500 MACHETECHNICS. 



ing of themselves towards the right or left, according as the com- 

 mand is right DRESS, or left DRESS ; and next, the facing, or turning 

 to the right or left, always on the left heel as a pivot, at the com- 

 mand right, or left FACE. They are next taught to march ; always 

 commencing with the left foot, and taking steps of 28 inches in 

 length ; 90 in a minute for common time, and 120 for quick time, 

 being the standard speed. Troops marching in line, those of the 

 same rank being side by side, change direction, either by wheeling, 

 or turning : but when marching by a flank, or those of the same 

 rank following or covering each other, they then change direction by 

 firing, to the right, or left. 



The remaining part of the School of the Soldier, relates to the use 

 of arms, or the manual exercise, with the musket and the rifle ; but 

 we here refer exclusively to the former. At the command shoulder 

 ARMS, the musket is made to rest vertically against the left shoulder, 

 supported by the left hand placed under the butt ; the lock being 

 turned to the front. To order ARMS, when shouldered, the right 

 hand is made to seize the gun, above the lock, and bring it down to 

 the right side ; the butt resting on the ground, the lock turned to the 

 rear, and the barrel resting against the right thumb and fore ringer. 

 To load in twelve times, the successive commands are, 1. LOAD; 

 2. Open-^an; 3. Handle-car/nV/g-e ; 4. Tear-cartridge; 5. Prime; 

 6. Shui-pan; 7. Czst-about ; 8. Charge-cartridge; 9. Draw-ram- 

 mer ; 10. Ham-cartridge; 11. Return-rammer; 12. Shoulder- 

 arms. At the first command, the gun is brought to a horizontal 

 position at the right side, pointing to the front, and supported by the 

 left hand: and, at the seventh command, the gun is carried around 

 to the left side, with the butt resting on the ground ; and the remainder 

 of the cartridge, hitherto held in the right hand, is afterwards inserted 

 in the gun, with the torn end downwards ; the paper of the cartridge 

 serving as a wad, both for the powder and ball. To load in four 

 times, and to load at will, are performed in the same manner ; 

 but with four commands, in the former case, and only one in the 

 latter. 



The School of the Company, includes instruction in all manoeu- 

 vres which are performed by a company ; either alone, or considered 

 as a part of a battalion. It consists of the different exercises, in 

 marching and fighting ; as taught in the school of the soldier, but 

 here repeated by the whole company. On parade, the manual exer- 

 cise is performed with open ranks ; the rear rank taking six steps 

 backward, to make room between it and the front. When firing, in 

 close order, the men of the rear rank aim over the right shoulders of 

 their file leaders respectively. When marching in line, if the ser- 

 geant, acting as guide, is on the right of the line, the men touch and 

 dress to the right ; but if on the left, then the left regulates the 

 movement. When, from marching by a flank, the company is to 

 come into line, the rear files advance rapidly, and take their places on 

 the right or left of the leading file ; the file leader of which, retains 

 his position. The platoons, or sections, when marching in column, 

 keep at wheeling distance from each other ; so that by halting, and 

 wheeling to the right or left, they would again be in line. Of the 



