Chapter XVI: Section V: Stick Drill

_First Practice._

Guard—Continuing the same words of command and movements as in the “Attack and Defence” in Section 4th, omitting the word “Two” in the delivery of each point.

_Second Practice._

Guard—Continuing, &c., as the “Point and Parry,” but not exceeding Six points.

_Third Practice._

Guard—Leg—Inside guard—Leg.
Outside guard—Leg—Guard—Slope swords.

_Fourth Practice._

Guard—Head—Head—Leg—Leg—Head—Head—Guard.
Slope swords.

_Fifth Practice._

Head—Head—Arm—Head—Head—Arm.
Head—Head—Right side—Head—Head—Right side.
Slope swords.

When perfect, by Word of command, the whole of this Section is to be performed in Quick time, by the drill officer naming only the practice required, but first giving the caution—_Stick drill by practice divisions._

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PITCHING, AND STRIKING TENTS.

1. Whenever possible, the quartermaster, or an officer acting for him, with a non-commissioned officer and a camp colourman per company, will precede the corps to be encamped.

2. This officer will take up ground for the companies’ and the officers’ and other tents, &c., according to the directions he may have received, to conform to one or other of the methods laid down in the “Regulations for Encampments,” marking by a picket the spot to be occupied by each tent-pole, and taking care that the lines of tents are perpendicular and correctly covered.

3. Before arriving in camp the men will be told off for their several functions as pole-men, peg-men, and unpackers of tents, two men being allotted for each of these duties, and six in all for every tent. More than this number only impede each other.

Each tent requires, therefore, one section of threes to pitch, or strike it.

4. From the remainder of the company the parties will be told off for provisions, wood, water, fire, guards and pickets, and for the pitching of the officers’ orderly-room, store-room, guard-tents, &c.

To each tent, as far as possible, a non-commissioned officer will be told off.

5. It is known that the soldiers’ tent, with its cords, occupies a space of nearly 6 yards—that is, between 7 and 8 paces from pole to pole.

6. The pole-men, being stationed at the spots indicated by the pickets, the pole is lowered, and the cap of the tent fixed on, and all things prepared for the raising of the tent. On the signal, or word of command, the whole of the poles are raised together, the skirt of the tent being lifted over the poleman’s head.

7. It will be remembered, that, to insure stability, four of the cords which divide the circumference accurately into quarters, must be first made fast before any of the others.

8. Each cord must be stretched on the true prolongation of the tent seam.

9. The slides must be made fast at an equal distance from the tent and the ground peg, so as to permit shifting, as expansion or contraction of the cord ensues on atmospheric changes.

10. The non-commissioned officer sees that the door is properly placed, and attends especially to the fastenings of the first four pegs, with a view to the general uprightness of the pole and security of the tent, under the general superintendence of the company’s officers; one being stationed at the flank, the more easily to detect and correct errors.

11. In order to strike the tents, all the pegs are drawn except the four first driven, and four men place themselves at these in readiness for the signal; they draw these pegs, and hold down the tent till the signal be given.

12. On the signal, the pole-men lower the poles to the rear, and come out by the door, bringing the poles with them.

13. In rolling up the tent, the cap is turned on one side, in such a manner as shall make it visible at one end when the tent is rolled. This prevents the cap from cutting the tent.