Rear rank.—Make ready.—Recover and cock, as before directed for the centre rank, and, as the firelock is brought to recover, step briskly to the right a full pace, at the same time placing the left heel about six inches before the point of the right foot. The body to be kept straight, and as square to the front as possible.
Aim.—As in explanation for the centre rank.
Fire.—As in explanation for the centre rank; after firing and shouldering, the men step as the centre rank does.
In firing with the front rank standing, that rank makes ready, &c. as specified in the article relative to the [platoon exercise].
Officers.—In giving words of command, as well in as out of the ranks, officers are to stand perfectly steady, and in their proper position; their swords held firmly in the full of the right hand, with the upper part of the blade resting against the shoulder, the right wrist against the hip, and the elbow drawn back.
Firing by platoons.—Officers, &c.—The officers, instead of giving the words platoon, make ready, aim, fire, are to pronounce the words short, as for instance, ’toon, ready, aim, fire.
In firing by platoons, or divisions, the officers commanding them are to step out one pace, on the close of the preparative, and face to the left towards their men; they there stand perfectly steady till the last part of the general, when they step back again into their proper intervals, all at the same time. After a division has fired, the right hand man of it steps out one pace, in front of the officer, but still keeping his own proper front, and gives the time for casting about and shouldering, after which he falls back again into his place in the front rank.
The flugle man of a battalion is also to keep his front, in giving the time of exercise.
In firing by grand divisions, the centre officer falls back, on the preparative, into the fourth rank, and is replaced by the covering serjeant.
MANUBALISTE, Fr. From the Latin manubalista. A cross bow.