224. (First
motion.) Seize
the cartridge box with the left hand, bend the body, advance the
left foot opposite the lower band, and seize the piece with the
right hand.
225. (Second
motion.) Raise
the piece., bringing the left foot by the side of the right; turn
the piece with the right hand, the rammer to the front; at the same
time quit the cartridge box with the left hand, and drop this hand
by the side.
Inspection-ARMS.
One
time and two motions.
227. (
First
motion.) Seize
the piece with the left band below and near the upper band, carry it
with both bands opposite the middle of the body, the butt between
the feet, the rammer to the rear, the barrel vertical, the muzzle
about three inches from the body; carry the left hand reversed to
the sabre bayonet, draw it from the scabbard and fix it on the
barrel; grasp the piece with the left hand below and near the upper
band, seize the rammer with the thumb and fore-finger of the right
band bent, the other fingers closed.
228. (Second
motion.) Draw
the rammer as has been explained in loading, and let it glide to the
bottom of the bore, replace the piece with the left hand opposite
the right shoulder, and retake the position of ordered arms.
229. The instructor will then inspect in succession the piece of
each recruit, in passing along the front of the rank. Each, as the
instructor reaches him, will raise smartly his piece with his right
hand, seize it with the left between the lower band and guide sight,
the lock to the front, the left hand at the height of the chin, the
piece opposite to the left eye; the instructor will take it with the
right hand at the handle, and, after :inspecting it, will return it
to the recruit, who will receive it back with the right hand, and
replace it in the position of ordered arms.
230. When the instructor shall have passed him, each recruit will
retake the position proscribed at the command inspection arms,
return the rammer, and resume the position of ordered arms.
231. If, instead of inspection of arms, the instructor should merely
wish to calls(- bayonets to he fixed, he will command
Fix-BAYONET.
232. Take the position indicated in No. 227, fix
bayonets as has been explained, and immediately resume the position
of ordered arms.
233. If it be the wish of the instructor, after firing, to ascertain
whether the pieces have been discharged, he will command:
Spring-RAMMERS.
234. Put the rammer in the barrel as has been
explained above, and immediately retake the position of ordered
arms.
235. 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 it ring in the barrel.
236. Each recruit, after the instructor passes him, will return
rammer and resume the position of ordered arms.
Remarks on the Manual of Arms.
237. The manual of arms frequently distorts the
persons of recruits before they acquire case and confidence in the
several positions. The instructor will therefore frequently recur to
elementary principles in the course of the lessons.
238. Recruits are also extremely liable to curve the sides and back,
and to derange the shoulders, especially in loading. Consequently
the instructor will not cause them to dwell too !on(, at a time in
one position.
239. When, after some days of exercise in the manual of arms, the
four men shall be well established in their use, the instructor will
always terminate the lesson by marching the men for some time in one
rank, and at one pace apart, in common and quick time, in order to
confirm them more and more in the mechanism of the step; he will
also teach them to mark time and to change step; which will be
executed in the following manner:
To mark time.
240. The four men marching in the direct step, the
instructor will command:
1. Mark
time. 2.
MARCH.
241. 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 bringing the heels by the side
of each other, and observing the cadence of the step, by raising
each foot alternately without advancing.
242. The instructor wishing the direct step to be resumed will
command
1. Forward.
. 2. MARCH.
243. At the second command, which will be given as
proscribed above, the recruits will retake the step of twenty-eight
inches,
To change step.
244. The squad being in march, the instructor will
command:
1. Change
step. 2.
MARCH.
245. At the second command, which will be given at
the instant either foot is coming to the ground, bring the
foot -which is in rear by the side of that which is in front, and
step off again with the foot which was in front.
To march backwards.
246. The instructor wishing the squad to march
backwards, will command:
1. Squad
backward 2.
MARCH.
247. At the second command, the recruits will stop
off smartly with the left foot fourteen inches to the rear,
reckoning from heel to heel, and so on with the feet in succession
till the command halt, which will always be preceded by the caution
squad. The men will halt at this command, and bring back the foot in
front by the side of the other.
248. This step will always be executed in quick time.
249. The instructor will be watchful that the recruits March
straight to the rear, and that the erect position of the body and
the piece be not deranged.
LESSON
III.-TO
LOAD IN FOUR TIMES.
250.
The object of this lesson is to prepare the recruits to load at
will, and to cause them to distinguish the times which require the
greatest regularity and attention, such as charge cartridge, ram
cartridge and prime. It will be divided as follows:
251. The first time will be executed at the end of the command; the
three others at the commands, two, three and four.
The instructor will command:
1. Load
in four times.
2. LOAD.
252. Execute the times to include charge cartridge.
TWO.
253. Execute the times to include ram cartridge.
THREE.
254. Execute the times to include prime.
FOUR.
255. Execute the time of shoulder arms.
To load at will.
256, The instructor will next teach loading at will,
which will be executed as loading in four times, but continued, and
without rooting on either of the times. He will command:
1. Load
at will. 2.
LOAD
257. The instructor will habituate the. recruits, by
degrees, to load with the greatest possible promptitude, each
without regulating himself by his neighbor, and above all without
waiting for him
258. The cadence prescribed No. 129, is not applicable to loading in
four times, or at will.
