A manual of infantry and rifle tactics, with honors paid by the troops, inspections--reviews, &c

Front matter

IHti^J.*^ HfcAi^^

The Gift of.

Date I ^3/

Table Of Contents

TITLE FIRST.

Article First.

PAGE

Part First. General rules and division of the school of the soldier 20

Lesson I. — Position of the soldier ' 21

Lesson II. — Facings 22

Lesson III. — Balance step 23

1 i t} 6 O -i vi Table of Contents.

PAGE

Principles of the direct step, in common and quick

time 25

Lesson IV. — Principles of the double quick step.... 26

Part ^Second.

General rules 28

Lesson I. — Principles of shouldered arms 29

Lesson IL — Manual of arms for the rifle 30

Lesson III. — Load in four times, and at will 49

Lesson IV. — Firings 52

Lesson V. — Fire and load, kneeling, and do. lying.. 54

Lesson VI.— Bayonet exercise 65

Manual of arms for the mushet.

Principles of shouldered arms ...» 57

Support arms 57

Order arms 59

Charge bayonet 60

Load in ten times 61

Load in four times, and unfix bayonet 67

Fix bayonet 68

Secure and trail arms 69

Right shoulder shift arms, 1 r.Q

Arms at will, J

Inspection of arms 71

Fix bayonet, spring rammers, > yo

Arms-port, ^

Part Third. Lesson I. — Alignments 73

Lesson II. — March by the front, ditto, in double quick time. Face about in marching, and march

backwards 75

Lesson III. — March by the flank, ditto, in double

quick time 79

Table of Contents. vii

PAGE

Lesson IV. — General principles of wheeling — from a halt, marcUing. Turning. Both, in double

quick time 83

Stack arms 87

Take arms ■. 88

TITLE THIRD.

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY.

General rules and division of the school of the company 90

Manner of forming the company 90

Lesson First.

Article I. — To open ranks 92

Article II. — Alignments in open ranks ^3

Article III. — To close ranks 94

Article IV. — Alignments and manual of arms in

closedranks 95

Lesson Second.

Article I. — To load in four times, and at will 96

Article II. — To fire by company 96

Article III. — To fire by file 97

Article IV. — To fire by rank 98

Article V. — To fire by the rear rank 99

Lesson Third.

Article I, — To advance in line of battle 100

Article II. — To halt the company marching in line

of battle, and to align it 102

Article III. — Oblique march in line of battle 103 viii Tahle of Contents.

PAGE

Akticlt: IV. — To mark time, to march in double

quick time, and the back step 104

Article V. — To march in retreat 105

Lesson Fourth.

Article I. — To march by the flank 107

Article II. — To change direction by file 109

Article III. — To halt the company marching by a

tiank, and to face it to the front 109

Article IV. — The company marching by the flank,

to form it on the right (or left), by file, into line, 110 Article V. — The company marching by the flank, to form it by company in platoon into line, and cause it to face to the right and left, in marching 112

Lesson Fifth.

Article I. — To break into column by platoon,

^ either at a halt, or marching 114

Article II. — To march in column 118

Article III. — To change direction 119

Article IV. — To halt the column 121

Article V, — Being in column by platoon, to form to the right (or left) into line of battle, either at a halt, or marching 122

Lesson Sixth.

Article I. — To break the company into platoons,

and to re-form the company 127

Article II. — Being in column, to break files to the

rear, and to cause them to re-enter the line 129

Article IIL — To march in column in route, and to

execute the movements incident thereto 132

Article IV. — Countermarch 137

Article V. — Being in column by platoon, to form

on the right (or left) into line of battle 139

Tahle of Contents. ix

PAGE

Formation of a company from two ranks into single

rank, and reciprocally 141

Formation of a company from two ranks into four,

and reciprocally, at a halt, and in march 143

Manual of the sword or sabre, for officers 147

Color-salute 148

Manual for relieving sentinels 148

Instruction for parade-rest 149

TITLE FOURTH.

SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION.

Composition and march of the color-escort 160

Honors paid to the color 151

Part First. Article I. — To open and close ranks " 152

Article III. — The firings 153

Part Second

Article I. — To break into column, by company, or division, to the right or left, from a halt, and in march 158

Article II. — To break to the rear by the right or left of companies, from a halt and in march. To advance or retire by the right or left of companies, from a halt, or in march. From same movement to form line to the front 160

Article III. — Ploy the battalion into close column,

from a halt, or in march 164

Part Third

Article I. — March in column at full distance — the right about 169

X Table of Contents.

Page.

Article III. — Change of direction in column at full

distance 171

Article IV. — Halt the column .^ 172

Article V. — Close the column to half distance, or

in mass, on the leading or rear company, from a

halt, or in march 173

Article VI. — March in column at. half distance or

closed in mass 177

Article VII. — Change direction in column at half

distance 177

Article VIII. — Change direction of a column closed

in mass, marching or from a halt 178

Article IX. — Take distances 181

Article X. — Countermarch of a column at full or

half distance ; or closed in mass 185

Article XL — Being in column by company, closed

in mass, to form divisions, from a halt, or in

Part Foitrth.

Article I. — Manner of determining the line of battle 190

Article II. — Different modes of passing from column

at full distance into line of battle ^.... 190

Article III. — Fqrmation in line of battle by two

movements; .. 204

Article IV. — Different modes of passing from column at half distance into line of battle 206

Article y. — Deployment of columns closed in mass, 208

Part Fifth. Article I. — To advance in line of battle 216

Article III. — To halt the battalion, marching in line

of battle, and to align it 220

Article V. — To march in retreat in line of battle... 223 Article VI. — To halt the battalion, marching in retreat, and to face it to the front 225

Tahle of Contents. xi

PAGE.

Article VIII. — Passage of obstacles, advancing and

retreating 225

Article IX. — To pass a defile, in retreat, by the

right or left flank 229

Article X. — To march by the flank 231

Article XI. — To form on the right or left by file

into line 233

Article XII. — Changes of front 235

Article XIII. — Formation and deployment of the column doubled on the centre, from a halt, and in marching, and to form it into line to the right

or left 238

Article XIV. — Dispositions against cavalry 244

Article XV.— The rally 258

INSTRUCTION FOR SKIRMISHERS.

General principles, &c 260

Article I. — Deployments; extend or close intervals;

relievG%kirmishers 262

Article II. — March to the front ; in retreat ; by the

flank; change direction.. 271

Article III. — Firings 276

Article IV. — The rally and the assembly 280

Article V. — Deploy a battalion as skirmishers, to

rally it 289

HONORS PAID BY THE TROOPS.

INSPECTIONS— REVIEWS, &c.

Compliments to officers of high rank — civil and military 294

Artillery salutes 297

Escorts of honor , 298 xii Tahle of Contents.

PAGE

Funeral honors 298

Form of inspection for infantry 302

Forms of parade 306

To form the regiment or battalion 306

Dress parade 307

Keview of a battalion of infantry 311

Guard-mounting 317

Pveception of one body of troops by another 322

Musters \ 323

The roster, or details for service 324

Duties of guards 326

Guards 330

Police Guards 332

Pickets 336

Grand-guards and outposts 336

Article XIII.

DUTIES OF CAPTAINS— COMPANIES— DUTIES IN CAMP AND GARRISON, Etc.

Duties of Captains, &c .§ 343

Duties in camp and garrison 346

Camps.

Camp of infantry 349

Cautionments 350

Marches 351

Soldiers Rations — mode of cooking them 355

Suggestions to Soldiers 358

RIFLE AND LIGHT INFANTRY TACTICS.

TITLE FIRST.

Article First.

Formation of a Regiment in order of battle, sr in

line.

1. A REGIMENT IS composed of ten companies, which ■vrill habitually be posted from ricjht to left, in the following order: first, sixth, fourth, ninth, third, eighth, fifth, tenth, seventh, second, according to- the rank of captains.

2. With a less number of companies the same principle will be observed, viz: the first captain will command the right company, the second captain the left company, the third captain the right centre company, and so on.

3. The companies thus posted will be designated from right to left, frst company, seeo7id company, &c. This designation will be observed in the manoeuvres.

4. The first two companies on the right, whatever their denomination, will form the frst division; the next two companies the second divi&ion ; and so on, to the left.

5. Each company will be divided into two equal parts, which will be designated as the first and second platoon, counting from the right ; and each platoon, in like manner, will be subdivided into two sections.

6. In all exercises and manoeuvres, every regiment, or part of a regiaient, composed of two or more companies, will be designated as a battalion.

7. The color, with a guard to be hereinafter designated, will be posted on the left of the right centre battalion company. That company, and all on its right, will be denominated the right wing of the battalion ; the remaining companies the left loing.

8. The formation of a regiment is in two ranks ; and each company will be formed into two ranks, in the following manner: the corporals will be posted in the front rank, and on the right and left of platoons, according to height ; the tallest corporal and the tallest man will form the first file, the next two tallest men will form the second file, and so on to the last file, which will be composed of the shortest corporal and the shortest man.

9. The odd and even files, numbered as one, two, in the company, from right to left, will form groups of four men, who will be designated comrades in battle.

10. The distance from one rank to another will be thirteen inches, measured from the breasts of the rear rank men to the backs or knapsacks of the front rank men.

11. For manoeuvring, the companies of a battalion will always be equalized, by transferring men from the strongest to the weakest companies.

Posts of Company Officers, Sergeants and Corporals.

12. The company officers and sergeants are nine in number, and will be posted in the following manner:

13. The captain on the right of the company, touching with the left elbow.

14. The first sergeant in the rear rank, touching with the left elbow, and covering the captain. In the manoeuvres he will be denominated covering sergeant^ or right guide of the company.

15. The remaining officers and sergeants will be posted as file closers, and two paces behind the rear ranks

IG. ThQjirst lieutenant^ opposite the centre of the fourth section.

17. The second lieutenant^ opposite the centre of the first platoon.

18. The third lieutenant^ opposite the centre of the second platoon.

19. The second sergeant, opposite the second file from the left of the company. In the manoeuvres he will be designated left guide of the company.

20. The third sergeant, opposite the second file from the right of the second platoon.

21. T\\Q> fourth sergeant, opposite the second file from the left of the first platoon.

22. l^haffth sergeant, opposite the second file from the right of the first platoon.

23. In the left or tenth company of the battalion, the second sergeant will be posted in the front rank, and on the left of the battalion.

24. The corporals will be posted in the front rank, as prescribed No. 8.

25. Absent officers and sergeants will be replaced — officers by sergeants, and sergeants by corporals. The colonel may detach a first lieutenant from one company to command another, of which both the captain and first lieutenant are absent ; but this authority will give no right to a lieutenant to demand to be so detached.

Posts of Field Officers and Regimental Staff.

26. The field officers, colonel, lieutenant colonel and major, are supposed to be mounted, and on active service shall be on horseback. The adjutant, when the battalion is manoeuvring, will be on foot.

27. The colonel will take post thirty paces in rear of the file-closers, and opposite the centre of the battalion. This distance will be reduced whenever there is a reduction in the front of the battalion. »

28. The lieutenant colonel and the major will be opposite the centres of the right and left wings respectively, and twelve paces in rear of ihe file-closers. The junior major, if there be one, twelve paces behind the centre of the battalion. In column, he is six paces from the guides, abreast of the centre company or division.

29. The adjutant and sergeant major will be opposite the right and left of the battalion, respectively, and eight paces in rear of the file-closers.

30. The adjutant and sergeant major will aid the lieutenant colonel and major, respectively, in the manoeuvres.

31. The colonel, if absent, will be replaced by the lieutenant colonel, and the latter by the major. If all the field officers be absent, the senior captain will command the battalion ; but if either be present, he will not Call the senior captain to act as field officer, except in case of evident necessity.

32. The quarter-master, surgeon, and other staff officers, in one rank, on the left of the colonel, and three paces in his rear.

33. The quarter-master sergeant, on a line with the front rank of the field music, and two paces on the right.

Posts of Field Music and Band.

34. The buglers will be drawn up in four ranks, and posted twelve paces in rear of the file-closers, the left opposite the centre of the left centre company. The senior principal musician will be two paces in front of the field music, and the other two paces in the rear.

35. The regimental band, if there be one, will be drawn up in two or four ranks, according to its numbers, and posted five paces in rear of the field music, having one of the principal musicians at its head.

Color-guard.

36. In each battalion the color-guard will be composed of eight corporals, and posted on the left of the right centre company, of which company, for the time being, the guard will make a part.

37. The front rank will be composed of a sergeant, to be selected by the colonel, who will be called, for the time, color-hearer, with the two ranking corporals, respectively, on his right and left ; the rear rank will be composed of the three corporals next in rank ; and the three remaining corporals will be posted in their rear, and on the line of tile-closers. The left guide of the color company, when these three last named corporals are in the rank of file-closers, will be immediately on their left.

38. In battalions with less than five companies present, theie will be no color-guard, and no display of colors, except it may be at reviews.

39. The corporals for the color-guard will be selected from those most distinguished for regularity and precision, as well in their positions under arms, as in their marching. The latter advantage, and a just carriage of the person, are to be more particularly sought for in the selection of the color-bearer.

General Guides.

40. There will be two general guides in each battalion, selected, for the time, by the colonel, from among the sergeants (other than first sergeants) the most distinguished for carriage under arms, and accuracy in marching.

41. These sergeants will be respectively denominated, in the manoeuvres, right general guidcy and left

18 Instruction of the Battalion.

f/eneral guide, and be posted in the line of file-closers; the first in rear of the ri<^ht, and the second in rear of the left flank of the battalion.

Article Second.

Instruction of the Battalion.

42. Every commanding officer is responsible for the instruction of his command. lie will assemble the officers together for theoretical and practical instruction as often as he may judge necessary, and when unable to attend to this duty in person, it will be discharged by the officer next in rank.

43. Captains will be held responsible for the instruction of their non-commissioned officers, and the adjutant for the instruction of the non-commissioned staff.

45. In the school of the soldier, the company officers will be the instructors of squads ; but if there be not a sufficient number of company officers present, intelligent sergeants may be substituted.

46. In the school of the company, the lieutenant-colonel and the major, under the colonel, will be the principal instructors, substituting frequently the captain of the company, and sometimes one of the lieutenants.

49. Instructors wnll explain, in a few clear and precise words, the movement to be executed ; and not to overburden the memory of the men, they will always use the same terms to explain the same principles.

51. The sabre bayonet should only be fixed when required to be used, either for attack or defence ; the exercises and manoeuvres will be executed without the bayonet.

Instruction of Sergeants.

57. Their theoretical instruction should include the School of the Soldier, the School of the Com-

Instruction of the Battalion. 19

pany,_ and the Drill for Skirmishers. Tliey should likewise know all the details of service, and the regulations prescribing their duties in garrison and in campaign.

Instruction of Corporals.

59. Their theoretical instruction should include the School of the Soldier, and such regulations as prescribe their duties in garrison and in campaign.

Commands.

There are three kinds.

G2. The command o^ caution, which is attention.

63. The preparatorr/ command, which indicates the movement which is to be executed.

64. The command of execution, such as march or halt, or, in the manual of arms, the part of command which causes an execution.

_ 65. The tone of command should be animated, distinct, and of a loudness proportioned to the number of men under instruction.

66. The commnrvd. at teyition is pronounced at the top of the voice, dwelling on the last syllable. ^ 67. The command of execution will be pronounced in a tone firm and brief.

68. The commands of caution and the preparatory commands are herein distinguished by italics, those of execution by capitals.

69. Those preparatory commands which, from their length, are difiicult to be pronounced at once, must be divided into two or three parts, Avith an ascending progression in the tone of command, but always iu such a manner that the tone of execution may be more energetic and elevated ; the divisions are indicated by a hyphen. The parts of commands which are placed in a parenthesis, are not pronounced.

TITLE SECOND.

SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER.

General Rules and division of the School of the Soldier.

70. The object of this school being the individual and progressive instruction of the recruits, the instructor never requires a movement to be executed until he has given an exact explanation of it ; and he executes, himself, the movement which he commands, so as to join example to precept. lie accustoms the recruit to take, by himself, the position which is explained— teaches him to rectify it only M'hen required by his want of intelligence — and sees that all the movements are performed without precipitation.

71. Each movement should be understood before passing to another. After they have been properly executed in the order laid down in each lesson, the instructor no longer confines himself to that order ; on the contrary, he should change it, that he may judge of the intelligence of the men.

72. The instructor allows the men to rest at the end of each part of the lessons, and oftener, if he thinks proper, especially at the commencement ; for this purpose he commands Rest.

73. At the command Rest, the soldier is no longer required to preserve immobility, or to remain in his place. If the instructor wishes merely to relieve the attention of the recruit, he commands, in place — Rest; the soldier is then not required to preserve his immobility, but he always keeps one of his feet in its place.

74. When the instructor wishes to commence the

School of the Soldier— Vart I. 21

instruction, he commands — Attention ; at this command, the soldier takes his position, remains motionless, and fixes his attention.

75. The School of the Soldiei^ will be divided into three parts : the first, comprehendino; what ought to be taught to recruits without arms ; the second, the manual of arms, the loadings and firings ; the third, the principles of alignment, the march by the front, the different steps, the march by the flank, the principles of wheeling, and those of change of direction ; also, long marches in double quick time and the run.

Part First

77. This will be taught, if practicable, to one recruit at a time ; but three or four may be united, when the number be great, compared with that of the instructors. In this case, the recruits will be placed in a single rank, at one pace from each other. In this part, the recruits will be without arms.

Lesson I.

Position of the Soldier.

78. Heels on the same line, as near each other as the conformation of the man will permit;

The feet turned out equally, and forming with each other something less than a right angle ;

The knees straight without stiffness ;

The body erect on the hips, inclining a little forward ;

The shoulders square and falling equally ;

The arms hanging naturally;

The elbows near the body ;

The palm of the hand turned a little to the front, the little finger behind the seam of the pantaloons ;

22 School of the Soldier — Part I.

The head erect and square to the front, without constraint;

The chin near the stock, without covering it;

The eyes fixed straight to the front, and striking the ground about the distance of fifteen paces.

80. The instructor having given the recruit the position of the soldier without arms, will now teach him the turning of the head and eyes. He will command :

1. Eyes — Right. 2. Front.

81. At the word right, the recruit will turn the head gently, so as to bring the inner corner of the left eye in a line with the buttons of the coat, the eyes fixed on the line of the eyes of the men in, or supposed to be in, the same rank.

82. At the second command, the head will resume the direct or habitual position.

83. The movement of Eyes — Left will be executed by inverse means.

84. The instructor will take care that the movement of the head does not derange the squareness of the shoulders, which will happen if the movement of the former be too sudden.

Lesson II.

Facings.

88. Facing to the right and left will be executed in one time, or pause. The instructor will command :

1. Squad, 2. Right (or Ze/i{)--FACE.

89. At the second command, raise the right foot slightly, turn on the left heel, raising the toes a little, and then replace the right heel by the side of the left, and on the same line.

90. The full face to the rear (or front) will be exe-

School of the Soldier— Vd^vi I. 23

cuted in two times, or pauses, the instructor will command :

1. Squad. 2. About — Face.

91. {First time.) At the word about, the recruit will turn on the left heel, bring the left toe to the front, carry the right foot to the rear, the hollow opposite to, and full three inches from, the left heel, the feet square to each other.

92. {Second time.) At the word yacc, the recruit will turn on both heels, raise the toes a little, extend the hams, face to the rear, bringing, at the same time, the right heel by the side of the left.

93. The instructor will take care that these motions do not derange the position of the body.

Balance Step.*

87. Before commencing the march the soldier should always be instructed in the balance step, the object of which is to teach him the free movement of his limbs, while he at the same time preserves perfect squareness of the shoulders, with the greatest steadiness of the body; no labor should be spared to attain this object, which lies at the very foundation of good marching.

The squad being at attention, the instructor commands :

Left foot — Forward.

At this command, the soldier will throw his left foot gently forward, about twenty-four inches, balancing his body well on the right foot, without changing the position of the shoulders, and without the body losing its erect position. The toe should be turned out as in the position of the soldier, the foot about three

*The numbers of these paragraphs are retained with them, from Gilham's Manual.

24 School of the Soldier — Part I.

inches from the ground and very nearly parallel to it, the toe being very slightly depressed. At the command :

Left foot— Rear.

The left foot is brought gently back, the ball of the left foot close to the right heel, the leg straight, toe raised, and heel depressed.

As soon as the soldier becomes steady in the new position, the instructor repeats the command, left foot forward, then left foot rear, for several times, and then commands:

Halt.

At which the left foot, either advanced or to the rear, is brought to the right, as in the position of the soldier.

The instructor then causes the soldier to balance on the left foot, by advancing and retiring the right, as has been directed for the left.

The Direct Step.

88. After the soldier is sufficiently instructed in the balance step to execute it on either foot without losing his balance, the instructor will proceed to instruct him in the mechanism of the direct step. For this purpose he will command ;

1. Bp the numbers — Forward. 2, One.

At the command one, the soldier will throw forward the left foot, as in the position of left foot fortvard; the instructor then commands :

Two.

At this command the weight of the body is thrown forward, the left foot striking the ground without

School of the Soldier— Vtixi I. 25

shock, at the distance of twenty-eight inches from the right; the body assumes the perpendiciihir position, and the right foot is brought up to the position of right foot rear. The right foot is then brought forward at the command one, and the step completed at the command iwo ; thus the squad is made to advance step by step. The halt is executed as in the balance step.

Lesson III.

Principles of the Direct Step.

94. The length of the direct step, or pace, in common time, will bo twenty-eight inches, reckoning from heel to heel, and in swiftness, at the rate of ninety in a minute.

95. The instructor, seeing the recruit confirmM in his position, will explain to him the principles and mechanism of this step— placing himself six or seven paces from, and facing to, the recruit. lie will himself execute slowly the step in the way of illustration, and then command :

1. Squad, forward. 2. Common time. 3. March.*

9G. At the first command, the recruit will throw the w^eight of the body on the right leg, without bending the left knee.

97. At the third command, he will smartly, but without a jerk, carry straight forward the left foot twenty-eight inches from the right, the sole near the ground, the Lam extended, the toe a little depressed, and as also the knee slightly turned out; he will, at the same time, throw the weight of the body forward, and plant flat the left foot, without shock, precisely at the distance where it finds itself from the right when the weight of the body is brought forward, the whole of

*The2<;l and 3d of these commands will be given whenever in the manoeuvre-s, it is desirable to move at the ordinary step. ' o

26 JSchool of the Soldier — Part I.

which will now rest on the advanced foot. The recruit will next, in like manner, advance the ri^ht foot and plant it as above, the heel twenty-eig;ht inches from the heel of the left foot, and thus continue to march without crossing the legs, or striking the one against the other, without turning the shoulders, and preserving always the face direct to the front.

98. When the instructor shall wish to arrest the inarch, he will command :

1. Squad. 2. Halt.

99. At the second command, which will be given at the instant when either foot is coming to the ground, the foot in the rear will be brought up, and planted by the side of the other, without shock.