Online army drill manual

General Staff Corps, published by Unknown which was released on Available in PDF,. Adjutant General's Dept, published by Unknown which was released on Bureau of Naval Personnel, published by Unknown which was released on Get Bureau of Navigation Manual Books now! When it happened, on May 24, , the entire North was aghast. Ellsworth was a celebrity and had just finished traveling with his famed and entertaining U.

Zouave Cadets drill team. They had performed at West Point,. War Department, published by Unknown which was released on Drill Gun Manual of Arms. Chief of Infantry. Field Manual by United States. The Tattoo is for the soldiers to repair to their tents, where they must remain till reveille beating next morning. Front to halt- two flams from right to left, and a full drag with the right, a left hand flam and a right hand full drag.

The drummers will practice a hundred paces in front of the battalion, at the hours fixed by the adjutant general; and any drummer found beating at any other time except ordered shall be punished. The piquet guards are formed by detachments from the line, and are posted at the avenues of the camp, in such numbers as the general commanding thinks necessary for the security of the camp.

The camp and quarter guards are for the better security of the camp, as wall as for preserving good order and discipline. The camp guard of the front line is to be posted three hundred paces in front of it, and that of the second line the same distance in the rear of the second line, each opposite the interval of the two battalions who furnish it. Each guard will post nine sentinels, viz. In order to complete the chain of sentinels round the camp, the adjutant general will order two flank guards from the line, to consist of a commissioned officer, and as men as are necessary to form a chain on the flanks.

The intention of the camp guards being to form a chain of sentinels round the camp, in order to prevent improper persons entering, or the soldiers going out of camp, the commanding officers of brigades will add to, or diminish them, so as to answer the above purpose. The quarter guard is to be posted twenty paces in the rear of the line of wagons, and will furnish three sentinels; viz.

Any additional guard to the quartermaster, commissary, or clothier general, will be determined by the stores they may have in possession. The different guards are all to mount at one hour, to be regulated by the commanding officer for the time being.

The camp and quarter guards are to parade before the interval of their battalions, where they will be formed by the adjutant who furnishes the officer, and immediately sent off to their respective posts.

The guard of a major general is to be furnished from his own division, each brigade furnishing it by turns; it is to be formed by the major of brigade, and sent from the brigade parade. The guard of a brigadier general is to be furnished by his own brigade, and formed and sent from the brigade parade by the major of the brigade.

The other guards being composed of detachments from the line by brigades, each detachment is formed on the brigade parade by the major of brigade, and sent with an adjutant to the grand parade. All guards except those which are honorary should ordinarily be of force proportioned to the number of sentinels required, allowing three relieves for each post. As soon as a detachment arrives on the grand parade, the officers having dressed the ranks commands:. And then takes post eight paces in front of his detachment; the non-commissioned officers fall two paces into the rear, except one who remains on the right of every detachment.

Each detachment takes post on the left of that preceding it, and is examined by the brigade major to the day as it arrives. When the whole are assembled, the adjutant of the day dresses the line, counts the files from right to left, and takes post on the right. The officers then march to the center and form themselves, according to seniority, in one rank, sixteen paces in front of the guards; the non-commissioned officers advance and form two ranks, four paces in the rear of the officers, and with the same distance between their ranks.

The brigade major then appoints the officers and non-commissioned officers to their posts. The non-commissioned officers are posted thus: A sergeant on the right of each platoon, and one on the left of the whole; the rest as file-closers equally divided to each platoon. Whilst this is doing, the adjutant divides the guard into eight platoons, leaving proper intervals between the platoons for the officers who are to command them.

The brigade major then advances to the general officer of the day, informs him that the battalion is formed, and takes his directions relative to the exercise. The general of the day will usually order the manual exercise to be performed, and some maneuvers, such as he thinks proper; the major of brigade of the day giving the words of command. The drums then beat from right to left of the parade, and passing behind the officers of the day, take post on their left. They advance as before to the center, and the brigade major appoints them to their respective guards, takes the name of the officer commanding each guard, and gives him the parole and countersign.

The adjutant having in the mean time told off the guards, and divided them into platoons, the brigade major then commands,. And advancing to the general, acquaints him that the guards are formed; and on receiving his orders to march them off, he commands,.

The whole wheel, and march by the general, the officers saluting him as they pass; and when the whole have passed, they wheel off and march to their respective posts. The guards in camp will be relieved every hours. The guards without the limits of the camp will ordinarily be relieved in the same manner; but this must depend on their distances from camp, and other circumstances, which may sometimes require their continuing on duty for several days.

In this case they must be previously notified to provide themselves accordingly. The guards are to march in the greatest order to their respective posts, marching by platoons, whenever the roads will permit.

When the new guard approaches the post, they carry their arms; and the officer of the old guard, having his guard paraded, on the approach of the new guard, commands,. The new guard marches past the old guard, and takes post three or four paces on its right both guards fronting towards the enemy; and the officer command,.

The two officers then approach each other, and the relieving officer takes his orders from the relieved. Both officers then return to their guards, and commands,. The sergeant of the new guard then tells off as many sentinels as are necessary; and the corporal of the new guard, conducted by a corporal of the old guard, relieves the sentinels, beginning by the guard house.

When the sentinel sees the relief approach, he presents his arms, and the corporal halting his relief at six paces distance, commands,. This last command is only for the sentinel relieving, and the one to be relieved; the former immediately approaching with the corporal, and having received his orders from the old sentry, takes his place; and the sentry relieved marches into the ranks, placing himself on the left of the rear rank.

If the sentries are numerous, the sergeants are to be employed as well as the corporals in relieving them. When the corporal returns with the old sentinels, he leads them before the old guard, and dismisses them to their ranks. The officer of the old guard then forms his guard in the same manner as when he mounted, and marches them in order to camp.

As soon as he arrives in the camp, he halts, forms the men of the different brigades together, and sends them to their respective brigades, conducted by a non-commissioned officer, of careful soldier. When the old guard march off, the new guard present their arms, till they are gone, then shoulder, face to the left, and take the place of the old guard. The officer then orders a non-commissioned officer to take down the names of the guard, in the following manner Chart with rows signifying Post Numbers, and columns signifying hours they go on.

The relief of sentries is always to be marched in the greatest order, and with supported arms, the corporal often looking back to observe the conduct of the men; and if an officer approaches, his is to order his men to handle their arms, supporting them again when he has passed. The corporals are to be answerable that the sentries, when relieving, perform their motions with the greatest spirit and exactness.

A corporal who is detected in having the insolence to suffer sentries to relieve each other, without his being present, shall, as well as the sentry so relieved, be severely punished.

On the vigilance of the officer depends not only the safety of his guard, but that of the whole army. As it is highly necessary an officer should have some knowledge of his situation, he must, immediately after relieving the old guard, visit the sentinels, and examine the ground round his post; and if he thinks the sentries not sufficient to secure him from a surprise, he is at liberty to place more, acquainting therewith the general or field officer of the day who visits his post; but without their leave he is not to alter any that are already posted.

He must cause the roads leading to the enemy and to the next posts to be well reconnoitered by an officer of the guard, or for want of one, by an intelligent non-commissioned officer and some faithful men, inform himself of every thing necessary for his security, and use every possible precaution against a surprise.

He must permit no stranger to enter his post, nor suffer his men to talk with him. If a suspicious person, or a deserter from the enemy approaches, he must stop him and send him to head-quarters, or to a superior officer. He must on no account suffer the soldiers to pull off their accoutrements, of straggle more than twenty paces from the guard; and if water or any other necessaries are wanted for the guard, they must be sent for by a non-commissioned officer and some men with their arms if at an outpost on no account suffering a soldier to go by himself; but never whilst the sentinels are relieving.

He must examine every relief before it is sent off; see that their arms are loaded and in order, and that the men are acquainted with their duty; and if by any accident a man should get the least disguised with liquor, he must on no account be suffered to go on sentry. At relief the guard must parade, and the roll be called; and during the night and when near the enemy, during the day the guard must remain under arms till the relief returns.

During the day the men may be permitted to rest themselves as much as is consistent with the safety of the guard; but in the night, no man must be suffered to lay down or sleep on any account, but have his arms constantly in his hands, and be ready to fall in on the least alarm.

Between every relief the sentries must be visited by a non-commissioned officer and a file of men; and, when more than one officer is on guard, as often as possible by an officer. A patrol also must be frequently sent on the roads leading to the enemy. During the day, the sentinels on the outposts must stop every party of men, whether armed or not, till they have been examined by the officer of the guard.

As soon as it is dark, the countersign must be given to the sentinels of the piquets and advanced posts, after which they are to challenge all that approach them; and if any person, after being ordered to stand, should continue to approach or attempt to escape, the sentry, after challenging him three times, must fire on him. The sentinels of the interior guards of the camp will receive the countersign, and begin to challenge, at such hours as shall be determined in orders, according to circumstances.

A sentinel, on perceiving any person approach, must challenge briskly, and never suffer more than one to advance, till he has the countersign given him; if the person challenged has not the countersign, the sentry must call the sergeant of the guard, and keep the person at a little distance from his post, till the sergeant comes to examine him.

Whenever a sentry on an out-post perceives more than three men approach, he must order them to stand, and immediately pass the word for the sergeant of the guard; the officer of the guard must immediately parade his guard, and send a sergeant with a party of men to examine the party: The non-commissioned officer must order the commanding officer of the party advance, and conduct him to the officer of the guard; who, in case he is unacquainted with his person, and does not choose to trust either his clothing or to his knowledge of the countersign, must demand his passport, and examine him strictly; and if convinced of his belonging to the army, must let him pass.

A sentinel must take the greatest care not to be surprised; he must never suffer the person who advances to give the countersign, to approach within reach of his arms, and always charge with his bayonet.

The officers who mount the camp guards must give orders to their sentries not to suffer any person to pass in or out of camp, except one of the guards, nor then till the officer of the guard has examined him.

In case one of the guard deserts, the officer must immediately change the countersign, and send notice thereof to the general of the day; who is to communicate the same to the other guards, and the adjutant general.

As soon as the officer of the guard discovers the approach of the enemy, he must immediately send notice to the nearest general officer, call in the sentries, and put himself in the best position of defense. Should the enemy pursue the guard into camp, the officer must take care to retire through the intervals of the battalions, and forming in the rear of the line, wait for further orders.

When an officer is posted at a bridge, defile, or any work, with orders to maintain it, he must defend himself to the last extremity, however superior the force of the enemy may be, as it is to be supposed that the general who gave those orders will reinforce him, or order him to retire whenever he thinks it proper. An officer must never throw in the whole of his fire at once; for which reason every guard is to be divided into two or more divisions of platoons; the eldest officer taking post on the right of the first platoon, the next eldest on the right of the second platoon, and the third on the left of the whole; the non-commissioned officers cover the officers; the drum is to be on the right of the captain, and the sentinel one pace advanced of the drum.

If the guard consists of no more than twelve men, it forms in one rank. The general and field officers of the day will visit the several guards during the day, as often and at such hours as they judge proper. When the sentry before the guard perceives the officer of the day, he will call to the guard to turn out; and the guard, being paraded, on the approach of the officer of the day present their arms. The officers of the day will examine the guard; see that none are absent; that their arms and accoutrements are in order; that the officers and non-commissioned officers are acquainted with their duty; and that the sentinels are properly posted and have received proper orders.

Not only the officers of the day, but all general officers are at liberty to visit the guards and make the same examination. When the officer of the day arrives at the guard from whence he intends to begin his rounds, he will make himself known as such by giving the officer of the guard the parole. When the rounds are challenged by a sentinel, they will answer, Grand rounds!

Advance sergeant with countersign! Upon which the sergeant advances and gives the countersign. The sentinel will then cry, Advance, rounds! When the sentry before the guard challenges, and is answered Grand rounds! He will reply, Stand grand rounds! Turn out the guard! Grand rounds! The officer commanding the guard will then order a sergeant and two men to advance towards the round and challenge.

When the sergeant of the guard comes within ten paces of the rounds, he is to halt and challenge briskly. The sergeant of the rounds is to answer Grand rounds! The sergeant of the guard replies Stand grand rounds! Advance sergeant with the countersign! The sergeant of the rounds advances alone, and giving the countersign, returns to his rounds; and the sergeant of the guard calls to his officer, The countersign is right! On which the officer of the guard calls Advance rounds! The officer of the rounds then advances alone, and on his approach the guard present their arms.

The officer of the rounds passes along the front of the guard immediately to the officer who keeps his post on the right and gives him the parole. He then examines the guard, orders back his escort, and demanding a new one, proceeds in the same manner to the other guards. To the commander in chief: All guards turn out with presented arms; the drums beat a march, the officers salute.

To colonels: Their own quarter guards turn out once a day with presented arms; after which they only turn out with ordered arms. To lieutenant-colonels: Their own quarter guards turn out once a day with shouldered arms; after which they only turn out and stand by their arms.

To majors: Their own quarter guards turn once a day with ordered arms; at all other times they stand by their arms. When a lieutenant colonel or major commands a regiment, the quarter guard is to pay him the same honors as are ordered to a colonel. All sentries present their arms to general officers, and to the field officers of their own regiments; to all other commissioned officers they stand with shouldered arms. The president of congress, all governors in their own states, and committees of congress at the army, shall have the same honors paid them as the commander in chief.

When a detachment with arms passes before the guard, the guard shall be under arms, and the drums of both beat a march.

After dark no honors are to be paid; and when near the enemy, no honors are to be paid with the drum. The preservation of the arms and ammunition is an object that requires the greatest attention. Commanding officers and regiments must be answerable for those of their regiments, and captains for their respective companies.

The stoppages to be as follows:. It is highly essential to the services that the ammunition should be at all times kept complete; for which purpose, as often as necessary, a return is to be made by each company of the number of cartridges deficient, to the quartermaster, that he may make out a general one for the regiment, to be signed by the commanding officers of the regiments and brigade, and no time lost in supplying the deficiency.

The like care is to be taken that all deficiencies of arms and accoutrements are supplied without loss of time. All arms, accoutrements and ammunition unfit for service, are to be carefully preserved and sent by the commanding officer of each company to the regimental quartermaster, who shall deliver the same to the brigade conductor, they respectively giving receipts for what they receive.

The arms, accoutrements and ammunition of the sick and others, when delivered up, are to be taken care of in the same manner. Before the cartridge boxes are put in the arm-chests, the cartridges must be taken out, to prevent any loss or accident.

A conductor shall be appointed to each brigade, who shall have under his immediate care and direction a traveling forge and five or six armourers, an ammunition wagon, and a wagon with an arm-chest for each battalion, each chest to hold twenty-five arms, to receive the arms and accoutrements wanting repair, or of the men sick or absent; and when the arms delivered in by a battalion shall exceed the above number, the surplus shall be sent to the commissary of military stores.

The brigade conductor shall issue no ammunition but by order of the commanding officer of the brigade; but may receive and deliver the arms and accoutrements of each battalion, by order of its commanding officer.

The ammunition wagon shall contain twenty thousand cartridges; and in order to keep the same complete, the conductor shall, as deficiencies arise, apply to the field commissary, or one of his deputies, for a supply, or otherwise for the necessary material of cartridges, and to the major of the brigade for men to make them up under the direction of the conductor; and for this purpose the brigade major shall order out a party of the most careful soldiers.

The non-commissioned officers of each company will be provided with gun-worms; and every day, at the noon roll-call of the company, those men who have returned from duty are to bring their arms and have their charges drawn; the first sergeant to receive the powder and ball, and deliver the same to the quartermaster.

There is nothing which gains an officer the love of his soldiers more than his care of them under the distress of sickness; it is then he has the power of exerting his humanity in providing them every comfortable necessary, and making their situation as agreeable as possible. Two or three tents should be set apart in every regiment for the reception of such sick as cannot be sent to the general hospital, or whose cases may not require it.

And every company shall be constantly furnished with two sacks, to be filled occasionally with straw, and serve as beds for the sick. These sacks to be provided in the same manner as clothing for the troops, and finally issued by the regimental clothier to the captain of each company, who shall be answerable for the same. When a soldier dies, or is dismissed the hospital, the straw he lay on is to be burnt, and the bedding well washed and aired before another is permitted to use it.

The sergeants and corporals shall every morning at roll-call give a return of the sick of their respective squads to the first sergeant, who must make out one for the company, and lose no time in delivering it to the surgeon, who will immediately visit them, and order such as he thinks proper to the regimental hospital; such whose cases require their being sent to the general hospital, he is to report immediately to the surgeon general, or principal surgeon attending the army.

Once every week and oftener when required the surgeon will deliver the commanding officer of the regiment a return of the sick of the regiment, with their disorders, distinguishing those in the regimental hospital from those out of it. When a soldier is sent to the hospital, the non-commissioned officer of his squad shall deliver up his arms and accoutrements to the commanding officer of the company, that they may be deposited in the regimental arm-chest.

When a soldier has been sick, he must not be put on duty till he has recovered sufficient strength, of which the surgeon should be judge. The surgeons are to remain with their regiments as well on a march as in camp, that in case of sudden accidents they may be at hand to apply the proper remedies. The ranks at four paces distance from each other; the colors advanced four paces from the center; the colonel twelve paces before the colors; the lieutenant colonel four paces behind the colonel; the major on the right of the battalion in the line of officers; the adjutant behind the center; the officers commanding platoons eight paces before their intervals; the other officers on the same line equally divided in front of their respective platoons; the sergeants who covered officers take their places in the front rank of their platoons; the other non-commissioned officers who were in the rear, remain there, falling back four paces behind the rear rank; and the drummers and fifers are equally divided on the wings of the battalion, dressing with the front rank.

The general officer who is to review them being within thirty paces of the battalion, the colonel orders,. On which the men present their arms, and the drums on the right wing salute him according to his rank; the officers and colors salute him as he passes in front of the battalion; and on his arriving at the left, the drums beat the same as on the right.

The rear rank closes to the front, and the officers stepping off at the same time, those commanding platoons take their posts in the front rank, and the others go through the intervals to their posts in the rear. The whole wheel by platoons to the right, and march by the general; the colonel at the head of the battalion, with the major behind him, followed by the drums of the right wing; the adjutant on the left of the fifth platoon; and the lieutenant colonel in the rear preceded by the drums of the left wing.

The officers and colors salute when within eight paces of the general; and the colonel having saluted, advances to him. The battalion having marched to its ground and formed, the general orders such exercise and maneuvers as he thinks proper. For a review of inspection the battalion must not be told off in platoons, but remain in companies, at open order; the drums and fifes on the right, and the ensigns with the colors in front of their respective companies.

The inspector begins with a general review, passing along the front of the battalion from right to left, accompanied by the field and staff officers. The general review over, the colonel commands. The officers take post four paces, and the non-commissioned officers two paces, in front of their companies. The whole then order their firelocks by word of command from their captains, except the first company, where the inspection begins; when the first company has been inspected, they order their firelocks, and the next company shoulders; the others proceed in the same manner till the whole are inspected.

The field and staff officers accompany the inspector while he inspects the companies; and when the inspection is over, the colonel forms the battalion, and causes it to perform any exercise or maneuvers the inspector thinks proper to order. The state having entrusted him with the care of a regiment, his greatest ambition should be to have it at all times and in every respect as complete as possible: To do which, he should pay great attention to the following objects:.

The preservation of the soldiers health should be his first and greatest care; and that depends in a great measure on their cleanliness and manner of living, he must have a watchful eye over the officers of companies, that they pay the necessary attention to their men in those respects. The only means of keeping the soldiers in order is, to have them continually under the eyes of their superiors; for which reason the commandant should use the utmost of severity to prevent their straggling from their companies, and never suffer them to leave their regiment without being under the care of a non-commissioned officer, except in cases of necessity.

In a word, the commandant ought to know upon what duty and where every man of his regiment is. To these points the other field officers must also pay attention. The choice of non-commissioned officers is also an object of the greatest importance: the order and discipline of a regiment depends so much upon their behavior, that too much care cannot be taken in preferring none to that trust but those who by their merit and good conduct are entitled to it. Honesty, sobriety, and a remarkable attention to every point of duty, with a neatness in their dress, are indispensable requisites; a spirit to command respect and obedience from the men, an expertness in performing every part of the exercise, and an ability to teach it, are absolutely necessary; nor can a sergeant or corporal be said to be qualified who does not write and read in a tolerable manner.

Once every month the commandant should make a general inspection of his regiment, examine into the state of the men, their arms, ammunition, accoutrements, necessaries, camp utensils, and everything belonging to the regiment, obliging the commanding officers of companies to account strictly for all deficiencies. He should also once every month assemble the field officers and eldest captain, to hold a council of administration; in which should be examined the books of several companies, the paymaster and quartermaster, to see that all receipts and deliveries are entered in proper order, and the affairs of the regiment dully administered.

All returns of the regiment being signed by the commanding officer, he should examine them with the greatest care before he suffers them to go out of his hands. The commandant must always march and encamp with his regiment; nor must he permit any officer to lodge out of camp, or in a house, except in case of sickness. On a march he must keep his regiment together as much as possible, and not suffer the officers to leave their platoons without his permission; nor permit any of them, on any pretense whatsoever, to mount on horseback.

When a regiment is on a march, the commandant will order a sergeant and fix men into the rear, to bring up all stragglers; and the sergeant on his arrival in camp or quarters, must make his report to him. In a word, the commanding officer of a regiment must preserve the strictest discipline and order in his corps, obliging every officer to a strict performance of his duty, without relaxing in the smallest point; punishing impartially the faults that are committed, without distinction of rank or service.

The major is particularly charged with the discipline, arms, accoutrements, clothing, and generally, with the whole interior management and economy of the regiment.

He must have a watchful eye over the officers, and oblige them to do their duty on every occasion; he must often cause them to be exercised in his presence, and instruct them how to command their platoons and preserve their distances.

He must endeavor to make his regiment perform their exercise and maneuvers with the greatest vivacity and precision, examine often the state of the different companies, making the captains answer for any deficiencies he may perceive, and reporting the same to the colonel.

He must cause to be kept a regimental book, wherein should be entered the name and rank of every officer, the date of his commission, and the time he joined the regiment; the name and description of every non-commissioned officer and soldier, his trade or occupation, the place of his birth and usual residence, where, when and for what term he was enlisted; discharges, furloughs, and courts martial, copies of all returns, and every casualty that happens in the regiment.

He must be at all times well acquainted with the strength of his regiment and brigade, and the details of the army, and see that his regiment furnishes no more than its proportion for duty. He must often inspect the detachments for duty furnished by his regiment, see that they are complete in every respect, and formed agreeably to the regulations. On a march he must often ride along the flanks of his regiment, see that the platoons march in order, and keep their proper distances.

When the regiment is detached, he will post the guards ordered by the colonel, often visit them, examine whether the officers, non-commissioned officers and sentinels are acquainted with their duty, and give them the necessary instructions. The adjutant is to be chosen from among the subalterns, the field officers taking care to nominate one the most intelligent and best acquainted with the service.

He must keep an exact detail of the duty of the officers and non-commissioned officers of his regiment, taking care to regulate his roster in such a manner as not to have too many officers or non-commissioned officers of the same company on duty at the same time.

For instance, chapter one of the book details what equipment was needed for soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers.

It goes on from there, detailing how to recruit and train troops, how to employ a company in training and combat, and more. It remained the training guide for U. In May , the Axis powers were all but beaten, but the war was far from over for the United During Desert Storm, a massive portion of America's The battles that marked the period of the Crusades Revolutionary War re-enactors.

A Austrian drill manual shows rather than tells how troops would perform key actions.