Of Disciplining young Soldiers for Land-Service (Part 1)

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From A Military Treatise... by J. MacIntire



When Recruits have been taught the Firings, and some Evolutions, it is necessary to give them an Idea of Land-Service.

I am sensible that it does not become one in my Station in the Service, to treat of so arduous a Task, but defective as it may appear to good Officers, I beg Leave to entreat their Clemency for my Presumption; and hope that, as such a Scheme has not hitherto been thought of, the Novelty of mine will, in some Measure, apologize for its Faults; especially as it may induce those of more Experience to form a better Plan.

Of the different Beats of the Drum

The Drum should be made familiar to every Soldier, that he may perform his Duty in a regular manner, without mistaking one Beat for another.

A Man who does not understand the Drum well, can never march with Precision; for, if he does not immediately distinguish a quick March, or Retreat, from a slow one, he cannot avoid marching out of Order; and others following his Example, the Whole are obliged to halt, to dress the Ranks and Files.

Besides, the Soldiers must know the Meaning of a Flam, Ruff, Roll, long Roll, Single or double Preparative, first Part of the General, to Arms &c otherwise they can never perform the Firings with any Degree of Exactness; unless the Officer is at great Pains in giving, not only the Word of Command, but many Cautions, which would be improper, when the Men are under Arms; because every Thing there must be done with as few Directions as possible. The Drum saves a great deal of Trouble, and has the Advantage of gaining the Soldier's Attention much more than the Word of Command; therefore the Exercise, Firings, and Evolutions, should always be performed by Beat of Drum, when Recruits have once been properly drilled, and acquired a Knowledge of their Duty.

That the Soldiers may understand all the necessary Beats of the Drum, the Detachment must parade at the Place of Exercise; which being done, an Officer, with an orderly Drum, is to march to the opposite Side of the Deck, quite clear of the Detachment. He whispers to the Drum to beat a March, and then calls out a Soldier, by Name, and asks him, privately, if he knows what the Drum is beating? If the Soldier guesses wrong, by mentioning some other Beat, the Officer is to make the Drum beat that which he mentioned, to shew him his Error, and that he may remember it again; at the same Time telling him it is a March which the Drum beats, distinguishing between the Grenadier and the Foot March. The Soldier being instructed as above, returns to his Rank, and the Officer calls out another, and goes on through the Whole, till they can distinguish a March from any other Beat; then the Officer proceeds to the Retreat; and afterwards to all the other Beats that are necessary.

N.B. The Serjeants and Corporals should be taught in the same Manner, as they are very often deficient. There are many Opportunities to make a Detachment understand the Drum, which should not be neglected, and there is no Difficulty in acquiring it.

The Field Exercise, standing

All Detachments should have a short, 
quick Method of performing such Parts of 
the Exercise as are most Useful in the Field, 
without adhering to that Slowness and Forma-
lity which is generally observed on Parades: 
I have therefore thought of the following, 
all of which can be performed standing; or 
even upon a March, (except the Order) 
and should frequently be practised on board, 
that the Soldiers may be very alert in their 
Motions, and consequently fit for any Ser-
vice that requires Expedition.

I. Fix your Bayonets!  } As in the Ma-
II. Shoulder!          }    nual
III. Charge your Bayonets!

Bring the Firelock down at one Motion, 
so as to have it firm in hand, with the 
Point of the Bayonet Breast high.

    IV. Charge!

Rush forward at once nimbly, and with 
all your Force, as if to charge the Ene-
my.

    V. Halt!

Halt at once, and recover your Arms.

VI. Unfix your Bayonets!   }
VII. Shoulder!             }   As in the 
VIII. Club your Firelocks! }   Manual
IX. Secure your Firelocks! }
X. Shoulder!                      } 

    XI Sling your Firelocks!

Come to the Recover as in the first Ex-
planation of the Manual Exercise. Tell 
1, 2, and quit the Firelock with the left 
Hand; extend your Sling to the Left, the 
Thumb upwards, keeping the Sling in a 
Line with the Firelock. Tell 1, 2, bring 
the Sling with the left Hand opposite to the 
right Shoulder, and the Firelock, with the 
right Hand, opposite to the left Shoulder 
by crossing of both Hands at the same 
Time, bringing the left Hand within the 
Right, keeping the Muzzle directly up, 
the Barrel to the Left, and the right Hand just 
under the left Elbow, Tell 1, 2, bend 
the Firelock back, and bring the Sling over 
your Head, placing it just above your right 
Shoulder, and the Firelock opposite to the 
Point of the Left.  Tell 1, 2, draw the 
Sling with your left Hand, and let go the 
Firelock with your Right at the same Time, 
that it may hang by the Sling on the right 
Shoulder, the Muzzle upwards, and drop-
ping both your Hands down by your Sides 
at the same Instant of Time.

    XII. Shoulder your Firelocks!

Seize the Sling with both Hands at the 
same Time, taking Hold of it with the 
right Hand about the Middle, and as low
 as you can reach, without bending your 
Body, with the Left. Tell 1, 2, and, with 
the left Hand bring the Butt forward, slip-
ping your left Elbow under the Firelock 
by bringing it between the Firelock and the 
Sling; take hold of the Firelock at the same 
Time with the left Hand, letting the Stock 
lie between the Thumb and the Fore-fin-
ger, the Butt-end pointing a little to the 
Left, with the Barrel upwards. Tell 1, 
2, bring the Firelock to lie on the left 
Shoulder, and the Sling on the right; the 
Barrel upwards and the Butt-end pointing 
directly to the Front, keeping the Firelock 
to a true Level. Tell 1, 2, bring the 
Firelock before you, seizing it briskly with 
the right Hand under the Lock, and with 
the Left at the Feather Spring, turning the 
Barrel at the same Time inwards, as in the 
second Motion of Explanation the first in 
the Manual Exercise, the right Thumb 
upon the Cock. Tell 1, 2, quit the Fire-
lock with the left Hand, and bring it with 
your Right opposite to your left Shoulder, 
placing the Butt at the same Time in the 
left Hand. Tell 1, 2, and let the Fire-
lock fall upon the left Shoulder, throwing 
back the right Hand.

    XIII. Port your Firelocks!

seize the Firelock with the right Hand 
at the Swell. Tell 1, 2, and take the Fire-
lock off your Shoulder, and bring it down 
to your right Side, so that the Corner of 
the Butt may be within eight Inches of the 
Deck, the Firelock lying on the Slops, and 
crossing your right Thigh, so that the 
Muzzle may be almost in a Line with your 
Shoulder.

    XIV. Shoulder

Bring the Firelock up before you, seiz-
ing it with the left Hand at the same Time
under the Lock, which is to be turned out-
was. Tell 1, 2, and shoulder as usual.

    XV. Order your Firelock!
Seize the Firelock with the right Hand, 
where it rests upon the Shoulder. Tell 1,
2, bring it off your Shoulder, and order it
at once, without coming to a Rest.

    XVI. Shoulder!

Seize the Firelock as low as you can with
your right Hand; at the same Time raise it,
and throw it well to the left Side, bringing
the Butt into the left Hand. Tell 1, 2, and
shoulder as usual.

XVII. Recover your Arms!  }  As in the 
XVIII. Shoulder!          } Manual