Get your own Free Home PageHesse-Kassel 2nd Jäger Company Drill Manual 1754 re-edited 1996
(English commands in the drill manual are NOT alternate
commands, but short explainations I added for those not literate
in German. bkb) This is not the complete text of the manual,
that is to large for this format and has not finished being
edited.Notes
I. The implications, of course, is that the right, left and about
face movements are ordinarily conducted with shouldered
firelock. Combine this implication with the fact that commands
thirty-two through thirty-nine make absolutely no allowance for
poising with the weapon. II. This would mean, if taken literally, that there is no space
between the heels. The precise degree of the angle at which the
feet are oriented is left unmentioned. The Hessian-Darmstadt
manual of 1792 specifies a right angle. III. No tempo count is given on my German Photocopy,
although we can safely a one step tempo. Obviously, this
movement is conducted from the initial position of shouldered
firelock.General observations for the Manual of Arms
Article I
It must foremost be seen to that, as often as a fellow is
under arms and especially on the drill field, he must have about
him a good comportment; to wit, he must hold head and body and
feet properly and without constraint, and draw in his belly.Article II
If the manual is to be done well, it is chiefly necessary that
the fellows stand straight in files and ranks, on account of which a
fellow must dress to the right and on his neighbor to the front as
soon as he takes up his weapon; and the adjutant, when he
dresses in files, likewise the Major, when he rides to the flank, and
when the Battalion marches off, must well observe that the
soldiers stand in perfectly straight files and ranks when under
arms, and assuredly the soldiers must be taught to align
themselves by themselves, at all times without being permitted to
oblique or bend the line.Article III
It is the most comely of things in all marching and exercising
when a fellow carries his weapon well; and the weapon must be
carried with an almost straight arm, firmly and straight on the
shoulder ~ specifically, not too near the head nor yet to far from
the torso, also drawn tightly into the body ~ and one must grip the
butt with two fingers underneath and with three fingers on top, so
that the barrel faces outward and the trigger guard presses into
the body with the weapon may not move. Thus always in all
parades and in all formations it must appear straight, and the
Colonels and Commanders of the Regiments, also various staff
officers, are to be held accountable if their Regiment do not carry
their weapons well.Article IV
Between all files there must be an equal distance, which is
arm to arm, although the men are able to move.Article V
The first concern in the exercise must be to drill a fellow and
give him the air of a soldier, so that the farmer is driven out, to
which appertains that a fellow be taught: How he is to hold his head: to wit, it must not be let drop,
nor eyes downcast, but looking to his right when under arms,
and~ when in the march past~ looking one straight in the eye. That a fellow march stiffly on his feet, and not with bent
knees, the feet pointing outwards. (Goose step) That a fellow stands at his full height and does not slump
backwards or stick out his belly, but throw out his chest and draw
in his back. When a fellow does not always stand in such a way under
arms he must be corrected and taught better.Article VI
Between the tempos in the manual it must be well and
equally held as long as it takes to count to three slowly.Article VII
All turning must be done as quickly as possible, the knees
held stiff while pivoting, and the feet set down sharply and quickly
either back or forward, as also must the weapon be pressed firmly
to the shoulder so that it does not move.Article VIII
In files and ranks the soldier must stand in straight lines
during exercise, to which end the left heel must never move from
its place.Article IX
When under arms and during the exercises no fellow may
move his head, much less look around forwards, left or to the rear ,
but have his head continually to the right.Article X
In the appearance of the legs, one must stand always with
the heels together and the points of the feet outwards.Article XI
The right hand must hang at the body motionless and no
one must move his fingerBasic Commands used by the Hessian Army Hessian Manual 1754
Commands to Load Etc.
1. Mit der rechten hand an das Gewehr Take your weapon in your right hand. 2. Das Gewehr hoch ! Hold weapon high 3. Spannet den Hahn! Full Cock 4. Schlagt an! Take a braced position 5. Feuer! Fire 6. Den Hahn in die Ruhe! Rest the cock 7. Ergreiffet die Patron! Handle cartridge 8. Opfnet die patron! Open cartridge 9. Pulver auf die Pfanne! Prime the pan 10. Schliesset die Phanne! To have shut the pan 11. Lincks schwenket das Gewehr zur Ladung! Weapon to the left for loading 12. Die Patron in den Lauff! Load Cartidge in the barrel (bullet run) 13. Ziehet aus den Lade-Stock! Handle rammers 14. Den Lade-Stock in den Lauff! Rammers into Barrels 15. Den Lade-Stock an seinen Ort ! Return Rammers 16. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter! Shoulder Firelocks 17. Das Gewehr beim fuss! Weapon by the foot 18. Strecket das Gewehr Ground Arms 19. Ergreiffet das Gewehr! Handle weapon 20. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter! Shoulder weapon 21. Praesentiert das Gewehr! Present Weapon 22. Rechts unkehrt euch! To show the weapon on the right 23. Links herstellt euch! Move weapon to the right 24. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter! Poise your weapon 25. Vorwärts fällt das Gewehr! Drop weapon forward 26. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter! Shoulder Weapon 27. Verdeckt das Gewehr unter den lincksten Arm!
Put the but of your weapon into your left armpit 28. Das Gewehr hoch im rechten Arm! Carry Weapon on right arm (Advance Arms) 29. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
Shoulder weapon 30. Verkehrt schultert das Gewehr Move weapon to your opposite shoulder
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