 The company being faced to a flank, and either 
 in march, or at a halt, the instructor will command : 
 
 1. Bij File, Left (or Right), 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the first file will wheel ; 
 if to the side of the front rank man, the latter will 
 take care not to turn at once, but to describe a 
 short arc of a circle, shortening a little the first 
 three steps, to give the rear rank man time to con- 
 form to the movement. If the wheel be to the 
 side of the rear rank man, this man will conform 
 himself to the movement of the front rank man, 
 by describing a short arc of a circle. Each file 
 wheels on the same spot where the first wheeled. 
 
 To Halt the Company, Marching by a Flariky and 
 to face it to the Front, 
 
 1. Company. 2. Halt. 3. FroTtt — ^Face. 
 
 At the command /flce, the company faces to the 
 left, if marching by the right flank, and to the right 
 if marching by the left flank : and the captain, 
 covering sergeant, and the left guide, return to 
 their places in line. 
 
 Marching by a Flank, to Form on Right (or Left) 
 by File inlo Line. 
 
 If the inarch be by the right flank, tlie uistructor 
 will command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 73 
 
 1. On the Right J by File into Line, 2. March. 
 
 At the command marcli, the rear rank will mark 
 time ; the captain and covering sergeant will turn 
 to the right, march six paces forward, and halt ; 
 the captain will place himself on the line to direct 
 the alignment as the men of the front rank succes- 
 sively arrive on it ; the covering sergeant will 
 place himself behind the captain, at the distance 
 of the rear rank ; the first man of the front rank 
 will continue to march, pass behind the covering 
 sergeant, turn to tlie right, and place himself by 
 the left side of the captain ; the second man of the 
 same rank will pass behind the first, turn to the 
 right, and place himself on the left of the first, 
 and thus in succession to the last man of this rank ; 
 the rear rank will mark time till two men of the 
 front rank are formed on the line, when it executes 
 the movement in like manner ; each man of the 
 rear rank will cover his file leader. 
 
 In marching by the left flank, the movement 
 will be executed by inverse means, substituting in 
 the command the word left for right. The captain 
 and the left guide will return to their places in 
 line as soon as the company is formed and aligned. 
 
 Marching by the Flank to Form by Company or by 
 Platoon into Line. 
 
 The company being in march by the right flank, 
 the instructor will order the captain to cause it to 
 form line ; the captain will immediately command : 
 1. By Company^ into Line; 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the covering sergeant 
 continues to march straight forward ; the men will 
 
74 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 advance the right shoulder and march in quick 
 time, diagonally, into line with the covering ser- 
 geant, taking the step from him as they succes- 
 sively arrive in line, one after the other. Tlie 
 men of the rear rank will conform to the move- 
 ment of their file leaders, but without endeavoring 
 to arrive in line at the same time with the latter. 
 The captain will superintend the execution of the 
 movement, and, when the company is formed, he 
 will command guide left, and place himself two 
 paces in front of the centre, and take the step of 
 the company. 
 
 I. By Platoon into Line, 2. March. — ^The 
 movement will be executed by each platoon ac- 
 cording to the above principles ; the captain and 
 first lieutenant, as their respective platoons are 
 formed, will command guide left. 
 
 In marching by the left flank, these movements 
 will be executed by the same commands, and ac- 
 cording to the same principles, the words guide 
 right being substituted for guide left, the moment 
 the formation is ended. 
 
 Marching by the Front, to March hy a Flarik. 
 
 1. Company hy the Right (or Left) Flavk. 
 2. March. 
 
 The movement will be executed in the manner 
 prescribed in the squad drill. 
 
 The company marching by a flank, will be 
 marched by the front by the same commands and 
 means. 
 
 If. after facing to the right or left, in marching. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 75 
 
 the company find itself faced by the rear rank, the 
 captain will place himself two paces behind the 
 centre of the front rank, now in the rear, the 
 guides will pass to the rear rank, now leading, and 
 the file-closers will march in front of this rank. 
 
 Marching in Column by Platoon, to March by the 
 Flank in the Sa?ne Direction, 
 
 1. Column, by the Right Flank. 2. By File Left. 
 3. March. 
 
 At the second command, each chief of platoon 
 and its guide will pass rapidly to the right flank to 
 conduct it. 
 
 At the command march, each platoon will face 
 to the right in marching, wheel by file to the left 
 and then march straight forward : the leading file 
 of the second platoon will unite with the rear file 
 of the first, the chief and guide of the second, a 
 pace before the union, will pass through the inter- 
 val to their places as file-closers. 
 
 With the left in front, the movement will be 
 executed by inverse means, substituting in the 
 commands left for rights and right for left. The 
 captain, to conduct the left flank, if a halt be not 
 immediately commanded, will replace the first lieu- 
 tenant on that flank, and the covering sergeant will 
 return to his place on the right flank, now the rear. 
 
 To Break from TAne into Column by Platoon, 
 
 The company being at a halt, the instructor will 
 conmiand : 
 
76 THE RECJEUIT. 
 
 1. By Platoon, Right Wheel. 2. March. 
 
 At the first command, the chiefs of platoon place 
 themselves two paces in front of their platoons, the 
 lieutenant passing around the left of the company. 
 The covering sergeant v^ill replace the captain in 
 the front rank. 
 
 At the command march, the right-front rank 
 man of each platoon will face to the right, the 
 covering sergeant standing fast ; the chief of each 
 platoon will move quickly by the shortest line, a 
 little beyond the point at which the marching flank 
 will rest when the wheel is completed, face to the 
 late rear, and place himself so that the line which 
 he forms with the man on the right (who had faced) 
 shall be perpendicular to that occupied by the 
 company in line. Each platoon will wl>eel ac- 
 cording to the principles prescribed for the wheel 
 on a fixed pivot, and when the man who conducts 
 the marching flank, arrives within three paces of 
 the perpendicular, the chief will command: 1. 
 Platoon; 2. Halt. At the command halt, the 
 platoon will halt, the covering sergeant will move 
 to the point where the left of the first platoon is to 
 rest, passing by the front rank ; the second ser- 
 geant will place himself, in like manner, in respect 
 to tlie second platoon. Each will take care to 
 leave between himself and the man on the right 
 of his platoon, a space equal to the front of the 
 platoon. 
 
 The guide of each platoon being thus established 
 on the perpendicular, each chief will place himself 
 two paces outside of his guide, and command 
 3. Left — ^Dress. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 77 
 
 The alignment ended, each chief will command, 
 Front, and place himself before the centre of his 
 platoon. 
 
 The company will break by platoon to the left, 
 according to the same principles, and by inverse 
 means. 
 
 To March in Column, 
 
 The guide of the leading platoon will take two 
 points on the ground in a straight line to the front, 
 the instructor will then command : 
 
 1. Column^ forward. 2. Guide left. 3. March. 
 
 At the command march, promptly repeated by 
 the chiefs of platoon, the whole will step oft* toge- 
 ther ; the guide of the second platoon wMU march 
 exactly in the trace of the leading one, preserving 
 between the latter and himself a distance precisely 
 equal to the front of his platoon. 
 
 The men will each feel lightly the elbow of his 
 neighbor towards the guide, and conform himself 
 in marching to the principles prescribed in the 
 squad drill. The man next to the guide, in each 
 platoon, will take care never to pass him, and also 
 to march always about six inches from him. 
 
 A column, left in front, will be put in march 
 according to the same principles, substituting in 
 the commands Guide right for Guide left. 
 
 To Change Direction. 
 
 To change direction to the left, the instructor 
 will give the order to the chief of tie first platoon, 
 
78 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 and immediately go himself, or send a marker to 
 the point at which the change of direction is to be 
 made ; the instructor, or marker, will place himself 
 on the direction of the guides, so as to present the 
 breast to that flank of the column. 
 
 The leading guide will direct his march on the 
 marker, so that, in passing, his left arm may just 
 graze his breast. When the leading platoon shall 
 have approached near to the marker, its chief will 
 command: 1. Left turn. 2. March. 
 
 The first command will be given when the pla- 
 toon is at the distance of four paces from the 
 marker. 
 
 At the command march, which will be given at 
 the instant the guide arrives opposite the marker, 
 the guide and the platoon will turn to the left, 
 conforming themselves to what is prescribed in the 
 squad drill. 
 
 The guide of the first platoon having turned, will 
 take points on the ground in the new direction, to 
 assure his march. 
 
 The second platoon will continue to march 
 straight forward till up with the marker, when it 
 will turn by the same commands and according to 
 the same principles, which governed the first pla- 
 toon. 
 
 To change direction to the side opposite to the 
 guide, the instructor will give the order to the chief 
 of the first platoon, and proceed to mark the point 
 of change as just explained. The guide of the 
 first platoon will direct his march on tlie marker, 
 and when he arrives at four paces from the wheel- 
 ing point, the chief will command : 1 . Right 
 Wheel 2. March. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 79 
 
 At the command march, which will be given at 
 the instant the guide is opposite to the marker, or 
 wheeling point, the platoon will wheel to the right, 
 in conformity with the principles prescribed in the 
 squad drill. The wheel being ended, the chief of 
 platoon will command : 3. Forward. 4. March. 
 These commands will be given and executed as 
 prescribed in the squad drill. 
 
 The second platoon will continue to march 
 straight forward till up with the marker, when it 
 will wheel to the right at the same place, by the 
 same commands and the same means, and then 
 resume the direct march as in the case of the first 
 platoon. 
 
 Changes of direction in a column, left in front, 
 will be executed according to the same principles, 
 and by inverse means. 
 
 To Halt the Column. 
 
 1. Column. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the command halt, promptly repeated by the 
 chiefs of platoon, the column w411 halt, and the 
 guides stand fast. 
 
 The instructor wishing to form line, he will 
 throw himself to platoon distance in front of the 
 leading guide, face to him, and rectify, if necessary, 
 the position of the guide of the second platoon and 
 command : Left — Dress. At this, which will not 
 be repeated by the chiefs of platoon, each of them 
 will place himself two paces outside of his guide, 
 and direct the alignment of the platoon perpendi- 
 cularly to the direction of the column, give the 
 
80 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 command Front, and return quickly to his place 
 in column. 
 
 To Wheel into Line, 
 1. Left into Line, Wheel. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, briskly repeated by the 
 cliiefs of platoon, the front-rank man on the left of 
 each platoon will face to the left, and place his 
 breast lightly against the arm of the guide by his 
 Bide, who stands fast ; the platoons will wheel to 
 the left, on the principle of wheels from a halt. 
 Each chief will turn to his platoon to observe its 
 movement, and wlien the marching flank of his 
 platoon is three paces from the line, he will com- 
 mand : 1. Platoon. 2. Halt. The chief of the 
 second platoon will return to his place as a file- 
 closer. The captain will then go to the point 
 where the right of the company will rest in line, 
 and command : Right — Dress. At this command, 
 the two platoons will dress up on the alignment. 
 
 The company being aligned, the captam will 
 command : Front. 
 
 Guides — ^Posts. 
 
 At this, the covering sergeant will cover the 
 captain, and the left guide will retire to his place 
 as a file-closer. 
 
 If the left be in front. Right into line wheel, will 
 be executed on the same principles, and by inverse 
 means ; the captain having halted the first platoon, 
 will go to tlie point at which the left of the com- 
 
THE RECRUIT. 81 
 
 pany will rest in line, and give the command : Left 
 Dress ; seeing both platoons aligned, he will add, 
 Fronts and at the command Guides Posts^ given 
 by the instructor, the captain will promptly shift 
 to the right of the company. 
 
 To Diminish and Increase Front of Column^ in 
 Marching, by Platoon. 
 
 Diminishing. 
 
 The company being in march, and supposed to 
 make part of a column, right in front, the instructor 
 will give the order to the captain, who will com- 
 mand : 1 . Break into platoons, and immediately 
 place himself before the centre of the first platoon. 
 
 At the command break into platoons, the first 
 lieutenant will pass quickly round the left to the 
 centre of his platoon, and give the caution : Mark 
 time. 
 
 The captain will then command : 2. March. 
 
 Tbe first platoon will continue to march straight 
 forward ; the covering sergeant will throw himself 
 on the left flank of this platoon (passing by the 
 front rank), as soon as the flank shall be disen- 
 gaged. 
 
 At the command march, given by the captain, 
 the second platoon will begin to mark time ; its 
 chief will immediately add: — 1. Right oblique. 
 2. March. The last command will be given so 
 tliat this platoon may commence obliqueing the 
 instant the rear rank of the first platoon shall have 
 passed. 
 
 The guide of the second platoon being near tlie 
 6 
 
82 THE RECRITIT. 
 
 direction of the guide of the first, the chiet of the 
 second will command Forward, and add March, 
 the instant that the guide of his platoon shall cover 
 the guide of the first. 
 
 In a column, left in front, the company will 
 break into platoons by inverse means, applying to 
 the first platoon all that has been prescribed for the 
 second, and reciprocally. 
 
 In this case, the left guide of the company will 
 shift to the right flank of the second platoon, and 
 the covering sergeant will remain on the right of 
 the first. 
 
 Increasing. 
 
 The column, by platoon, being in march, right 
 in front, the instructor will give the order to the 
 captain, w^ho will command: — 1. Form Companij, 
 and immediately add : — 1. First Platoon. 2. Right 
 Oblique. 
 
 The chief of the second platoon will caution it 
 to continue marching straight forward. 
 
 The captain will then command : — 3. March. 
 
 At this, the first platoon will oblique to the right, 
 to unmask the second ; the covering sergeant will 
 shift to the right flank, passing by the front rank. 
 When the first platoon has nearly unmasked the 
 second, the captain will command : — 1 . Mark time, 
 and at the instant the unmasking shall be complete, 
 he will add : — 2. March. 
 
 The second platoon will continue to march 
 straight forward, and when nearly up with the first, 
 tlie captain will command : — Forward, and at the 
 uistant the two platoons shall unite, add, March ; 
 when they move forward together. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 83 
 
 In a column, left in front, the same movement 
 will be executed by inverse means, applying: to the 
 second platoon what has been prescribed ioi- the 
 first, and reciprocally. 
 
 To Diminish and Increase Front of Column, in 
 Marching, by File, and by Files. 
 
 Diminishing by File. 
 
 The company being in march, and supposed to 
 constitute part of a column right in front, the in- 
 structor will give the order to the captain, who will 
 command : — 1 . One File from Left to the Rear. 
 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the first file on the left 
 will mark time, and as soon as the rear rank of the 
 company has passed the men of that file respec- 
 tively, the rear-rank man of the particular file will 
 advance a little the outer shoulder, taking specia 
 care not to lose his distance, and place himself 
 behind the second file from the left ; the front-rank 
 man will, in like manner, place himself behind the 
 first file, and thus continue the march. 
 
 To cause another file to break off", the same com- 
 mand will be given, when the file already broken 
 oiS', will move the space of one file to the right, 
 and make room between itself and the rear rank of 
 the company for the file last ordered to the rear. 
 
 Increasing by File. 
 
 To cause files broken off to return into line, the 
 captain will command ; 1 . One File into Line ; 2 
 March. 
 
84 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 At the command march^ the front file will return 
 quickly into line, and the remaining files incline 
 the space of one file to the left. 
 
 Diminishing by Files. 
 
 If several files are to break off at the same 
 time, the files named mark time, each rank will 
 advance a little the outer shoulder, as it shall be 
 cleared by the rear rank of the company, oblique 
 in rank, and place itself behind one of the two 
 nearest files, the rear-rank man (the first cleared) 
 behind the second file, and the front rank behind 
 the first file, in the positions which each would 
 have occupied, if the movement had been made file 
 by file. 
 
 Increasing by Files. 
 
 To cause several files broken off to be brougni 
 into line at once, the captain will command : 1 . 
 — Files into Line ; 2. March. 
 
 At the command rnarch, the files designated will 
 advance the right shoulder, move up and form on 
 the flank of the company by the shortest lines. 
 
 As often as a file or files shall break off to the 
 rear, the guide on that flank will gradually close 
 on the nearest front-rank man remaining in line, 
 and so will he open out to make room for a file or 
 files ordered into line. 
 
 Files will only be broken off from the side of 
 direction in order that the whole company may 
 easily pass from the front to the flank march. 
 
 r 
 
THE RECRUIT. 85 
 
 To March in Column of Route, and to Execute the 
 Movements Incident Thereto. 
 
 The length of the route-step will be twenty- 
 eight inches, and at the rate of ninety in a minute. 
 
 The company being at a halt, and supposed to 
 constitute part of a column, the instructor will 
 command : 
 
 1. Column, Forward. 2. Guide, Left (or Right). 
 3. Route-step. 4. March. 
 
 At the command march, repeated by the captain, 
 the ranks will step off together ; the rear rank will 
 take, in marching, a distance of one pace from the 
 front rank ; the men without further command, 
 will carry their arms at will. They will no longer 
 be required to march in cadence, or to remain 
 silent ; but care will be taken to prevent the ranks 
 from intermixing, the front rank from getting in 
 advance of the guide, and the rear rank from open- 
 ing to too great a distance. 
 
 The company marching in the route-step, the 
 instructor will cause it to change direction to the 
 side of the guide, and to the reverse flank, which 
 will be executed without formal commands, on a 
 simple caution from the captain ; the rear rank, 
 will change direction on the same ground on which 
 the front rank had changed ; each rank will con- 
 form itself, although in the route-step, to the prin- 
 ciples which have been prescribed ibr the change 
 in closed ranks, with this difference only : that the 
 pivot man, on the reverse flank, will take steps ot 
 fourteen instead of nine inches, in order to clear 
 the wheeling point. 
 
86 TfiE EECEXJIT. 
 
 To pass to closed ranks and the cadenced step, 
 the instructor will command : 
 
 1, Shoulder Arms. 2. Close Order. S.March. 
 
 At the command march^ the rear rank will re- 
 gain, by lengthening a few steps, the habitual dis- 
 tance, and the whole will resume the cadenced 
 pace. 
 
 To resume the route-step, the instructor will 
 command : 
 
 1. Route-Step. 2. March. 
 
 At the command march, the company will re 
 sume the route march as above prescribed. 
 
 To march by the flank in the same direction, the 
 instructor will first cause arms to be shouldered 
 and supported, and the ranks to be closed, and then 
 command : 
 
 1. Company, by the Right (or Left) Flank, 2. By 
 File Left (or Right.) 3. March. 
 
 At the command march, the company will face 
 in marching and wheel by file, in the direction 
 indicated. If any files are broken off to the rear, 
 they will regain their places by wheeling, and fol- 
 low the movement of the company. 
 
 Marching in the route-step, to diminish and in- 
 crease front by platoon, the same commands and 
 means are observed, as if the march were in the 
 cadenced step, with this single difference, that, in 
 the platoon which obliques, each man will half 
 
THE RECRUIT. 87 
 
 lace to the right or left, and thus march diagonally 
 till tlie platoon covers or unmasks the other platoon. 
 
 To diminish front by section, the captain will 
 cause arms to be shouldered, ranks to be closed, 
 and then command: 1. Break into Sections; 2. 
 March. The movements will be executed ac- 
 cording to the principles indicated for the same 
 movements by platoon in close order. As soon as 
 the sections are formed, the route-step will be re- 
 sumed. The right sections of platoons will be 
 commanded by the captain and first lieutenant, 
 respectively ; the left sections, by the two next 
 subalterns in rank, or, in their absence, by ser- 
 geants. Front may be diminished, by section, if 
 the platoons have a front of ten or more files — not 
 otherwise. 
 
 To increase front by section, the captain wil 
 cause arms to be shouldered, ranks to be closed 
 and then command : 1 . Form Platoons ; 2. March. 
 As soon as the platoons are formed, the route-step 
 will be resumed. 
 
 Files are broken oflT, and formed into line, ac- 
 cording to the principles already prescribed, the 
 ranks being first closed, and arms shouldered. 
 
 Wlien the company, marching in the route-step, 
 halts, the rear rank will close up to the habitual 
 distance at the command halt, and the whole will 
 shoulder arms. 
 
 Countermarch. 
 
 The company being at a halt, and supposed to 
 constitute part of a coluixin, the instructor wil? 
 command : 
 
88 THE RECRXnT. 
 
 1. Countermarch, 2. Company^ by the Right 
 
 Flank. 3. Right— Face. 4. J3y File Left. 5. 
 
 March. 
 
 At the third command, the company will face to 
 the right, the two guides to the right ahout ; the 
 captain will go to the right of his company, cause 
 two files to break to the rear, and place himself 
 beside the leading front-rank man, to conduct him. 
 At the command march, both guides will stand 
 fast ; the company will step off smartly ; the first 
 file, conducted by the captain, will wheel around 
 the right guide, and direct its march along the 
 front rank, so as to arrive behind, and two paces 
 from the left guide ; each file will wheel in succes- 
 sion, around the right guide ; when the leading 
 file is opposite to the left guide, the captain will 
 command: 1. Company; 2. 'Halt ; 3. Front — 
 Face ; 4. Right — Dress. 
 
 The first command will be given at four paces 
 from the point where the leading file is to rest. At 
 the second the company will halt. At the third, it 
 will face to the front. At the fourth command, the 
 company will dress by the right ; the captain will 
 fetep two paces outside of the left guide, now on 
 the right, and direct the alignment, so that tlie 
 front rank may be enclosed between the two guides ; 
 the company being aligned, he will command 
 Front, and place himself before the centre of the 
 company ; the guides, passing along the front rank, 
 will shift to their proper places. 
 
 In a column, by platoon, the countermarch will 
 be executed by the same commands, and according 
 to the same principles ; the guide of each platoon 
 
THE RECRUIT. 89 
 
 will face about, and its chief will place himself by 
 the side of the file on the right to conduct it. 
 
 In a column, left in front, the countermarch will 
 be executed by inverse commands and means, but 
 according to the same principles. Thus, the move- 
 ment will be made by the right flank of subdivi- 
 sions, if the right be in front, and by the left flank, 
 if the left be in front : in both cases the subdivisions 
 will wheel by file to the side of the front rank. 
 
 MarcMng in Column Inj Platoon, to Form on the 
 Right, or Left, in Line of Battle. 
 The column by platoon, right in front, being in 
 march, to form it on the right into line, the in- 
 structor will command : 
 
 1. On the Right, into Line. 2. Guide Right. 
 
 At the second command, the guide of eacli pla- 
 toon will shift quickly to its right flank, and the 
 men will touch elbows to the right, the column 
 continuing to march straight forward. The in- 
 structor, having given the second command, will 
 throw himself (or send a marker), to the point at 
 which the right of the company ought to rest in 
 line, and place himself facing the point of direction 
 to the left which he will choose. The line of bat- 
 tle ought so to be chosen that the guide of each 
 platoon may have nine paces to take to come upon 
 the line. 
 
 When the head of the column is nearly opposite 
 to the marker, the chief of the first platoon will 
 command : — 1 . Right turn ; and when exactly 
 opposite to that point, he will add — 2. March. 
 
90 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 At the command march, the first platoon will 
 turn to the right in conformity with the principles 
 prescribed in tlie squad drill ; its guide will so 
 direct his march as to bring the front-rank man, 
 next on his left, opposite to the marker ; the chief 
 of the platoon will march before its centre ; and 
 when its guide shall be near the line, he will com- 
 mand : — 1. Platoon. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the second command, which will be given at 
 the instant the right of the platoon shall arrive at 
 the distance of three paces from the line of battle, 
 the platoon will halt; the files, not yet in line, will 
 come up promptly. The guide will throw himself 
 on the line, opposite to one of the three left files of 
 his platoon ; he will face to the marker, and be 
 aligned on the direction to the left. The chief of 
 platoon having at the same time gone to the point 
 where the right of the company is to rest, will, as 
 soon as he sees all the files of the platoon in line, 
 command : Ri^ht — Dress. 
 
 The second platoon will continue to march 
 straight forward, until its guide shall arrive oppo- 
 site to the left file of the first ; it will then turn to 
 the right at the command of its chief, and march 
 towards the line of battle, its guide directing him- 
 self on the left file of the first platoon. 
 
 The guide having arrived at the distance of three 
 paces from the line, this platoon will be halted, as 
 prescribed for the first ; at the instant it hafts, its 
 guide will throw himself on the line, opposite to 
 one of the three left files of his platoon, and will 
 he assured in his position by the instructor. The 
 chief of the second platoon, seeing all its files in 
 
THE RECRUIT. 91 
 
 line, and its guide established on the direction, will 
 command : Right — Dress. 
 
 Having given this command, he will return to 
 his place as a file-closer, passing around the left ; 
 the second platoon will dress up on the alignment 
 of the first, and when established, the captain will 
 command : Front. 
 
 The movement ended, the instructor will com- 
 mand : Guides — Posts. 
 
 At this, the two guides will return to their places 
 In line. 
 
 A column, by platoon, left in front, will form on 
 the left into line, according to the same principles, 
 and, by inverse means, applying to the second 
 platoon what is prescribed for the first, and recip- 
 rocally. The chief of the second platoon having 
 aligned it, from the left, will retire to his place, as 
 a file-closer. The captain having halted the first 
 platoon three paces behind the line, will go to the 
 left of the company to align this platoon, and then 
 command : Front. At the command. Guides — 
 Posts, given by the instructor, the captain will shift 
 to his proper flank, and the guides take their places 
 in the line. 
 
 . The instructor will sometimes cause arms to be 
 supported, marching by the flank, and sometimes 
 to be shifted to the right shoulder, marching by 
 the front. When arms are shifted to the right 
 shoulder, ranks will always open out from three to 
 four inches ; thus, at the command. To Right 
 Shoulder, Shift — Arms, which will be given when 
 in march, the rear rank will shorten the first step, 
 in order to open out that number of inches ; and 
 at the command, Shoulder — Arms, the same rank 
 
92 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 will lengthen the first step the same number of 
 inches, in order to close up again to the habitual 
 distance. 
 
 As often as a company, marching otlierwise than 
 at carried arms, halts, it will carry arms at the 
 command halt. This rule is general. 
 
 MANUAL OF ARMS. 
 
 FOR SERGEANTS. 
 
 The sergeants, like the rank and file, will always 
 preisent themselves under arms with bayonets 
 fixed. 
 
 All sergeants, and all corporals not in the ranks 
 and files, will carry and handle their arms, as 
 herein prescribed for sergeants. 
 
 Sergeants, in the manual of arms, will observe 
 in all the times the cadence prescribed for the rank 
 and file. In the loadings and firings, they will 
 remain at tlie shoulder, or support arms, according 
 to tJie order which they may receive. 
 
 Position of Shouldered Arms. 
 
 The piece within the right arm, the barrel to the 
 rear, erect, and resting against the hollow of the 
 shoulder ; the right arm nearly straight, the right 
 hand embracing the cock and guard, and tlie left 
 arm hanging by the side. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 93 
 
 Present — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — With the right hand bring the 
 piece erect, opposite to the centre of the body, the 
 rammer to the front ; at the same time seize the 
 piece with the left hand above the lock, the little- 
 finger against the feather-spring, the thumb ex- 
 tended along the barrel and on the stock, the fore- 
 arm resting on the body, without constraint, and 
 the hand at the height of the elbow. 
 
 Second Motion. — Correct the position of the 
 right hand, so as to bring it under, and against the 
 guard, as in the case of the men. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms . 
 
 First Motion. — Slip the left hand, on the piece, 
 to the height of the shoulder, and with this hand 
 bring the piece erect against the right shoulder ; 
 embrace, with the right hand, the cock and guard, 
 the right arm nearly straight. 
 
 Second Motion, — Drop the left hand smartly by 
 the side. 
 
 Order — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Bring the left hand promptly to 
 the middle band ; detach the piece a little from the 
 shoulder with the right hand ; quit the hold of the 
 right hand ; lower the piece with the left, seizing 
 it again with the right above the lower band, the 
 thumb on the barrel, the four fingers extended on 
 the stock, the piece erect, the butt about three 
 inches from the ground, the toe of the butt over 
 its place, and drop the left hand by the side. 
 
94 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let the piece slip through the 
 right hand, opening a little the thumb and fingers, 
 so that the butt may come to the ground without 
 shock, its toe in a line with, and against the toe of 
 the right foot. 
 
 - Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. -^With the right hand, raise the 
 piece perpendicularly, the hand at the height of the 
 right breast, opposite to the shoulder, but further 
 out, and about two inches from the body, on which 
 the right elbow will rest ; seize the piece with the 
 left hand under the right ; drop the right hand, and 
 with it embrace the cock and guard, supporting 
 the piece against the right shoulder, the right arm 
 nearly straight. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let the left hand fall smartly 
 by the side. 
 
 Support — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — ^With the right hand bring the 
 piece erect between the eyes, the rammer to the 
 front ; seize the piece with the left hand above the 
 lock, the little finger on the feather spring, and 
 grasp the piece at the same time about four inches 
 below the lock with the right hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — With the right hand turn the 
 piece, the barrel to the front, support it against the 
 left shoulder, and bring the left fore arm between 
 the cock and right hand, horizontally across the 
 body, the cock resting on the left fore-arm, and the 
 lelt hand on the right breast. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 95 
 
 Third Motion. — ^Drop smartly the right hand by 
 the side. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Seize the piece with the right 
 hand, under and against the left fore-arm. 
 
 Second Motion. — Bring the piece erect, with the 
 right hand, against the right shoulder, the rammer 
 to the front ; seize it with the left hand, at the 
 height of the shoulder , correct the position of the 
 right hand at the same time so as to embrace the 
 cock and guard, the right arm nearly straight. 
 
 Third Motion. — Drop smartly the left hand by 
 the side. 
 
 Unfix B A YONE T . 
 
 First Motion. — Bring the left hand promptly to 
 the middle band, detach a little the piece from the 
 shoulder, with the right hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Lower the piece with the left 
 hand, seize it with the right above the lower band ; 
 rest the butt on the ground, letting the piece slip 
 through the left liand ; bring the right hand imme- 
 diately to the bayonet. 
 
 Third Motion. — Wrest off the bayonet and return 
 it to the scabbard ; next seize the piece with the 
 right hand a little above the lower band ; drop the 
 left hand at the same time by the side, and take 
 the position of the soldier at ordered arms. 
 
 Shoulder — A r ms. 
 As from ordered arms. 
 
96 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Fix — ^Bayonets. 
 
 First and second Motions. — As those of unjix 
 bayonet, except that at the end of the second mo- 
 tion the right hand will be brought to seize the 
 bayonet by the socket and shank, so that the socket 
 may extenii about an inch above the heel of the 
 hand. 
 
 Third Motion. — Draw the bayonet from the scab- 
 bard with the right hand, carry and fix it on the 
 muzzle ; next seize the piece with the right hand 
 above the lower band, and drop smartly the left 
 hand by the side. 
 
 Slioulder — Arms. 
 As from ordered arms. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 9*7 
 
 PARADE REST. 
 
 On all parades of ceremony, such as RevTews, 
 Guard Mounting, at Troop or Retreat parades, 
 &c., instead of the word "Rest," which allows 
 the men to move or change the position of their 
 bodies, the command will be, " Parade Rest.^^ At 
 the last word of this command, the soldier will 
 carry the right foot six inches in rear of the left 
 heel, the left knee slightly bent, the body upright 
 upon the right leg ; the piece (if at ordered arms) 
 resting against the hollow of the right shoulder, 
 the hands crossed in front, the backs of them out- 
 ward, and the left hand uppermost. 
 
 If at the command " Parade Rest,''^ the men are 
 at suppoi'i arms, they will bring up smartly the 
 right hand to the small of the stock, carry back the 
 right foot, and stand at ease as above. 
 
 At the command " Attention /" the soldier will 
 resume the correct position at ordered arms or 
 at support arms. 
 
 In the positions here indicated, the soldier will 
 remain silent and motionless ; and it is particularly 
 enjoined upon all officers to cause the commands 
 above given, on the part of the soldier, to be execut 
 ed with great briskness and spirit. 
 
RIFLE MAlfUAL EXERCISE. 
 
 LOADINGS AND FIRINGS 
 
 With Cartridcres, 
 
 MANUAL OF ARMS. 
 
 1. 
 
 Present Arms, 
 
 2. 
 
 Shoulder Arms. 
 
 3. 
 
 Support Arms. 
 
 4. 
 
 Carry Arms. 
 
 6. 
 
 Order Arms. 
 
 6. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 7. 
 
 Trail Arms. 
 
 8. 
 
 Change Hands, 
 
 9. 
 
 Rechange Hands. 
 
 10. 
 
 Secure Arms. 
 
 n. 
 
 Trail Arms. 
 
 12. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 13. 
 
 To the Left Shoulder, 
 
 14. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 
 Shift Arms. 
 
 
 
 16. 
 
 Fix Bayonet. 
 
 16. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 17. 
 
 Charge Bayonet, 
 
 18. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 19. 
 
 Unfix Bayonet. 
 
 20. 
 
 Shoulder Arms, 
 
 
 21. Load in Eight Times, 
 
 Firings direct, oblique, 
 
 and 
 
 by file. 
 
 
 MANUAL. 
 
 
 
 Shoulder 
 
 —Arms. 
 
 The piece in the right hand, and erect, the bar- 
 rel to the rear, and resting against the right shoul- 
 der, the right arm nearly straight, the right hand 
 
THE RECRUIT. 99 
 
 embracing the cock and guard, and the left arm 
 hanging by the eide. 
 
 Present — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — With the right hand bring the 
 piece erect to the centre of the body, the barrel to 
 the rear, seize it smartly with the left hand above 
 and near the lock, the thumb extended along the 
 barrel and on the stock, the fore-arm resting on 
 the body without constraint, and the left hand at 
 the height of the left elbow. 
 
 Second Motion. — Grasp the handle with the right 
 hand. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Carry the piece with the right 
 hand erect against the right shoulder, the rammer 
 to the front, the right arm nearly straight ; glide 
 the left hand to the shoulder, and embrace the cock 
 and guard with the right hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
 Support — Arms. 
 
 Bring the piece (by bending the right arm) across 
 the body, the barrel resting in the joint of the right 
 elbow. 
 
 Carry — Arms. 
 
 Bring the piece quickly to the right side, into the 
 position of shoulder arms. 
 
lOO THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Order — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Seize the piece with the left hand 
 at the shoulder, and quit the hold of the right; 
 lower the piece with the left hand, and seize it with 
 the right above the tail-band ; the piece erect, the 
 butt three inches from the ground, and drop the 
 left hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the piece to the ground, 
 without shock, the toe of the butt against, and in 
 a line with, the toe of the right foot. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece quickly with the 
 right hand, seize it with the left at the shoulder ; 
 grasp the cock and guard with the right hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
 Trail — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Drop the piece to the front, and 
 grasp it with the left hand at the tail-band. 
 
 Second Motion. — Seize the piece with the right 
 hand at the swell, and trail it to the right side at 
 arm's length, the butt a little lower than the muzzle. 
 
 Change — Hands. 
 
 First Motion. — Carry the piece to the front with 
 the right hand, seize it with the left at the swell ;* 
 drop the right hand, and hold the piece perpendic- 
 ularly in front of the body. 
 
 Second Motion. — Trail the piece on the left side. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 101 
 
 Rechange — Hands. 
 
 First Motion, — Carry the piece to the front with 
 the left hand, seize it with the right at the swell ; 
 drop the left hand, and hold the piece perpendicu- 
 larly ill front of the body. 
 
 Second Motion. — Trail the piece on the right 
 side. 
 
 Secure — Arms. 
 
 Secure arms from a trail is always to be done 
 with that hand, and under that arm, which holds 
 the piece, without any assistance of the other. At 
 the command arms, the barrel is turned down, by 
 rounding the wrist ; at the same time raise the lock 
 under the arm, drop the muzzle, and place the 
 thumb on the rammer. 
 
 l^ail — Arms. 
 
 Trail arms from a secure is done on that side, 
 and with that hand, which holds the piece. At the 
 command arms, the piece is brought to the trail, by 
 turning the barrel up, and extending the arm. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 At the command shoulder, raise the piece perpen- 
 dicularly in the right hand. 
 
 At the command arms, raise the piece quickly 
 with the right hand, seize it with the left at the 
 shoulder; grasp the cock and guard with the right 
 hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
102 . THE RECRUIT. 
 
 To the Left Shoulder, shift — Arms ; or^ 
 Arms — At will. 
 
 First Motion. — Bring the piece erect, to the cen- 
 tre of the body, as in present arms. 
 
 Second Motion. — Turn the piece, the barrel out, 
 and carry it against the left shoulder, as in the in- 
 fjintry tactics. 
 
 Third Motion. — Slope the piece diagonally to 
 the rear, and drop the right hand. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece perpendicularly 
 in the left hand, and seize it at the handle with the 
 right. 
 
 Second Motion. — Carry the piece with the right 
 hand to the right shoulder, turning the rammer to 
 the front ; seize the piece with the left hand at the 
 shoulder, and grasp the cock and guard with the 
 right hand. 
 
 Third Motion. — ^Drop the left hand. 
 
 Fix — Bayonet. 
 
 First Motion. — Make a hal^ face to the right, and 
 seize the piece with the left hand at the shoulder. 
 
 Second Motion. — Quit the hold of the right hand, 
 with the left lower the piece to the ground without 
 shock, and carry the right hand to tlie bayonet. 
 
 Third Motion. — Draw the bayonet from the scab- 
 bard, carry and fix it on the barrel ; seize the piece 
 with the right hand, drop the left, face to the front, 
 and assume the position of order arms. 
 
THE RECllUIT. 103 
 
 iS koulder — Ar ms. 
 Ttco Motions. — As from order arms. 
 
 Charge — B a yone t. 
 
 First Motion. — Half face to the right, and place 
 the hollow of the right foot three inches in rear of 
 the left heel. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the piece to the front, and 
 grasp it with the left hand, so that the left elbow 
 shall be near the body ; at the same time seize the 
 handle with the right hand to support it against the 
 hip, the point of the bayonet at the height of the 
 eye. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Face to the front ; at the same 
 time spring up the piece with the left hand to the 
 right shoulder, and grasp the cock and guard with 
 the right hand. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
 Unjlx — Bayonet. 
 
 First Motion. — Make a half face to the right, and 
 seize the piece with the left hand at the shoulder. 
 
 Second Motion. — Quit the hold of the right hand, 
 with the left lower the piece to the ground without 
 shock, and carry the right hand to the bayonet. 
 
 Third Motion. — Wrest off the bayonet, return 
 it to the scabbard ; seize the piece with the right 
 hand, drop the left, face to the front, and assume 
 the position of order arms. 
 1* 
 
104 THE IlECRUrr. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 T\do Motions. — As from order arms. 
 
 When acting in open order, bayonets wall be 
 fixed whenever the soldier finds it necessary for 
 attack or defence. If on the march, the piece will 
 be brought to a trail on the left side, and the bay- 
 onet fixed with the right hand. 
 
 LOAD IN EIGHT TIMES 
 
 With Cartridges* 
 
 1. Load. 
 
 First Motion. — Make a half face to the right, and 
 seize the piece with the left hand at the shoulder. 
 
 Second Motion. — Quit the hold of the right hand, 
 with the left lower the piece to the ground, with- 
 out shock, and turn the rammer towards the body 
 (if loading with hall cartridge^ place the butt be- 
 tween the heels, the barrel between the knees, 
 which must be bent for that purpose) ; carry the 
 right hand quickly to the cartridge-box, and open it. 
 
 2. Handle — Cartridge. 
 
 Seize a cartridge with the thumb and the two 
 next fingers, and place it between the teeth. 
 
 3. Tear — Cartridge. 
 
 Tear the paper down to the powder, hold the 
 cartridge upright between the thumb and next 
 
THE RECRUIT. 106 
 
 two fingers near the top ; in this position, place it 
 in front of and near the muzzle. 
 
 4. Charge — Cartridge. 
 
 Fix the eye on the muzzle, turn quickly the back 
 of the righthund towards the body, in order to dis- 
 charge the powder into the barrel, raise the elbow 
 to the height of the wrist, shake tlie cartridge, force 
 ft into the muzzle, and leave the hand reversed, 
 the fore-finger resting on the butt of the rammer. 
 
 6. Draw — Rammer. 
 
 First Motion, — Drop smartly the right elbow, 
 and seize tlie rammer between the thumb and fore- 
 finger bent, the other fingers shut; draw it smartly, 
 extending tlie arm, seize the rammer again at the 
 middle, between the thumb and fore-finger, the 
 hand reversed, the palm to the front, the nails up, 
 the eyes following the movement of the hand; 
 clear the rammer from the pipes by again extend- 
 ing the arm. 
 
 Second Motion. — Turn rapidly the rammer near 
 the fiice, closing the fingers, the arm extended, the 
 butt of the rammer opposite to the muzzle, the eyes 
 fixed on the muzzle. 
 
 Third Motion. — Insert the butt of the rammer, 
 and force it down as low as the hand ; except that 
 with ball cartridge, the left hand will quit the rifle, 
 and grasp the rammer about six inches from the 
 muzzle. 
 
106 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 6. Ram — Cartridge. 
 
 Extend the arm to seize the rammer between the 
 right thumb extended and the fore-finger bent, the 
 other fingers closed ; with force ram home twice, 
 and seize the rammer at the little end, between the 
 thumb and fore-finger bent, the other fingers closed, 
 the right elbow touching the body; except that 
 w'ith hall cartridge^ when it will be forced down 
 with both hands ; the left hand will then seize the 
 rifle, the right the little end of the rammer, and the 
 soldier stand erect. 
 
 7. Return — Rammer. 
 
 First Motion. — Draw briskly the rammer, re- 
 seize it at the middle between the thumb and fore- 
 finger, the hand reversed, the palm to the front, the 
 nails up, the eyes following the movement of the 
 hand, clear the rammer from the barrel by extend- 
 ing the arm. 
 
 Second Motion. — Turn rapidly the rammer near 
 the face, closing the fingers, the arm extended, the 
 little end of the rammer opposite to the upper pipe, 
 the eyes fixed on that pipe. 
 
 Third Motion^ — Insert the little end, and with 
 the thumb, which will follow the movement, force 
 it as low as the hand ; raise quickly the hand a lit- 
 tle bent, place the little finger on the butt of the 
 rammer, and force it down ; lower the left hand on 
 the barrel to the extent of the arm, without de- 
 pressing the shoulder. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 107 
 
 8. Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. — Raise the piece quickly, with the 
 left hand, carry it against the right shoulder, turn 
 the rammer to the front, and grasp the cock and 
 guard with the right hand ; at the same time face 
 to the front. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
 LOAD IN THREE TIMES. 
 LOAD. 
 
 Load, Handle cartridge. Tear cartridge, Charge 
 cartridge. 
 
 TWO. 
 
 Draw rammer. Ram cartridge. 
 
 THREE. 
 
 Return rammer and shoulder arms. 
 
 LOAD AT WILL. 
 
 1. Load at Will 2. Load. 
 
 Execute the loading as in three times, but with- 
 out resting on the times. 
 
 Ready. (From the position of shoulder arms.) 
 
 First Motion. — Make a half face to the right, and 
 place the hollow of the right foot against the left 
 tieel. 
 
 Second. Motion. — Bring the piece with the right 
 
108 THE BECRUIT 
 
 hand to the middle of the body, seize it with the 
 left just above the lock, the thumb extended on the 
 stock at the height of the chin, the rammer oblique- 
 ly to the left and front, and grasp the handle with 
 the right hand. 
 
 Third Motion. — Place the thumb on the hammer, 
 the fore-finger under and on the guard, the other 
 three fingers joined to the first, and half-cock the 
 piece ; brush off the old cap, and with the thumb 
 and first two fingers of the right hand take a cap 
 from the pocket, place it firmly on the cone by 
 pushing it down with the thumb ; place again the 
 thumb on the hammer. 
 
 Fourth Motion. — Close the right elbow smartly 
 to the body in cocking, seize the piece at the han- 
 dle, let it descend along the body in the left hand 
 to the tail-band, which Avill remain at the height 
 of the shoulder, and in front of the centre of the 
 body. 
 
 AIM. 
 
 Drop smartly the muzzle, support the butt against 
 the right shoulder, shut the left eye, direct the right 
 along the barrel, drop the head upon the butt to 
 catch the object, and place the fore-finger on the 
 trigger. 
 
 The rear rank will, at the same time, carry the 
 right foot about eight inches towards the left heel 
 of the man next on the riffht. 
 
 Apply the fore-finger with force to the trigger, 
 witliout further lowering or turning the head, and 
 remain in that position. 
 
THK RECRUIT. 109 
 
 Load. (From the Fire.) 
 
 First Motion. — Bring back the piece quickly with 
 both hands, depress the butt strongly by extending 
 the right arm, and glide the left hand to the shoul- 
 der ; the rear rank will bring back the right foot 
 behind the left. 
 
 Second Motion. — Sink the piece to the gi'ound, 
 as in loading in eight times, and load at will. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. (From the Fire.) 
 
 First Motion. — Bring back the piece quickly, with 
 both hands, depress the butt strongly by extending 
 the right arm, glide the left hand to the shoulder, 
 and embrace the cock and guard with the right 
 hand ; at the same time face to the front. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the left hand. 
 
 Recover — Arms. 
 
 Withdraw the finger from the trigger, throw up 
 Bmartly the muzzle, and retake the position of the 
 fourth motion of ready. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. (From the Recover.) 
 
 At the command shoulder, face to the front, bring 
 the piece to the position of the second motion of 
 ready, place the right thumb on the head of the cock, 
 support the fore-finger on the trigger, sustain at the 
 same time the cock in its descent, till it nearly 
 touches the cone, raise the cock to the half-cock 
 notch, the reaching of which will be both felt and 
 
110 th:e recruit. • 
 
 heard, and vseize the handle of the piece with the 
 right hand. At the command arms carry the piece 
 smartly to the shoulder, and reta]ie the position of 
 shoulder arms. 
 
 LOAD IN SIX TIMES. 
 
 With Flasks, 
 
 1. Load. 
 
 First Motion, — As loading in eight times. 
 
 Second Motion. — As loading in eight times, ex- 
 cept that instead of opening the cartridge-box, 
 seize quickly the flask, fill the charger with pow- 
 der, and place it near the muzzle, the elbow at the 
 height of the wrist. 
 
 2. Charge — Cartridge. 
 
 Fix the eye on the muzzle, and discharge the 
 powder into the barrel, drop the flask, take a wad 
 or ball, and place it in the muzzle. 
 
 3. Draw rammer. 4. Ram cartridge. 6. Re- 
 turn rammer. 6. Shoulder arms. All of which 
 will be executed as in loading in eight times. 
 
 Ready. (Kneeling.) 
 
 First Motion. — Turn the left toe a little within. 
 Second Motion. — Carry briskly the right foot 
 
THE RECRUIT. Ill 
 
 about thirty inches to the rear of the left heel, and 
 about six to the right, according to the height of 
 the man, so that the knee coming to the ground, as 
 will be explained in the third motion, shall find 
 itself about ten inches and a half behind the left 
 heel, and about six inches to the right, the knees a 
 little bent, the body erect, and bearing equally on 
 the legs ; bring at the same time the piece with the 
 right hand opposite to the right thigh, the rammer 
 to the front ; seize the piece with the left hand at 
 the tail-band, the hand at the height of the elbow. 
 
 Third Motion. — Bring the right knee to the 
 ground, taking care not to sink abruptly, set the 
 butt of the piece on the ground without shock, so 
 that it may be before the right thigh, the toe of the 
 butt on a line with the left heel ; seize the cock 
 with the right thumb and fore-finger. 
 
 Fourth Motion. — Half-cock, brush off the old 
 cap, prime, and cock the piece. 
 
 AIM. 
 
 Raise the piece with the left hand, and drop the 
 muzzle to the front ; seize the handle with the right 
 hand, and bring up the butt to the right shoulder. 
 
 Recover — Arms. 
 
 Raise the muzzle and place the butt in front of 
 the right thigh, as in the third motion of ready ; if 
 in this position the command is given to shoulder 
 arms (or cease firing), the men will rise, bring the 
 piece to the centre of the body, half-cock, and 
 shoulder arms. 
 
112 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Load. (Kneelijig.) 
 
 Bring the piece with the left hand to the left 
 side, the butt well to the rear, the barrel between 
 the left arm and the body, and held by the left 
 hand, the muzzle as high as the breast, and throe 
 inches in rear of the left knee, load at will, and 
 quickly resume the position of ready. 
 
 Ready. {Lying.) 
 
 To fire and load lying, the recruit will place him- 
 self lying flat on his belly, his feet to the rear ; in 
 this position he will prime, and cock his piece, hold- 
 ing it (with the left hand) diagonally across and 
 under his breast, aim and jire. So soon as he hafl 
 fired, he will take out his cartridge with the right 
 hand, turn upon his back, and throw the piece to 
 the rear, placing the butt between his heels, with 
 the barrel up, and the muzzle raised above a hori- 
 zontal position. During this time he will hold the 
 cartridge, with the utmost care, in the right hand ; 
 he will now tear — cartridge, charge — cartridge, draw 
 — rammer, ram — cartridge, return — rammer, and 
 resume his former position, lying on his belly, and 
 resting on both elbows, again prepared to fire. 
 
 At the command or signal cease firing, in the 
 ying position, the men will rise and shoulder arms ; 
 if the piece is cocked, they will bring it to the 
 centre of the body, lialf-cock and shoulder arms. 
 
SKIRMISHERS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 Light-Infantry and Rifle Company Moyenients. 
 
 Oeneral Principles and Divisions of the fnstrttction 
 
 By the general term skirmishers, will herein be 
 understood any company or body of infantry, 
 whether denominated grenadiers, light-infantry, 
 rifle, or battalion companies, thrown out and ac- 
 tually deployed into open files or loose order. 
 
 The term will only be applied to the companies 
 whilst so extended. The moment that either shall 
 be re-assembled or reformed into closed files, it 
 will take its habitual denomination of grenadiers^ 
 light-infantry, rifles first company, &c. 
 
 The service of skirmishers will habitually be 
 performed by the left flank companies of battalions 
 (light-infantry and rifle). 
 
 Skirmishers will be thrown out to clear the way 
 for, and to cover the movements of the main corps 
 to which they appertain ; accordingly they may De 
 thrown out to the front, to a flank, to the rear, or 
 in the several directions, as may be deemed neces- 
 sary. 
 
 8 
 
114 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 They will render their movements subordinate 
 to those of the main corps, so as constantly to 
 cover it in the direction to which they were thrown. - 
 
 The movements of a body of skirmishers, 
 though made in loose files, require to be systemat- 
 ized, in order to give their commander the means 
 of directing them according to his views, and with 
 the greatest promptitude. 
 
 Nevertheless, it will not be expected that those 
 movements should be made with the same harmony 
 (ensemble) in all their bearings, as if made by 
 closed ranks and files ; because, to attain that ac- 
 curacy, would diminish what is more important in 
 a body of skirmishers — rapidity of execution. 
 
 Every body of skirmishers will always have a 
 reserve, the strength and composition of which will 
 vary according to circumstances. 
 
 If the body thrown out to skirmish, be within 
 sustaining distance of the main corps, it will be 
 sufficient for each company to have, in its rear, a 
 small reserve, generally a third of its strength, 
 destined to re-inforce the line of skirmishers, and 
 to serve them as a rallying point. 
 
 If the main corps be at too great a distance, 
 another reserve will be necessary, composed of an 
 entire company, or it may be of companies, des- 
 tined to sustain and reinforce such parts of the line 
 of skirmishers as may be too hotly attacked. This 
 reserve ought to be strong enough to relieve at 
 least a half of the companies deployed as skir- 
 mishers. 
 
 Reserves ought to be placed behind the centres 
 of the lines of skirmishers — company reserves at 
 about a hundred and forty, and the principal re- 
 
THE RECRUIT. 115 
 
 serve, at about three hundred and seventy paces. 
 This rule, hov^^ever, will not be invariable ; the 
 commander, aUvays holding his reserve within sus- 
 taining distance, will next take care to profit by any 
 accident the ground may present (suf.h as trees, 
 houses, fences, hollows), to put it under cover from 
 the fire of the enemy. 
 
 The movements of skirmishers will generally be 
 made in quick time ; but in circumstances which 
 demand a greater rapidity, double quick time, and 
 even the run will be employed. 
 
 In thf.3 instruction, the double quick march will 
 De at the rate of one hundred and forty steps in 
 the minute : the rate of the run cannot be equally 
 determined. This extreme swiftness will be re- 
 served for cases of absolute necessity, in order not 
 uselessly to fatigue the men, and to preserve their 
 strength for circumstances in which success may 
 principally depend on rapidity of movement. 
 
 In all the movements, skirmishers (that is men, 
 in open files), will habitually carry their pieces as 
 light-infantry, taking care to avoid accidents. 
 
 Whenever the company is put in motion in 
 double quick time, or when double quick time is to 
 be assumed on the march, the men will understand 
 that they are to trail arms. 
 
 The movements of skirmishers will be executed, 
 as far as possible, by the voice of the commander ; 
 but when the line shall be too extended for his 
 voice to be heard, he will substitute the sounds of 
 the bugle or beats of the drum. 
 
 Other conventional signs may, for particular 
 cases (as the want of both drum and bugle), be 
 adopted to express the same commands : as the 
 
116 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Bword held at arm's length above the head, to the 
 right, left, front, or rear, without, or witli the cap 
 in the other hand ; without, or with a kerchief at- 
 tached to the point of the sword. 
 
 Officers, and, in cases of need, sergeants, will 
 cause each command to be executed as soon as it 
 shall be heard or seen ; but when announced by- 
 means of the bugle or drum, to avoid mistake, they 
 will wait till the signal is ended, and then com- 
 mence the movement. 
 
 ^ This instruction will be divided into four articles, 
 and subdivided as follows : 
 
 Article 1. 
 1st. To deploy, forward. 
 2d. To deploy, by the flank. 
 3d. To extend intervals. 
 4th. To close intervals. 
 5th. To relieve skirmishers. 
 
 Article 2. 
 1st. To advajice in line. 
 2d. To retreat in Hne. 
 3d. To march by the flank. 
 
 Article 3. 
 Ist. To fire, at a halt. 
 2d. To fire marching. 
 
 Article 4. 
 1st To rally. 
 2d. The assembly. 
 
 In the above four articles it is supposed that the 
 
THE RECRUIT. 117 
 
 movements are executed by a company, deployed 
 as skirmishers, on a front equal to that of a batta- 
 lion in the order in battle. 
 
 DEPLOYMENTS. 
 
 A company may be deployed, as skirmishers, in 
 two ways : forward and by the flank. 
 
 The deployment forward, will be adopted when 
 the company is behind the line on which it is to be 
 established as skirmishers ; it will deploy by the 
 flank, when it finds itself already on that line. 
 
 If the company be in two ranks only, it will be 
 divided into three platoons ; the right and left, de- 
 nominated, respectively, ^rsi and second platoons, 
 will form the line of skirmishers ; the centre pla- 
 toon the reserve. 
 
 A company may be deployed, as skirmishers, on 
 its left, on its right, or on its centre files ; in this 
 manner the skirmishers may be thrown out upon 
 the line that they are to occupy with the greatest 
 promptitude. 
 
 A line of skirmishers ought, as far as possible, 
 to be aligned ; but to obtain this regularity, advan- 
 tages which the ground may present for covering 
 the men, ought not to be neglected. 
 
 The intervals between files of skirmishers de- 
 pend on the extent of ground to be covered ; but 
 the fire will be too much scattered if the intervals 
 exceed ten, or, at most, fifteen paces. 
 
 The front to be occupied to cover a battalion, 
 comprehends the front of the battalion, and half of 
 each interval on the right and left of the battalion. 
 
118 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 7. To Deploy Forward, 
 
 . The company being at a halt, to deploy it for- 
 ward on the left file, the captain, previously to 
 giving the order, indicates to the left guide the 
 
 Soint tovi^ards which he will direct himself, and 
 aving cautioned the centre platoon that it will 
 form the reserve, he will command : 
 
 1. Deploy as Skirmishers. 2. On the Left File, 
 
 at ten (or ) paces, take intervals. 3. Quick 
 
 (or double quick) — March. 
 
 At the first command, the first and second lieu- 
 tenants will throw themselves respectively on the 
 right and left flanks of the company ; the third 
 sergeant will place himself two paces in front of 
 the centre of the company, to move forward on a 
 line with the skirmishers between the platoons; 
 the third lieutenant takes command of the centre 
 platoon, two paces behind the centre of the file- 
 closers, and cautions it to stand fast. 
 
 At the command march, the first and second 
 platoons will put themselves in movement ; the left 
 file, conducted by the left guide, will direct its 
 march towards the indicated point ; the other files, 
 throwing forward the left shoulder, will advance 
 in double-quick time, or in a run (according as the 
 order may have indicated quick or double-quick 
 march), diagonally to the front and the right, in 
 order to gain to the right the space of ten paces, 
 which ought to separate each file from that next 
 on its left ; when the second file, counting from 
 the left, shall arrive abreast with the first, it will 
 
THE RECRUIT. 119 
 
 conform itseli to the direction of the latter, take 
 the quick step, hold itself steadily at ten paces 
 from the first, and on the same alignment ; the 
 third file, and all the others towards the right, as 
 they successively arrive on the alignment, will 
 conform themselves to what has just been pre- 
 scribed for the second ; the right guide will arrive 
 with the right file. The first and second lieuten- 
 ants, at the commencement, will throw themselves 
 behind the centres of the right and left platoons 
 respectively, and direct their movements. 
 
 The left guide, having arrived at the point where 
 the left of the line is to rest, the captain will halt 
 the skirmishers ; each rear-rank man will imme- 
 diately place himself two paces on the left of his 
 file-leader ; the files which may not be in line will 
 promptly come into it, taking the prescribed inter- 
 vals, and aligning themselves by the left. 
 
 The line being formed, the first and second ser- 
 geants will throw themselves ten paces behind the 
 first two files of the right and left respectively, 
 and the third sergeant at a like distance behind 
 the centre of the line. 
 
 The first and second lieutenants will promptly 
 rectify any irregularity that may have been com- 
 mitted in taking intervals ; they will then throw 
 themselves twenty or thirty paces behind the cen- 
 tres of their respective platoons. Each of these 
 officers will have with him two men taken from 
 his platoon before the commencement of the move- 
 ment. 
 
 The fourth and fifth sergeants, and the second 
 bugler, or drummer, will remain with the reser\'e ; 
 
120 THE RECKUIT. 
 
 the fourth sergeant will be posted on its left flank ; 
 and the lifth sergeant as file-closer. 
 
 These dispositions being made, the third lieute- 
 nant will march the reserve, by the shortest line, 
 to about one hundred and forty paces behind tlie 
 centre of the line of skirmishers, halt, face it to the 
 front, and maintain it steadily at that distance ; the 
 reserve will conform itself to all the movements of 
 the line. 
 
 The captain will give a general superintendence 
 to the whole deployment, and then throw himself 
 to the distance of about seventy paces from the 
 rear of the line ; he will take with him the first 
 bugler, or drummer, and two or three men from 
 the reserve. 
 
 The deployment may be made on the right, or 
 centre of the company, according to the same 
 principles and by the same commands, substituting 
 the indication right file, or centre file,, for that of 
 left file ; if on the centre file, the right file of the 
 second platoon will close upon the third sergeant 
 in marching. All the other files to the right and 
 left, will take their intervals from the centre. 
 
 On whatever file, the right, left, or centre, the 
 deployment may be made, the rear-rank men place 
 themselves to the left of their respective file-leaders 
 at the moment of forming the line. 
 
 2. To Deploy by the, Flank. 
 
 The company being at a halt, to cause it to de- 
 ploy by the flank on the left file, the captain will 
 mdicate to the right guide the point on which to 
 direct himself, aiKl command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 121 
 
 1. Deploy as Skirmisliers. 2. By the right Jlankf 
 
 at ten (or ) paces , take intervals. 3. Quick 
 
 (or double-quick) — March. 
 
 At the first command, the first and second lieu- 
 tenants, as also the third sergeant, will conform 
 themselves to what is prescribed in the preceding 
 case ; the third lieutenant, placing himself in rear 
 of the centre platoon, will take command of it. 
 
 At the second command, the first and third pla- 
 toons will face to the right ; the left file will stand 
 fast; the first and second lieutenants will each 
 place himself by the left file of his platoon ; the 
 right guide will place himself on the left of the 
 right file, to conduct it ; the third lieutenant will 
 cause the centre platoon to face about, and instantly 
 march it upon the point which it ought to occupy 
 as the reserve ; the moment it arrives at that point 
 he will halt and face it to the skirmishers. 
 
 At the command march, which will be given the 
 instant the centre platoon shall have cleared the 
 line of the company, the first platoon will stand 
 fast until joined by the second, when the lieutenant 
 of the first will command: 1. (Such) Platoon, 
 Fonvard. 2. Quick (or double-quick) — March. 
 In the mean time the second platoon commences 
 the movement; the left file will stand fast; the 
 next file will halt at the distance of ten paces from 
 the first, the third at the same distance from the 
 second, and so on to the right file of the first pla- 
 toon. As each file halts in succession, it will face 
 to the enemy, and each rear-rank man will place 
 himself at two paces on the left of his file-leader. 
 
 The first and second lieutenants following the 
 
122 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 movement from left to right, will, each in his pla- 
 toon, observe the successive halts and placings of 
 the files, and promptly rectify any error that may 
 be committed. The deployment ended, the two 
 lieutenants will throw themselves to the rear, and 
 conform to what is prescribed in deploying for- 
 ward. 
 
 The captain will conform himself to what is 
 prescribed in deploying forward. 
 
 The deployment on the right file of the company 
 will be executed on the same principles, substitut- 
 ing, in the second command, left, for right flank. 
 
 To deploy the company by the flanks on the 
 centre or other interior file (that is, by both flanks 
 at once), the captain will indicate to the two guides 
 the direction in which each ought to march ; the 
 third lieutenant will cause the centre platoon to 
 face about and march towards its position as the 
 reserve. 
 
 The captain will then close the interval between 
 the remaining platoons, and command : 
 
 1. Deploy as Skirmishers. 2. By the RiglU and 
 
 Left Flanks, on the Centre, at ten (or ) 
 
 paces, take intervals. 3. Quick (or double-quick) 
 — March. 
 
 The right file of the second platoon will stand 
 fast ; the first platoon will face to the right, and 
 ihe second to the left ; the right guide will place 
 himself by the side of the right file to conduct it, 
 the left guide by the side of the left file for a like 
 purpose. 
 
 At the command march, the two platoons will 
 
THE RECRinT. 123 
 
 march in opposite directions ; the file next on the 
 right, and the file next on the left of the centre, or 
 directing file, will each halt at ten paces from this 
 file, and all the other files will halt, each at the 
 same distance, counting from the file next in its 
 rear. 
 
 The officers will conform themselves to what is 
 prescribed in the preceding cases. 
 
 The captain may designate, as the directing file, 
 any interior file other than that on the right of the 
 second platoon ; in which case, the third sergeant 
 will place himself on the right of the designated 
 file, and the deployment will be executed according 
 to the principles which have been jusc prescribed. 
 
 3. To Extend Intervals, 
 
 The line of skirmishers being at a halt, to cause 
 it to extend to the left ; the captain will command : 
 
 1. By the Left Flank, five (or ) paces, extend 
 
 intervals, 2, Quick (or double-quick) — March. 
 
 The number of paces designated will be under- 
 stood as so many paces in addition to the then 
 intervals. The right file will stand fast ; all the 
 others will face to the left, and extend the pre- 
 scribed number of paces by the means indicated in 
 the deployment by a flank. 
 
 If the line be in march by the front, to cause it 
 to extend to the right, the captain will command : 
 
124 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 1. On the Left File, jive (or ) paces, extend 
 
 intervals. 2. Quick (or double-quick) — March. 
 
 The left file will continue to march on the point 
 of direction : all the other files will extend by the 
 means indicated in the deployment forward. 
 
 Intervals may be extended on the centre, accord- 
 ing to the same principles. 
 
 If, in extending intervals, the object be to make 
 one company occupy a line as skirmishers, which 
 had been occupied by two, the files of the retiring 
 company will throw themselves successively to the 
 rear, and form company in close order, in proportion 
 as they shall be replaced on the line. 
 
 4. To Close Intervals. 
 
 This movement, like that of extending intervals, 
 will be executed according to the principles pre- 
 scribed for deployments. The number of paces 
 indicated in the first command, throughout, will 
 denote so many paces less than the then intervals. 
 
 If the line of skirmishers be at a halt, to close 
 on the left, the captain will command : 
 
 1. By the Left Flank, five (or ) faces, close 
 
 intervals. 2. Quick (or double-quick) — March. 
 
 The left file will stand fast ; the other files will 
 face to the left, close on the directing file the num- 
 ber of paces prescribed, and face to the right as 
 each halts. 
 
 If the line be in march by the front, the captain 
 will command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 12fi 
 
 1. On the Left File, Jive (or ) paces, close 
 
 intervals. 2. Quick (or douhle-quick) — March. 
 
 The left file will continue to march on the point 
 of direction previously indicated; the other files 
 will each throw forward the right shoulder, assume 
 the double-quick step or run (according as the 
 command may have been quick or double-quick 
 march), and incline to the left till its interval be 
 reduced the prescribed number of paces. 
 
 Intervals will be closed on the right or centre 
 file, according to the same principles. 
 
 When intervals are reduced, in order to receive 
 a reinforcement of skirmishers, that is, for example, 
 to cover the same extent of ground with two com- 
 panies, which had been covered by one, the new 
 company will be so deployed as to finish the move- 
 ment at about twenty paces behind the line which 
 it will have to occupy, and its files will succes- 
 sively throw themselves on that line in proportion 
 as they shall be unmasked by the files of the old 
 company. The reserves of the two companies will 
 unite behind the centre of the line. 
 
 6tli. To Relieve a Company Deployed as Skir- 
 mishers. 
 
 When a company, so deployed, is to be relieved, 
 the captain will be advised of the intention, and 
 he will communicate it to the first and second lieu- 
 tenants. 
 
 The new company will execute its deployment 
 forward, so as to finish the movement at about 
 twenty paces in rear of the line. 
 
126 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 Arrived at this distance, the files of the new 
 company, by command of their captain, will throw 
 themselves a few paces beyond the old line, and 
 halt ; the new line being established, the old com- 
 pany will assemble (form) on its reserve. 
 
 If the skirmishers to be relieved are marching 
 in retreat, the company thrown out to relieve them 
 will deploy by the flank as prescribed above, in 
 deployment by the flank. The old skirmishers 
 will continue to retire with order, and, after hav- 
 ing passed the new line, they will form on their 
 
 OF THE MARCH. 
 
 To March in Advance and in Retreat. 
 
 When a company, deployed as skirmishers, 
 marches by the front (in line), the guide will be 
 habitually in the centre ; no particular indication 
 to this effect need be given in the commands ; but 
 if it be intended that the directing guide should be 
 on the right or left, the command march will be 
 preceded by that of guide left or guide right. 
 
 To cause the line of skirmishers to advance, the 
 captain will command : 
 
 1. Skirmishers, Forward. 2. Quu:k (or double 
 quick) — March. 
 
 These commands will be repeated with the 
 greatest rapidity by the first and second lieuten- 
 ants, and, in case of need, by the sergeants. This 
 
THE RECRUIT. 127 
 
 rule is general^ whether the skirmishers march by 
 the front or by the flank. 
 
 At the first command, the three sergeants will 
 throw themselves on the line, the fir-st on the right, 
 the second on the left, and the third in the centre. 
 
 The third lieutenant will command : 1 . Platoon, 
 Forward; 2. Guide Left. 
 
 At the command march., the line and the reseiTe 
 will step off; the guide charged with the direction 
 will march on the point indicated to him ; the skir- 
 mishers will hold themselves aligned on this guide, 
 and preserve their intervals towards him. 
 
 The first and second lieutenants will each di- 
 rect the movement of his platoon, holding himself 
 habitually behind its centre. 
 
 The captain will give a general superintendence 
 to the movement. 
 
 To halt the skirmishers, the captain will com- 
 mand : 
 
 1. Skirmishers. 2. IIalt. 
 
 At the second command, the line and the reserve 
 will halt ; the first and second lieutenants will, if 
 necessary, promptly rectify the alignment and in- 
 tervals, and then take their places in line of battlcj 
 as will, also, the three sergeants. 
 
 To march the skirmishers in retreat, the captain 
 will command : 
 
 I. Skirmishers, in Retreat 2. Quick (or double 
 quick) — ^March. 
 
 At the first command, the reserve and the skir- 
 
128 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 mishers will face about ; the skirmishers individ- 
 ually, the reserve by the command of the third 
 lieutenant, and the three sergeants will throw 
 themselves on the line. as prescribed in marching 
 in advance. 
 
 At the command marc\ the skirmishers and 
 the reserve will step off in conformity with what 
 is prescribed in the march in advance ; the officers 
 and sergeants will give their utmost attention to 
 the maintenance of order. 
 
 The third lieutenant, placed behind the front rank 
 (become rear) of the reserve, will carefully main- 
 tain this platoon nearly opposite to the centre of 
 the line, and at the prescribed distance. 
 
 To halt the skirmishers, marching in retreat, the 
 captain will command : 
 
 1. Skirmishers. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the second command, the skirmishers and 
 reserve will halt, and face about to the front, the 
 skirmishers, individually, the reserve, by command 
 of the third lieutenant. 
 
 The first and second lieutenants, and the first 
 three sergeants, will each conform himself to what 
 is prescribed for him in the march in advance. 
 
 To March by the Flaiik. 
 
 To cause the skirmishers to march by the flank, 
 the captain will command : 
 
 1. Skirmishers, hy the Right Flank. 2. Quick (or 
 double quick) — ^March. 
 
 At the first command, the skirmishers will face 
 
THE RECRUIT. 129 
 
 to the right ; the right guide will throw himself tc 
 the side of the leading man, to conduct him ; the 
 reserve will also face to the right by the command 
 of the third lieutenant. 
 
 At the command march, the skirmishers and the 
 reserve will put themselves in march ; the right 
 guide will direct himself on the point which will 
 have been indicated to him ; each skirmisher will 
 take care to follow in the trace of the one imnve- 
 diatel}^ preceding, and to preserve, exactly, his dis- 
 tance. 
 
 The lino of skirmishers will march by the left 
 flank according to the same principles and by the 
 same commands, substituting the indication left for 
 that of right in the first command ; the left guide 
 will throw himself to the side of the leading man, 
 to conduct him. 
 
 The skirmishers marching by the flank, to cause 
 them to halt, the captain will command : 
 
 1. Skirmishers. 2. Halt. 
 
 At the second command, the skirmishers and tlie 
 reserve will halt and face to the enemy. 
 
 The ofiicers and sergeants will conform them- 
 selves to what is prescribed at the command halt, 
 marching in advance. 
 
 OF THE FIRES, 
 
 Skirmishers will fire at a halt, and in marching ; 
 in both cases they will observe the method about 
 to be indicated. 
 
 The fire will be given alternately by the two men 
 9 
 
130 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 of the same file, who will so arrange it between 
 them, that the one or other shall always have his 
 piece loaded ; to this end, the front-rank man will 
 fire and reload ; the rear-rank man will withhold 
 his fire until the first shall have rammed ; the 
 second, in his turn, will wait in like manner for 
 the first, and so on in continuation. 
 
 1st. To Fire at a Halt. 
 
 To cause this fire to be executed, the captain 
 will command : 
 
 Commence Firing. 
 
 This will be executed according to the rules just 
 prescribed ; the men will not remain in the same 
 place whilst reloading, unless covered by some 
 chance object on the ground. 
 
 2d. To Fire, Marching. 
 
 This fire, like that of a halt, will be executed 
 by the command : commence firing. 
 
 At this, if the line be advancing, the front-rank 
 man of every file will halt, fire, and reload, before 
 throwing himself forward ; the rear-rank man, of 
 the same file, will continue to march eight or ten 
 paces beyond the first, halt, fire, and reload, in the 
 manner prescribed above; the front-rank man, 
 liaving reloaded, will throw himself forward a like 
 distance beyond his rear-rank man, and fire again, 
 conforming himself to what has just been pre* 
 Bcribe<l, and so on in continuation. 
 
THE llErRUIT. 131 
 
 If the line be marcliing in retreat, the front-rank 
 man of every file will halt, face about, fire, and 
 then reload whilst throwing himself to the rear: 
 the rear-rank man, of the same file, will continue 
 to march, halt at eight or ten paces beyond the 
 front-rank man, face about, fire, and then observe 
 what is just prescribed for his front-rank man : 
 the latter will, when at the same distance in rear 
 of his rear-rank man, halt again, face about, finish 
 loading, fire, and then do as he had done before, 
 and thus the alternate fire by the men of the same 
 file will be continued. 
 
 If the company be in march by the right flank, 
 the front-rank man of every file will face to the 
 enemy, step one pace forward, halt, fire, and throw 
 himself behind his rear-rank man, who had been 
 next behind him, reloading as he marches : as 
 soon as this second man, who has continued to 
 march, shall judge that the first has rammed, he 
 will, in his turn, face to the enemy, step one pace 
 forward, halt, fire, and throw himself behind his 
 front-rank man, reloading as he marches, and thus 
 the fire will be continued. 
 
 If the company be in march by the left flank, 
 the fire will be executed in the same manner ; but 
 it will be the rear-rank man (the leader) who will 
 file first. 
 
 In executing this fire, the files will carefully 
 avoid mingling with each other ; consequently, the 
 man who has continued to march, will never pass 
 a man, of another file, who is at a halt for the pur- 
 pose of firing. 
 
 Skirmishers will be habituated to load their 
 pieces whilst marching ; but they will be enjoined 
 
132 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 always to halt an instant when in the act of prim- 
 ing, and of charging cartridge. 
 
 They will also be exercised in loading and firing, 
 kneeling and lying, in the manner prescribed in 
 the light-infantry exercise. 
 
 Skirmishers will be taught to take advantage of 
 any chance object the ground may present, to cover 
 themselves from the enemy's fire, and also to judge 
 distances with accuracy, in order to fire with eflTect. 
 
 In commencing the fire, officers will see that all 
 the files do not fire at once, but follow out the prin- 
 ciple established (in succession). Officers will 
 also see that the men of the same file observe the 
 prescribed alternation. 
 
 Marching in retreat, the commander of skirmish- 
 ers will take advantage of any chance object the 
 ground may present, to arrest the march of the 
 enemy as long as possible. 
 
 The fire of skirmishers will be stopped by the 
 sound or beat indicated for that purpose ; at this 
 signal, the men will cease firing, and those who 
 have not reloaded, will load. If the line be in 
 march, it will continue the movement ; and of the 
 two men of the same file, the one in front will 
 wait till the other shall be abreast with him. 
 
 Rallying and Assembling. 
 
 A company, deployed as skirmishers, rallies to 
 resist cavalry ; it assemhleSy under other circum- 
 stances. 
 
 1st. To Rally, 
 
 To rally the skirmishers on the reserve, the 
 captain will command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 133 
 
 Rally on the Reserve, 
 
 This being given, the captain will throw himself 
 on the reserve ; the third lieutenant will begin the 
 formation of the circle, by throwing back a little 
 tlie two flanks of the reserve. 
 
 The skirmishers running in, will form themselves 
 as they successively join the reserve, on its right 
 and letl, in two ranks, without regard to height, 
 face outwards, and complete the circle. 
 
 The officers and sergeants will direct the execu- 
 tion of the movement, and then place themselves 
 within the circle. 
 
 These dispositions being made, the captain will 
 profit by any interval of time the cavalry may allow 
 him for putting himself in safety against its attacks, 
 either by rejoining his battalion, or by gaining some 
 advantageous position : to this end, he will reduce 
 the circle, and re-form the company into column 
 by platoon, and in two platoons ; he will march in 
 this order, by the front or rear rank ; and if threat- 
 ened anew by the cavalry, lie will halt and again 
 form circle, by throwing back the right and left 
 files of the two platoons : the second platoon, if not 
 already faced by the rear rank, will first be so 
 faced, and the other platoon by the front rank. 
 
 The company being formed into circle, to deploy 
 it as skirmishers, the captain will command : 
 
 Reduce — Circle. 
 
 At this command, the officers and sergeants will 
 pass out ; the third lieutenant will align the reserve 
 on its centre ; the first and second lieutenants will 
 
134 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 ro-form their platoons on the right and left of the 
 reserve ; which being executed, the company will 
 be deployed by one ot the means already indicated. 
 
 If the suddenness of the danger leave not time 
 to rally the skirmishers on the reserve, the rally 
 will be made by platoon ; the first and second lieu- 
 tenants will each rally his platoon on the ground 
 the most advantageous behind the line of skir- 
 mishers. 
 
 Pending this movement, the captain will throw 
 himself on the reserve, and so dispose it as to 
 protect the rallying of the platoons and to resist 
 the cavalry. 
 
 The platoons being rallied, they will promptly 
 rejoin the reserve. 
 
 2. To Rally on the Battalion. 
 
 The company being deployed as skirmishers, 
 when the captain shall find it necessary to rally on 
 the battalion, he will command : 
 
 Rally on the Battalion. 
 
 At this, the skirmishers of each platoon and the 
 reserve will unmask the front of the battalion, 
 directing themselves, in a run, towards its nearest 
 flank, and then form in its rear. 
 
 The company being formed, it will place itself 
 for the time, whatever be its designation or num- 
 ber, on the left or right of the battalion, according 
 as it may belong to the left or right wing, and if 
 not a flank company, it will not resume its proper 
 place in line of battle, except by order of tlie 
 oolouel. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 135 
 
 3. To Assemble on the Reserve. 
 
 To assemble a company, deployed as skirmishers, 
 the captain will command : 
 
 Assemble on the Reserve, 
 
 At this, the reserve will be formed in the precise 
 order in which it stood before the deployment ; the 
 skirmishers will assemble upon it, and each resume 
 his place in his previous rank and file. The com- 
 pany being re-formed, will rejoin the battalion. 
 
 Two companies deployed as skirmishers, their 
 reserves will unite, and the skirmishers will rally 
 in square on their reserve ; the reserve will form 
 the first front of the square ; the skirmishers, who 
 rally first, will form the lateral fronts, and the other 
 files the fourth front. 
 
STREET FIRING. 
 
 Street firing is the method of firing adapted to 
 defend or clear a street, lane, or narrow pass, in 
 the execution of which the company or platoon 
 must be formed according to the width of the place, 
 leaving sufficient space on the flanks for the pla- 
 toons to file successively to the rear. 
 
 When the column has arrived at the place where 
 the firing is to commence, the commanding oflficer 
 will command, — Column, Halt — Prepare for Street- 
 Firing. At this command, all the captains will 
 pass by the right flank to the rear of their compa- 
 nies, covering the centre. The colonel next com- 
 mands — Commence Firing. The captoin of the 
 first company will promptly command — First Com- 
 pany — Ready — Aim — Fire — Recover Arms — Out- 
 ward Face — Quick March. 
 
 The first platoon faces to the right, the second 
 to the left; the first platoon conducted by the, cap- 
 tain, the second by the first lieutenant, will file 
 right and left around the flanks towards the rear, 
 halt on the flanks opposite the centre of the col- 
 umn, re-load, and as soon as the rear of the column 
 has passed the platoons, the captain will command, 
 — Platoons — Right and Left Face — Marcli. At 
 which command, the first platoon faces to the left, 
 and files left, the second to the right, and files right, 
 
THE RECKUIT. 137 
 
 and unite in rear of the column. At the instant 
 the men of the first company recover their arms 
 after firing-, the captain of the second will order 
 such company — Ready — and wait in that position 
 until the front is cleared by the first company, when 
 the captain will cause it to advance twice its front, 
 (followed by all the companies in rear,) and fire ; 
 file down the flanks in the same order as prescribed 
 for the first company. 
 
 Firing in Retreat is conducted on the same prin- 
 ciples as on the advance, except that the companies 
 fire without advancing, on the front being cleared 
 by the former company ; and instead of halting on 
 the flanks, the platoons will pass immediately to 
 the rear of the column, form and re-load. The 
 eame principle will be observed in column of pla- 
 toons as in column of company. 
 
 If a column by company find itself in a narrow 
 street or pass, or in any position without cover for 
 either flank or rear, and is suddenly menaced at 
 different points, the colonel will cause it to form 
 square, notwithstanding the general principle, that 
 a column by company with a view to the square, 
 will first form divisions ; the colonel will close the 
 column to half, or platoon distance ; the file closers 
 of the last company will throw themselves two 
 paces before the front rank, and face towards the 
 head of the column. 
 
 These dispositions being made, the colonel will 
 command — Right and left, into line, wheel, quick 
 — march ! At this briskly repeated, the leading com- 
 pany will stand fiist, the second, third, fourth, fifth, 
 sixth, and seventh and eighth companies will wheel 
 
138 THE RECRUIT, 
 
 by platoons, right and left, into line, the right pla- 
 toons to the right, and the left to the left ; the last 
 company will close up to form the square, and 
 when it shall have closed, its chief will halt it, face 
 it about, and align it by the rear rank; the right 
 tile of tlie first company will face to the right, and 
 its left file to the left, and the outer files on each 
 flank of the last company will face outward. The 
 square being formed, the colonel will command, 
 " Guides Posts ;" at this, the field and staff, and cap- 
 tains of the first and last companies will enter the 
 square. 
 
DUTIES IN GARRISON AND CAMP. 
 
 The Reveille is to sound or beat at day-break, 
 and is the signal for the men to rise, and the sen- 
 tinels to leave off challenging. 
 
 The Troop is to sound or beat at — o'clock in 
 the morning, for the purpose of assembling the 
 men for duty and inspection at guard-mounting. 
 
 The Retreat is to sound or beat at sunset, for 
 the purpose of warning the officers and men for 
 duty, and reading the orders of the day. 
 
 The Tattoo is to beat at — o'clock in the evening, 
 after which no soldier is to be out of his tent or 
 quarters. 
 
 Peas-upon-a-Trencher, the signal for breakfast, 
 is to sound or beat at — o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Roast-Beef, the signal for dinner, is to sound or 
 beat at — o'clock ; at other times, it is the signal 
 to draw provisions. 
 
 The Surgeon's Call is to sound or beat at — 
 o'clock, when the sick, able to go out, will be con- 
 ducted to the hospital by the first sergeant, who 
 will hand to the surgeon a report of all the sick in 
 the company, other than those in hospital. 
 
 The General is to beat only when the whole is 
 to march, and is the signal to strike the tents, and 
 prepare for the march. 
 
140 THE EECKUIT. 
 
 The Assembly is the signal to form by company. 
 
 The March, for the whole to move. 
 
 The Long-Roll is the signal for getting under 
 arms, in case of alarm, or the sudden approach of 
 the enemy. 
 
 The Farley is to desire a conference with the 
 enemy. 
 
 RELIEVING GUARDS. 
 
 The guards in camp or garrison will be relieved 
 every twenty-four hours. The guards at the out- 
 posts will ordinarily be relieved in the same man- 
 ner, but this must depend on their distances from 
 camp, or other circumstances, which may some- 
 times require their continuing on duty several days. 
 In such cases, they must be previously notified to 
 provide themselves accordingly. 
 
 RELIEVING SENTINELS. 
 
 The first relief having been designated, and or- 
 dered two paces to the front, the Corporal of the 
 new guard will take charge of it, and go to relieve 
 the sentinels, accompanied by the Corporal of the 
 old guard, who will take command of the old sen- 
 tinels, when the whole are relieved. 
 
 The relief, with arms at a support, in two ranks 
 will march by a flank, conducted by the Corporal 
 on the side of the leading front-rank man ; and the 
 men will be numbered alternately in the front and 
 rear rank, the man on the right of the front rank 
 being No. 1. Should an officer approach, the Cor- 
 poral will command, cai'ry arms, and resume the 
 support arms when the officer is passed. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 141 
 
 The sentinels at the guard-house, or guard-tent, 
 will be the lirst relieved, and left behind ; the one 
 most distant will be the next relieved, and the 
 others in succession, as the relief returns to the 
 guard. 
 
 When the sentinel sees the relief approaching, 
 he will halt and face to it, with his piece at a 
 shoulder. At six paces the Corporal will command, 
 Relief— IIa-lt ; when the relief will halt, and carry- 
 arms. The Corporal will then add, " No. 1 ," or 
 " No. 2," or " No. 3," according to the number of 
 the post and sentinel. Arms — Port. At this word, 
 the two sentinels will, with arms port, approach 
 each other, when the old sentinel, under the direc- 
 tion of the Corporal, and in his hearing, will whis- 
 per the instructions to the new sentinel. This 
 done, the two sentinels will shoulder arms, and the 
 old sentinel will pass in quick time to his place in 
 rear of the relief. The Corporal will then com- 
 mand : Relief, Support — Arms. Forward — March. 
 And the relief proceeds in the same manner until 
 the whole are relieved. 
 
 A relief is always to be marched in the greatest 
 order, at support arms, and the Corporals will be 
 answerable that the sentinels, when relieving, per- 
 form their motions with spirit and exactness. 
 
 Sentinels will be relieved every two hours, un- 
 'ess the state of the weather, or other causes, should 
 make it proper or necessary to be done at shorter 
 or longer intervals. 
 
 Orders or instructions to sentinels will be given 
 in the most distinct manner, and they will be held 
 strictly accountable that all rules or regulations 
 depending upon their vigilance and attention be 
 
142 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 piinctually observed, or that breaches of them be 
 immediately reported. 
 
 Sentinels will be permitted to carry their arms 
 at support, or on either shoulder ; and not near an 
 enemy, or when in garrison, may from time to time 
 stand at ordered arms ; but in such cases they will 
 observe everything within their limits. 
 
 Habitually, the sentinel will walk to and fro. 
 
 For a sentinel to quit his post without leave, is 
 one of the most serious military offences ; and it 
 is also forbidden to any sentinel to hold a conver- 
 sation with any person, when not made necessary 
 for the proper discharge of his duty. 
 
 Sentinels will not allow themselves to be relieved 
 except by an officer or non-commissioned officer of 
 their guard or party ; nor will they receive orders 
 from any other than such persons, or the com- 
 manding officer, or officer of the day, which orders 
 will be immediately notified to the commander of 
 the guard, by the officer giving them. 
 
 All persons, whatever may be their rank in the 
 service, are required to observe tlie greatest re- 
 spect towards sentinels; and no officer or other 
 persons shall make use of any opprobrious terms 
 towards a soldier on his post, or attempt to mal- 
 treat him in any manner, under pain of being 
 punished for a breach of discipline. 
 
 Sentinels will present arms to general and field 
 officers, to the officer of the day, and to tlie com 
 manding officer of the post. 
 
 When a sentinel, being at ordered arms, sees an 
 officer approaching, he will stand at attention^ and 
 IS the officer passes, will salute him by bringing 
 
THE RECRUIT. 143 
 
 the left hand briskly to the musket, as high as the 
 right shoulder. 
 
 During the day, the sentinels on the outposts 
 must stop every party of men, whether armed or 
 not, until they have been examined by the officer 
 of the guard. 
 
 No sentinel will be posted so distant as not to 
 be heard by the guard, either directly or through 
 other sentinels. 
 
 A sentinel must take the greatest care not to be 
 surprised. He must keep liimself on the alert, 
 observing everything that takes place within sight 
 or hearing. He must never quit his arms, but 
 move about briskly and without speaking. He 
 must, in case of disorder, call out, the guard ; and 
 if a fire take place, he must cry. Fire ! adding the 
 number of his post. If in either case the danger 
 be great, he must discharge his piece before calling 
 out. 
 
 A sentinel, placed over the colors or arms, must 
 suffer no person to touch them, except by order of 
 some officer, or a non-commissioned officer of the 
 guard. If placed over prisoners, he must suffer no 
 person except an officer, or a non-commissioned 
 officer of his guard, to converse with them, nor 
 must he permit tlie prisoners to leave their places 
 of confinement. 
 
 The sentinel at the guard-house, or guard-tent, 
 when he sees any body of troops, or an officer en- 
 titled to compliment, approach, must call, Turn 
 out the Guard ! 
 
 The officer of the guard must see that the coun- 
 tersign is duly communicated to the sentinels a 
 little before twilight ; to enable him to do which, 
 
144 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 he must be furnished, by the officer of the day, 
 with the parole and countersign before retreat. 
 
 Immediately after receiving the countersign, and 
 until reveille, the sentinels must challenge all who 
 approach them. No sentinel must suffer any per- 
 son to advance nearer than the point of his bayonet, 
 until he has received the countersign, placing 
 himself in the position of arms port for that 
 purpose. 
 
 A sentinel, in challenging, will call out : Who 
 comes there ? If answered, Friend, with the coun- 
 tersign, he will reply. Advance, friend, with the 
 countersign I If answered. Relief, patrol, or grand 
 rounds! he will reply. Halt! Advance, Sergeant 
 (or Corporal), and give the countersign ! and satisfy 
 himself that the party is what it represents itself to 
 be. If he have no authority to pass persons with 
 the countersign, or if the persons have not the 
 countersign, he will cause them to stand, and call, 
 Corporal of the Guard! 
 
 In case one of the guard desert, the officer must 
 immediately change the countersign, and send no- 
 tice thereof to the officer of the day, who is to 
 communicate the same to the other guards and to 
 head-quarters. 
 
 Though the regulations dispense with guards 
 turning out as a matter of compliment, after sunset, 
 yet sentinels will, when officers in uniform ap- 
 proach their posts, pay them proper attention, by 
 facing to their proper front, and stand steady, at 
 shouldered arms. This will be observed until the 
 evening is so far advanced that the sentinels begin 
 challenging. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 14$ 
 
 TO RECEIVE THE OFFICER OF THE DAY, BY THE 
 GUARD. 
 
 Wlien the sentry before the guard perceives the 
 officer of the day approach, he will call, " Turn out 
 the guard, officer of the day ;" when the guard will 
 be paraded, and salute him with presented arms. 
 
 When the officer of the day approaches the sen- 
 try, before the guard at night, the latter will chal- 
 lenge : " Who comes there V^ and the first will 
 answer, " Officer of the day" The sentry will re- 
 ply, " Stand ! Turn out the guard, officer of tJie 
 day." The guard will be paraded, and the com- 
 mander of it will durect a Sergeant to advance, w^ho 
 will say, " Advance, officer of the day, with the courir 
 tersign." The officer of the day will give the 
 countersign, when the Sergeant, turning to the 
 officer of the guard, says, " The countersign is 
 right." The officer of the guard will then say, 
 " Advance, officer of the day." He may also de- 
 mand the parole, if he thinks necessary. The 
 guard will stand at shouldered arms. 
 
 The officer of the day will examine the guard ; 
 see that they are vigilant ; that none are absent ; 
 and that their arms and accoutrements are in or- 
 der ; that the officers and non-commissioned officers 
 are acquainted with their duty ; and that the sen- 
 tinels are properly posted, and have received proper' 
 orders. 
 
 GRAND ROUNDS. 
 
 The officer of the day, wishing to make his 
 rounds, will direct an escort of a non-conmiissioned 
 officer and two men to accompany him. 
 10 
 
146 THE KECRUIT. 
 
 When the rounds are challenged by a sentinel, 
 the Sergeant will answer. Grand rounds ! and the 
 sentinel will reply, Stand, grand rounds ! Advance^ 
 Sergeant, with the countersign. Upon which the 
 Sergeant advances, and gives the countersign. 
 The sentinel will then cry, Advance, rounds ! and 
 present arms till they have passed. 
 
 When the sentinel before the guard challenges, 
 and is answered. Grand rounds ; he will reply 
 Stand, grand rounds I turn out the guard, grand 
 rounds. Upon which the guard will be turned out 
 and drawn up in good order, w^ith shouldered arms, 
 the officers taking their posts. The officer com- 
 manding the guard will then order a Sergeant and 
 two men to advance towards the rounds and chal- 
 lenge. When the Sergeant of the guard comes 
 within ten paces of the rounds, he will halt, and 
 challenge briskly. The Sergeant of the rounds is 
 to answer. Grand rounds. The Sergeant of the 
 guard replies. Stand, grand rounds ! Advance, Ser- 
 geant, with the countersign. The Sergeant of the 
 rounds advances alone, and giving the countersign, 
 returns to his rounds ; and the Sergeant of the 
 guard calls to his oilicer, The countersign is 
 right; on which the officer of the guard calls, 
 Advance, rounds. The officer of the rounds then 
 advances alone, the guard stand at shouldered 
 arms. The officer of the rounds passes along tlie 
 front of the guard immediately to the officer, who 
 keeps his post on the right, and gives him tlie pa- 
 role. He then examines the guard, orders back 
 his escort, and demanding a new one, proceeds in 
 the same manner to otlier guards. 
 
 All general officers, as well as the commander 
 
THE RECRUIT. 147 
 
 of the post or garrison, may visit the guards, and 
 go the grand rounds, and be received in the same 
 manner as prescribed for the officer of the day. 
 
 Sergeants, with swords drawn, will salute by 
 bringing them to a recover ; with muskets, by 
 bringing the left hand across the body, so as to 
 strike the piece near the right shoulder. Corporals 
 out of the ranks will carry their pieces at a shoul- 
 der, as Sergeants, and salute in like manner. 
 
 When a soldier without arms, or with side arms 
 only, meets an officer, he will continue to move 
 on, but he is to raise his hand to his cap, looking 
 at the same time in a respectful and soldier-like 
 manner at the officer, who will make a suitable 
 acknowledgment to the compliment thus offered. 
 
REVIEW 
 
 Preparatory to a review, the Adjutant will cause 
 a camp color to be placed 80 or 100 paces, or more, 
 according to the length of the line, in front of, and 
 opposite to where, the centre of the battalion will 
 rest, where the reviewing officer is supposed to 
 take his station ; and, although he may choose to 
 quit that position, still the color is to be considered 
 as the point to which all the movements and for- 
 mations are relative. 
 
 The Adjutant will also cause points to be marked, 
 at suitable distances, for the wheelings of the divi- 
 sions ; so that their right flanks, in marching past, 
 Bhall only be about four paces from the camp-color, 
 where it is supposed the reviewing officer places 
 himself to receive the salute. 
 
 The battalion being formed in the order of battle, 
 at shouldered arms, the Colonel will command : 
 
 1. Battalion, prepare for Review. 2. To the 
 Rear, Open Order. 3. March. 
 
 At the word march, the field and staff officers 
 dismount ; the company officers and the color rank 
 advance four paces in front of the front rank, and 
 
 Elace themselves opposite to their respective places, 
 1 the order of battle. The staff officers place 
 
THE RECRUIT. 149 
 
 themselves, according to rank, three paces on the 
 right of the rank of company officers, and one pace 
 from each other ; the music advances through the 
 centre, and forms in two ranks (the band in front), 
 between the colors and the line ; the color-guard 
 replace the color-rank ; the Sergeant-Major and the 
 Quartermaster-Sergeant take post one pace from 
 each other, and tliree paces on the right of the 
 front rank of the battalion. 
 
 When the ranks are aligned, the Colonel wil 
 command : 
 
 FRONT. 
 
 And place himself eight paces, and the Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel and Major will place themselves 
 two paces in front of the rank of company officers, 
 and opposite to their respective places in the order 
 of battle, all facing to the front. 
 
 When the reviewing officer presents himself 
 before the centre, and is fifty or sixty paces dis- 
 tant, the Colonel will face about and command : 
 
 Present — Arms, 
 
 And resume his front. The men present arms, 
 and the officers salute, so as to drop their swords 
 with the last motion of the piece. The non-com.- 
 missioned staff* salute by bringing the sword to a 
 poise, the hilt resting on the breast, the blade in 
 front of the face, inclining a little outward. The 
 music will play, and all the drums beat, according 
 to the rank of the reviewing officer. The colors 
 only salute such persons as, from their rank, and 
 by regulation, are entitled to that honor. 
 
150 THE RECRXHT. 
 
 The reviewing officer having halted, and ac- 
 knowledged the salute of the line, by touching or 
 raising his cap, or hat, the Colonel will face about 
 and command : 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 When the men shoulder their pieces, the officers 
 and non-commissioned staff recover their swords 
 with the last motion, and the Colonel faces to the 
 front. 
 
 The reviewing officer will then go towards the 
 right, the whole remaining perfectly steady, with- 
 out paying any further compliment, while he 
 passes along the front of the battalion, and pro- 
 ceeds round the left flank, and along the rear of 
 the file-elosers, to the right. While the reviewing 
 officer is going round the battalion, the band will 
 play, and will cease when he has returned to the 
 right flank of the troops. 
 
 Wlien the reviewing officer turns off, to place 
 himself by the camp-color in front, the Colonel will 
 face to the line, and command : 
 
 1. Battalion. 2. Close Order, 3. March. 
 
 At the second command, the field and company 
 officers will face about, and, at the third command, 
 all persons, except the Colonel, will resume their 
 places in the order of battle, the field and staff 
 officers mount. 
 
 The reviewing officer having taken his position 
 near the camp-color, the Colonel will command : 
 
THE RECRUIT. 151 
 
 1. By Company, Right Wheel — March. 2. Pass 
 in Review, 3. Column. 4. Forward, Guide 
 Right, 5. March. 
 
 The battalion in column of companies, right in 
 front, will then in common time, and at shouldered 
 arms, be put in motion ; the Colonel four paces in 
 front of the Captain of the leading company ; the 
 Lieutenant-Colonel on a line with the leading com- 
 pany ; the Major on a line with the rear company ; 
 the Adjutant on a line with the second company ; 
 the Sergeant-Major on a line with the company 
 next preceding the rear — each six paces from the 
 flank (left) opposite to the reviewing officer ; the 
 stall-officers in one rank, according to the order of 
 precedency, from the right, four paces in rear of 
 the column ; the music, preceded by the principal 
 musician, six paces before the Colonel ; the pio- 
 neers, preceded by a Corporal, four paces before 
 the principal musician ; and the Quartermaster- 
 Sergeant two paces from the side opposite to the 
 guide, and in line with the pioneers. 
 
 All other officers and non-commissioned officers, 
 will march past in the places prescribed for them 
 in the march of an open column. The guides 
 and soldiers will keep their heads steady to the 
 front in passing in review. 
 
 The color-bearer will remain in the ranks while 
 passing and saluting. 
 
 The music will begin to play just after the lead- 
 ing company has completed the second wheel, 
 taking particular care that they play in the same 
 time, or cadence, as that in which the column is 
 marching, and wheel to the left out of the column, 
 
152 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 and take a position opposite to, and facing the re- 
 viewing officer ; and will continue to play until 
 the rear of the column shall have passed him^ 
 when it will cease, and follow in the rear of the 
 battalion, unless the battalion is to pass in quick 
 time also, in which case it will keep its position. 
 
 The officers will salute the reviewing officer 
 when they arrive within six paces of him, and 
 recover their swords when six paces past him. All 
 officers in saluting will cast their eyes towards the 
 reviewing officer. 
 
 The Colonel when he has saluted at the head of 
 the battalion, will place himself near the review- 
 ing officer, and will *remain there until the rear 
 has passed, when he will rejoin the battalion. 
 
 The colors will salute the reviewing officer 
 when within six paces of him, and be raised 
 when they have passed by him an equal distance. 
 The drums will beat a march, or ruffle, according 
 to the rank of the reviewing officer, at the same 
 time that the colors salute. . 
 
 When the rear of the column has passed the 
 reviewing officer, the Colonel will command : 
 
 GUIDE LEFT. 
 
 And the column will be directed, by turning to 
 the Ijft, to the ground which it previously occupied, 
 when the Colonel will command : 
 
 1. Column, Halt. 2. Left into Line, Wheel, 
 3. March. 
 
 When the line is formed in order of battle, the 
 Colonel will cause the ranks to be opened, the 
 
THE RECRXHT. 163 
 
 officers taking post in the front, and the Review 
 will terminate by the whole saluting as at the 
 beginning. 
 
 If, however, instruction has been previously 
 given to march the troops past in quick time, also, 
 the Colonel will, instead of halting the column and 
 wheeling it into line, as above directed, give the 
 command : 
 
 1. Column. 2. Quick Time, 3. March. 
 
 At which command, the column will change the 
 time of marching, and pass by the reviewing 
 officer, either at shouldered, or at support arms ; 
 and no salute will be offered by either officers or 
 men. The music will have kept its position oppo- 
 site the reviewing officer, and will commence 
 playing at the same time as is directed when the 
 battalion passes in common time ; and as the co- 
 lumn approaches, will place itself in front of, and 
 march off with the column, and continue to play 
 until the battalion is halted on its original ground 
 of formation. The Review will terminate in the 
 same manner as prescribed above. 
 
 The Colonel will afterwards cause the troops to 
 perform such exercises and manoeuvres as the re- 
 viewing officer may direct. 
 
 When two or more battalions are to be review- 
 ed, they will be formed in parade order, with 
 proper intervals, and will also perform the same 
 movements that are laid down for a single batta- 
 lion, observing the additional directions that are 
 fiven for such movements when applied to the line, 
 'he Brigadier and his staff, on foot, will place 
 
164 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 themseives opposite the centre of the brigade ; tho 
 Brigadier two paces in front of the rank of Colo- 
 nels ; his Aid two paces on his right, and one pace 
 retired ; and the other brigade staff officers, those 
 having the rank of field officers, in the rank of 
 Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors ; and those below 
 that rank, i-i the rank of company officers. 
 
 In passing in review, a Major-General will be 
 four paces in front of the Colonel of the leading 
 battalion of his division, and the Brigadiers will 
 be on tlie right of the Colonels of the leading bat- 
 talions of their brigades ; staff officers on the left 
 of their Generals. 
 
 Upon occasions when the line exceeds two bat- 
 talions, the reviewing officer may, at his option, to 
 save time, cause them to march past in quick 
 time. In such cases the mounted officers only 
 will salute. 
 
 A number of compames less than a battalion, 
 will be reviewed as a battalion ; and a single com- 
 pany, as if it were with the battalion. In the lat- 
 ter case, the company may pass in column of 
 platoons. 
 
 The reviewing officer or personage will ac- 
 knowledge the salute, by raisi (r or taking off his 
 cap, or hat, when the commai der of the troops 
 salutes him ; and, also, when the colors pass. The 
 remainder of the time occupied by the passage of 
 the troops he will be covered. 
 
INSPECTION. 
 
 The present example embraces a battalion of 
 Infantry. The inspecting officer, and the field 
 and staff officers, will be on foot. 
 
 The battalion being in the order of battle, the 
 Colonel will cause it to break into open column of 
 companies, right in front. He will next order the 
 ranks to be opened, when the color-rank and color- 
 guard will take post ten paces in front, and the 
 band ten paces in the rear of the column. 
 
 The Colonel seeing the ranks aligned, will com- 
 mand : 
 
 1. Officers and Sergeants. 2. To the Front of 
 your Companies. 3. March. 
 
 The officers will form themselves in one rank, 
 eight paces, and the non-commissioned officers in 
 one rank, six paces, in advance, along the whole 
 fronts of their respective companies, from right to 
 left, in the order of seniority ; the pioneers and 
 music of each company, in one rank, two paces 
 behind the non-commissioned officers. 
 
 The Colonel will next command : 
 
156 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 1. Field and Staff. 2. To the Frow/— March. 
 
 The commissioned officers, thus designated, will 
 form themselves in one rank, six paces in front of 
 the colors, from right to left, in the order of se- 
 niority ; and the non-commissioned staff, in a 
 similar manner, two paces in rear of the preceding 
 rank. The Colonel, seeing the movement execut- 
 ed, will take post on the right of the Lieutenant- 
 Colonel, and wait the approach of the inspecting 
 officer. 
 
 The Inspector will commence in front. After 
 inspecting the dress and the general appearance 
 of the field and commissioned staff under arms, 
 the Inspector, accompanied by their officers, will 
 pasa down the open column, looking at every rank 
 in front and rear. 
 
 The Colonel will now command : 
 
 1. Order Arms. 2. Rest, 
 
 When the Inspector will proceed to make a mi- 
 nute inspection of the several ranks or divisions, 
 in succession, commencing in front. 
 
 As the Inspector approaches the non-commis- 
 sioned staff, the color-rank, the color-guard, and the 
 band, the Adjutant will give the necessary orders 
 for the inspection of arms, boxes and knapsacks. 
 The colors will be planted firm in the ground, to 
 enable the color-bearers to display the contents of 
 their knapsacks. The non-commissioned staff 
 may be dismissed as soon as inspected ; but the 
 color-rank and color-guard will remain until the 
 colors are to be escorted to the place from which 
 they were taken. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 167 
 
 As the Inspector successively approaches the 
 companies, the Captains will command : 
 
 1. Attention Company. 2. Inspection of Arms. 
 
 The inspecting officer will then go through the 
 whole company, and minutely inspect the arms, 
 accoutrements, and dress of each soldier. After 
 this is done, the Captain will command : 
 
 Open — Boxes. 
 When the ammunition and the boxes will be 
 examined. 
 
 The Captain will then command : 
 
 1. Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 2. Close Order. 
 
 3. March. 
 
 4. Order — Arms. 
 
 5. Stack — Arms. 
 
 6. To the Rear, Open Order. 
 
 7. March. 
 
 8. Front Ranlc, About Face. 
 
 9. Unsling Knapsacks. 
 10. Open Knapsacks. 
 
 The Sergeants will face inward, and close upon 
 the centre at the second and third commands, and 
 will stack their arms at the fifth command ; at the 
 sixth and seventh commands, they will face out- 
 ward, and resume their positions. When the 
 ranks are closed, preparatory to take arms, the 
 Sergeants will also close upon the centre, and, at 
 the word, take their arms, and resume their places. 
 
168 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 The knapsacks will be placed at the feet of the 
 men, the flaps from them, with the great coats on 
 the flaps, and the knapsacks leaning on the great 
 coats. In this posiiion, the Inspector will ex- 
 amine their contents, or as many of them as he 
 may think necessary, commencing with the non- 
 commissioned officers. 
 
 As the Inspector passes, each soldier will re- 
 pa^A, and buckle up his knapsack, leaving it on 
 the ground, the number upwards, turned from him, 
 and then stand at rest. 
 
 When the Inspector has passed through the 
 company, the Captain will command : 
 
 1. Attention Company. 2. Sling Knapsacks. 
 
 At the word Sling, each soldier will take his 
 knapsack, holding it by the inner straps, and stand 
 erect ; at the last word, he will replace it on liia 
 back, the Captain will continue ; 
 
 3. Front Rank, About Face. 
 
 4. Close Order. 
 6. March. 
 
 6. Take — Arms. 
 
 7. Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 8. Officers and Sergeants to your Posts. 
 
 9. March. 
 
 And will cause the company to file oflf to their 
 tents or quarters, except the company that is to 
 re-escort the colors, which will await the furtlier 
 orders of the Colonel. 
 
SALUTES. 
 
 The iKitiona] salute is determined by the rvsm^^v 
 of States composing the Union, at the rate of on^ 
 gun for each State. 
 
 The President of the United States alone is to 
 receive a salute of twenty-one guns. 
 
 The Vice President is to receive a salute of sev- 
 enteen guns. 
 
 The Heads of the great Executive Departments 
 of the National Government; the Major-General 
 commanding the army; the Governors of States 
 and Territories, v^^ithin their respective jurisdictions, 
 fifteen guns. 
 
 A Major-General, thirteen guns. 
 
 A Brigadier-General, eleven guns. 
 
 Foreign ships of war will be saluted in return for 
 a similar compliment, gun for gun, on notice being 
 officially received of such intention. 
 
 Officers of the Navy will be saluted according to 
 relative rank. 
 
 Foreign officers invited to visit a fort or post, 
 may be saluted according to their relative rank. 
 
 Envoys arid Ministers of the United States and 
 foreign powers, are to be saluted with thirteen guns. 
 
 All otficers of the army having rank above that 
 of Colonel, whetlier of the line or staff, by brevet or 
 
160 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 otherwise, will be complimented, on official visits, 
 by salutes according to their highest rank ; provided 
 they be senior to the officer in command where the 
 visit is made. 
 
 A General officer will be saluted but once in a 
 year at each post, and only when notice of his in- 
 tention to visit the post has been given. 
 
 Salutes to individuals are to be fired on their 
 arrival only. 
 
 A national salute will be fired at meridian, on the 
 anniversary of the Independence of the United 
 Stales, at each military post and camp. 
 
ESCORTS OF HONOR. 
 
 Escorts of honor may be composed of cavalry 
 or infantry, or both, according to circumstances. 
 They are guards of honor for the purpose of re- 
 ceiving and escorting personages of high rank, civil 
 or military. The troops for this purpose will be 
 selected for their soldierly appearance and superior 
 discipline. 
 
 The manner of receiving and escorting the per- 
 sonage is as follows: 
 
 The escort will be drawn up in line, the centre 
 opposite to the place where the personage presents 
 nimself, with an interval between the wings to re- 
 ceive the personage and his retinue. On his ap- 
 pearance, he will be received with the honors due 
 to his rank. When he has taken his place in the 
 line, the whole will be wheeled into platoons or 
 companies, as the case may be, and take up the 
 march. The same ceremony will be observed, and 
 the same honors paid, on his leaving the escort. 
 
 When the position of the escort is at a consider- 
 able distance from the point where the personage 
 is expected to be received, as, for instance, where a 
 court-yard or wharf intervenes, a double line of 
 sentinels will be posted from that point to the 
 escort, facing inwards, and the sentinels will suc- 
 cessively salute as the personage passes. 
 
 An officer will be appointed to attend the person- 
 age escorted, to bear such communications as he 
 may have to make to the commander of the escort. 
 
FUNERAL HONORS. 
 
 On ihe receipt of official intelligence of the death 
 of the President of the United States^ at any post 
 or camp, the commanding officer shall, on the fol- 
 lowing day, cause a gun to be fired at every half 
 hour, beginning at sunrise, and ending at sunset. 
 When posts are contiguous, the firing will take 
 place at the post only commanded by the superior 
 officer. 
 
 On the day of the interment of a Major-General 
 commanding'in'Chief, a gun will be fired at every 
 half hour, until the procession moves, beginning at 
 sunrise. 
 
 The funeral escort of a Major-General com- 
 manding-in-chiefy shall consist of a regiment of 
 infantry, a squadron of cavalry, and six pieces of 
 artillery. 
 
 That of a Major-GeneraU a regiment of infantry, 
 a squadron of cavalry, and four pieces of artillery. 
 
 That of a Brigadier- General ^ a regiment of in- 
 fantry, one company of cavalry, and two pieces of 
 artillery. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 163 
 
 That of a Colonel, a regiment. 
 
 That of a Lieuteriant Colonel, six companies. 
 
 That of a Major, four companies. 
 
 That of a Captain, one company. 
 
 That of a Subaltern, half a company. 
 
 The funeral escort shall always be commanded 
 by an officer of the same rank with the deceased ; 
 or, if none such be present, by one of the next in- 
 ferior grade. 
 
 The funeral escort of a non-commissioned staff 
 officer shall consist of sixteen rank and file, com- 
 manded by a Sergeant. 
 
 That of a Sergeant, of fourteen rank and file, 
 commanded by a sergeant. 
 
 That of a corporal, of twelve rank and file, com- 
 manded by a corporal ; and 
 
 That of a private, of eight rank and file, com- 
 manded by a corporal. 
 
 The escort will be formed in two ranks, opposite 
 to the quarters or tent of the deceased, with shoul- 
 dered arms and bayonets fixed; the artillery and 
 cavalry on the right of the infantry. 
 
 On the appearance of the corpse, the officer com- 
 manding the escort will command, 
 
 Present — ^Arms. 
 
 When the honors due to the deceased will be 
 paid by the drums and trumpets. The music will 
 then play an appropriate air, and the coffin will 
 then be taken to the right, where it will be halted. 
 
 The commander will next order. 
 
164 THE REORUIT, 
 
 1. Shoulder — Arms. 2. By company, (or pla- 
 toon,) left loheel. 3. March. 4. Column, 
 forward, guide right. 5. March. 
 
 The column will be marched, in common time, 
 to appropriate music; and, on reaching the grave, 
 will take a direction so as that the guides shall be 
 next to the grave. When the centre of the column 
 is opposite the grave, the commander will order ; 
 
 1. Column — Halt. 2. Right into line, wheel 
 3. March. 
 
 The coffin is then brought along the front, to the 
 opposite side of the grave, and the commander then 
 orders. 
 
 Present — Arms. 
 
 And when the coffin reaches the grave, he adds, 
 
 1. Shoulder — Arms. 2. Order — Arms. 3. Rest. 
 
 After the funeral service is performed, and the 
 coffin is lowered into the grave, the commander will 
 order, 
 
 1. Attention, company. 2. Shoulder — Arms. 
 3. Load at will. 4. Load. 
 
 When three rounds of small arms will be fired 
 by the escort, taking care to elevate the pieces. 
 This being done, the commander will order. 
 
THE RECRUIT. 165 
 
 I. By company, {or platoon,) right wheel. 2. 
 March. 3. Column, forward, guide left, 
 quick time. 4. March. 
 
 The music will not begin to play until the escort 
 is clear of the enclosure. 
 
 The usual badge of militziry mourning, is a piece 
 of black crape around the left arm, and also upon 
 the sword-hilt ; and will be worn when in full, or 
 in undress. 
 
 Funeral honors will be paid to deceased officers, 
 without military rank, according to their assimilated 
 grades. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARMS 
 
 WITH 
 
 Percussion Locks, and Bayonets with Clasps. 
 
 Arms with percussion locks require to be handled 
 with much care to prevent the hammer (cock) from 
 becoming loose, by which its direct fall on the cone 
 (nipple) would be rendered uncertain. 
 
 When unloaded, they will at all times be used 
 with the hammer down on the cone ; but when 
 loaded, and the cap or primer being on the cone, the 
 piece will be carried half-cocked for safety ; when 
 there is no cap on the cone, the vent will be closed 
 with the hammer resting upon it. 
 
 No commands are embraced in this instruction 
 except where their execution difRirs from that pre- 
 scribed for the same commands in the Manual of 
 Arms, Infantry Tactics, or where it is necessary to 
 show the connection of the motions. 
 
 Percussion caps will be carried provisionally, in 
 a leather pocket attached to the waist-belt by loops, 
 in a manner to admit of its being moved upon the 
 belt. 
 
 Present — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. Turn the piece with the left 
 hand, the lock out, and seize the small at the same 
 time with the right hand, the piece perpendicular 
 and detached from the shoulder, the left hand re- 
 maining under the butt. 
 
168 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 Second Motion. Complete the turning inwards 
 of the piece, so as to bring it erect before the centre 
 of the body, the rammer to the front, the right hand 
 under and against the guard ; seize it smartly at the 
 same time with the left hand just above the lock, 
 the thumb extended along the barrel and on the 
 stock, the fore-arm resting on the body without 
 constraint, and the hand at the height of the elbow. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First Motion. Turn the piece with the right 
 hand, the barrel out; raise and support it against 
 the left shoulder with the right hand, drop the left 
 hand under the butt, the right hand resting on, 
 without grasping the small. 
 
 Second Motion. Drop quickly the right hand 
 into its position. 
 
 Load in eight times. 
 1. Load. 
 
 First Motion. Drop the piece by a smart ex- 
 tension of the left arm, seize it with the right hand 
 above and near the tail band ; at the same time 
 carry the right foot forward, the heel against the 
 hollow of the left foot. 
 
 Second Motion. Drop the piece with the right 
 6and along the left thigh, seize it with the left hand 
 at the middle band, and with the left hand let it 
 descend along to the ground, without shock, the 
 
THE RECRUIT. 169 
 
 piece touching the left thigh, and the muzzle 
 opposite to the centre of the body ; carry the right 
 hand quickly to the cartridge-box and open it. 
 
 2. Handle — Cartridge. 
 
 Seize a cartridge with the thumb and next two 
 fingers, and place it between the teeth. 
 
 3. Tear — Cartridge. 
 
 Tear the paper down to the powder, hold the 
 cartridge upright between the thumb and next two 
 fingers, near the top ; and in this position place it 
 in front of and near the muzzle, the back of the 
 hand to the front. 
 
 4. Charge — Cartridge. 
 
 As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 5. Draw — Rammer. 
 
 First second and third motions, as in the Infantry 
 Tactics. 
 
 6. Ram — Cartridge. 
 
 As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 7. Return — Hammer. 
 
 First second and third motions, as in the Infantry 
 Tactics. 
 
170 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 8. Shoulder — Arms. 
 
 First, second, and third motions, as in the In- 
 fantry Tactics. 
 
 Ready. (From the position of shoulder arms.) 
 
 First Motion. — As in the Infimtry Tactics. 
 
 Second Motion. — As in the Infantry Tactics, ex- 
 cept that the piece will be held in the left hand 
 just above the lock. 
 
 Third Motion. — Place the thumb on the hammer, 
 the forefinger under and on the guard, the other 
 three fingers joined to the first, and half-cock the 
 piece ; brush off the old cap, and with the thumb 
 and first two fingers of the right hand, take a cap 
 from the pocket, place it firmly on the cone, by 
 pushing it down with the thumb; place again the 
 thumb on the hammer, the forefinger under and on 
 the guard, the elbow at the height of the wrist. 
 
 Fourth Motion. — As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Aim. 
 
 Drop smartly the muzzle and take the positions 
 indicated in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Fire. 
 As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Load. (From the fire.) 
 First Motion.— Bring back the piece quickly 
 
THE RECRUIT. 171 
 
 with both hands, depress the butt strongly by ex- 
 tending the right arm, and carry it with the arm 
 thus extended to the left side, the barrel turned to 
 the front and opposite to the left shoulder ; open 
 the left hand to let the piece slide through it to the 
 middle-band, the back of the hand to the front, the 
 left fore-arm touching the stock; at the same time 
 face to the front, and carry the right foot forward, 
 the heel against the hollow of the left foot. 
 
 Second Motion. — Quit the hold of the right 
 hand ; with the left hand remaining at the middle- 
 band, let the piece descend to the ground, without 
 shock, and take the position of the second motion 
 of the first time of loading, and load at will, as in 
 eight times. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. (From the fire.) 
 
 First Motion. — Bring back the piece with both 
 nands, face to the front, carry the piece against the 
 left shoulder, and place the left hand under the 
 butt. 
 
 Second Motion. — Let fall smartly the right hand 
 into its position. 
 
 Recover — Arms. 
 As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Shoulder — Arms. (From the recover.) 
 
 Executed as in the Infontry Tactics, except that 
 while lowering the hammer to the half-cock notch, 
 
172 THE RECRUIT. 
 
 the piece will be supported by the left hand, hold- 
 ing it just above the lock, and that the hammer iu 
 its descent will nearly touch the cone. 
 
 Unjix — Bayonet. 
 
 Firat Motion, — As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Second Motion. — Drop the piece with the right 
 hand along the left thigh, seize it with the left 
 hand above the right, lengthen out the left arm, 
 rest the butt on the ground, without shock, and 
 carry at the same time the right hand to the bayo- 
 net ; with the thumb turn the clasp against the stop, 
 and then seize the bayonet at the socket and shank. 
 
 Third Motion. — As in the Infantry Tactics. 
 
 Fix — Bayonet. 
 
 First and Second Motions. — As in the Infantry 
 Tactics. 
 
 Third Motion. — Draw the bayonet from the 
 scabbard, carry and fix it on the muzzle, turning 
 the clasp towards the body with the right thumb ; 
 place immediately the little finger on the head of 
 the rammer, lower the left hand along the barrel, 
 in extending the arm, without depressing the 
 shoulder. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction 
 
 3 
 
 Description of a Musket 
 
 7 
 
 SCHOOL OF THE SOL 
 
 DIER. 
 
 Position of the Soldier 
 
 9 
 
 Facings ..... 
 
 . 13 
 
 The Direct Step . . . . 
 
 14 
 
 The Oblique Step 
 
 . 16 
 
 Manual of Arms . . . , 
 
 18 
 
 Firings ..... 
 
 . 36 
 
 Inspection of Anna 
 
 39 
 
 Stack Arms .... 
 
 . 41 
 
 For Relieving Sentinels . 
 
 43 
 
 For Dismission 
 
 . 44 
 
 Mark Time .... 
 
 45 
 
 Chans^-e Step . 
 
 . 45 
 
 Stop Short .... 
 
 45 
 
 Side Step .... 
 
 . 46 
 
 Alignments 
 
 46 
 
 To march to the Front 
 
 . 48 
 
 The Quick Step . 
 
 49 
 
 The Back Step 
 
 .49 
 
 To march by the Flank . 
 
 50 
 
 Wheelings .... 
 
 . 52 
 
 Turning .... 
 
 55 
 
 SCHOOL OF THE COM 
 
 PANY. 
 
 Formation of Company 
 
 . 57 
 
 To pass from Two Ranks into One Rank 
 
 59 
 
 Posts of Officers in Colujnn . 
 
 . 60 
 
 To Open Ranks 
 
 62 
 
 Alignments in Open Ranks . 
 
 . 62 
 
 Manual of Arms in Open Ranks . 
 
 63 
 
 To Close Ranks 
 
 . 64 
 
 Alignments in Closed Ranks 
 
 64 
 
 Manual of Arms in Closed Ranks 
 
 . 64 
 
 To Load in Four Times . 
 
 64 
 
 Load at Will .... 
 
 . 64 
 
 Fire by Company . 
 
 65 
 
 Fire by File .... 
 
 65 
 
 Fire by the Rear Rank 
 
 66 
 
Q05TENTS. 
 
 PAOX 
 
 Advance in Line of Battle . . . . .08 
 
 Halt tlie Company and Align it . . . . 69 
 
 Oblique March in Line of Battle . . . .69 
 
 Retire in Line ...... 70 
 
 To March by the Flank . . . . 71 
 
 To Change Direction by File ... 72 
 
 To Form Line by File . . . . .72 
 
 To Form by Company or by Platoon into Line . . 73 
 
 Marching by the Front, to March by the Flank . . 74 
 
 Marching in Column by Platoon, to March by a Flank in 
 the same Direction . . . . . .75 
 
 To Break from Line into Column by Platoon . . 75 
 
 To March in Column . . . . . .77 
 
 To Change Direction ..... 77 
 
 To Halt the Column 79 
 
 To Wheel into Line ..... 80 
 
 To Diminish and Increase Front of Column in Marching 81 
 To Diminish and Increase Front of Column by Files . 83 
 To March in Column of Route .... 85 
 
 Countermarch . . . . . . .87 
 
 Marching in Column by Platoon, to Form on Right or Left 
 into Line . . . . . . .89 
 
 Manual of Arms for Sergeants .... 92 
 
 To pass from the Shoulder as Infantry to the Shoulder as 
 Light-Infantry ...... 96 
 
 To pass from the Shoulder as Light-Infantry to the Shoul- 
 der as Infantry . . . . . .97 
 
 Parade Rest 97 
 
 LIGHT-INFANTRY AND RIFLE. 
 Manual of Arms , . . . . .98 
 
 To Load and Fire as » . . . . 104 
 
 SKIRMISHERS. 
 Deployments : — 
 
 1.— To Deploy Forward . 118 
 
 2.— To Deploy by the Flank . 120 
 
 3.— To Extend Intervals . 123 
 
 4.— To Close Intervals ... 124 
 
 5.— To Relieve Skirmlshcre . . .125 
 
 To Blarch In Advance ..... 126 
 To March in Retreat . . ... 127 
 
 To March by a Flank 128 
 
 The Firings ....... 129 
 
 To Rally 132, To Assemble . . . l.V. 
 
 Street Firing 136, Duties in Garrison and Camp . 139 
 
 Review 149, Inspection 106, Salutes . . . 169 
 
 Escorts of Honor 161, Funeral Honors . . . 16i 
 
 InsUttctions for Arms with Percussion Locks. . i§7 
 
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