Against Infantry, Right—Parry. 

Right—Parry. 

1 time, 2 motions. 

52.—1. At the command, PAINT, grasp the sabre firmly, extend the arm to the right, the hand moving horizontally, the point at the same time describing a circular motion up­wards, and with the edge to the right, parry as strongly as possible the blow aimed at the right side.

2. Return to the position of guard. 

Left—PARRY. 

1 time, 2 motions. 

53.—1. Raise the hand above, and about seven inches in front of the eyes, the elbow somewhat bent, edge to the left, point downwards and about a foot outside the horses left shoulder, and parry as strongly as possible the blow aimed at the left side.

2. Return to the position of guard. 

Head—PARRY. 

1 time, 2 motions. 

54.—1. At the command, PARRY, raise the sabre quickly above the head, holding it with the utmost firmness, the arm nearly extended, the edge upward, the point to the left, and about 6 inches higher than the hand.

The hand is carried more or less to the right, left, or rear, according to the position of the adversary.

2. Return to the position of guard.

 

Against infantry right—PARRY. 

1 time, 2 motions.

 right, (half facing to the right in the saddle,) raise the sabre, the arm extended to the right and rear, the point upwards, the thumb extended on the back of the gripe, the edge to the left.

2. Parry the bayonet with the back of the blade, by a rapid circular motion of arm and blade, from rear to front, bringing the hand as high as the hind, the paint upwards, edge to the front.

3. Return to the position of guard. 

Against infantry, left—PARRY. 

1 time, 3 motions. 

56—1. At the command, PARRY, turn the head to the left, (half face to the left in the saddle,) raise the sabre, the arm extended to the front and right, the point upwards, the thumb extended on the back of the gripe, the back of the blade to the front.

2. Parry the bayonet with the back of the blade, by a forcible circular motion of the arm and blade from front to rear, bringing the band above the left shoulder, edge to the rear, the point upwards.

3.    Return to the position of guard. 

PARRIES AGAINST THE LANCE, (OR SABRE.)

 In tierce—PARRY. 

1 time, 2 motions. 

57.—1. At the command, PARRY, carry the forearm and blade quickly to the front and right, the elbow but little moved, edge to the right, thumb on the back of the gripe, the point being carried to the right front, at the height of the eyes.

2. Return to the position of guard.

  

In quarte.—PARRY. 

1 time, 2 motions. 

58.—1. At the command, PARRY, carry the arm and blade quickly to the left front, edge to the left, the point as high as the eyes, the thumb on the back of the gripe.

2. Return to the position of guard. 

59.—When the troopers begin to execute correctly the above cuts, thrusts, and parries, the instructor requires them to make the application of them by combined motions, such as follow:

In tierce—POINT AND FRONT CUT.

In quarte.—POINT AND FRONT CUT

Left—POINT AND CUT.

Right—POINT AND CUT.

Rear—POINT AND CUT.

Against infantry right—POINT AND CUT.

Against infantry left—POINT AND CUT.

 As it is prescribed in No. 30, and carry the right foot to the side of the left.

 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND DIRECTIONS.

 60—Great attention should at all times be paid to maintain the proper position and balance of the body as by too great an exertion in delivering a cut or point a horseman may be thrown, or be so discomposed as to lose advantage of his skill, both for attack and defence; and he should have confidence in his parries, and not trust to his avoiding the attack of his opponent by turning or drawing back the body.

In delivering a forward point very little force is necessary when the horse is in quick motion, as the extension of the arm, with a good direction of the point, will be fully suffi­cient; nor should a cut, under such circumstances, be given too strong, as the impetus of the horse will give effective force. Even the drawing of the edge can frequently be ap­plied with advantage, particularly when the point, by being given too soon, may not have taken effect; bys quick turn of the wrist the edge is drawn along the face of your oppo­nent, or other exposed part. The forcing, also, of the edge can be resorted to when very near and closely pressed upon by an adversary by suddenly extending the arm and direct­ing the edge across his face, or where an opening is given.

When sufficient space is allowed for choosing the point of attack you should endeavor to take advantage of it; if not, at all events to avoid its being made on your left rear, when a change of position alone can bring you upon an equality with your opponent; it may be done either by making a sudden halt, so as to allow him to pass, and then pressing upon his left rear, or by turning quickly to the left about, and thereby having your right opposed to his. Should you be prevented doing this, and he still keeps upon your left, you must bear up as close as possible to him, otherwise your opposition will be ineffectual; for in his situation, by keeping at the proper distance from you, his cut will reach when yours will not, and consequently you will be reduced to the defence alone.

In meeting your opponent on the left front turn sharply to the left on your own ground, which brings you imme­diately with your sword arm free, and at liberty to act upon his left. And in meeting him upon the right front, press your horse quickly on, and by a sharp turn to the right gain his left rear, or if pursued endeavor to keep your adversary on the right rear When attacked by more than one you will naturally endeavor to keep them both either to the right or left, but when they have been enabled to place themselves on both sides, press close upon the left opponent, and endeavor to keep the right one at a distance.

The attack or defence against the lance (it is the common weapon of the mounted Indians) depends much upon horsemanship, and the judgment of the rider. It is parried like the sword; and you must press in at your opportunity to close upon your antagonist. You must invariably endeavor to gain his right rear when he is least able to attack or defend; the left rear and left, weakest for the sabre, are the strongest positions for the lance; the same may be said of the bow and arrow; in pursuit always approach at the right rear.

When opposed to infantry, endeavor to meet an opponent on your right; in the parry the bayonet must be struck, and by the stronger part of your sabre; the cuts form a defence as well as attack upon Infantry, but the point should be chiefly used in pursuit.

In the use of the sabre at speed, it is important that the horseman should aid the impetus of the cut, and secure his own seat by supporting the sway of the body with the op­posite leg to that side on which he Intends to cut or point; for instance, In the left cut he should support the body by a strong pressure of the inside of the right thigh and leg against the saddle and horse; in the right cuts support the body with the left leg, the lower down the grip can be taken the better, not touching the horse with the spur. It is particularly applicable and necessary in pursuit over rough and varied ground.

Cuts very often fail from the sabre turning enough to make the blow one with the flat; at best the wound is gen­erally trifling compared to those made by thrusts.

The instructor should impress upon the recruits such occasional observations as become applicable. Opportunities should be taken in pauses of rests; the squad should not be kept very long In positions or movements. 

MANUAL OF THE PISTOL. 

61.—The army revolver being worn In a belt-holster, suspended by the belt at the right side of the back, the instructor commands:  

Draw—PISTOL. 

1 time. 

62.—At the command, PISTOL, with the right hand un­button the flap of the belt-hoister, draw the pistol, and, holding it at the stock, with the point of the forefinger reaching above the trigger guard, carry it vertically, with the hand as high as the right shoulder, and six inches in front of it.

63.—The instructor commands: 

READY. 

1 time. 

At this command, place the pistol in the left hand, as the height of the breast, the muzzle elevated and directed to the left front, cock and raise pistol, (position No. 62.) 

AIM. 

1 time. 

64.—At this command, lower the pistol to the front, the arm about three-fourths extended, the forefinger upon the trigger; aim with the right eye, the left eye closed. 

FIRE. 

1 time. 

65.—At this command, fire and raise pistol.

66.—At the position of AIM, the instructor may command, raise—PISTOL, at which command the men raise the pistols to the position No. 62; and if the pistol is not fired, at the command, return—P1ST0L, first let down the hammer.

67.—To cock the pistol rapidly without the use of the left hand, place the thumb Upon and press down the ham­mer, throwing forward the muzzle with a rapid motion, to assist the action of the thumb.

68.—In a possible case requiring it, the revolver may be used in rank dismounted with great effect, in firing to the front, or right or left oblique, by volley or file firing.

To reload, the rank would be ordered to sit on the ground and load at will.

69.—Being at the position of raise pistol, the instructor commands: 

Return—PISTOL. 

At the command, PISTOL, lower the pistol, carrying it to the rear, and return it to the holster, and button the flap. 

 

INSPECTION OF ARMS. 

70.—The instructor commands:

Inspection —SABRE. 

1 time, 7 motions. 

1. At the command, SABRE, execute the first time of draw sabre, No. 30.

2.    Execute the second time of draw sabre, No. 30.

3. Present sabre as it is described in first time of No. 31.

4. Move the thumb to the hack of the gripe, and turn it in the hand, the edge turning by the front, to the right

5. Carry the sabre to the shoulder, as it is described in No. 30.

6. Execute the first time of return sabre, No.31.

7. Execute the second time of return sabre, No. 31.

71. The instructor commands: 

Inspection—PISTOL. 

1 time, 3 motions. 

1.    At the command, PISTOL, draw pistol, and come to the position of raise pistol, No. 62.

2.    Place the pistol in the left hand, at the height of the breast, the muzzle elevated and directed to the left, hall cock with the right hand drop the left hand by the side, and hold the pistol vertically, in front of, and 4 inches from, the middle of the body, the butt at the height of the belt, the guard to the left; the right fore-arm against the side.

3. Take the pistol in the left hand, as in No. 63, let down the hammer, and return the pistol to the hoister, button the flap, and drop the hand to the side.

72.  When the men execute the details correctly, the in­structor commands:

Inspection—ARMS. 

At the command, ARMS,the men execute the first and second motions of inspection of pistol, No 71.

As soon as the inspector has passed the man on his left, each man executes the third motion of inspection of pistol, and first and second motions of inspection of sabre.

Each man, as the inspector reaches him the second time, executes the third and fourth motions of inspection of sabre; and as soon as the inspector has passed again the next man, he executes the fifth, sixth, and seventh motions of inspection of sabre, No. 70.

73. The inspector passes from right to left, returning to the right by the rear; he handles the pistols if he desires, returning them to the troopers in the same position in which they are held for inspection.

 

TARGET PRACTICE. 

74. The target is six feet high and two feet wide; a black stripe 3 inches wide is painted at the centre, from top to bottom; and two feet and a half from the top a white square of three inches is painted on the black.

When practicable a man is placed behind a ball-proof obstacle, within reach by a wand, of the target; with this he points out the position of each hit, immediately after it is made; so that the person firing can see from his place.

When each has finished his shots, his hits are marked, measured, and noted, as well as the misses.

The squad first fires at 20 yards, each man fires to the front, rear, right, and left; one shot each a day.

The firing is next at thirty yards, and is carried regu­larly by the decimal increase up to one hundred yards.

An officer is always present at target firing. 

PLATOON, SQUADRON, AND REGIMENT, DISMOUNTED.

 75.—The practice of field movements on foot is useful for the instruction of young officers and men, and when, for any reason, mounted exercises are not practicable.

The formation, telling off, words of command, and all the movements are the same, with the modifications, which follow:

The walk and the trot are the only gaits substituted by the quick time and double quick time. The word of com­mand, “walk/’ will be substituted by quick time; ‘trot,” by double quick.

All the movements will be In quick time when the com­mand is not double quick.”

In line, at the command, right—FACE, after all face to the right, all numbers two and four step up to the left side of numbers one and three; If the command is left--face, the odd numbers step up to the right of the even numbers.

A column of twos right in front, being faced to the left at a halt, or marching, the odd numbers step up into their places on the right of the even numbers; if left in front, and faced to the right, the even numbers step up between the odd numbers.

The commands and methods found in Nos. 7 to 27, in­clusive, of the school of the trooper dismounted, will be fol­lowed.

To form twos and fours, and to break by twos and file, is always done at the same gait, without halting, closing or increasing the distances; when increasing front, the files who have to move up doing so with a step or two in double quick, and all together.

To break a platoon, marching in line, by fours, at the same gait, each set, but the foremost, halt, until the one which is to precede it has moved forward, or obliqued two steps.

On the same principle, when the squadron in line is broken by platoon, each platoon waits until the one which precedes it has gained a distance of three-fourths of a platoon front.

A column of fours making a turn, the pivot shortens his step to 18 inches, (he marches ten steps in making the turn,) and the man on the other flank increases his to about 32 inches.

In a platoon turning, the pivot man does the same, the outer flank moves in double quick.

To countermarch a squadron the commands are:

1.  Countermarch by the right or (left) flank.    2.  Right (or Left)—FACE.    3.  MARCH.

 At the first command, the right guide places himself three paces in rear of the left guide and faces to the rear.

At the command, MARCH, all step off together, the platoon commander by the side, and conducting the two leading men, who turn about, and march close to the column. When arrived near the guide, the captain commands: 

1.  HALT.  2.  Left (or Right)—FACE.  3.  Right (or Left)—DRESS.  4.  FRONT.

The service of skirmishers on foot is the most important; and the theory can thus be communicated, and in a great degree put in practice, with much more facility than when mounted.