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Hesse-Kassel
2nd Jäger Company 

Drill Manual 1754
re-edited 1996
(**English commands in the drill manual are NOT alternate commands, but short explainations I added for those not literate in German. bkb) This is not the complete text of the manual, that is to large for this format and has not finished being edited.
Notes
I. The implications, of course, is that the right, left and about face movements are ordinarily conducted with shouldered firelock. Combine this implication with the fact that commands thirty-two through thirty-nine make absolutely no allowance for poising with the weapon.
II. This would mean, if taken literally, that there is no space between the heels. The precise degree of the angle at which the feet are oriented is left unmentioned. The Hessian-Darmstadt manual of 1792 specifies a right angle.
III. No tempo count is given on my German Photocopy, although we can safely assume a one step tempo. Obviously, this movement is conducted from the initial position of shouldered firelock.
General observations for the Manual of Arms

Article I
It must foremost be seen to that, as often as a fellow is under arms and especially on the drill field, he must have about him a good comportment; to wit, he must hold head and body and feet properly and without constraint, and draw in his belly.

Article II
If the manual is to be done well, it is chiefly necessary that the fellows stand straight in files and ranks, on account of which a fellow must dress to the right and on his neighbor to the front as soon as he takes up his weapon; and the adjutant, when he dresses in files, likewise the Major, when he rides to the flank, and when the Battalion marches off, must well observe that the soldiers stand in perfectly straight files and ranks when under arms, and assuredly the soldiers must be taught to align themselves by themselves, at all times without being permitted to oblique or bend the line.

Article III
It is the most comely of things in all marching and exercising when a fellow carries his weapon well; and the weapon must be carried with an almost straight arm, firmly and straight on the shoulder ~ specifically, not too near the head nor yet to far from the torso, also drawn tightly into the body ~ and one must grip the butt with two fingers underneath and with three fingers on top, so that the barrel faces outward and the trigger guard presses into the body with the weapon may not move. Thus always in all parades and in all formations it must appear straight, and the Colonels and Commanders of the Regiments, also various staff officers, are to be held accountable if their Regiment do not carry their weapons well.

Article IV
Between all files there must be an equal distance, which is arm to arm, although the men are able to move.

Article V
The first concern in the exercise must be to drill a fellow and give him the air of a soldier, so that the farmer is driven out, to which appertains that a fellow be taught:
How he is to hold his head: to wit, it must not be let drop, nor eyes downcast, but looking to his right when under arms, and~ when in the march past~ looking one straight in the eye.
That a fellow march stiffly on his feet, and not with bent knees, the feet pointing outwards. (Goose step)
That a fellow stands at his full height and does not slump backwards or stick out his belly, but throw out his chest and draw in his back.
When a fellow does not always stand in such a way under arms he must be corrected and taught better.

Article VI
Between the tempos in the manual it must be well and equally held as long as it takes to count to three slowly.

Article VII
All turning must be done as quickly as possible, the knees held stiff while pivoting, and the feet set down sharply and quickly either back or forward, as also must the weapon be pressed firmly to the shoulder so that it does not move.

Article VIII
In files and ranks the soldier must stand in straight lines during exercise, to which end the left heel must never move from its place.

Article IX
When under arms and during the exercises no fellow may move his head, much less look around forwards, left or to the rear , but have his head continually to the right.

Article X
In the appearance of the legs, one must stand always with the heels together and the points of the feet outwards.

Article XI
The right hand must hang at the body motionless and no one must move his finger

Basic Commands used by the Hessian Army
Hessian Manual 1754

Commands to Load Etc.
1. Mit der rechten hand an das Gewehr
**Take your weapon in your right hand.

2. Das Gewehr hoch !
**Hold weapon high

3. Spannet den Hahn!
**Full Cock

4. Schlagt an!
**Take a braced position

5. Feuer!
**Fire

6. Den Hahn in die Ruhe!
**Rest the cock

7. Ergreiffet die Patron!
**Handle cartridge

8. Opfnet die patron!
**Open cartridge

9. Pulver auf die Pfanne!
**Prime the pan

10. Schliesset die Phanne!
**To have shut the pan

11. Lincks schwenket das Gewehr zur Ladung!
**Weapon to the left for loading

12. Die Patron in den Lauff!
**Load Cartidge in the barrel (bullet run)

13. Ziehet aus den Lade-Stock!
**Handle rammers

14. Den Lade-Stock in den Lauff!
**Rammers into Barrels

15. Den Lade-Stock an seinen Ort !
**Return Rammers

16. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
**Shoulder Firelocks

17. Das Gewehr beim fuss!
**Weapon by the foot

18. Strecket das Gewehr
**Ground Arms

19. Ergreiffet das Gewehr!
**Handle weapon

20. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
**Shoulder weapon

21. Praesentiert das Gewehr!
**Present Weapon

22. Rechts unkehrt euch!
To show the weapon on the right

23. Links herstellt euch!
**Move weapon to the right

24. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
**Poise your weapon

25. Vorwärts fällt das Gewehr!
**Drop weapon forward

26. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
**Shoulder Weapon

27. Verdeckt das Gewehr unter den lincksten Arm!
**Put the but of your weapon into your left armpit

28. Das Gewehr hoch im rechten Arm!
**Carry Weapon on right arm (Advance Arms)

29. Das Gewehr auf die Schulter!
**Shoulder weapon

30. Verkehrt schultert das Gewehr
**Move weapon to your opposite shoulder

We are working on retyping and reediting the copy we have as it has been copied so many times it is illegible. Once
completed I will make it available here for download. If you wish the complete text of the drill manual (no pictures but verbal
desriptions of the movements) email me and I will send them to you either via email or snail mail.

(**English commands in the drill manual are NOT alternate commands, but short explainations I added for those not literate in German. bkb)