Shoulder-
position of a soldier
Shoulder-
position of a soldier
(Used by most military units in America until the Continentals went to Von Stueben's manual in 1777. Militia continued to use it until the end of the war. The style of the period was for the men to move exactly together, like a chorus line. This kept the men from interfering with each others movements, and was the safest way to handle black powder. Remember, both sides fought in lines to get the most out of the inaccurate muskets, while being able to defend against horse or bayonet charges.)
#1- Poise your Firelocks! (2 Motions)
1st Seize the Firelock with your right Hand, and turn the Lock
outwards, keeping the Firelock perpendicular.
2nd. Bring the Firelock with a quick Motion from the Shoulder,
and seize it with the left Hand just above the Lock, so that the
little finger may rest upon the Spring, and the Thumb lie upon
the Stock; The Firelock must not beheld too far from the Body,
and the left Hand must be of an equal Height with the Eyes.
[Poise-
the intermediate position]
#2- Cock your Locks! (2 Motions)
1st. Turn the Barrel opposite your Face, and place you Thumb upon
the Cock, raising the Elbow square at this Motion.
2nd. Cock your Firelock, by drawing your Elbow down, placing your
Thumb upon the Breech Pin, and the Fingers under the Guard.
#3- Present! (1 Motion)
Step back about six inches to the Rear with the Right Foot, bringing
the left Toe to the Front; at the same Time the Butt end of the
Firelock must be brought to an equal Height with your Shoulder,
placing the left Hand on the Swell, and the Fore-Finger of the
right Hand before the Tricker, sinking the muzzle a little.
#4- Fire! (1 Motion)
Pull the Tricker briskly, and immediately after bringing up the
right Foot, come to the Priming Position, with the Lock opposite
to the Right Breast, the Muzzle the Height of the Hat, keeping
it firm and steady, and at the same Time seize the Cock with the
Fore-Finger and Thumb of the right Hand, the Back of the Hand
turned up.
[Priming
position]
#5- Half Cock your Firelocks! (1 Motion)
Half bend the Cock briskly with a draw back of the right Elbow,
bringing it close to the Butt of the Firelock.
#6- Handle your Cartridge! (1 Motion)
Bring your right Hand with a short Round to your Pouch, slapping
it hard; seize the Cartridge, and bring it with a quick Motion
to your Mouth, bite the top well off and bring the Hand as low
as the Chin, with the Elbow down.
#7- Prime! (1 Motion)
Shake the Powder into the Pan, Placing the three last fingers
behind the Hammer, with the Elbow up.
#8- Shut your Pans! (2 Motions)
1st. Shut your pan briskly, drawing your right Arm at this Motion
towards your Body, holding the Cartridge fast in your Hand, as
in the former Position.
2nd. Turn the Piece nimbly round to the loading Position, with
the Lock to the Front, and the Muzzle the Height of the Chin,
bringing the right Hand behind the Muzzle; both Feet kept fast
in this Motion.
#9- Charge with Cartridge! (2 Motions)
1st. Turn up your Hand and put the Cartridge into the Muzzle,
shaking the Powder into the Barrel.
2nd. Place your Hand, closed, with a quick and strong Motion,
upon the Rammer.
#10- Draw your Rammers! (2 Motions)
1st. Draw the Rammer with a quick Motion, half out, sexing it
at the Muzzle back-handed.
2nd. Draw it quite out, turn it, and enter it into the Muzzle.
#11- Ram down Cartridges! (2 Motions)
Ram the Cartridge well down the Barrel, instantly recovering and
seizing the Rammer back-handed at the Center, turning it and enter
it as far as the lower pipe, placing at the same Time the Edge
of the Hand on the Butt End of the Rammer, Fingers extended.
#12- Return Rammers! (1 Motion)
Return the Rammer, bringing up the Piece with the left Hand to
the Shoulder, seizing it with the right Hand under the Cock, keeping
the left Hand at the Swell, turning the Body square to the Front.
#13- Shoulder your Firelocks! (2 Motions)
1st. Quit the left Hand and place it strong upon the Butt.
2nd. Quit the right Hand and throw it down the right Side.
#14- Rest your Firelocks! (3 motions)
1st. Seize the Firelock with the right Hand, turning the Lock
outwards.
2nd. Raise the Firelock from your Shoulder, and place your left
Hand with a quick Motion above the Lock, holding the Piece right
up and down in both Hands before you, and your left Hand even
with your Eyes.
3rd. Step briskly back with your right Foot, placing it a Hand's
breadth distant from you left Heel, at the same Time bring down
the Firelock as quick as possible to the Rest, sinking it as far
down before your left Knee as your right Hand will permit without
Constraint; your left Hand at the Feather Spring, and your Right
with Fingers extended held under the Guard, taking care to draw
in the Muzzle well towards your Body, and to dress in a Line with
the Butt-End.
[Rest-
when done with fixed bayonet is also Present Arms]
#15- Order your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Place your Firelock nimbly with your left Hand against your
right Shoulder.
2nd. Quit the Firelock with your right Hand, and sinking it at
the same Time with your left, seize it the Muzzle, which must
be of an equal Height with your Chin, and hold it close against
your right Side.
3rd. Lift up your right Foot and place it by your Left; at the
same Time throw back you left Hand by your left Side, and with
your Right, bring down the Butt-End strong upon the ground, placing
it even with the Toe of your right Foot; the Thumb of your right
Hand lying along the Barrel, and the Muzzle kept at a little distance
from your body.
^
^
[Order
positions -1,2,3]
#16- Ground Your Firelock! (4 Motions)
1st. Face to the Right upon your Heels, and at the same Time turn
the Firelock so that the Lock point to the rear, and the flat
of the Butt-End lie against the inside of your Foot, at the same
Time, slipping the right Foot behind the Butt of the Firelock,
the right Toe pointing to the Right, and the Left to the Front.
2nd. Step directly forward with your left Foot about as far as
the Swell of the Firelock, and lay it upon the Ground, your left
Hand hanging down by your left Foot, and your Right kept fast
with the Butt-End against it.
3rd. Raise yourself up again nimbly, bringing back your left Foot
to its former Position, keeping your Body faced to the Right.
4th. Face again to the Left upon your heels, and come to your
proper Front, letting your Hands hang down without Motion.
#17- Take up your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Face to the Right upon both Heels.
2nd. Sink your Body down, and come to the Position described in
the second Motion of Grounding.
3rd. Raise yourself, and Firelock, bringing it close to your right
Side.
4th. Come to your proper Front, seizing the Firelock at the Muzzle,
as in explanation fifteen.
#18- Rest your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Slip your right Hand down the Barrel as far as the Swell.
2nd. Raise the Firelock high up in a perpendicular Line from the
Ground with your right Hand, and seize it with the left above
the Spring, the Cock the Height of the Waist-Belt.
3rd. Step back with your right Foot, placing it behind your left
Heel, and come to the Rest.
#19- Shoulder your Firelocks! (2 Motions)
1st. Lift up your right Foot and place it by your Left; bring
the Firelock at the same Time to your left Shoulder, and seize
the Butt-End with the left Hand, Keeping it in the same Position
as above described.
2nd. Throw your right Hand briskly back.
#20- Secure your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Bring the right Hand briskly up, and place it under the Cock,
keeping the Firelock steady in the same Position.
2nd. Quit the Butt with the left Hand, and seize the Firelock
with it at the Swell, bringing the Elbow close down under the
Lock; The right Hand kept fast inthis Motion, and the Piece still
upright.
3rd. Quit the right Hand and bring it down your right Side, bringing
the Firelock nimbly down to the Secure; the left Hand in a Line
with the Waist-Belt.
#21- Shoulder your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Bring the Firelock up to a perpendicular Line, seizing it
with the right Hand under the Cock.
2nd. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.
3rd. Quit the right Hand, and bring it smartly down the right
Side.
#22- Fix your Bayonets! (3 Motions)
1st and 2nd. Motions as in the two first of the Secure.
3rd. Quit the right Hand, and bring the Firelock smartly down
to the left Side with the left Hand, as far as it will admit without
Constraint, seizing the Bayonet at the same Time with the right
Hand, and fixing it, placing that Hand just below the Brass, with
the Piece close to the hollow of the Shoulder.
[Fix
bayonet]
#23- Shoulder your Firelocks! (3 Motions)
1st. Quit the right Hand, and bring up the Firelock with the Left,
seize it again under the Cock with your Right, as in the Second
Motion of Secure.
2nd. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.
3rd. Quit the right Hand, and bring it down the right Side.
#24- Present your Arms! (3 Motions)
As explained in the three Motions of the fourteenth Word of Command.
#25- To the Right Face! (3 Motions)
1st. Bring up the Firelock, with a quick Motion high before you,
till your left Hand come even with your Eyes, with the Fingers
of that Hand extended along the Stock, just above the Feather
Spring. The right Foot to be brought close up to the left Heel
in this Motion.
2nd. Face to the Right, taking care in Facing to hold the Firelock
right up and down, and steady in your Hands.
3rd. Step back with your right Foot, and come down to your Present.
#26- To the Right Face! (3 Motions)
As in the foregoing explanation.
#27- To the Right about Face! (3 Motions)
As in the foregoing Explanation, coming to the Right about, instead
of to the Right.
#28- To the Left Face! (3 Motions)
1st. Bring the right Foot briskly to the Hollow of your Left,
with the Firelock in same Position as in the first Motion of facing
to the Right.
2nd. Face to the Left.
3rd. Come down to your Present.
#29- To the Left Face! (3 Motions)
As before.
#30- To the Left About Face! (3 Motions)
As before, coming to the Left about, instead of to the Left.
#31- Shoulder your Firelocks!
As in the Motions of Explanation nineteen.
#32- Charge Bayonets! (3 Motions)
1st. As in Explanation one.
2nd. Bring the Swell of the Firelock down strong upon the Palm
of the Hand, turning upon both Heels to the Right, the right Hand
grasping the Piece at the Small behind the Lock, and as high as
the Waist-Belt; The Firelock upon a level with the Barrel upwards.
#33- Shoulder your Firelocks! (2 Motions)
1st. Bring up the Firelock to the Shoulder, place the left Hand
upon the Butt, bringing the Feet square to the Front.
2nd. Quit the right Hand, and throw it down the right Side.
#34- Advance your Arms! (4 Motions)
1st. and 2nd as in Explanation one.
3rd Bring the Firelock down the right Side with the right Hand,
as low as it will admit without Constraint, slipping up the left
Hand a the same Time to the Swell, the Guard between the Thumb
and Forefinger of the right Hand, the three last fingers under
the Cock, with the Barrel to the Rear.
4th. Quit the left Hand.
[Advanced]
#35- Shoulder your Firelocks! (4 Motions)
1st. Bring up the left Hand and seize it at the Swell.
2nd. Come smartly up to a Poise.
3rd. and 4th. Shoulder.
Prime and Load! Number of Motions 15
1st. Come smartly to the Recover, by springing the Firelock streight
up with the left Hand, turning the Barrel inwards to the proper
Height of the Recover; at the same Time that the left Hand springs
the Firelock, the right Hand is raised briskly from the right
Side, and seizes the Firelock a-cross the Breast; as it rises
below the Cock, the left Hand comes with a quick Motion from the
Butt, and seizes the Firelock strong above the Lock, the little
Finger of the left Hand at the spring of the Lock, the left Hand
at an equal Height with the Eyes, the Butt close to the left Breast,
but not pressed, the Firelock perpendicular, opposite the left
Side of the Face.
2nd. Bring the Firelock down with a brisk Motion to the Priming
Position, the left Hand holding the Firelock as in Priming, the
Thumb of the right Hand palced against the Face of the Steel,
the Fingers clenched, and the Elbow a little turned out, that
the Wrist may be clear of the Cock.
3rd. Open the Pan by throwing up the Steel with a strong Motion
of the right Arm, turning the Elbow in, and keeping the Firelock
steady in the left Hand.
4th Handle the Cartridge!
5th. Prime!
6th. Shut Pans!
7th. Cast about!
8th and 9th. Load!
10th and 11th. Draw Rammers!
12th Ram down Cartridge!
13th. Return Rammers!
14th and 15th. Shoulder!
N.B. The Motion of Recover and coming down to the priming Position
and opening Pans, to be done in the usual Time.
The Motion of handling Cartridge, to shutting the Pans, to be
done as quick as possible; when the Pans are shut, a small Pause
is to be made, and cast about together; then the loading Motions
are to be done as quick as possible; but before the Rammer is
return'd, another small Pause is to be made, counting one, two,
between each Motion, 'till the Firelock is shouldered.
[Other positions not covered by the manual but used]
[Slope-
used to reduce height of shouldered firelock while passing overhead
obstruction]
[Trail-
used while marching, either to releave left arm, or to pass thru
brush, trees, or while running.]
[Rear
rank when at Charge Bayonets. Mike is holding too low- this should
be poise, with the lock out, to the left side of face- lock should
be about face high]
(Before the war the British used a three rank formation- three lines of men, one behind the other. The Americans used a two rank formation. When the war started, the British switched to a two rank formation. It allowed for covering more ground.)
Front rank
Make Ready!
Spring the Firelock briskly to the Recover, keeping the left Foot
fast in this Motion: as soon as the Firelock is at the Recover,
without an stop sink the Body briskly without stooping forward,
with a quick Motion down upon the right Knee, the Butt-End of
the Firelock at the same Time falls upon the Ground, the front
Part of the Butt to be in a Line with the Heel of the left Foot;
as soon as the Butt comes to the Ground, the Firelock is to be
cocked, immediately seizing the Cock and Steel in the right Hand,
the Firelock to be held firm in the left Hand, about the Middle
of that Part of the Firelock between the lock and the Swell of
the Stock; the Point of the left Thumb to be close to the Swell
pointing upwards.
As the Body is sinking, the right Knee is to be thrown so far
back as the left Leg may be right up and down, the right Foot
to be thrown a little to the Right, the Body to be kept streight,
the Head up, looking to the Right along the Rank, the same as
if shouldered; the Firelock to be upright, and the Butt about
four inches to the Right of the Inside of the left Foot.
Present!
Bring the Firelock briskly down to the Present, by extending the
left Arm to the full Length with a strong Motion; at the same
Time spring up the Butt by the Cock with the right Hand, and raise
up the Butt so high upon the right Shoulder, that you may not
be obliged to stoop too much with the Head, the right Cheek to
be close to the Butt, and the left Eye shut, and look along the
Barrel with the right Eye from the Breech Pin to the Muzzle; keep
the left Elbow down in an easy Position, and stand as steady as
possible, the Thumb of the right Hand to remain in the Position
as described in the third Explanation of the Manual.
Fire!
Pull the Tricker as directed in the Manual, and as soon as the
Piece is fired, give yourself a strong Spring upon your left Leg,
raising your Body briskly and streight up, keeping your left Foot
fast, and bringing the right Heel close to the Left; at the same
time the Firelock is to be brought up to the priming Position,
and half cocked immediately; a short Pause is to be made, then
handle Cartridges, and go on with the loading Motions described
in the Explanations of Prime and Load.
Center Rank
Make Ready!
Spring the Firelock briskly to the Recover; as soon as the left
hand seizes the Firelock above the Lock, the right Elbow is to
be nimbly raised a little, placing the Thumb of that Hand upon
the Cock, the Fingers open by the Plate of the Lock, and as quick
as possible force the Piece to the Cock, by dropping the Elbow,
and forcing down the Cock with the Thumb, stepping at the same
Time a moderate Pace, or two Feet to the Right, keeping the left
Foot fast; as the Firelock is cocked, the Thumb is to fall below
the Cock, the right Hand seizing the Firelock close under the
Cock firmly; the Fore-finger mot to be before the Tricker: The
Piece to be held in this Position perpendicular opposite the left
Side of the Face, the Butt close to the left Breast, but not pressed,
the Body to be streight, and as full to the Front as possible;
the Head kept up, looking to the Right of the Rank, that the Body
and Firelock may not stoop forward, nor lean much out of the Rank.
Present!
Spring the Firelock from the Body to Arms length with a quick
Motion, pressing down the Muzzle with the left Hand, and spring
up the Butt with the right Hand, as in the foregoing explanation
of the Front Rank
Fire!
As in Explanation four in the Manual, with this Differencethat
the left Foot is to be brought up to the Right at the same Time
that the Firelock is brought down to the priming Position.
The loading Motions as in the Explanations of Priming and Loading,
and at the last Motion of shouldering, to spring to the Left again
and cover the File-leaders.
Rear Rank
Make Ready!
Recover the Firelock and Cock as before directed for the center
Rank. As the Firelock is recovered and cocked, step briskly streight
to the Right with the right Foota full Pace, bring the left hell
about six inches before the right Foot, the Body streight and
as square to the Front as possible.
Present!
As in Explanation of the center Rank.
Fire!
As in Explanation of the center rank, and as the Firelock is coming
down to the priming Position, the left Foot is to be brought back
to the Right, and at the last Motion of shouldering, to spring
to the left again, and cover the File-leader.
