My Town Tutors is a great resource for parents & teachers. Check out our Guest Blogs for EducationParentsTravelTutoringSportsMusic and College.

This is a good video for students to see how Civil War training would be conducted. We have included the time of the speakers. There is a great deal of silence where a teacher could stop the video and ask the student questions or ask the students to draw a picture.  

We would love feedback.

Civil War – 1862 U.S. Army Musket Drill HD

United States Army Major General Silas Casey wrote the three-volume system of infantry tactics published by the War Department on August 11, 1862. 

Volume one included a system of musket drill used extensively by the army of the Potomac known as “The  School of The Soldier.” ( 0:10 – 0:21)

Casey’s system of training was an update and replacement for the 1855 “Hardee’s Infantry Tactics” written for older two-band weapons with sword bayonets. (0:22 – 0:30)

William Hardy was also now a Confederate General. (0:31 – (0:35) 

Every Yankee Soldier needed to become an expert at the applications and handling, loading, and firing his 58-caliber rifled musket. (0:36 – 0:48) 

This is the position of a soldier. (0:49 – 0:52) 

3 angles: front, right side, finger position

Notice the fingers around the trigger guard. (1:13 – 1:16) 

Notice the placement of the right hand. (1:31- 1:36) 

This position was used almost exclusively for resting the musket when on guard duty. (2:08 – 2:14) 

His left arm and hand parallel to the ground, not touching the opposite shoulder. (2:23 – 2:30) 

Notice that the musket stands parallel to the body not cock to the rear. (2:31 – 2:36) 

Notice the placement of the right hand. (2:44 – 2:47) 

This was used when a soldier needed to keep his muzzle out of the rain. (3:08 – 3:12) 

Notice the placement of the left hand. (4:10 – 4:13) 

This places the musket alongside the soldier with the right hand in control (4:19 – 4:24)

This position was often used when moving quickly or through woods the musket just high enough off the ground to successfully trot with a loaded weapon. (4:29 – 4:40) 

Notice the placement of the left hand. (4:55 – 4:58) 

The men would be trained how to fix and unfix their bayonet and then eventually how to point the bayonet to guard or attack both infantry or cavalry. (5:38 – 5:48) 

Notice the placement of the left hand. (6:18 – 6:21) 

Notice the eyes of the second barrel band, the musket even with the body. (6:26 – 6:31) 

Used on formal parade or to salute a high-ranking officer,  they would bring the musket straight before their bodies smartly in a literal presentation of his weapon. (6:38 – 6:48) 

Notice the positions of the right and left on the muzzle even with the soldiers eyes. (7:38 – 6:48) 

Told her or guard against infiltrate going told her hard hold her arms guard against coloring score 

Guard against Cavalry found the bayonet pointing higher in the air. (8:22 – 8:27) 

Special Thanks

John D. Pagano 

Kyle Stetz 

Colby Batty

The Liberty Rifles

Henricus Historical Park

(8:47 – 8:54)