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Re: The "Correct" Shoulder Arms
Review of regimental order books at the National Archives (RG's 94 and 109) might shed further light on this question.
Brown's/Palmer's Brigade, which included the 23rd (Newman's) TN BN as well as the 3rd, 18th, 26th, 32nd, and 45th TN regiments definitely used Hardee by early 1863. This fact can be established with certainty since a regimental general order by Colonel Ed. C. Cook specifically stated that officers and NCOs were to conduct daily "recitations" according to "Hardees tactics." Other orders by brigade commander Jno. C. Brown, and even corps commander Wm. J. Hardee himself, make it clear that use of Hardee (and it's accompanying manual of arms) was effectively standardized by late winter 1862/3. Indeed, Hardee issued orders on at least one occasion that he would personally observe, and critique, officers down to the company level as they performed drill according to a predetermined list of maneuvers. I, for one, wouldn't have wanted to be an officer who flunked such a test....
What intrigues me is that, for example, the 32nd TN began the war armed with Model 1816 flintlock muskets. Use of such arms suggests it initially used Scott's work (including its manual of arms) and then switched over to Hardee once the regiment conducted its post-Donelson POW reorganization in September 1862.
Regards,
Mark Jaeger
Originally posted by Greg Renault
Brown's/Palmer's Brigade, which included the 23rd (Newman's) TN BN as well as the 3rd, 18th, 26th, 32nd, and 45th TN regiments definitely used Hardee by early 1863. This fact can be established with certainty since a regimental general order by Colonel Ed. C. Cook specifically stated that officers and NCOs were to conduct daily "recitations" according to "Hardees tactics." Other orders by brigade commander Jno. C. Brown, and even corps commander Wm. J. Hardee himself, make it clear that use of Hardee (and it's accompanying manual of arms) was effectively standardized by late winter 1862/3. Indeed, Hardee issued orders on at least one occasion that he would personally observe, and critique, officers down to the company level as they performed drill according to a predetermined list of maneuvers. I, for one, wouldn't have wanted to be an officer who flunked such a test....
What intrigues me is that, for example, the 32nd TN began the war armed with Model 1816 flintlock muskets. Use of such arms suggests it initially used Scott's work (including its manual of arms) and then switched over to Hardee once the regiment conducted its post-Donelson POW reorganization in September 1862.
Regards,
Mark Jaeger
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