REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'^CLELLAN. 



55 



or 



The firing is usually by vollies, of one rank at a time ; no rank fires without the special order 

 of the commander. 



The interval between consecutive battalions is 20 paces. 



A brigade is formed in two or more lines, the usual distance being 150 paces. 



It is worthy of remark that the Prussian Infantry Tactics, from the school of the recruit to 

 that of the brigade, inclusive, form only one small volume of 228 pages. 



AKMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS. 



All the regiments of the guards, and at least one battalion of every regiment of the line, are 

 armed with the "needle gun," (ziindnadelgurche ;) the rest of the infantry of the line have 

 the percussion musket ; the rifles of the guard have a "needle rifle," (ziindnadelbuchsen ;) the 

 rifles of the line have the Tige rifle. 



The needle gun is rifled, and loads at the breech. An aperture exists in the upper surface of 

 the barrel, near the b/3eech ; this is opened and the cartridge slipped in horizontally. In the 

 cartridge, near the base of the ball, there is a pellet of fulminating powder ; behind the cartridge 

 there is a long sharp needle in the axis of the barrel; this is connected with a spiral spring. 

 Upon pulling the trigger the spring is liberated,- and drives the needle through the cartridge 

 into the fulminating compound. 



Prussian Knapsack. 



The hooks O hook to the inside belt. G is an iron pin, by means of which the shoulder straps may be lengthened or shortened, A E is the 



camp kettle. 



