Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

OK...so I got wondering today...

Since the Many of the Southern States had initial plans to equip their Volunteer Soldiers with Pikes/Polearms at outbreak of the War...was there a prescribed Manual of Arms that these men would have been instructed in?

Paul B.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

very interesting question.

you know that feeling you get when you show up to a party or wedding waaaay under dressed? How do you think the pike carrying guys felt when they saw a reg't go by with rifles muskets??

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

You know...there would be something AWESOME about seeing a company of pike-men in an Early-War Training Camp...

But in all seriousness, I am wondering if there was ever an attempt to get these guys to hold/shoulder/parlay/defend...etc., with these things in a Uniform-like way. If so, then how??

Paul B.

[Chad Wrinn]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

Paul,
If so it was most likely something similar to Bayonet drill except with a pike.

[markj]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

Two possible sources:

The sword-exercise, and movements for cavalry.
To which is added The new manual and platoon together with the rifle and pike exercises.

1803
English Book [1], xii, [5]-90 p. front., plates (1 fold.) 19 cm.
Taunton, J. Poole,

(The University of Chicago holds a copy)


The sword exercise;
comprising the sword manual of officers, the attack and defence against combined numbers or the artillary exercise, together with exercises for the pike or spear. ...

Artemas Dryden (b. 1785)

1829
English Book [2],3-18 p. 16 cm.
Worcester [Mass.]: Published by Artemas Dryden, Jr.

(Copy at the American Antiquarian Society)

Good luck,

Mark Jaeger

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

http://books.google.com/books?id=uyKAg1N4cdYC&pg=PR6&dq=%22manual+of+arms%22+pike+OR+lance&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&as_brr=0#PPA143,M1

Not saying they did, but the 1855 WD Cavalry Tactics has a manual of arms for the lance, dismounted, of which this is a brief excerpt:

Lance Exercise.

144.—The squad is composed of from 8 to 10 men, armed only with the lance; they are in stable-jackets, schakos, and cartridge-boxes, and are placed in one rank, 15 feet from each other. After they have executed all the motions several times, they are exercised, having the sabre, which is unhooked at the command, Lance Exercise.

145.—The lancers being at the position of carry lance, No. 80, the instructor commands:

Lance Exercise.
1 time.

At the command Lance Exercise, carry the right foot 2 feet from the left, the heels on the same line; let the lance slip to the ground through the right hand, which seizes it at the height of the neck, the elbow and fore-arm pressed against the staff, the staff held perpendicularly, the butt on a line with, and one inch from the right toe; place the left hand closed 6 inches from the body, as high as the elbow, the fingers towards the body, the little finger nearer than the thumb.

This position is the same as that of the lancer mounted.

Rest—Lances.
1 time.

146.—At the last part of the command, which is Lances, throw the lance into the left hand -with the right hand, without removing the butt of it from the ground (mounted, without taking it from the boot); seize it with the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand, the other fingers closed (to hold the reins); pass the right arm through the sling above the elbow; then let go of the lance with the left hand, throw it in rear by a motion of the right arm, and drop the right hand by the side.

[john duffer]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

I have a couple of old English infantry manuals, one of which has Pike Drill, I can't remember if it's 1803 or 1830. I'll dig it out tonight just out of curiosity.

[john duffer]

Re: Pikes/Polearms Manual of Arms

Found it, THE MANUAL AND PLATOON EXERCISES, 1823. I won't type it all at present but it has Support Arms, Shoulder Arms, Port Arms, Charge Bayonets (their plural , not mine), Carry Arms, Slope Arms, etc.

4th. Charge Bayonets. Turn a half face to the right on both heels, and lower the pike to a horizontal position, with the shaft touching the right hip, and right arm extended to the rear.


This is a cool little volume by the way, it belonged to Charles Frederick (can't quite make out last name - looks like Garhinpou ?), Tenth Fusileers. He obviously used it in a class room setting and has supplemental notes written in the margins and some lines of text marked through with corrections added. For example "those of the rear rank to the slope" has "slope" marked out and "port" written above.