April, 1999

April 30

Gentlemen,
I would like to share some information that I picked up recently regarding Casey's Manual.

Although the manual may have been in the hands of many officers from 1863 onwards, there is little evidence that Eastern troops actually implemented it - rather it was used as a reference guide. A possible reason for this non-use was that Silas Casey had been very discredited in the eyes of the Army of the Potomac after his debacle at Fair Oaks during the Peninsula Campaign. Another point to consider is that if you have a regiment of drilled veterans, are you really going to waste the time and effort to convert them over to a new style of drill (hence the reference use)?

Troops in the Western theater of operations did follow the manual more closely than did anyone.
BTW, a letter written home by one of the 2nd's men in the aftermath of Bull Run describes them as learning Hardee's drill to replace Scott's/Chandler's drill; did the 2nd actually transition to Hardee's?
Jason Kritikos
Co.C

MORE EVIDENCE
I have been surfing and found this General Order as written below.
As I read it, the drill according to Scotts had been in practice and this order makes it clear that the unit should convert to the official Casey's.
But as I read this order, the Col. is only inforcing the Casey version of "Parade Rest; fixing and unfixing bayonets". It then leads one to believe that the rest of the drill is to remain as it had been with Scott.
By the way, this is an order that was issued by Comd. Henry A. Morrow, 24th Michigan Infantry Vol. (Iron Brigade).
It would appear logically that the Iron Brigade used Scott's throughout it's entire existence.
First Sgt. D.Masitelli
42d Wisconsin (Thanks to the 42d for the information) editor
(Notice the Date....)