To Stack arms.
--A correspondent of the Charleston Mercury comments the Zouave method of stacking arms, as more simple and less awkward than that in the tactics. By this method there is no bonding or twisting of the body, not a man moves from his place, and, on even ground, the stacks are all property dressed at the second motion:Stack arms!
Fired --The even files in front rank pass their passes smartly to their left hands; they will then hold them by the middle band, rammery to the front, and inclined across the body, with the baits two inches above their left toes and the bayonets opposite the right shoulder.
Several motion.--The even files of the rear read pass their pieces to the right hands of their shoulders, who take hold of them about three inches above the middle bind, and lock the bayonets into those of their own pieces, the baits being held two inches above and outside of their right toes, and the rammers to the left. Simultaneously, the odd files in front rank incline their pieces across their bodies, rammers to the right, butts two inches above and outside of right toes, and lock their bayonets into those of the files on the left.
Third Motion.--The even files of front rank show the butts of the pieces in their right hands, two feet perpendicularly in front of their right toes, and drop the butts of the pieces in their left hands, inside of their left toes; and the odd files in front rank drop the butts of their pieces outside of their right toes. The odd files of rear rank then pass their pieces to their left hands and rest them against the stack to the left of their file leaders.
Take arms!
At cautionary command the odd files of front rank take hold of their pieces with their right hands. The odd files of rear rank hold their pieces with left hand. The even files of front rank hold their own pieces with their left hands, and those of their rear rank men with their right hands. At executionary command the stack is raised up and butts thrown together (without twisting) to disengage the pieces. The even files in front rank pass the pieces in their right hands to their rear rank men, and all come to the order arms.