REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. irCLELLAN. 157 



that the men may march about 2f miles per hour. The men are permitted to carry their arms 

 at will, and to move easily, it being only required that they keep their places and do not lag 

 behind ; if bayonets are fixed, the muzzles must be up. 



THE MANUAL OF ARMS. 



This is generally so similar to that in the United States service, that merely some exceptions 

 need be noted. 



Present arms.— The piece is held in front of the left breast. 



Charge bayonet. — Lock plate half turned up, the right hand (grasping the handle) is on the 

 seam of the pants, the right arm being extended to very nearly its full length ; hollow of the 

 right foot against the left heel, (PI. 1, fig. 8.) 



Eight shoulder shift arms, as in the United States rifle tactics, except that the right hand 

 grasps the small of the stock. 



Slope arms. — The left hand is raised and thrown forward, so that the stock rests on the shoulder 

 just above the guard, the barrel at an angle of about 45°, (PL 1, fig. 9.) 



Parade rest. — The feet are not moved, the barrel is thrown across the body, and rests in the 

 hollow of the left fore arm ; the hands on the gun sling, left hand above the right. 



PL 1, figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, show one method of saluting by a sentinel at an order. 



When the soldier hands his musket to the inspector, he holds it in his left hand, at arm's length, 

 the piece vertical, the lock towards the inspector, the left hand grasping it just above the lock, 

 PL 1, fig. 10. 



SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY. 



Each company of not less than 28 files is divided into 2 platoons ; if the company consists of 

 less than 28 files, it composes only a single platoon. In the tactics a company of 2 platoons 

 takes the name of division. 



(PL 1, fig. 11.) In an isolated company, the ofiicers, sergeants, &c., are posted as follows : 



The captain 15 paces in advance of the centre ; the senior lieutenant in the front rank on the 

 right of the 1st platoon, which he commands ; the 2d lieutenant on the left of the 2d platoon, 

 which is his command ; the 3d lieutenant is in the front rank, between the platoons ; if there are 

 other lieutenants, they are posted as file-closers, the senior behind the centre of the 1st platoon, 

 the junior in rear of the 2d platoon. 



If there is a deficiency in the number of officers, other than file-closers, the number is made 

 up by sergeants, beginning with the orderly sergeant. The sergeants are posted as follows : 



Four right and left guides of platoons ; when the company is in line, the right guide of the 

 1st and both guides of the 2d platoon are in the rear rank covering the officers ; but the left 

 guide of the 1st platoon is in the rank of file-closers, behind the left file of his platoon. 



The 4 sergeants detailed as aligners (to mark the new front in the difierent formations) are 

 behind the 2d files from the flanks of the platoons. 



The orderly sergeant is the 2d file-closer from the right of the 1st platoon. The remaining 

 sergeants are posted as file-closers at equal intervals from those already mentioned. 



The drummers, fifers, and horn players, are formed in one rank, on the alignment of the centre 

 rankj 4 paces from the right of the company. 



For instruction in the manual, &c., the company is sometimes formed on three sides of a 

 square, each rank forming one side. 



In the difierent firings, tlie rear rank men pass their pieces to those in front of them. 



