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This chapter of our site contains videos of the Silas Casey version of the U.S. Infantry Tactics manual. The movements are presented in their motions, or "by the numbers." Drill movements were and are trained in components to ensure that each motion is completed entirely and uniformly. We present these videos as a training aid and a visual guide to accompany the text of the manual. This project is a work in progress, and more movements will be added as we film and process the video.
LESSON III. MANUAL OF ARMS.
134. The manual of arms will be taught to four men, placed, at first, in one rank, elbow to elbow, and afterwards in two ranks.
135. Each command will be executed in one time (or pause), but this time will be divided into motions, the better to make known the mechanism.
136. The rate (or swiftness) of each motion, in the manual of arms, with the exceptions herein indicated, is fixed at the ninetieth part of a minute, but, in order not to fatigue, the attention, the instructor will, at first, look more particularly to the execution of the motions, without requiring a nice observance of the cadence, to which he will bring the recruits progressively, and after they shall have become a little familiarized with the handling of the piece.
137. As the motions relative to the cartridge, to the rammer, and to the fixing and unfixing of the bayonet, cannot be executed at the rate prescribed, nor even with a uniform swiftness, they will not be subjected to that cadence. The instructor will, however, labor to cause these motions to be executed with promptness, and, above all, with regularity.
138. The last syllable of the command will decide the brisk
execution of the first motion of each time (or pause). The commands
two, three, and four, will decide the brisk execution of the other
motions. As soon as the recruits shall well comprehend the positions
of the several motions of a time, they will be taught to execute
the time without resting on its different motions; the mechanism
of the time will nevertheless be observed, as well to give a perfect
use of the piece, as to avoid the sinking of, or slurring over,
either of the motions.