LESSON II.

MANUAL OF ARMS.

The manual of arms should be taught to two men placed at first side by side, in one rank, elbow to elbow, and next in a single file, that is one behind the other.  Each command is executed in one time (or pause), and is divided into motions.  The rate (or swiftness of each motion, except the motions relative to the cartridge , to the rammer, and to the fixing and unfixing of the bayonet, is fixed at the ninetieth part of a minute; but the motions here excepted should be executed with promptness and regularity.  As soon as the men shall well comprehend the positions of the several motions, they will taught to execute the times without resting on the motions.

1. Support. 2. ARMS.

 One time and three motions.

(First motion.) At the command arms raise the piece with the left hand (elbow bent) about four inches, without turning the piece-at the same time with the right hand seize the small of the stock, thumb under and against the shoulder of the lock, fingers closed and against the out-side of the small or handle.  (See Fig. 16.) The * and dotted lines upon the right side represent the motion of the right hand , and that on the left, the raising of the left hand.

(Second motion.)  Quit the butt with the left hand; place the left fore-arm under the hammer, the little finger on top of and resting on the body belt, hand opposite to the centre of the body; the weight of the musket resting on the fore-arm near the wrist, and the piece perpendicular.   (See Fig. 17.) The dotted line shows the motion of the left hand.

 (Third motion.)  Drop the right hand by its side and the position is complete.   (See Fig. 18.)  The dotted line shows the falling of the right hand.

REST.-  (When at a support arms. PARADE-REST will always be understood.)- At this command throw back the right foot four or six inches to the rear of its present position, at the same time carry the right hand to the small of the stock and under the left stock and under the left fore-arm; shoulders remaining square to the front.  (See Fig. 20.)

1. Attention.  2.  SQUAD.

At the second command, resume the position of support arms.   (See Fig. 21.)

1.  Carry.  2. ARMS.- One time and three motions.

(First motion.)  Carry quickly the right hand to the small of the stock.  (See Fig. 22.)

(Second motion.)  Place quickly the left hand upon the butt.  (See Fig. 23.)

Third motion.  Let fall smartly the right hand into its place; and drop with the left hand the piece into the position of shoulder arms.  (See Fig. 24.)

1.  Present.  2.  ARMS.- One time and two motions.

(First motion.)- With the left hand, turn the piece, lock to the front.  At the same time, seize it with the right hand at the small; thumb next the body; the left hand remaining under the butt; the barrel perpendicular and detached from the shoulder about two inches. (See Fig. 25.)

(Second motion) Complete the turning inward of the piece with the right hand 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; at the same time seize it smartly with the left hand above and near to the lock, the little finger resting on a portion thereof, the thumb along the stock and barrel pointing toward the muzzle,. the left fore-arm resting against the body without constraint, the hand at the height of the elbow.   (See Fig. 26.)

1. Shoulder.  2.  ARMS.- One time, two motions.

(First motion.)  Raise and turn the piece with the right hand, barrel to the front;  carry it to the left side, supported by the right hand at the hammer; the left hand under the butt at its proper length.   (See Fig. 27.)

(Second motion.)  Drop the right hand smartly by its side, but do not move the left hand or the piece.   (See Fig. 28.)

1. Arms.  2. PORT.- One time, one motion.

Throw the piece diagonally across the body, the lock to the front, seize it smartly at the same time with both hands, the right at the small, the left at the tail band, the thumbs pointing towards the muzzle, the barrel sloping upward and crossing opposite to the point of the left shoulder, the butt proportionally lowered, so as to make it slope at an angle of forty-five degrees; the palm of the 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.  (See Fig. 29.)

1. Shoulder.  2.  ARMS.- Two motions.

(First motion.)  Bring the piece smartly to the left shoulder, placing the left hand under the butt, at the full extent of the left arm; the right hand remaining at the hammer.  (See Fig. 30.)

(Second motion.)  Drop the right hand smartly by the side.  (See Fig. 31.)

1. Order.  2.  ARMS.- One time, two motions.

(First motion.)  Drop the piece smartly from the left hand, cause it to turn slightly, lock to the front, seize it at the same time with the right hand two inches above the tail-band, turn it, barrel to the rear, carry it to the right side, butt two inches from the ground, muzzle near the hollow of the right shoulder, little finger behind and against then stock and barrel, the other fingers extended and joined, thumb against the right thigh, wrist.

pressing in so as to turn the toe (or beak) of the butt out, that it may not strike the foot in the second motion- left hand hanging naturally.  (See Fig.  32,)  in which the dotted musket represents the position of the piece at the instant the right hand seizes it.  The dotted line at the bayonet shows the curve made in passing to the front and side of the body.) 

(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 the thumb, and fore-finger extended along the stock, the other fingers extended and joined, the muzzle near the right shoulder the rammer to the front, the toe (or beak) of the butt against and in a line with the toe of the right foot, the barrel perpendicular.  (See Fig. 33.)

REST.

Take the position as represented in Fig. 34..  See also the remarks on the REST .

 1,  Attention.  2.  SQUAD.

At the second command, resume the position of order arms.  (See Fig. 35.)

 1.Shoulder.  2.  ARMS.

(First motion.)  Raise smartly the piece with the right hand, carry it against the left shoulder, turn 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 the lock.  (See Fig. 36.)

(Second motion.)  Let fall smartly ht right hand into its position.  (See Fig. 37.)

The dotted lines A, A, B, B, represent the movement of the feet, (both moving in position at the same time,) the left foot turning upon the left heel; at the same time turn the piece with the left hand, lock to the front, and seize it with the right at the small, the barrel perpendicular and detached from the shoulder, the left hand remaining at the butt.  (See Fig. 39.)

(Second motion.)  With the right hand carry the piece to the right side, at the same time let it fall in the left hand, a little in advance of the tail-band, the right hand grasping securely the handle in front of and against the right thigh, the lock turned a little up, the left elbow pressed firmly against and a little in front of the left side, the left thumb extended along the stock and pointing towards the muzzle, the bayonet at the height of the eye, or always in a line between your eye and the eye of your adversary.  (See Fig. 40.)

1. Shoulder. 2. ARMS.

One time, two motions.

(First motion.)  Face to the front by turning back the left toe to its place, place the right heel beside the left, feet square, spring up the piece perpendicular in the right hand, carry it to the left side, place the left hand under the butt, the right hand remaining at the small; this must be done in the time of one motion, (or the ninetieth part of a minute.)  (See Fig. 41.)

(Second motion.)  Let fall smartly the right hand.  (See Fig. 42.)

1.  Unfix.  2.  BAYONETS.-  One time, three motions.

The third motion of unfix cannot be executed in the regular time (or cadence) but will nevertheless be done promptly.

(First motion.)  Drop the piece by a smart extension of the left arm, at the same time seize it with the right hand at, above and near the tail band.  (See Fig. 43.)

NOTE.  This figure does not represent the feet correctly, the heels should not be moved.  (See also see Fig. 44.) observe the dotted line at the muzzle, represents the sinking of then piece and also falling a little to the front.

(Second motion.)  Drop the piece with the right hand along the outside of the left thigh, to the full extent of the right arm, seize it with the left hand at the middle band, thumb on the rod, carry the but to the ground near to the left heel, at the same time carry the right hand to the bayonet, seize it at the socket about an inch below the heel of the palm, so that in wresting off the bayonet the thumb may be extended on the blade.  (See Fig. 45.)

hand at the middle band, thumb on the rod, and the right hand at the bayonet, near the socket, thumb on the flat of the blade, (see Fig. 53,) barrel to the rear.

(Second motion.)  Wrench off the bayonet, place it in the scabbard, (same as the third motion from a shoulder,) place the right hand on the piece, below the left, at the full extent of the right arm, left hand remaining at the middle band.

(Third motion.)  Face to the front by turning on the left heel, bring the right heel beside the left, and drop the left hand.  (See Fig. 54.)

FIX BAYONETS from an order, will be executed the same as the unfix, with this exception: in the first motion, the right hand seizes the bayonet now in the scabbard; second motion, it is placed on the piece; the rest is the same as above.

1.  Secure.  2. ARMS.- One time and two motions.

(First motion.)  Seize quickly the piece with both hands, by detaching it from the shoulder, the right hand at the handle near the lock, the left hand at the tail band, thumb extended along the rammer, piece perpendicular, barrel to the front, left fore-arm from the wrist to the elbow against the piece. (See Fig. 55.)

(Second motion.)  Depress the muzzle with the left hand, bring the lock under the left arm, drop the right hand.  (See Fig. 56.)  The object of this motion is to keep the lock dry in stormy weather; the recruit will see the necessity of keeping the lock well up under the left arm.  The thumb presses upon the rod to prevent its falling out.

To come to a shoulder from a secure, the command will be

1. Shoulder. 2.  ARMS.- One time and two motions.

(First motion.)  Spring up the piece with the left hand, at the same time seize it with both hands, the left under the butt, and the right at the lock.  (See Fig, 57, side view, in which the dotted line will serve to illustrate its movement.  See also, Fig, 58, a front view.)

(Second motion.)  Drop the right hand, (see fig. 59.) 

1.  Fix.  2.  BAYONETS.- One time and three motions.

(First and second motions.)  As the first and second motions of unfix bayonets 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 extend about an inch 

above the heel of the palm.  (See Figs. 60 and 61.)

(Third motion.)  Draw the bayonet from the scabbard, carry and fix it on the muzzle; (see Fig.62,) place the little finger of the right hand on the butt of the rammer.  (See Fig. 63.)

1.  Shoulder.  2.  ARMS.- One time and three motions.

(First, second, and third motions.)  Same as shoulder from unfix bayonets.

1.  Trail.  2.  ARMS.- One time. two motions.

(First motion.)  As the first motion of order arms.  (See Fig. 64.)

(Second motion.)  Incline a little the muzzle to the front, the butt to the rear, the right hand supported at the hip, the bayonet of the rear-rank man's piece should not touch the front rank man.   (See Fig. 65.)

1.  Shoulder. 2.  ARMS.

At the command SHOULDER, straighten the piece perpendicularly in the right hand;  (See Fig. 66.) at the command ARMS, execute what has been prescribed for the shoulder from the position of order arms.  (See Fig. 67.)

To the right shoulder.  Shift.  ARMS.- One time, one motion.

But for the better explanation, we will divide it into three.

First.  Turn the piece with the left hand, lock to the front, at the same time seize it by the handle with the right.  (Same as first motion of present arms.)  (See Fig. 68.)

Second.  With both hands raise the piece, turn it barrel to the rear, rest the hammer on the right shoulder, muzzle inclining backwards at about an angle of thirty degrees; at the same time slip the right hand down to the butt; the toe or beak of the butt projecting between the first and second fingers.  (See Fig. 69), the left hand should remain at the butt.

Third.  Drop the left hand.  (See Fig. 70.)  When this id properly understood by the recruit, it must be done as one time, one motion.

Shoulder.  ARMS.- One time, two motions.

(First motion.)  Raise the piece by extending the right arm, seize it with the left hand at the tail band.  (See Fig. 70.)  Carry it against the left shoulder, turning the barrel to the front, the right hand being at the handle, (See Fig. 71.) place the left hand under the butt.

(Second motion.)  let the right hand fall into its position.  (See Fig. 72.)

Arms.  AT WILL.

Carry the piece at pleasure on either shoulder, or with one or both hands, the muzzle always up.   (See Fig. 73.)