Captain Ferguson's Company
Royal Welch Fusiliers in America
THE 1764 MANUAL OF ARMS
Take care to perform the Manual Exercise!
Every soldier must give the greatest attention to the words of command.
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He is to stand straight and firm upon his legs, with his heels close together, and toes a little turned out; the belly drawn in a little, but without constraint; the breast a little projected; the shoulders square to the front, and kept back; the head erect, and turned to the right, so as to look easily at the fuglar; the right hand hanging straight down by the side with the palm towards the thigh, in its natural, unconstrained position; he is to carry the firelock against the left shoulder, almost upright, and so low down that the guard will be just under the left breast; the barrel outwards; the left elbow drawn back (but without constraint) and not thrust out from the side; the three last fingers of the left hand under the butt, and the forefinger and thumb on the fore side of it; thus grasping it strongly, and with the upper part of the palm of the hand pressing the piece to the side, that it may be kept steady; by this means bringing the backs of the fingers which are under the butt and turn up on the inside of it, close against the projecting top of the thigh-bone; and lastly turning the lock a very little to the front so that the piece may not lean towards the head nor from it.
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1. Poise your Firelocks!
1. Seize the Firelock with your right Hand, and turn the Lock outwards, keeping the Firelock perpendicular.
2. Bring up 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 be held too far from the Body, and the left Hand must be of an equal Height with the Eyes.
2. Cock your Firelocks!
1. Turn the Barrel opposite to your Face, and place your Thumb upon the Cock, raising the Elbow square at this motion.
2. Cock your Firelock, by drawing your Elbow down, placing your Thumb upon the Breech Pin, and the Fingers under the Guard.
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3. Present!
1. Step back about six Inches to the Rear with the Right Foot, bring 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 upon the Swell, and the Fore-Finger of the right Hand before the Tricker, sinking the Muzzle a little.
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4. Fire!
1. 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 turn'd up.
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5. Half Cock your Firelocks!
1. 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. 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.
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7. Prime!
1. Shake the Powder into the Pan, Placing the three left Fingers behind the Hammer, with the Elbow up.
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8. Shut your Pans!
1. 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.
2. 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!
1. Turn up your Hand and put the Cartridge into the Muzzle, shaking the Powder into the Barrel.
2. Place your Hand, closed, with a quick and strong Motion, upon the Rammer.
10. Draw your Rammers!
1. Draw the Rammer with a quick Motion, half out, seizing it at the Muzzle back-handed.
2. Draw it quite out, turn it, and enter it into the Muzzle.
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11. Ram down your Cartridge!
1. 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, with Fingers extended.
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12. Return your Rammers!
1. 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 fast at the Swell, turning the Body square to the Front.
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13. Shoulder your Firelocks!
1. Quit the left Hand and place it strong upon the Butt.
2. Quit the right Hand and throw it down the right Side.
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14. Rest your Firelocks!
1. Seize the Firelock with the right Hand, turning the Lock outwards.
2. 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.
3. Step briskly back with your right Foot, placing it a Hand's Breadth distant from your 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.
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15. Order your Firelocks!
1. Place your Firelock nimbly with your left Hand against your right Shoulder.
2. Quit the Firelock with the right Hand, and sinking it at the same Time with your Left, seize it at the Muzzle, which must be of an equal Height with your Chin, and hold it close against your right Side.
3. Lift up your right Foot and place it by your Left; at the same Time throw back your 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.
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16. Ground your Firelocks!
1. Face to the Right upon your Heels, and at the same Time turn the Firelock so that the Lock may 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.
2. 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.
3. Raise yourself up nimbly, bringing back your left Foot to its former Position, keeping your Body faced to the Right.
4. Face again to the Left upon your Heels and come to your proper Front, letting your Hands hang down without Motion.
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17. Take up your Firelocks!
1. Face to the Right upon both Heels.
2. Sink your Body down, and come to the Position described in the second Motion of Grounding.
3. Raise yourself, and Firelock, bringing it close to your right Side.
4. Come to your proper Front, seizing the Firelock at the Muzzle, and come to the Order.
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18. Rest your Firelocks!
1. Slip your right Hand down the Barrel as far as the Swell.
2. 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.
3. Step back with your right Foot, placing it behind your left Heel, and come to the Rest.
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19. Shoulder your Firelocks!
1. 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.
2. Throw your right Hand briskly back.
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20. Secure your Firelocks!
1. Bring the right Hand briskly up, and place it under the Cock, keeping the Firelock steady in the same Position.
2. 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 in this Motion, and the Piece still upright.
3. Quit the right Hand and bring it down your right Side, bring your Firelock nimbly down to the Secure; the left Hand in a Line with the Waist-Belt.
21. Shoulder your Firelocks!
1. Bring the Firelock up to a perpendicular Line, seizing it with the right Hand under the Cock.
2. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.
3. Quit the right Hand, and bring it smartly down the right Side.
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22. Fix your Bayonets!
1. Bring the right Hand briskly up, and place it under the Cock, keeping the Firelock steady in the same Position.
2. 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 in this Motion, and the Piece still upright.
3. 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 kept close to the hollow of the Shoulder.
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23. Shoulder your Firelocks!
1. 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 the Secure.
2. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.
3. Quit the right Hand, and bring it down the right Side.
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24. Present your Arms!
As explained in the three Motions of the fourteenth Word of Command. Back to fourteenth Word of Command
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25. To the Right Face!
1. Bring up the Firelock, with a quick Motion high before you, till your left Hand comes 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.
2. Face to the Right, taking care in Facing to hold the Firelock right up and down, and steady in your Hands.
3. Step back with your right Foot and come down to your Present.
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26. To the Right Face!
As in the foregoing Explanation.
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27. To the Right About Face!
As in the foregoing Explanation, coming to the Right about, instead of to the Right.
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28. To the Left Face!
1. Bring the right Foot briskly to the Hollow of your Left, with the Firelock in the same Position as in the first Motion of facing to the Right.
2. Face to the Left.
3. Come down to your Present.
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29. To the Left Face!
As before.
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30. To the Left About Face!
As before, coming to the Left about, instead of to the Left.
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31. Shoulder your Firelocks!
As in the two Motions of Explanation nineteen. Back to Explanation nineteen
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32. Charge your Bayonets!
1. As in Explanation one. Back to Explanation one
2. 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!
1. Bring up the Firelock to the Shoulder, place the right Hand upon the Butt, bringing the Feet square to the Front.
2. Quit the right Hand, and throw it down the right Side.
34. Advance your Arms!
1. & 2. as in Explanation one. Back to Explanation one
3. Bring the Firelock down the right Side with the right Hand, as low as it will admit without Constraint, slipping the left Hand at the same Time to the Swell, the Guard between the Thumb and Fore-Finger of the right Hand, the three last Fingers under the Cock, with the Barrel to the Rear.
4. Quit the left Hand.
35. Shoulder your Firelocks!
1. Bring up the left Hand and seize the Piece at the Swell.
2. Come smartly up to a Poise.
3. & 4. Shoulder.
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Military Courtesies
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ADDRESSING - (under arms)
Private to N.C.O. Musket held across body
Private to Comm. Off. Recover
N.C.O. to Comm. Off. Recover
N.C.O. to Private Musket held across body
Comm. Off. to N.C.O., Private Hand Salute
Comm. Off. to Major or above Recover
S.M. to Private Hand Salute
S.M. to Comm. Off. Recover
PASSING - (under arms)
Private to N.C.O. nothing
Private to Comm. Off. Advance Arms
N.C.O. to Comm. Off., S.M. Advance Arms
N.C.O. to Private Nothing
Comm. Off. to N.C.O., Private Hand Salute
Comm. Off. to Major or above Advance Arms
S.M. to N.C.O. to Private Hand Salute
S.M. to Comm. Off. Recover
ADDRESSING - (without arms)
Private to N.C.O. Position of Attention
Private to Comm. Off., S.M. Hand Salute
N.C.O. to Comm. Off., S.M. Hand Salute
N.C.O. to Private nothing
Comm. Off. to N.C.O., Private Hand Salute
Comm. Off. to Major or above Hand Salute
S.M. to N.C.O. to Private Hand Salute
S.M. to Comm. Off. Hand Salute
PASSING (without arms)
Private to N.C.O. Nothing
Private to Comm. Off., S.M. Hand Salute
N.C.O. to Comm. Off., S.M. Hand Salute
N.C.O. to Private Nothing
Comm. Off. to N.C.O., Private Hand Salute
Comm. Off. to Major or above Hand Salute
S.M. to N.C.O. to Private Hand Salute
S.M. to Comm. Off.nothing Hand Salute
(Copyright by The British Brigade)
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MANOUVER 1
The Line Formation:
CPL PVT PVT PVT CPL PVT PVT PVT PVT CPL
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 (Counting Off)
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In order to from a column of twos from a line, each member in the line counts off by twos. The manouver is very simple after that. On the command: "Form Column of Twos from a Line!" ( which is a preparatory command to let you know what you are to do). The next command is also preparatory which will give you direction: "By the Right (or Left), Wheel!" at this point, the forward most man will pivot in the direction ordered. Always remember, all 1's are Left and all 2's are Right. So if the wheel is to the left, the forward most man who counted 1 will face to the Left. On the command: "Qiuck! March!" all the men who counted off as 1's will march in place performing a wheel as the men who counted off as 2's wheel to the man to his left. The same is done if the wheel is to the Right, the men who counted off as 2's become the pivot man and the 1's follow. Should there be an uneven number in the line, just remember, all 1's and 2's will be behind the person with the same number. Dressing is automatic, the man on the RIGHT will clench his right fist and raise his right arm to the shoulder of th man in front. The man on the LEFT will look to his right and dress on that man.
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