A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry

BY RICHARD F. BURTON, AUTHOR OF ‘A SYSTEM OF BAYONET EXERCISE’ (1853).
LONDON: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, 13, CHARING CROSS. 1876.
THESE PAGES ARE DEDICATED (WITH PERMISSION) TO His Royal Highness Field-Marshal the Duke of Cambridge, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, ETC., ETC., ETC., WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY ENCOURAGED THIS ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE ‘INFANTRY SWORD EXERCISE,’ BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S MOST HUMBLE AND DEVOTED SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
Before proceeding to develop my New Sword Exercise for Infantry, I would offer a few remarks upon the changes proposed in these pages. Whilst the last half century has witnessed an immense improvement in the projectile weapons of the civilized world, the theory and practice of the sabre or cutting arm have remained in statu quo ante ; indeed, if there has been any change it is for the worse. The two systems authorized in the British army are completely behind their time. First and senior is the ‘Infantry Sword Exercise’ (with plates): Revised Edition, Adjutant-General’s Office, Horse Guards. London: Printed under the superintendence of H.M. Stationery Office: 1874. The second is the ‘Instructions for the Sword, &c. (without plates), for the use of Cavalry.’ Adjutant-General’s Office, Horse Guards. June, 1871.
The latter can be despatched very briefly. Despite the late date, it is as obsolete as the older system; it is, in fact, only the ‘Infantry Exercise’ with the addition of “pursuing practice,” and “post practice”—the latter upon a sort of modern Quintain not made to revolve. So far, so good. The practised swordsman has little to learn when mounted, except the few modifications which he can teach himself. His real study is on foot. But some of the remarks appear not to have been written by a practical hand. For instance, we read (p. 27): “In delivering a forward thrust, very little force is necessary when the horse is in quick motion, as the extension of the arm, with a good direction of the point, will be fully sufficient.” “Fully sufficient”—I should think so! The recruit must be carefully and sedulously taught when meeting the enemy, even at a trot or canter, to use no force whatever, otherwise his sword will bury itself to the hilt, and the swordsman will either be dragged from his horse, or will be compelled to drop his weapon—if he can. Upon this point I may quote my own ‘System of Bayonet Exercise’ (p. 27):—