MANUAL OF ARMS

FOR THE

SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE

BY

CAPT. G.M. BARBER,

Commanding 1st Battalion Ohio Sharp-Shooters

BOSTON,

1864.

J.H. EASTBURN'S PRESS.

COMMANDS EMBRACED IN THE MANUAL

COMMANDS EMBRACED IN THE MANUAL

1. Shoulder Arms.
2. Present do.
3. Support do.
4. Secure do.
5. Order do.
6. Trail do.
7. Charge Magazine.
8. Load.
9. Ready.
10. Aim.
11. Fire.
12. Recover Arms.
13. Fix Bayonet.
14. Parade Rest.
15. Inspection Arms.
16. Right Shoulder Shift Arms.
17. Unfix Bayonet.
18. Ground Arms.
19. Raise Arms.
20. Arms Port.
21. Arms at Will. 

Note. The United States Infantry Tactics, as authorized and adopted by the Secretary of War, is followed as nearly as it is applicable to the peculiarities of the piece.


 
 
 
 
 
 




M A N U A L

FOR THE

SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE

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Shoulder --- Arms.

  1. Place the recruit in the position of the soldier without arms, cause him to bend the right arm slightly, and place the piece in it in the following manner: 
  2. The piece in the right hand; the barrel nearly vertical and resting in the hollow of the shoulder; the guard-lever to the front, the arm hanging nearly at its full length near the body; the thumb embracing the guard-lever, the forefinger extended along the stock, the remaining fingers grasping the stock below the hammer which rests on the little finger. 
  3. The hand should rest lightly against the thigh, and care should be taken that the shoulder is not depressed, and that the elbows are kept near the body. 
Present --- Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. With the right hand bring the piece erect before the center of the body, the guard- 

lever to the front, seize the piece with the left hand below the lower band, the thumb extended along the barrel and against the stock, the forearm horizontal and resting against the body, the hand as high as the elbow.

  1. (Second motion.) At the same time grasp the small of the stock with the right hand below and against the guard-lever. 
Shoulder --- Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Bring the piece to the right shoulder, at the same time change the position of the right hand to that of shoulder arms press the piece against the shoulder with the left hand, the fingers extended and joined, the right arm nearly straight. 
  2. (Second motion.) Drop the left hand quickly by the side. 
Support --- Arms.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Bring the piece with the right hand perpendicularly to the front and between the eyes, the barrel to the rear, seize the piece with the left hand at the 

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lower band, raise this hand as high as the chin and seize the piece at the same time four inches below the hammer.

  1. (Second motion.) Turn the piece with the right hand the barrel to the front, carry the piece to the left shoulder and pass the forearm extended o n the breast between the right hand and the hammer, support the hammer against the left forearm, the left hand resting on the right breast. 
  2. (Third motion.) Drop the right hand quickly by the side. 
  3. When the instructor may wish to give repose in this position, he will command. 
REST.
  1. At this command the recruits will bring up smartly the right hand and grasp the small of the stock when they will not be required to preserve silence, or steadiness of position. 
  2. When the instructor may wish the recruits to pass from this position to that of silence and steadiness, he will command: 
1. Attention. 2. Squad.
  1. At the second word the recruits will resume the position of the third motion of support arms. 

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Shoulder --- Arms.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Grasp the piece with the right hand under and against the left forearm; seize it with the left hand at the lower band, the thumb extended, detach the piece slightly from the shoulder, the left forearm along the stock. 
  2. (Second motion.) Carry the piece vertically to the right shoulder with both bands, the stock to the front, change the position of the right hand to that of shoulder arms; press the piece against the shoulder with the left hand the fingers extended and joined, the right arm nearly straight. 
  3. (Third motion.) Drop the left hand quickly by the side. 
Secure---Arms.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) The same as the first motion of support arms, No. 8, except with the right hand seize the piece at the small of the stock. 
  2. (Second motion.) Turn the piece with both hands, the barrel to the front; bring it 

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opposite the left shoulder, the but against the hip, the left hand at the lower band, the thumb as high as the chin and extended on the spring of the lower band: the piece erect and detached from the shoulder the left fore-arm against the piece.

  1. (Third motion.) Reverse the piece, pass it under the left arm, the left hand remaining at the lower band, the little finger resting against the hip, the right hand falling at the same time by the side. 
Shoulder --- Arms.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Raise the piece with the left hand and seize it with the right hand at the small of the stock. The piece erect and detached from the shoulder, the but against the hip, the left forearm along the piece. 
  2. (Second motion.) The same as the second motion of shoulder arms from a support. 
  3. (Third motion.) The same as the third motion of shoulder arms from a support. 

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Order --- Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Seize the piece with the left hand below the upper band; loosen the grasp of the right hand, lower the piece with the left, resieze the piece with the right hand below the middle band the but about six inches from the ground, the right hand supported against the hip. 
  2. (Second motion.) Lower the piece with the right turning it slightly to the left, and place the but firmly upon the boot of the right foot, at the same time drop the left hand by the side. 
Note.---Position of order arms.
  1. The but on the boot ---as high on the instep as it will rest wwiiithout slipping---inclined slightly to the left, resting nearly square across the boot to protect the tube from gravel and dirt. 
The hand as low as it can be without depressing the shoulder, the barrel between the thumb and forefinger extended along the stock, the other fingers extended and joined, the thumb resting against the thigh, the muzzle about three inches from the right breast, the barrel perpendicular.
 
 

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  1. When the instructor may wish to give repose in this position, he will command: 
REST.
  1. At this command, the recruit will not be required to preserve silence or steadiness. 
1. Attention. 2. Squad.
  1. At the second command the recruits will resume the position of order arms. 
  2. (First motion.) Raise the piece vertically with the right hand to the height of the right breast, and opposite the shoulder, the elbow close to the body; seize the piece with the left hand below the right, and drop quickly the right hand to grasp the piece at the small of the stock, the thumb and forefinger embracing the guard-lever; press the piece against he shoulder with the left hand, the right arm nearly straight. 
  3. (Second motion.) Drop the left hand quickly by the side. 

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Trail --- Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) The same as the first motion of order arms. 
  2. (Second motion.) Incline the muzzle slightly to the front, the but to the rear and about four inches from the ground. The right hand supported at the hip will so hold the piece that the rear rank men may not touch, with their bayonets, the men in the front rank. 
Shoulder---Arms.
  1. At the command shoulder raise the piece perpendicularly in the right hand the little finger in the rear of the barrel; at the command arms, execute what has been prescribed for the shoulder from the position of order arms. 
Charge---Magazine.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Raise the piece slightly with the right hand, make a half face to the right on the left heel, carry the right foot six inches to the rear, and place 

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it at right angles with the left, the hollow opposite to the left heel. Seize the piece with the left hand at the second band and detach it slight from the shoulder.

  1. (Second motion.) Invert the piece in front of the body, the but passing under the right arm, and place the muzzle on the toe of the left boot. 
  2. (Third motion.) Seize the piece with the left hand at the heel of the but, press the toe of the but against the left breast, the thumb resting on the handle of the tube, and carry the right hand to the side. 
Draw---Tube.

One time and one motion.

  1. With the thumb of the left hand turn the handle of the tube at right angles with the piece, seize it with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, withdraw it from the magazine and place it in the hollow of the left hand, the thumb clasping it against the but of the piece, and carry the right hand to the cartridge box. 
Charge---Cartridge.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Take one case of 

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cartridges, (7) previously opened, from the cartridge box and place it between the fingers of the left hand and the right side of the but of the piece.

  1. (Second motion.) Place the cartridges in the magazine and with the right hand seize the handle of the tube. 
Return---Tube.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Replace the tube in the magazine, the handle at right angles with the piece, with the ball of the right hand press it home and turn the handle to its place. 
  2. (Second motion.) Drop the right hand by the side. 
Shoulder---Arms.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Seize the piece at the lock with the right hand, the thumb behind the hammer, the third and forefingers grasping the guard-lever. Carry the but against the right arm under the right shoulder and at the same time seize the piece with the left 

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hand at the lower band, the thumb against and extended along the barrel.

  1. (Second motion.) Invert the piece with both hands and place it against the right shoulder. Press it against the shoulder with the left hand, at the same time face to the front and bring the right heel on a line with the left. 
  2. (Third motion.) Drop the left hand quickly by the side. 
To load from a shoulder.

Load.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Raise the piece slightly with the right hand, making a half face to the right on the left heel, carry the right foot to the rear and place it at right angles to the left, the hollow of it opposite to and against the left heel, grasp the piece with the left hand at the lower band and detach it slightly from the shoulder. 
  2. (Second motion.) Bring down the piece with both hands, the barrel upwards, the left thumb extending along the stock, the but below the right forearm, the small 

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of the stock against the body and two inches below the right breast, the muzzle as high as the eye---the left elbow against the side, at the same time take the guard-lever between the first two fingers.

  1. (Third motion.) Throw forward the guard-lever as far as it will go briskly and as briskly return it against the stock and seize the piece with the right hand at the small of the stock, without deranging the position of the but. 
Shoulder---Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Throw up the piece briskly with the left hand and resume the position of shoulder arms---at the same time face to the front turning on the left heel and bring the right heel on a line with the left. 
  2. (Second motion.) Drop the left hand by the side. 
Ready.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) The same as the first motion of load. 

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  1. (Second motion.) The same as the second motion of load, except place at the same time the right thumb on the head of the hammer, the fingers under and against the guard-lever. 
  2. (Third motion.) Cock and seize the piece at the small of the stock without deranging the position of the but. 
Aim.

One time and one motion.

  1. Raise the piece with both hands and support the but against the right shoulder; the left elbow down, the right as high as the shoulder; incline the head upon the but so that the right eye may perceive quickly the notch of the hausse, the front sight and the object aimed at; the left eye closed, the right thumb extended along the stock, the forefinger on the trigger. 
  2. When the men are formed in two ranks to execute the firings, the front rank men will raise a little less the right elbow, and the rear rank men will carry the right foot about eight inches to the right and towards the left heel of the man next on the right, inclining the upper part of the body forward. 

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Fire.

One time and one motion.

  1. Press the forefinger against the trigger, fire without lowering or turning the head, and remain in this position. 
Recover---Arms.

One time and one motion.

  1. At the first part of the command withdraw the finger from the trigger; at the word arms retake the position of the third motion of ready. 
Shoulder---Arms.

One time and one motion.

  1. At the command shoulder place the thumb upon the hammer and seize the small of the stock with the right hand. At the command arms bring up the piece briskly to the right shoulder and retake the position of shoulder arms. 
Fix---Bayonet

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) Grasp the piece with the left hand at the height of the shoulder 

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and detach it slightly from the shoulder with the right hand.

  1. (Second motion.) Quit the piece with the right hand, lower it with the left, and place the but on the toe of the left boot the barrel to the right, nearly perpendicular, the muzzle three inches from the body; carry the right hand to the bayonet scabbard so as to seize the bayonet by the socket and shank. 
  2. (Third motion.) Draw the bayonet from the scabbard, carry it to and fix it on the muzzle, turn the clasp from the body with the right thumb and seize the piece with the right hand at the middle band. 
Shoulder---Arms.
  1. Raise the piece with both hands carry it to the right shoulder and resume the position of shoulder arms. 
Parade---Rest.
  1. From ordered arms. Seize the piece with the left hand above the upper band, at the same time carry the right foot six inches to the rear; the left knee slightly bent; slip the right hand up against the left, and carry the muzzle opposite to and four inches from

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  1.  
the middle of the body, and hold the piece firmly in that position.
Attention.
  1. Slip the right hand down the barrel to the middle band, at the same time bring up the right foot against the left, with the right hand carry the barrel to the position of order arms, and drop the left hand quickly by the side. 
Inspection---Arms.
  1. At this command fix bayonet and resume the position of order arms. 
  2. The instructor will then inspect in succession the piece of each recruit in passing along the front of the rank. Each as the instructor reaches him, will smartly raise his piece with the right hand, and seize it with the left below the guide sight, the lock to the front, the left hand at the height of the chin, the piece opposite the left eye; the instructor will take it with the right hand at the handle, and after inspecting it, will return it to the recruit who will receive it with the right hand and replace it in the position of order arms. 

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  1. The inspector should throw back the lever and partly withdraw the tube from the magazine, to see that there is no load in the barrel, and that the tube and lock are in perfect order. 
  2. The lever and tube should be returned to their place before the gun is returned to the recruit. 
Right-shoulder Shift---Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Detach the piece perpendicularly from the shoulder with the right hand and seize it with the left below the guide sight, raise the piece, the left hand at the height of the shoulder and four inches from it; place at the same time the right hand on the but, the beak between the first two fingers, the other two fingers under the but plate. 
  2. (Second motion.) Quit the piece with the left hand, raise and place the piece on the right shoulder with the right hand, the lock plate upwards; let fall at the same time the left hand by the side. 

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Shoulder----Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Raise the piece perpendicularly by extending the right arm to its full length the guard-lever to the front, at the same time seize the piece with the left hand below the guide sight. 
  2. (Second motion.) Quit the but with the right hand, which will immediately embrace the guard, lower the piece to the position of shoulder arms, slide up the left hand to the height of the shoulder, the fingers extended and closed. Drop the left hand quickly by the side. 
Right-shoulder shift---Arms.

(From support arms.)

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Seize the piece with the right hand below and near the left forearm, place the left hand under the but, the heel of the but between the first two fingers. 
  2. (Second motion.) Turn the piece in the left hand, the lock plate upward carry it to the right-shoulder, the left hand still holding the but, the muzzle elevated; hold the piece 

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in this position and place the right hand upon the but the beak between the first two fingers, the other two fingers under the but plate, and let fall the left hand by the side.

Unfix---Bayonet.

One time and three motions.

  1. (First motion.) The same as the first motion of fix bayonet. 
  2. (Second motion.) Carry the right hand to the bayonet, with the thumb and forefinger turn the clasp towards the body to the stop and seize the bayonet at the socket and shank. 
  3. (Third motion.) Wrest off the bayonet, place it in the scabbard and seize the piece with the right hand at the middle band. 
Ground---Arms.

(From order arms.)

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Turn the piece with the right hand the barrel to the left, at the same time seize the cartridge box with the left hand, bend the body, advance the left 

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foot, the heel opposite the lower band; lay the piece on the ground with the right hand the toe of the but on a line with the right toe, the knees slightly bent, the heel raised.

  1. (Second motion.) Rise up, bring the left foot by the side of the right, quit the cartridge box with the left hand, and drop the hands by the side. 
Raise---Arms.

One time and two motions.

  1. (First motion.) Seize the cartridge box with the left hand, bend the body, advance the left foot the heel opposite the lower band, and seize the piece at the middle band with the right hand. 
  2. (Second motion.) Raise the piece bring the left foot by the side of the right, turn the piece with the right hand and place it on the toe of the right boot in the position of order arms, at he same time quit the cartridge box with the left hand and drop this hand by the side. 
Arms-Port.

One time an one motion.

  1. Throw the piece diagonally across the 

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body, the lock to the front, seizing it at once with both hands, the right at the small of the stock the left at the lower band, the two thumbs pointing towards the muzzle, the barrel sloping upwards, and crossing opposite to the point of the left shoulder, the but proportionally lowered, the palm of the right hand above, and that of the left under the piece, the nails of both hands next to the body, to which the elbows will be closed.

Shoulder—Arms.

  1. Bring the piece to the right shoulder and resume the position of shoulder arms. 
Arms—At will.
  1. Carry the piece at pleasure on either shoulder or with one or both hands, the muzzle being up.