_Prepare to cease playing:_ Extend the right arm to its full length in the direction of the staff. _Cease playing:_ Bring the arm back to its original position in front of the body.
_To march:_ Turn the wrist and bring the staff to the front, the ferrule pointing upward and to the front; extend the arm to its full length in the direction of the staff.
_To halt:_ Lower the staff into the raised left hand and raise the staff horizontally above the head with both hands, the arms extended; lower the staff with both hands to a horizontal position at the height of the hips.
_To countermarch:_ Face toward the band and give the signal _to march_. The countermarch is executed by each front-rank man to the right of the drum major turning to the right about, each to the left, turning to the left about, each followed by the men covering him. The drum major pa.s.ses through the center.
_To oblique:_ Bring the staff to a horizontal position, the head of the staff opposite the neck, the ferrule pointing in the direction the oblique is to be made; extend the arm to its full length in the direction of the staff.
_To march by the right flank:_ Extend the arm to the right, the staff vertical, ferrule upward, back of the hand to the rear.
_To march by the left flank:_ Extend the arm to the left, the staff vertical, ferrule upward, back of the hand to the front.
_To diminish front:_ Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the eyes, right hand at the height of the hip.
_To increase front:_ Let the ferrule fall into the left hand at the height of the hip, right hand at the height of the neck.
The _march_, _flourishes_, or _ruffles_: Bring the staff to a vertical position, hand opposite the neck, back of the hand to the front, ferrule pointing down.
_To the color:_ Bring the staff to a horizontal position at the height of the neck, back of the hand to the rear, ferrule pointing to the left.
When the band is playing, in marching, the drum major beats the time with his staff and supports the left hand at the hip, fingers in front, thumb to the rear.
The drum major, with staff in hand, salutes by bringing his staff to a vertical position, head of the staff up and opposite the left shoulder.
The drum major, marching in review with staff in hand, salutes by bringing his staff to a vertical position, head of the staff up and opposite the left shoulder.
At a halt, and the band not playing, the drum major holds his staff with the ferrule touching the ground about 1 inch from toe of right foot, at an angle of about 60, ball pointing upward to the right, right hand grasping staff near the ball, back of the hand to the front: left hand at the hip, fingers in front, thumb to the rear.
(_C.I.D.R., No. 6._)
MANUAL OF THE SABER.
782. 1. _Draw_, 2. _SABER_.
At the command _draw_ unhook the saber with the thumb and first two fingers of the left hand, thumb on the end of the hook, fingers lifting the upper ring; grasp the scabbard with the left hand at the upper band, bring the hilt a little forward, seize the grip with the right hand, and draw the blade 6 inches out of the scabbard, pressing the scabbard against the thigh with the left hand.
At the command _saber_ draw the saber quickly, raising the arm to its full extent to the right front, at an angle of about 45 with the horizontal, the saber, edge down, in a straight line with the arm; make a slight pause and bring the back of the blade against the shoulder, edge to the front, arm nearly extended, hand by the side, elbow back, third and fourth fingers back of the grip; at the same time hook up the scabbard with the thumb and first two fingers of the left hand, thumb through the upper ring, fingers supporting it; drop the left hand by the side.
_This is the position of carry saber dismounted._
Officers and noncommissioned officers armed with the saber unhook the scabbard before mounting; when mounted, in the first motion of _draw saber_ they reach with the right hand over the bridle hand and without the aid of the bridle hand draw the saber as before; the right hand at the _carry_ rests on the right thigh.
On foot the scabbard is carried hooked up.
783. When publishing orders, calling the roll, etc., the saber is held suspended from the right wrist by the saber knot; when the saber knot is used it is placed on the wrist before drawing saber and taken off after returning saber.
784. Being at the order or carry: 1. _Present_, 2. _SABER_ (or _ARMS_).
At the command _present_ raise and carry the saber to the front, base of the hilt as high as the chin and 6 inches in front of the neck, edge to the left, point 6 inches farther to the front than the hilt, thumb extended on the left of the grip, all fingers grasping the grip.
At the command _saber_, or _arms_, lower the saber, point in prolongation of the right foot and near the ground, edge to the left, hand by the side, thumb on left of grip, arm extended. If mounted, the hand is held behind the thigh, point a little to the right and front of the stirrup.
In rendering honors with troops officers execute the first motion of the salute at the command _present_, the second motion at the command _arms_; enlisted men with the saber execute the first motion at the command _arms_ and omit the second motion.
785. Being at a carry: 1. _Order_, 2. _SABER_ (or _ARMS_).
Drop the point of the saber directly to the front, point on or near the ground, edge down, thumb on back of grip.
Being at the _present saber_, should the next command be _order arms_, officers and noncommissioned officers armed with the saber _order saber_; if the command be other than _order arms_, they execute _carry saber_.
When arms are brought to the order the officers or enlisted men with the saber drawn _order saber_.
786. The saber is held at the carry while giving commands, marching at attention, or changing position in quick time.
When at the order sabers are brought to the carry when arms are brought to any position except the _present_ or _parade rest_.
(_C.I.D.R., No. 2._)
787. Being at the order: 1. _Parade_, 2. _REST_.
Take the position of parade rest except that the left hand is uppermost and rests on the right hand, point of saber on or near the ground in front of the center of the body, edge to the right.
At the command _attention_ resume the order saber and the position of the soldier.
788. In marching in double time the saber is carried diagonally across the breast, edge to the front; the left hand steadies the scabbard.
789. Officers and noncommissioned officers armed with the saber, on all duties under arms draw and return saber without waiting for command. All commands to soldiers under arms are given with the saber drawn.
790. Being at a carry: 1. _Return_, 2. _SABER_.
At the command _return_ carry the right hand opposite to and 6 inches from the left shoulder, saber vertical, edge to the left; at the same time unhook and lower the scabbard with the left hand and grasp it at the upper band.
At the command _saber_ drop the point to the rear and pa.s.s the blade across and along the left arm; turn the head slightly to the left, fixing the eyes on the opening of the scabbard, raise the right hand, insert and return the blade; free the wrist from the saber knot (if inserted in it), turn the head to the front, drop the right hand by the side; hook up the scabbard with the left hand, drop the left hand by the side.
Officers and noncommissioned officers armed with the saber, when mounted, return saber without using the left hand; the scabbard is hooked up on dismounting.
791. At inspection enlisted men with the saber drawn execute the first motion of _present saber_ and turn the wrist to show both sides of the blade, resuming the carry when the inspector has pa.s.sed.
MANUAL OF TENT PITCHING.
_Shelter Tents._