46 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



of the adaptation of principles to the ground, arc worthy of study, and, to some extent, of 

 imitation. 



It may be remarked of the Austrian, as well as of most of the European infantry, that men 

 are allowed to swing the arm freely, and that the piece is much more frequently carried at a 

 slope than at a carry. 



The rifles habitually carry their pieces slung on the right shoulder, (not across the back,) 

 the rifle behind the shoulder, and vertical, the sling passing in front, and grasped by the right 

 hand. This appears to be the most convenient and least fatiguing manner of carrying it. 



Under the new system all small arms are rifled, and have an uniform calibre and lock ; the 

 calibre is about the same as our own new model rifled musket. 



The barrel of the infantry musket is 37^ inches long, has four shallow grooves, and a charge 

 of 55 grains. 



The men of the rear rank have a hausse for longer distances than those of the front and centre 

 ranks ; in other respects the weapons are the same ; the bayonet has four grooves ; the barrel of 

 the rifle is 28 inches long ; the rear rank of the rifles carry a "tige rifle;" the rifle has a sword 

 bayonet ; the rammer is separate from the rifle, has a wooden handle, and is attached to the 

 shoulder belt. Thin white cross belts are used, without a waist belt ; in the rifles the belts are 

 black. The cartridge box contains four packages of six rounds each, and the cleaning utensils ; 

 six additional packages are carried in the knapsack. The Tyrolese rifles use the powder horn. 

 Non-commissioned ofiicers of infantry, and all the grenadiers, wear an infantry sabre. 



In each company 16 hatchets are carried in a leather case attached to the bayonet scabbard 

 belt. 



Drums of brass, 12 inches high and 16 inches in diameter. 



The bugle is, more properly speaking, a clarion. 



No fifes are used. 



Musicians have a sabre, but no fire-arms. 



The pioneers carry a saw, axe, and hatchet, in the same manner as the engineer troops. 



The officers have a light sabre. 



The knapsack is of cowskin, with the hair left on ; it is 12 inches square, and 4^ inches thick. 

 No breast strap is used for the knapsack ; the two shoulder straps are attached to the middle of 

 the top of the knapsack, pass over the shoulder and under the arm to the outer ends of the 

 bottom of the knapsack ; fastened on the left side by a buckle, on the right by a ring and hook. 



The infantry shako, cut of the uniform, belts, &c., are shown in the figures accompanying 

 the report on the Austrian engineer troops. The shako is of black felt, with leather top and 

 vizor ; large brass eagle in front ; wooden pompon, trimmed with brass ; a black water-proof 

 cover goes over the shako and vizor ; when this is put on, the pompon and eagle are removed, 

 and put inside the shako in the top lining. 



The forage cap is of light blue cloth, of the gig-top shape ; it has no vizor, but two flaps of 

 cloth, (which can be turned up,) serving as ear covers in cold weather, and which may serve as 

 substitutes for a vizor. The men are all provided with mittens of blue cloth. 



The frock coat is of excellent thick white cloth ; the buttons white and plain ; coat lined with 

 thick linen ; facings and cufi's different for difierent regiments. 



This white coat always looks well, and the officers prefer it to any other color, stating that it 

 is very easy to keep it clean in the field, by washing and pipe clay. 



The men usually wear a vest, made of an old coat. 



