B A T 



BAT 



under the cock ; tliirci, they quit t'le right hand. In cirry- 

 ing arms, from the fnppoit, tlie motions are exattly rcverled. 

 In marching any dlftance, or in (landing at cafe %vlien fup- 

 portiug, the men are :il!owtd to bring their right hand acrols 

 tlie body, to the fmall of the butt, which latter muft, in that 

 cafe, be thrown dill more forward ; the fingers of the left 

 hand being uppermoll, miiH be placed between the body and 

 the right elbow. The right hands are to be inftantly re- 

 moved, when the divifion halts, or is ordered to drefs by the 

 right. In regard to the motions oi feciiritia, grounding, and 

 trailing, as well as piling arms, it will be fufticient for the 

 foldiers to be taught to perform them in the quickell and 

 moft convenient method. Uiifixhig bayonets is to be done 

 from the order, in the fame manner as fixing them. 



Sentries polled with fhouldered arms, are permitted after- 

 wards to Jupport, but not to flope them. On the approach 

 of an officer, they immediately carry their arms, and put 

 themfelves into the proper pofition ; not at the inllant he 

 paffes, but by the time he is within twenty yards of their 

 poll, fo that they may be perfeftly {leady before he comes 

 up. If a field officer, he is entitled to the prefent arms. 

 Corporals marching with reliefs, or commanding detach- 

 ments or divifions, will carry their arms advanced. 



VII. The Platoon Exercife. When perfect in the manual, 

 the troops are next to be taught this part of their duty, and 

 the manner in which to execute the feveral firings. Tlie re- 

 cruit Handing at fhouldered arms, the firft. word given is : 



Male Ready. This is done by bringing the firelock to the 

 recover, and inllantly cocking. 



Prefent. Slip tlie left hand along the fling as far as the 

 fwell of the firelock, and bring the piece down to the prefent, 

 ftepping back about fix inches to the rear with the right 

 foot. 



Fire ; Having filed, drop the firelock brifldy to the prim- 

 ing pofition, and half cock. 



Handle Cartridge. Firll, draw the cartridge from the 

 pouch ; fecond, bring it to the mouth, holding it between 

 the forefinger and thumb, and bite away the top of it. 



Prime. Firll, (hake a little powder into the pan ; fecond, 

 fhut the pan with the three lad fingers ; third, fcize the fmall 

 of the butt with the fame three fingers. 



Load. Firft, face to the left on both heels, fo that the right 

 toe may point directly to the front, and the body be a very 

 little faced to the left, bringing at the fame time tlie firelock 

 round to the left fide, without finking it. It fhould, while in 

 this pofition, be nearly perpendicular (having the muzzle 

 only a fmall degree brought forward) ; and, as foon as it is 

 fteadv there, it muil iaflantly be forced down within two in- 

 ches of the ground, the butt nearly oppofite to the left heel, 

 and the firelock itfelf fomewhat floped, and direftly to the 

 front. The right hand at the fame inftant catches the 

 muzzle in order to Heady it ; fecond, fhake the powder into 

 the barrel, putting in after it the paper and ball ; third, 

 feize the top of the ramrod with the fore-finger and thumb. 



Dratu Ramrods. Firft, force the ramrod half out, and 

 feize it, back-handed, exaftly in the middle ; fecond, draw it 

 entirely out, and turning it with the whole hand and arm ex- 

 tended from you, put it one inch into the barrel. 



Ram down Cartridge. Firft, pufh the ramrod down, hold- 

 ing it, as before, exaAly in the middle, till the hand touches 

 the muzzle ; fecond, flip the fore-finger and thumb to the 

 upper end, without letting the ramrod fall further into the 

 barrel ; third, pufti the cartridge well down to the bottom ; 

 fourth, ilrike it two very quick ftrokes with the ramrod. 



Return Ramrods. Firft, draw the ramrod half out, catch- 

 ing it back-handed ; fecond, draw it totally out, turning it 

 very brifldy from you, with the arm extended, and pot it 



into the loops, forcing it as quick as poffble to the bottom ; 

 then face to the proper front, the finger .-.nd thumb of the 

 right hand holding the ramrod, ac i.i the pofition immediately 

 previous to drawing it, and the butt rai.ed two inches from 

 the ground. 



Shoulder Arms. Strike the top of the muzzle fmartly with 

 the riglit hand, to fix the bayonet and ramrod more firmly, 

 and at the fame time throw it nimbly up at one motion, to 

 the Ihoulder. N. B. Though the butts are not to come to 

 the ground in calling about, as acxridtnts may liacpen from 

 it, yet they arc permitted, while loading, to be fo relied ; 

 but it mull be done without noife, and in a manner imper- 

 ceptible in the front. 



In priming and loading quick, ift, bring the firelock dowa 

 in one bride motion to the priming pofition, the thumb of the 

 right hand placed againft the pan cover or fteel, the fingers 

 clenched, and the elbow a little turned out, fo that the wrift 

 may be clear of the cock. 2d, Open the pan, by throwin<r 

 up the fteel with a ftrong motion of the right arm, turning 

 the elb(jw in, and keeping the firelock I'.cady in the left 

 hand. 3d, Bring your hand round to the pouch, and drawr 

 out the cartridge. The reft as above defcribcd ; except 

 that in the quick loading, all the motions are to be done 

 with the utmoft difpatch pofiihle, the foldiers taking their 

 tiine from the flugeUman in front, for cafting about and 

 fliouldering only. 



In firing three deep, the priming pofition for the front 

 rank is the height of the waiftband of the brteches ; for the 

 centre rank, about the middle of the ftomach ; and for the 

 rear rank, clofe to the breaft. The firelock in all thefe po- 

 fitions is to be kept perfedlly horizontal. 



As Front Rank kneeling — mail ready. Bring the firelock 

 briflvly up to the recover, catching it in the left hand, and, 

 without flopping, fink down with a quick motion on the 

 right knee, keeping the left foot faft, the butt of the fire- 

 lock at the fame moment falling upon the ground. Then 

 cock, and inftantlv feize the cock and fteel" together in the 

 right hand, holding the piece firm in the left, about the 

 middle of that part which is between the lock and the fwell 

 of the llock ; the point of the left thumb to be clofe to the 

 fwell, and pointing upwards. As the body is finking, the 

 right knee is to be thrown fo far back, that the left leg may 

 be right up and down, the right foot a little turned out, 

 body ftraight, and the head as much up as if fiiouldercd. 

 The firelock muft be upright, the butt about four inches to 

 the right of the infide of the left foot. 



Prefent. Bring the firelock down firmly to the prefent, 

 by Aiding the left hand to the full extent of the arm along 

 the fling, without letting the motion tell ; the right hand at 

 the fame time fpringing up the butt by the cock fo high 

 againft the right Ihoulder, that the head may not be too 

 much lowered in taking aim; the right cheek to be clofe to 

 the butt, the left eye fhut, and the middle finger of the 

 right hand on the trigger. Look along the barrel with the 

 right eye, from the brecch-pin to the muzzle, and remaia 

 fteady. 



Firt. Pull the trigger ftrong with the middle finger, 

 and, as foon as fired, fpring up nimbly upon the left leg, 

 keeping the body ereft, and the left foot faft, and bringing 

 the right heel to the hollow of the left. At the fame in- 

 ftant, drop tlie firelock to the priming pofition, half cock, 

 handle cartridge, and go on with the loadigg motions as be- 

 fore defcribed. 



As Centre Rank — make ready. Spring the firelock bri{!:ly 



to the recover. As foon as the left hand feizes it above the 



lock, raife the right elbow a little, placing the th-mib of that 



baud upon the cock, with the fingers open on the plate of 



5 L a the 



