* Animated Drill links in blue for the School of the Soldier accompanies sections of text.

( The 18th Texas offers our appreciation for the animation furnished by 10th Pa Reserve Volunteers and 10th Battalion ANV 1st Division)

**Video links in green are of the Casey Manuel, but can be used. Click on the link then on each picture to observe the video.

( Manual: from the 122nd New York Infantry)

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SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER

General Rules and division of the School of the Soldier

  1. The object of this school being the individual and progressive instruction of the recruits, the instructor never requires a movement to be executed until he has given an exact explanation of it; and he executes, himself, the movement which he commands, so as to join example to precept. He accustoms the recruit to take, by himself, the position which is explained - teaches him to rectify it only when required by his want of intelligence – and sees that all the movements are performed without precipitation.


  2. Each movement should be understood before passing to another. After they have been properly executed in the order laid down in each lesson, the instructor no longer confines himself to that order; on the contrary, he should change it, that he may judge of the intelligence of the men.


  3. The instructor allows the men to rest at the end of each part of the lessons, and oftener, if he thinks proper, especially at the commencement; for this purpose he commands REST.


  4. At the command REST, the soldier is no longer required to preserve immobility, or to remain in his place. If the instructor wishes merely to relieve the attention of the recruit, he commands, in place-REST; the soldier is then not required to preserve his immobility, but he always keeps one of his feet in its place.


  5. When the instructor wishes to commence the instruction, he commands - ATTENTION; at this command the soldier takes his position, remains motionless, and fixes his attention.


  6. The School of the Soldier will be divided into three parts: the first, comprehending what ought to be taught to recruits without arms; the second the manual of arms, the loadings and firings; the third, the principles of alignment, the march by the front, the different steps, the march by the flank, the principles of wheeling and those of change of direction; also, long marches in double quick time and the run,


  7. Each part will be divided into lessons, as follows:


    8. Lessons

    FIRST PART

    1. Position of the soldier without arms; Eyes right, left and front.
    2. Facings.
    3. Principles of the direct step in common and quick time.
    4. Principles of the direct step in double quick time and the run.

    SECOND PART

    **Video Links in this Section
    1. Principles of shouldered arms.
    2. Manual of arms.
    3. To load in four times and at will.
    4. Firings, direct, oblique, by file and by rank.
    5. To fire and load, kneeling and lying.
    6. Bayonet exercise.

    THIRD PART

    * Animated Drill in this Section
    1. Union of eight or twelve men for instruction in the principles of alignment.
    2. The direct march, the oblique march, and the different steps.
    3. The march by the flank.
    4. Principles of wheeling and change of direction.
    5. Long marches in double quick time, and the run, with arms and knapsacks.

    CONTINUE TO PART I - LESSON I
    BACK TO INTERACTIVE TRAINING GUIDE