8. GUARD AGAINST INFANTRY - GUARD

Turn half right on both heels, raise the musket slightly with the right hand at the small of the stock. Grasp it with the left hand above and near the lower band.

Move the right foot 20 inches to the rear, the right heel behind the left, knees slightly bent. Lower the musket with both hands, the left elbow against the body, until the point of the bayonet is slightly elevated.

SHOULDER - ARMS

Throw up the musket to the left shoulder, at the same time bring the right heel by the side of the left and face to the front.

9. GUARD AGAINST CAVALRY - GUARD

Same as for Guard Against Infantry, except that the right hand will be supported against the hip, and the bayonet held at the height of the eye, as in Charge-Bayonet.

SHOULDER - ARMS

Similar to Guard Against Infantry.

10. UNFIX - BAYONET

Lower the musket to the ground as in FIX - BAYONET. With the right hand unfix the bayonet and return it to the scabbard. Hold the musket upright by placing the right little finger on the butt of the ramrod and lower the left hand along the barrel.

SHOULDER - ARMS

The same as from FIX - BAYONETS

11. SECURE - ARMS

Grasp the musket with the right hand at the lock plate, the forefinger on the hammer and the thumb on the counter-plate. Move the musket slightly from the shoulder, barrel to the front. Grasp the lower band with the left hand and extend the thumb along the ramrod. The musket is vertical with the left elbow on the musket. Lower the muzzle to about one-foot from the ground and the butt behind the left shoulder. The left thumb rests on the ramrod. Drop the right hand to the side.

SHOULDER - ARMS

Raise the muzzle with the left hand until the stock rests on the left shoulder. With the right hand grasp the small of the stock, then drop the left hand and grasp the butt with the palm. Drop the right hand to the side.

12. TRAIL - ARMS

Just as in Order - Arms, bring the musket to the right side until the butt is three inches from the ground. Tilt the muzzle forward slightly, making sure not to touch the soldier in front with the bayonet. The butt should be kept about three inches off the ground and the right hand held at the hip.

SHOULDER - ARMS

On SHOULDER, raise the muzzle until the musket is vertical. Then raise to Shoulder - Arms as if returning from Order - Arms.

13. RIGHT SHOULDER SHIFT - ARMS

With the left hand turn the musket lock to the front. Grasp the small of the stock with the right hand and place the musket on the right shoulder. Grasp the flat of the stock with the right hand across the top, then drop the left hand.

SHOULDER - ARMS

Lower the right hand and grasp the musket just above the lock with the left hand. Move the right hand up to the small of the stock and bring the musket to the left shoulder. Grasp the butt with the left palm and drop the right hand to the side.

14. ARMS - AT WILL

The musket may be carried on either shoulder, holding it with one or both hands, the muzzle always up.

15. GROUND - ARMS

From the Order-Arms position, on the Arms command, turn the musket with the right hand so that the barrel is to the left. At the same time reach behind the back with the left hand and grasp the cartridge box. Step forward with the left foot and lay the musket on the ground, with the lock plate up and the butt next to the right toe. Rise up, letting go of the cartridge box, and assume the position of attention.

16. INSPECTION OF ARMS

The Inspection-Arms command is issued with the men at Open-Order and in the Order-Arms position with the bayonet in the scabbard.

INSPECTION - ARMS

Face half right on the left heel and move the right foot six inches to the rear of the left foot and at right angles to it. With the left hand, grasp the musket just above the middle band and lean the muzzle to the rear keeping the butt in place.

Draw the bayonet from the scabbard, carry and fix it on the muzzle. Grasp the rammer, draw it as in Draw-Rammer when loading, and let it glide to the bottom of the bore.

Face to the front. Grasp the musket with the right hand and retake the position of Order-Arms.

When the inspector is in front of each soldier, the latter raises the musket with the right hand, and then grasps it with his left hand, between the lower band and the sight, then raises his left hand to chin level, lock to the front. The barrel is in front of the left eye. The right hand is dropped to the side.

The inspector may take the rifle with his right hand. When the inspector does take it, the soldier drops his arms to his side. When the inspector is finished, the soldier takes it back with his right hand, and returns to Order-Arms.

When the inspector has passed each soldier, the latter will retake the position prescribed at the command Inspection-Arms, and return the rammer; after which he will take the position of Order-Arms.

SPRING - RAMMERS

During the Civil War, the rammer was placed in the barrel and sprung (bounced) in the barrel. If the barrel rang, then the musket was unloaded, if a clank was heard the musket was still loaded. The men are in the Order-Arms position.

On RAMMER, bring the musket to the LOAD position and place the rammer in the barrel. Resume the position of Order-Arms. The inspector can take the rammer by the small end, and spring it in the barrel, or cause each man to make the rammer ring in the barrel. Each man, after the inspector passes him, will return rammer, and face to the front.

ARMS - PORT

Throw the musket diagonally across the body, the lock to the front, grasp it at the same instant with both hands, the right at the small of the stock, the left at the lower band, the two thumbs pointing towards the muzzle, the barrel sloping upwards and crossing opposite.

SHOULDER - ARMS

Bring the musket to the left shoulder, placing the left hand under the butt. Drop the right hand by the side.

17. STACK - ARMS

This command is executed from the Order-Arms position with the men having numbered off into fours.

With Bayonets

At this command, the front rank man of every even numbered file will pass his musket before him, seizing it with the left hand above the middle band, and place the butt behind and near the right foot of the man next on the left, the barrel turned to the front.

At the same time the front rank man of every odd numbered file will pass his musket before him, seizing it with the left hand below the middle band, and hand it to the man next on the left. The latter will receive it with the right hand two inches above the middle band, throw the butt about thirty-two inches to the front, opposite to his right shoulder, incline the muzzle towards him, and lock the shanks of the two bayonets. The lock of this second musket is towards the right, and its shank above that of the first musket.

The rear rank man of every even file will project his bayonet forward, and introduce it (using both hands) between and under the shanks of the two other bayonets. He will then abandon the musket to his file leader, who will receive it with the right hand under the middle band, bring the butt to the front, holding up his own musket and the stack with the left hand, and place the butt of this third musket between the feet of the man next on the right, the S plate to the rear.

The stack thus formed, the rear rank man of every odd file will pass his musket into his left hand, the barrel turned to the front and, sloping the bayonet forward, rest it on the stack.

Without Bayonets

If the company be armed with muskets without the bayonet, arms will be stacked by the same commands, and in the following manner.

At the command STACK - ARMS, the Front Rank Number Two passes his musket before him, grasping it with the left hand near the upper band. He places the butt a little in advance of his left toe, the barrel turned towards the body, and draws the rammer slightly from its place.

The Front Rank Number One also draws the rammer slightly, and passes his musket to the man next on his left, who will grasp it with the right hand near the upper band, and place the butt a little in advance of the right toe of the man next on his right, the barrel turned to the front. He then crosses the rammers of the two muskets, the rammer of Number One's musket being inside.

The Rear Rank Number Two also draws his rammer, leans his musket forward, the lock-plate downwards, advances his right foot about six inches, and inserts the rammer between the rammer and barrel of the musket of his front rank man. With his left hand he places the butt of his musket on the ground, thirty-two inches in rear of, and perpendicular to, the front rank, bringing back his right foot by the side of the left.

The Front Rank Number Two will at the same time lean the stack to the rear, quit it with his right hand, and force all the rammers down.

The stack being thus formed, the Rear Rank Number One passes his musket into his left hand, the barrel to the front, and inclining it forward, rests it on the stack.

File closers pass their muskets up to be stacked on the nearest stack. Everyone comes to attention.

18. BREAK RANKS - MARCH

Break ranks is the civil war equivalent to the modern Dismissed. The men are free to leave the immediate area and go about their other duties, or are considered off duty. Break-Ranks is always given with the company at attention.

On March, the men step out of ranks.

19. TAKE - ARMS

The company has resumed its position in line, behind the stacked muskets.

At this command, after the File Closers have received their muskets, the Rear Rank Number One withdraws his musket from the stack. The Front Rank Number Two grasps his own musket with the left hand, and that of the man on his right with his right hand, both above the lower band.

The Rear Rank Number Two grasps his musket with his right hand below the lower band. The Number Twos both raise up the stock to loosen the rammers or bayonets.

The Front Rank Number One draws the rammers out slightly with the left hand. The rear rank Number Two takes his musket. The Front Rank Number Two then disengages the muskets, handing the Front Rank Number One a musket with the right hand.

The four men will retake the position of the soldier at order arms.

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