focus for 2006 season

[cptsilas]

Well boys, last season we focused on stacking arms, and got very good at it. The season before we focused on getting bayonettes on every musket. That worked out well too, otherewise stacking would not have gone so well.
This season I would like to see us focusing on "loading in 9 times". Those that were at Sharpsburg last year got a taste of that experience. The Colonel even got us to the point where we were loading as he only called out the numbers without naming the steps. I am completely confident the the 1st Sergt. will have the 8th Arkansas performing this task in no time. If you don't have a Gillhams manual, you can go to the Battalion website and look it up there (if you want to get a jump on this training). I want to get real good at this so we can mosey over to the shady trees more.


EDIT I went to the website and saw that it did not have loading in nine times as does Gillhams, so I copied it from the manual. See below.

[John Graham]

Ahhhh...don't we all like to mossey Will bre studying and I remember Sharpsburg. ;D

[Jim MacGregor]

ya gotta do a spell check there, Johnny.

[cptsilas]

Load in nine times

1. LOAD

One time and one motion.

150. Grasp the piece with the left hand as high as the right elbow, and bring it vertically opposite the middle of the body, shift the right hand to the upper band, place the butt between the feet, the barrel to the front; seize it with the left hand near the muzzle, which should be three inches from the body; carry the right hand to the cartridge box.

2. Handle ---- CARTRIDGE.

One time and one motion.

151. Seize the cartridge with the thumb and next two fingers, and place it between the teeth.

3. Tear ---- CARTRIDGE.

One time and one motion

152. Tear the paper to the powder, hold the cartridge upright between the thumb and first two fingers, near the top; in this position place it in front of and near the muzzle -- the back of the hand to the front.

4. Charge ---- CARTRIDGE.

one time and one motion

153. Empty the powder int the barrel; disengage the ball from the paper with the right hand and thumb and first two fingers of the left; insert it into the bore, the pointed end uppermost, and press it down with the right thumb; seize the head of the rammer with the thumb and forefingerof the right hand, the other fingers closed, the elbow near the body.

5. Draw ---- RAMMER.

One time and THREE motions

154. First motion. Half draw the rammer by extending the right arm; steady it in this position with the left thumb; grasp the rammer near the muzzle with the right hand, the little finger uppermost, the nails to the front, the thumb extended along the rammer.
Second motion. Clear the rammer from the pipes by again extending the arm; the rammer in the prolongation of the pipes.
Third motion. turn the rammer, the little end of the rammer passing near the left shoulder; place the head of the rammer in the ball, the back of the hand to the front.

6. Ram ---- CARTRIDGE.

One time and one motion.

155. Insert the rammer as far as the right, and steady it in this position with the thumb of the thumb of the left hand; seize the rammer at the small end with the thumb and fore finger of the right hand, the back of the hand to the front; press the ball home, the elbows near the body.

7. Return ---- RAMMER.

One time and THREE motions.

156. First motion. Draw the rammer Half-way out, and steady it in this postition with the left thumb; grasp it near the muzzle with the right hand, the little finger uppermost, the nails to the front, the thumb along the rammer in prolongation of the bore.
Second motion. Turn the rammer, the head of the rammer passing near the left shoulder, and insert it in the pipes until the right hand reaches the muzzle, the nails to the front.
Third motion. Force the rammer home by placing the little finger of the right hand on the head of the rammer; pass the left hand down the barrel to the extent of the arm, without depressing the shoulder.

8. PRIME

one time and two motions.

157. First motion. With the left hand raise the piece till the hand is as high as the eye, grasp the small of the stock with the right hand; half face to the right; place, at the same time, the right foot behind and at right angles with the left; the hollow of the right foot against the left heel. Slip the left hand down to the lower band, the thumb along the stock, the left elbow against the body; bring the piece to the right side, the butt below the right forearm -- the small of the stock against the body and two inches belwo the right breast, the barrel upwards, the muzzle level with the eye.
Second motion. Half thingy with the thumb of the right hand, the fingers supoported against the guard and the small of the stock ---- remove the old cap with one of the fingers of the right hand, and with the thumb and fore finger of the same hand take a cap from the pouch, place it on the nipple, and press it down with the thumb; seize the small of the stock with the right hand.

9. Shoulder -- ARMS

One time and two motions

158. First motion Bring the piece to the right shoulder, and support it there with the left hand, face to the front; bring the right heel to the side of and on line with the left; grasp the piece with the right hand as indicated in the position of shoulder arms.
Second motion. Drop the left hand quickly by the side.

[John Graham]

ragtagreb said:

ya gotta do a spell check there, Johnny.

ya got to iskuse the drinkin of a scotish lad. I'm jus a tipin the gin. ;D

[Jim MacGregor]

An' I notice ye din't pass the bottle my way.

[John Graham]

Aye..sory me old chap, Ill do next round about ;D