Arms/Musket position

[Jubilo]

Dear Fellers,
When I am in " route step," mode or just ambling about with my musket, or running hither and yon, I like to place the piece on either shoulder with the hammer inverted and resting on my shoulder and the trigger guard face-up. The barrel extends upwards and I hold the beak twixt forefinger and thumb. It resembles the position of "right shoulder shift," but it ain't. The question arose: is there a name for this arms position and can it be found in any manual?

all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

It is indeed right shoulder shift, but from the earlier Scott's.

[johnduffer]

As a bit of trivia, since shoulder was on the left side at that time the command was: To right shoulder, shift- ARMS hence the slightly wierd name.

[Jubilo]

Dear General Lamoreaux,
Thanks for the tip; I found it on Silas Tackhead's Drill site. Infantry Tactics: School of the Soldier and Company by Winfield Scott, 1857. Page 60, para. 246 with Plate Illustration Plate IX -Figure 2.
Turn the piece with the left hand, the lock to the front,seize it at the same time with the right hand at the handle, place it on the right shoulder,the muzzle up, sustain the piece in the position by placing the right hand in the flat of the butt, so that the toe of the butt may be between the first two fingers,the others rest on the butt plate; let fall the left hand by the side.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[brown30741]

I remember the Tenth Texas (of Georgia) using the Scott's Right Shoulder Shift in the early 90's. I don't know if they had documentation to that variation or not. If anyone of those old guys is around this board, maybe they can share a source r two.