Stack And Take Arms

Categories: SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY
Military Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual

The subject of stack and take arms is less important than the rest of

this chapter. It is difficult to be learned from a book. Your company

commander will explain it to you. It is given here to serve as a

reference.

Being in line at a halt: STACK ARMS.

Each even number of the front rank grasps his piece with the left hand

at the upper band and rests the butt between his feet, barrel to the

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front, muzzle inclined slightly to the front and opposite the center of

the interval on his right, the thumb and forefinger raising the stacking

swivel; each even number of the rear rank then passes his piece, barrel

to the rear, to his file leader, who grasps it between the bands with

his right hand and throws the butt about two feet in advance of that of

his own piece and opposite the right of the interval, the right hand

slipping to the upper band, the thumb and forefinger raising the

stacking swivel, which he engages with that of his own piece; each odd

number of the front rank raises his piece with the right hand, carries

it well forward, barrel to the front; the left hand, guiding the

stacking swivel, engages the lower hook of the swivel of his own piece

with the free hook of that of the even number of the rear rank; he then

turns the barrel outward into the angle formed by the other two pieces

and lowers the butt to the ground, to the right of and against the toe

of his right shoe.

The stacks made, the loose pieces are laid on them by the even numbers

of the front rank.

When each man has finished handling pieces, he takes the position of the

soldier.

Being in line behind the stacks: TAKE ARMS.

The loose pieces are returned by the even numbers of the front rank;

each even number of the front rank grasps his own piece with the left

hand, the piece of his rear-rank man with his right hand, grasping both

between the bands; each odd number of the front rank grasps his piece in

the same way with the right hand, disengages it by raising the butt from

the ground and then, turning the piece to the right, detaches it from

the stack; each even number of the front rank disengages and detaches

his piece by turning it to the left, and then passes the piece of his

rear-rank man to him, and all resume the order.

Should any squad have Nos. 2 and 3 blank files, No. 1 rear rank takes

the place of No. 2 rear rank in making and breaking the stack; the

stacks made or broken, he resumes his post.

Pieces not used in making the stack are termed loose pieces.

Pieces are never stacked with the bayonet fixed.

Some General Hints

Steps And Marchings

Stack And Take Arms

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