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SECTION
III.
Drill
of the Company.
When the
recruits have been sufficiently instructed in the soldier's drill,
they, will be formed as a company in three ranks, with a captain,
covering sergeant, and file closers, as has been directed.
The officer
who exercises the company will be called the instructor. He will
number the files from right to left. He will be clear and concise in
his explanations, and calm in his manner.
LESSON
1.
ARTICLE
I.
Opening
Ranks.
The company
being at ordered arms, the instructor will place the second sergeant
on the left of the first rank, covered by a corporal on the third
rank, and will command,
Attention. Shoulder, ARMS.
Rear ranks, take distance. MARCH.
At the word
"distance," the captain and the sergeant on the left of
the first rank, step back to the line of file closers, and dress by
them.
The covering
sergeant and the corporal placed on the left of the rear rank, step
back to the distance of four paces in rear of the line of file
closers, judging the distance by the eye.
At the word
march, the first rank stands fast. The two rear ranks step back in
common time, without counting the steps, and place themselves in the
line taken for each rank.
The captain
will dress the second rank, and the covering sergeant will dress the
third rank, on the corporal on the left.
The
file closers step back at the same time, and take their distance of
two paces, when the third rank is formed.
STEADY.
At this command by the instructor, the captain, and the sergeant who is on
the left of the second rank, regain their posts on the front rank.
ARTICLE
II.
Dressing
at Open Order.
The instructor
will cause three men on the right of each rank to march three paces
to the front, and having dressed them will command,
By file, to the right DRESS.
At this command
the soldiers of each rank will form successively upon the line, each
being preceded two paces by the man next him on the right.
The line will be
formed to the left in the like manner. The instructor will then
cause the line to be formed at once by each rank, to the front, and
to the rear, and in parallel and oblique directions.
To the right, DRESS.
The instructor
will attend to the execution of the first rank, the captain to the
second, and the covering sergeant to the third. And after every
alignment will pass along the ranks, and inspect the position of the
men and arms.
To the right, backward DRESS.
The soldiers will step back behind the
line, and take the true direction by degrees, moving up gently,
preserving a proper position, and taking care never to get before
the line.
There are always to be three men of each rank placed as a basis whereon
the line is to be formed.
ARTICLE
III.
Manual
Exercise.
The ranks being
at open order, the instructor will place himself before the right
flank, and command the manual exercise and motions of loading, in
this order:
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1
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Support
ARMS.
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14
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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2
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Carry
ARMS.
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15
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Advance
ARMS.
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3
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Slope
ARMs.
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16
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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4
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Carry
ARMS.
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17
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Load
by the word.
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5
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Trail
ARMS.
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18
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Open
PAN.
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6
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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19
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Handle
CARTRIDGE.
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7
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Order
ARMS.
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20
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PRIME.
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g
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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21
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Shut
PAN.
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9
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Secure
FIRELOCK.
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22
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Charge
CARTRIDGE.
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10
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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23
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Draw
RAMMER.
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11
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Present
ARMS.
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24
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Ram
CARTRIDGE.
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12
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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25
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Return
RAMMER.
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13
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Charge
BAYONET.
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26
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Shoulder
ARMS.
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The
instructor will observe that the position of the body, firelock, and
feet, are exact; and the motions smartly executed.
ARTICLE
IV.
Closing
Ranks.
The manual being finished, the instructor will command,
1
Close ranks. 2 March.
At the word
"march," the two rear ranks will close by the common step,
each man covering his file leader. The captain and covering sergeant
take their posts in the line.
ARTICLE
V.
Dressing
at Close Order.
The
instructor, placing three files to serve as a basis, will cause
^parallel and oblique directions to be taken, to the front and rear.
As soon as
the captain sees the greatest part of the front rank dressed, he
will command,
STEADY.
And afterwards rectify, if necessary, the dressing of the rest. The file
closers will always place themselves two paces in rear of the third
rank.
1
Order, ARMS. 2 REST.
This should
be observed at the end of every lesson.
LESSON
II.
ARTICLE
I.
Loading
in Quick Time.
3
The repeated
shoulderings in the manual exercise have been objected to; but they
are necessary to be taught, as the firelock is brought to the
shoulder from each of the other positions and these shouldering are
variously performed by two, three, and four motions.
The instructor will command,
ATTENTION.
Shoulder, ARMS. Load in
quick time. Load, ARMS.
At this last word
each soldier will commence loading; he will open pan, take out
cartridge, break cartridge, prime.
TWO.
At this word the soldier proceeds to shut
pan, charge cartridge. THREE.
He draws rammer, rams cartridge, striking
twice. FOUR.
He
returns rammer, and shoulders arms.
ARTICLE II.
Loading
in Quickest Time.
The
instructor will command.
1
Load at will.
2
Prime and LOAD.
At
this word the soldiers will load and shoulder without stopping. This
being the mode of loading in battle, the soldiers must be practiced
in it until they can charge three rounds in a minute.
The instructor will require
regularity, without which the soldiers embarrass each other.
ARTICLE
III.
Fire
by the Company.
The instructor will command,
1
Fire by company.
2
Commence firing.
At the word
"company," the captain will step briskly to the rear of
the centre of his company, two paces behind the file closers. The
covering sergeant will fall back into the line of file closers,
opposite his post.
At the second command, the
captain will order,
Company.
READY. AIM.
FIRE.
Prime and LOAD.
At the word "load" the soldiers draw back their pieces from
the aiming position, load them, and carry arms. The men of the third
rank step nine inches to the right, to be opposite the interval of
the other ranks.
The captain will
continue the fire by the same commands, until the drum beats the
signal for the firing to cease.
The captain
will sometimes command "to the right (or left) oblique,"
after " ready," and before "aim." He will also
sometimes command "recover arms," to accustom the men to
coolness and attention to the word of command.
ARTICLE IV.
Firing
by File.
The instructor will command,
1
Fire by file. 2 Company.
3
READY.
4
Commence FIRING.
At the first
command, the captain will step one pace in the rear of the third
rank, opposite his interval; and the covering sergeant will step
into the line of file closers, behind the captain.
The fire will
commence by file on the right. Each file will fire when the next
file on the right has primed. This succession is only necessary
during the first round. The third rank is not to fire.
The instructor will cause the firing to cease by a short roll of the
drum. It will end with a tap, as the signal to the captain and
covering sergeant to resume their places in the order of battle; and
both "the roll," and "the tap," will be
commanded by the instructor; the last when the arms are shouldered.
ARTICLE
V.
Firing
to the Rear.
The instructor will command,
1
Fire to the rear. 2 Company. 3
Right about, FACE.
At the word "right about," the captain will step behind the
right hand man of the front rank. The covering sergeant and file
closers pass through the interval of the captain, and take post in
front, now becoming the rear.
At
the word "face," the chief of platoon will place himself
in the interval on the third rank, now in front, the covering
sergeant takes post on the first rank, now in the rear.
The instructor will command
the fire direct, oblique and by files as before.
1 Company.
2
Right about, FACE.
The
captain, file closers, and covering sergeant proceed as before, and
regain their posts in the line.
The
captain shall allow sufficient time between the words
"aim," and "fire " for the soldiers to aim
correctly.
The instructor will place himself on the
right flank, so as to see the three ranks. The captain and the file
closers, who are at ordered arms will observe those who load badly,
or are last in firing; such must be sent to the soldier's drill.
Calmness
and coolness are to be recommended, but life and spirit are to be
preserved in the execution.
The instructor will direct
them to keep the left heel in its place, to preserve the line.
He
will see that the soldiers ram down well; charge them to notice the
smoke coming out of the touchhole after firing; not to cock instead
of halfcocking the piece; and to be very careful not to load thrice
without discharging. He will sometimes cause them to come to ordered
arms, and put the rammer in the piece to ascertain whether there be
more charges in it than one. If so, they must be drawn.
LESSON
III
ARTICLE
I.
Marching
in Line.
The
company being in line, and correctly dressed, the instructor will
step fifteen paces to the front, and place himself in a line with
the captain and covering sergeant, who is behind him on the third
rank. Being satisfied that they have their shoulders in the
direction °' the line, and are correctly dressed one behind the
other, and being """self m line with the file of
direction, he will command,
1 Company, forward.
At
this command, one of the file closers previously appointed, will
advance six paces in front of the captain, and will be dressed on
the line with the directing file. This file closer will take two
points on the ground, in a right line passing from him between the
heels of the instructor.
2.
MARCH.
The company will step off with life. The file closer charged with the
direction will observe the length and cadence of the step, and will
take as he advances new points on the same line, at fifteen or
twenty paces from each other. The captain will march exactly on his
steps six paces behind him.
The man next to the captain will be careful never to get before him. He
will therefore keep the line of his shoulders rather in the rear,
but in the same direction as those of the captain.
The file closers march two
paces in the rear of the third rank.
If the soldiers lose the
step, the instructor will command,
The step.
At this command the soldiers will cast their eyes on the directing
sergeant, take the step from him, and bring the head to its direct
position.
The directing sergeant ought to be well disciplined, and remarkable for
precision of step, and correctness in keeping the direction.
The instructor will march the company
some hundred paces, if the ground will admit, in order to fix the
soldiers in the length and cadence of the step. In the first
exercise, he may march them in open ranks, the covering sergeant
being placed on the second rank, behind the captain.
The instructor will sometimes come to the flank, to see all the faults;
and sometimes he will place himself behind the directing file, to
see if the sergeant advances on the perpendicular line.
ARTICLE
II.
To
Halt and Dress the Company.
The instructor will command,
1 Company. 2 HALT.
At the word "halt," the whole will stand fast. The directing
sergeant will remain in front until the instructor shall desire him
to take his place in the line.
The instructor will advance the three right hand files two paces, and on
the basis thereby formed dress the line. Or he may command;
3
Right, DRESS.
The soldiers will turn the head
to the right, and dress by degrees.
4 STEADY.
The whole look to the front and
remain motionless.
ARTICLE
III.
The
March Oblique.
The company being on the direct
march, the instructor will command,
1
Oblique to the right. 2 MARCH.
At
the word "march," which will be pronounced as the left
foot comes to the ground, the company will commence the oblique step
with the right foot. The directing sergeant will be careful to keep
his shoulders square to the front, and to oblique with an equal
movement. The captain will conform his march to that of the
directing sergeant. The soldiers will preserve the touch of the
elbow on the side of direction, keeping the shoulders square to the
front, the head erect, and eyes directed straight forward.
1 Forward. 2 MARCH.
At
the command "march," which may be pronounced as either
root comes to the ground, the company will take the direct march.
The
instructor will quickly place himself twenty paces before the
directing file, and correct by signs the directing sergeant, who
will take-two points of direction as before.
The
instructor will at length continue the oblique march a long
distance, to fix the soldiers in its principles, as it is sometimes
important in movements of the line.
ARTICLE IV.
To Mark Time, March in Quick
Time, and Step Back.
The instructor as the company
advances in common time, will command,
1 Mark,
TIME. 2
MARCH.
To
take the ordinary step again, he will command,
1
Forward. 2 MARCH.
To march me quick step, the
instructor will command,
1 Quick,
TIME. 2
MARCH.
The
word "march" to be pronounced as either foot comes to the
ground. To take again the ordinary step,
1 Common
TIME. 2
MARCH.
The
company being halted, the instructor will command,
1
Step back. 2 MARCH.
The soldiers will step back,
twelve inches each step, commencing with the left foot.
ARTICLE
V.
March
to the Rear.
The company being halted, and
correctly dressed, the instructor will command,
1
Company.
2
Right about, - FACE.
The
company having gone to the right about, the instructor will step
quickly twenty paces before the new front, place himself in line
with the directing file, and then command.
3 Company. 4 FORWARD.
The
directing sergeant will come six paces before the directing and take
two objects as before directed. The covering sergeant will place
himself on the line of file closers, opposite his place, and the
captain will take that place in the third rank, now become the
first.
5 MARCH.
The whole will advance as in
the march to the front.
1 Company. 2 HALT.
3
Right about, - FACE.
The captain and covering sergeant regain their places,
and the instructor forms or corrects the line as before directed.
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