Inspection Arms

[Alan Mott]

I re-enact in England with Co E 18th Missouri and I am asking for help in locating the provenance of a photo-copy of a page from what appears to be a training manual. Up to now when carrying out Inspection Arms when approaced by the Officer or 1st Sgt we have presented the musket in a vertical position held in the left hand. The photocopy shows a drawing with the musket held in the left hand with the butt on the left hip and the musket inclined 45 degrees towards the inspecting officer. The are no words with the drawing and I have been unable to find any reference to this manner of Inspection Arms. Can anybody please help.
Alan, This is in fact your very first post, yet you have obviously failed to read our rules (as you agreed to, upon registering to this forum).

All Posts require your full name, so this is your First Warning. If you wish appreciate your posting previlege, you may wish to revist our rules:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1034

Justin Runyon
AC Forum Moderator

[Silas]

Re: Inspection Arms

The below is from Gilham's School of the Soldier at para 139.



A nearly identical picture can be found in the U.S. Tactics (1861) and Casey's in plate 24. Here is said plate:



The text from the U.S. Tactics is found in two places. The movements which concern you are found in the Manual of Arms devoted to the rifle. Information related to the musket can be found here. The differences between the two have to do with the size of the arms and the types of bayonets. The inspection procedure for both is the same as the musket portion refers back to the movements found in the rifle manual.


Text of the inspection from Casey's can also be found from the US Regulars page.

The below is a frontal view from Baxter's Manual. It's found just above stacking arms. Notice how the musket is turned.



Email me if you have any further questions related to company level drill.

[DougCooper]

Re: Inspection Arms

The bottom line as Silas shows is that inspection arms looks vertical from the front but from the side the weapon is at an angle (about 30 deg from the vertical). This is the most comfortable position for the soldier who is using the forearm to steady the weapon. It allows the inspector to grasp the weapon at the handle (small of the stock). The inspectee will of course only spend a few seconds at this position before the inspecting officer takes it.

Reenactors often do this wrong because we rarely do it - common errors include the angle and position of the weapon, height of the hand, elbow canted out and using the left hand to take the piece back from the inspecting officer. The height of the hand is at the chin and the position of the left hand is between the lower band and the guidesight. The piece is held opposite the left eye appearing vertical from the front but canted forward from the side. It is not actually held against the hip but is balanced by the forearm with the elbow held against the body. The inspector is supposed to hand the piece back in the same way he took it, holding it at the handle. The inspectee uses only the right hand to grasp the piece and goes immediately to order arms.

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Inspection Arms

Here's a nice tidbit on the subject at hand...

The attached is a sketch by Winslow Homer showing "Colonel Dwight inspecting his regiment, Sickles Brigade" 1862.