Project Gutenberg's The Plattsburg Manual, by O.O. Ellis and E.B. GareyThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.orgTitle: The Plattsburg Manual A Handbook for Military TrainingAuthor: O.O. Ellis and E.B. GareyRelease Date: October 16, 2006 [EBook #19552]Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: UTF-8*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL ***Produced by Paul Murray, Curtis A. Weyant and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.netTHEPLATTSBURG MANUALA HANDBOOK FOR MILITARY TRAININGBYO. O. ELLIS MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRYANDE. B. GAREY MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRY(INSTRUCTORS, PLATTSBURG TRAINING CAMP, 1916) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'TRAINING CAMP, FT. MCPHERSON, GA., 1917) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'TRAINING CAMP, FT. OGLETHORPE, GA., 1917)WITH MORE THAN 220 ILLUSTRATIONSNEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1918Copyright, 1917, byThe Century Co.Published, March, 1917Second Edition, March, 1917Third Edition, April, 1917Fourth Edition, April, 1917Fifth Edition, May, 1917Sixth Edition, May, 1917Seventh Edition, August, 1917Eighth Edition. September, 1917Ninth Edition, January, 1918Tenth Edition, May, 1918TOTHOSE FAR-SEEING MENWHO INAUGURATED AND ATTENDED THEFIRST FEDERAL TRAINING CAMPTHIS TEXT IS ...
Project Gutenberg's The Plattsburg Manual, by O.O. Ellis and E.B. Garey
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: The Plattsburg Manual
A Handbook for Military Training
Author: O.O. Ellis and E.B. Garey
Release Date: October 16, 2006 [EBook #19552]
Language: English
Character set encoding: UTF-8
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL ***
Produced by Paul Murray, Curtis A. Weyant and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
THE
PLATTSBURG MANUAL
A HANDBOOK FOR MILITARY TRAINING
BY
O. O. ELLIS MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRY
AND
E. B. GAREY MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRY
(INSTRUCTORS, PLATTSBURG TRAINING CAMP, 1916) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'
TRAINING CAMP, FT. MCPHERSON, GA., 1917) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'
TRAINING CAMP, FT. OGLETHORPE, GA., 1917)
WITH MORE THAN 220 ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1918
Copyright, 1917, by
The Century Co.
Published, March, 1917
Second Edition, March, 1917
Third Edition, April, 1917Fourth Edition, April, 1917
Fifth Edition, May, 1917
Sixth Edition, May, 1917
Seventh Edition, August, 1917
Eighth Edition. September, 1917
Ninth Edition, January, 1918
Tenth Edition, May, 1918
TO
THOSE FAR-SEEING MEN
WHO INAUGURATED AND ATTENDED THE
FIRST FEDERAL TRAINING CAMP
THIS TEXT IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED
FOREWORD
The Plattsburg Manual, written by Majors Ellis and Garey, will prove
very useful to men who are contemplating military training. It will also
be of great value to those who are undergoing training.
It is full of practical information presented in a simple and direct
manner and gives in detail much data not easily found elsewhere. It is a
useful book, easily understandable by those who have had little or no
military experience.
It will be useful not only at training camps but it will be of very
great value at schools and colleges where military instruction is being
given.
The authors of this book have performed a valuable service, one which
will tend to facilitate and aid very much the development of military
training in this country. In addition to the purely mechanical details
of training the book presents in a very effective and simple manner the
tactical use of troops under various conditions.
In a word it is a useful and sound work and one which can be commended
to those who contemplate a course in military training.
(Signed) Leonard Wood,
Major General U. S. A.
February 27, 1917.
PREFACE
This book is intended to serve as a foundation upon which the military
beginner may build so that he may in time be able to study the technical
service manuals intelligently. It has been written as an elementary
textbook for those who desire to become Reserve Officers, for schools
and colleges, and for those who may be called to the colors.
The authors have commanded companies at Plattsburg, New York, and,noting the need of such a text, compiled their observations while there.
The average man undergoing military training wants to know as much as
possible about the art and science of war. He wants to acquire a good
knowledge of the principles involved. He is interested in the technique
of movements. He is willing to work for these things, but he often
becomes lost in confusion when he attempts to study the technical
service manuals. He does not know how to select the most important and
omit the less important. The authors have selected from the standard
texts some of the vitally important subjects and principles and have
presented them to the civilian in a simple and plain way.
The first part of the text is for the beginner. It tells him how to
prepare physically for strenuous military work. After assisting him
through the elementary part of his instruction, it presents for his
consideration and study the Officers' Reserve Corps.
The second part, or supplement, is a more technical discussion of those
subjects introduced in the first. It is intended principally for those
who have made excellent progress.
CONTENTS
I General Advice 3
II Physical Exercise 21
III School of the Soldier 28
IV School of the Squad 63
V School of the Company 86
VI Fire Superiority 130
VII The Service of Security 136
VIII Attack and Defense 144
IX General Principles of Target Practice 153
X Practice March or "Hike" 159
XI Officers' Reserve Corps 169
SUPPLEMENT
I The Theory of Security 221
II Attack and Defense 242
III Patrolling 254
IV Target Practice 260
V Tent Pitching 292
VI Signals and Codes 297
VII First Aid to the Injured 309
Appendixes 321
Index 331
THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL
CHAPTER IGENERAL ADVICE
The United States is divided geographically into military departments
with a general officer commanding each department. The departments and
their headquarters are as follows:
(1) The Northeastern Department, with headquarters at Boston,
Massachusetts.
(2) The Eastern Department, with headquarters at Governors Island,
New York.
(3) The Southeastern Department, with Headquarters at Charleston,
South Carolina.
(4) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois.
(5) The Southern Department, with Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston,
Texas.
(6) The Western Department, with Headquarters at San Francisco,
California.
Overseas { (7) The Philippine Department, with Headquarters at
Departments { Manila.
{
{ (8) The Hawaiian Department, Departments with
{ Headquarters at Honolulu, Hawaii.
(For States comprising each department, see Appendix)
If you are a civilian and desire any information in regard to the army,
any training camps, the officers' reserve corps, or any military
legislation or orders affecting you, write to the "Commanding General"
of the Department in which you live. Address your letter to him at his
headquarters.
MAIL
Mail is most often delayed because there is not sufficient information
for the Postmaster on the envelope. The delivery of your mail will be
delayed unless your letters are sent to the company and the regiment to
which you belong. Therefore, prepare, before you reach camp, several
stamped postal cards, addressed to your family and business associates,
containing directions to address all communications to you care of
Company----, Regiment----. As soon as you are assigned to a company and
regiment, fill in these data and mail these postal cards at once. This
should be done by wire in case important mail is expected during the
first week of camp. Mail is delivered to each company as soon as a
complete roll of the organizations can be made out and sent to the
post-office.
INOCULATIONS AND VACCINATION
As soon as you become a member of the army, whether as a private or asan officer, you will receive the typhoid prophylaxis inoculation and be
vaccinated against smallpox.
WHAT TO BRING
1. Travel light. Bring only the bare necessities of life with you.
Don't bring a trunk. Enlisted men (not officers) will be supplied
with all necessary uniforms and underwear. This includes shoes.
2. Bring a pair of sneakers, or slippers. They will add greatly to
your comfort after a long march or hard day's work. A complete
bathing suit often comes in handy.
3. Report in uniform if you have one.
4. The Government will provide you with the necessary shoes.
However, if you can afford it, buy before you report for duty, a
pair of regulation tan shoes, larger than you ordinarily wear, and
break them in well before arrival. Rubber heels are recommended.
5. Bring your toilet articles (comb, brush, mirror shaving
equipment, etc.), and a good supply of handkerchiefs, and towels.
WHAT TO DO ON YOUR ARRIVAL
There is a general rule of procedure to follow in reporting for duty at
any post or training camp.
1. If you receive an order directing you to report for duty at a
camp or post at a certain specified time, read it carefully, put it
in a secure place, and, on the day that you are to report for duty
at the camp or post, present yourself in uniform, if you have one,
with your order. Be careful not to lose your order or leave it at
home. Have it in your pocket book.
2. Upon being assigned to a company, unless you receive orders to
the contrary, report at once with your baggage to your company
commander (captain), whom you can easily find when you reach your
barracks or company street. If you cannot locate your company
commander, report to the first sergeant.
3. It is a custom of the service to have an experienced soldier
explain to a new man exactly where he is to go and what he is to do.
Feel no embarrassment at being ignorant of your new duties and
surroundings. The Government does not expect anything of you except
eagerness to learn and willingness to obey.
4. After reporting to your company commander or first sergeant, you
will have a bed assigned to you and you will be issued the property
and uniforms necessary to your comfort and duties.