Sections of School of Soldier used for
Madison Sesquicentennial Event

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PART II - LESSON III.

LOADING AND FIRING

Load in ten times

LOAD.     (Two Motions)

One. Drop the piece by a smart extension of the left arm, seize it with the right hand above and near the tail band; at the same time carry the right foot forward, the heel against the hollow of the left  foot. (Fig. 74, front view, Fig. 75, a side view.)

Two. Drop the piece with the right hand along the left thigh. seize it with the left hand at the middle band, and with the left hand let it descend along to the ground, without shock, the piece touching the left thigh, and the muzzle opposite to the centre of the body; carry the right hand quickly to the cartridge-box and open it. (Fig. 76)

(These figures represent the backs of the hands as would be seen by the recruit.)

HANDLE - CARTRIDGE.      (One motion)

Seize the cartridge with the thumb and next two fingers, and place it between the teeth, back of the hand against the cheek, elbow at the height of the hand (Fig. 77)

TEAR - CARTRIDGE      (One motion)

Tear the paper down to the powder, by twisting the hand and closing the elbow into the body, hold the cartridge upright between the thumb and next two finders, near the top; and in this position place it in front of and near the muzzle, the back of the hand to the front.

CHARGE - CARTRIDGE.    (One motion.)

Fix the eye on the muzzle, turn quickly the back of the right hand towards the body, in order to discharge the powder into the barrel, raise the elbow to the height of the wrist, shake the cartridge, force it into the muzzle and leave the hand reversed, the fingers extended, the thumb extended along the barrel. (Fig. 78)

DRAW-RAMMER.     (Three motions.)

One. Drop smartly the right elbow and seize the rammer between the thumb and forefinger bent, the other fingers shut; (Fig. 79) draw it smartly extending the are; (Fig. 80) seize the rammer again at the middle, between the thumb and three fingers, the hand reversed, the palm to the front, the nails up, the eyes following the movement of the hands, (Fig. 81 & 82) clear the rammer from the pipes by again extending the arm.
Two. Turn rapidly the rammer between the bayonet and the face, closing the fingers, (Fig. 83) (the rammer of the rear rank man grazing the right shoulder of the man of the same file in front, respectively) the rammer parallel to the bayonet, the arm extended, the butt of the rammer opposite to the muzzle, but not yet inserted, the eyes fixed on the muzzle.
Three. Insert the butt of the rammer and force it down as low as the hand.

RAM - CARTRIDGE.     (One motion)

Extend the arm to its full length to seize the rammer between the right thumb extended and the forefinger bent, the other fingers closed; with force ram home twice (the right elbow down and near the piece) and seize the rammer at the little end, between the thumb and forefinger bent, the other fingers closed, the right elbow touching the body.

RETURN - RAMMER.     (Three motions)

One. Draw briskly the rammer, reseize it at the middle between the thumb and three fingers, the hand reversed, the palm to the front, the nails up, the eyes following the movement of the hand, clear the rammer from the barrel by extending the arm. (Fig. 84)
Two. Turn rapidly the rammer between the bayonet and the face, closing the fingers, (the rammer parallel to the bayonet, the arm extended, the little end of the rammer opposite to the first pipe, but not yet inserted, the eyes fixed on that pipe.
Three. Insert the little end, and with the thumb, which will follow the movement, force it as low as the middle band; raise quickly the right hand a little bent, place the little finger on the butt of the rammer, and force it down; lower the left hand on the barrel to the extent of the arm, without depressing the shoulder.

CAST-ABOUT.      (Two motions)

One. Raise the piece with the left hand along the left side, the hand at the height of the chin, the forearm touching the piece, the barrel to the front; drop at the same time the right hand to seize the piece a little above the small, the forefinger touching the lock, the thumb on the S plate, and bring back the right heel to the side of the left. (Fig. 85)
Two. Make a half face to the right on the left heel, bring the left toe to the front, the right foot behind and at right-angles with the left, the hollow of the right foot against the heel of the left. At the same time seize the small of the stock with the right hand, and bring down the piece with the both hands to the position of charge BAYONET. (Figs. 86 & 87)

PRIME.      (One motion)

Sustain the piece with the left hand (half-cock the piece), brush off the old cap, and with the thumb and first two fingers take a cap from the pouch, place it firmly on the cone, pushing it down with the thumb, and reseize the piece with the right hand at the small.

SHOULDER ARMS.    (Two motions.)

As from Charge-Bayonet.

TO LOAD IN FOUR TIMES.

The first time will be executed at the command Load; the three others at the words two, three, and four.

LOAD IN FOUR TIMES - LOAD.

Execute what is prescribed for Load, Handle-Cartridge, Tear-Cartridge, and Charge-Cartridge.

TWO.

Draw-Rammer and Ram-Cartridge.

THREE

Return-Rammer and Cast-About.

FOUR

Prime and Shoulder-Arms.

TO LOAD AT WILL.

Load at will - LOAD.

At the command load, execute the loading as in four times, but without resting on the times.

READY.     (Four motions)

One. Make a half-face to the right on the left heel, bring the left toe to the front, place at the same time the right foot behind, and at right angles to the left, the hollow of the right foot against the left heel; turn the piece with the left hand, the cock outward, and seize at the same time the handle (or small of the stock) with the right hand, the piece perpendicular, and detatched from the shoulder; (the left hand remaining under the butt.) (Fig. 88)
Two. Bring the piece with the right hand to the middle of the body, place the left hand just above the lock, the thumb extended on the stock at the height of the chin, the S plate almost turned towards the body, the rammer obliquely to the left and front, the left fore-arm in front of and against the stock. (Fig. 89)
Three. Place the thumb on the hammer, the fore-finger under and on the guard, the other three fingers joined to the first, the elbow at the height of the wrist. (Fig. 90)
Four. Close the right elbow smartly to the body in cocking, seize the piece at the small, let it descend along the body in the left hand to the tail band, which will remain at the height of the shoulder, (and opposite to the centre of the body.)(Figs. 91 & 92)

AIM.    (One motion)

Drop smartly the muzzle, the left hand remaining at the tail band, support the butt against the right shoulder, the left elbow a little down, the right well elevated, shut the left eye, direct the right along the barrel, drop the head upon the butt to catch the object, and place the forefinger on the trigger. (Fig. 93)
The rear rank will, at the same time, carry the right foot about eight inches toward the left heel of the man next on his right.

FIRE.     (One motion.)

Apply the forefinger with force to the trigger without further lowering or turning the head, and remain in that position.

LOAD.     (From the fire - two motions)

One. Bring back the piece quickly with both hands, the rear rank men bringing the right foot by the side of the left; depress the butt strongly by extending the right arm, and carry it with the arm thus extended to the left side, the barrel turned to the front and opposite to the left shoulder; open the left hand to let the piece slide through it to the middle band, the back of the hand to the front, the left forearm touching the stock, the hand at the height of and opposite the chin; at the same time face to the front, and carry the right foot forward, the heel against the hollow of the left foot.
Two. Quit the hold of the right hand; with the left hand remaining at the middle band, let the piece descend to the ground, without shock, and take the position of the second motion of the first time loading.

SHOULDER - ARMS.     (From the fire - two motions)

One. At the word shoulder, bring back the piece with both hands. (Fig. 94)
Two. Face to the front, carry the piece against the left shoulder and place the left hand under the butt. (Fig. 95)
Let fall smartly the right hand into its position. (Fig. 96)

RECOVER - ARMS.     (From the aim - one motion)

At the word recover, withdraw the finger from the trigger; at the command arms, throw up smartly the muzzle, and retake the position of the fourth motion of ready. (Fig. 97)

SHOULDER - ARMS.      (From the ready - one motion)

At the word shoulder, face to the front, bring the piece to the middle of the body, the left thumb at the height of the chin, the piece supported by the left hand, holding it fast above the lock; next place the right thumb on the head of the cock, support the forefinger on the trigger, sustain at the same time the cock to the half-cock notch, (the reaching of which will be both felt and hears) and\seize the handle of the piece (for small of stock) with the right hand. (Figs. 98 & 99). At the word arms, carry the piece smartly to the shoulder, and retake the position of shoulder arms. (Fig. 100)