THE PETTY OFFICER’S

DRILLBOOK
UNITED STATES NAVY
1904

REVISED EDITION

Prepared under the Direction of the Bureau of Navigation

BY

LIEUT.-COMDR. WILLIAM F. FULLAM, U.S.N.

PRICE, $1.25

NAVAL INSTITUTE, ANNAPOLIS, MD.

1904
 SWORD EXERCISE.

General Remarks
1092. 1. In this exercise all attacks are made by thrusting with
the point of the sword, instead of attempting to cut with the edge.
The attack with the point is more deadly, and there is less exposure
to counter attack than there is in making slashing blows that alone
render the edge effective.
2. For instruction, the men form in one or two ranks facing to the
front, swords at the order; intervals and distances are taken as in
the bayonet exercise; swords are brought to the order at the.
preparatory command for marching, and are brought to the order
on halting.
3. In the exercise, the sword is held in the right hand, thumb
along the back of the gripe and almost touching the guard, the
fingers united underneath, holding the hilt rather loosely.
4 Movements that may be executed In the same general manner
toward either flank, are explained as toward but one flank, it being
necessary to substitute the word left for right, or the reverse, to
have the commands and explanation for the corresponding
movement toward the other flank.

THE MOULINETS.
.1. Sword exercise, 2. Moulinet.
1093. At the first command, raise the sword to the height of the
right. shoulder, edge to the right, back of the hand up, arm
extended to the front; at the same time make a half face to the left,
the right toe square to the front, feet at right angles, heels together;
and carry the left hand to the small of the back, body erect, eyes to
the front. At the second command, drop the point to the. left and
describe. a full circle without bending the arm, the sword grazing
the left shoulder, opening the fingers to give play to the hilt, and
resume the original position: then reverse the hand, finger nails up,
edge to the left, and exe

*Note—This Sword Exercise was originally prepared by Prof.

A.J. Corbesier, Sword Master at the Naval Academy, assisted
by Lieut. W.F. Fullham, U.S.N.
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cute a moulinet to the right of the body in a similar manner,
continuing the moulinets alternately. At the command: 1.
Order, 2. SWORDS, resume the order.

Plate 149. Art.1093. The moulinet: first position.

THE GUARDS
1. Sword exercise, 2. GUARD.
1094. The first command is executed as in the moulinets. At the
second command, bend the forearm and bring the hand to

Plate 150. Art. 1094. Right Guard

the height of the right nipple and in front of the right shoulder, the
elbow free from the body and slightly outside the hip, the point of
the sword at the height of the chin, edge to the right; at the same
time advance the right foot twice its length. Bend

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both knees slightly, body erect, the weight thrown a little more
on the left leg than on the right, head erect, eyes to the front.
This is the position of right guard. In the left guard, the sword
is held edge to the left, finger nails up, the hand opposite the
center of the body. (See plates 150 end 151.)
1095. To change guard: 1. CHANGE GUARD.
Reverse the position of the hand, raising the point and draw

Plate 151. Arts. 1094-1095. Left Guard.

ing the hand back slightly, to pass over, and close to the point
of the opponent's sword.
1096. The attacks and parties, to the left, are made from the
position of right guard only, and vice versa.
1097. The head and thrust attacks and parries are made from
the right guard only.
THE STEPS.

1.ADVANCE (or RETIRE); or, 1. Step right (or left), 2. STEP.

1098. Executed as in the bayonet exercise. In the engagement
and assault, one opponent advances when the other retires and one
steps to the right when the other steps to the left.

THE PARRIES.
t Head, 2. PARRY.

1099. Carry the point of the sword a little to the right, then drop
it to the left and raise the sword quickly a few inches above the
head, edge up, hand in front of the right ear, the point to the left,
the sword inclined slightly downward. (See plate 152)

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1. Right (or Left) cheek (or neck), 2. PARRY

1100. (1.) Carry the hand about ten inches in front and three
inches to the right of the right cheek, edge to the right, point
up, sword inclined slightly to the front.

Plate 152. Arts. 1099 and 1107. Head attack and parry.

(2.) For the neck parry, lower the hand a few inches. (See plates
153 and 156, art. 1108.)
1. Right flank, 2. PARRY.
1101. Describe a semi-circle from left to right with the point
of the sword until it is a little to the right of the right knee, edge to
the right, the hand to the right of the right hip and five inches
below the right nipple, arm slightly bent. (See plate 158, art. 1110.)

1. Left flank, 2. PARRY; or, 1. Thrust, 2. PARRY.

1102. Carry the point of the sword slightly to the right, then drop
the point to the left, the blade in line with the left knee and slightly
to the front, sword edge to the left, the elbow and hand about the
height of the breast (See plates 157 and 159, arts. 1100 and 1110.)
1108. Attacks at the leg are not parried with the sword, but by
moving the right toe to the rear of the left heel, legs extended; at
the same time carry the upper part of the body forward and attack
the opponent's head or cheek. This movement will be executed at
the command: 1. Right foot to the rear. 2. Head (or Right, or Left
cheek, 3. ATTACK (See plates 153 and 154.)

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SINGLE ATTACKS.
1104. (1.) All single attacks are made in two motions, the first
motion being to disengage and extend the arm quickly in

Plate 153. Art. 1103. Leg attack; left cheek return.

the direction of the attack; the second motion is a. lunge and
quickly follows the first.
(2.) The command, attack (or return); is the signal for the first
motion, and the command, lunge, for the second motion.

Plate 154. Art.1108. Leg attack; head return.

(3.) A feint is made by omitting the second motion, or lunge.
(4,) In all attacks except the thrust disengage by drawing

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back slightly and reversing the hand, the point passing over and
close to the opponent's sword, and then extend the arm quickly.
(5.) In the thrust attack, disengage by dropping the point below
and to the opposite side of the opponent's sword, and. reverse the
hand, if the guard is to the left; if the guard is to the right, the hand
is not reversed.
1105. (1.) Having executed the first motion of an attack: LUNGE.
Carry the right foot forward about eighteen inches, grazing the
ground; extend the left leg, body thrown slightly forward, head
thrown slightly back, left hand remaining at the small of the back.
(2.) The lunge will be executed in all attacks. In making an at-
tack, the right hand, is held as best to oppose a counter attack.
1106. To resume the guard: GUARD.
Bend the left knee, carry the right foot quickly to its original
position, throwing the weight of the body on the left leg, and
resume the guard.
1107. Being at the right guard: 1. Head, 2. ATTACK.
At the second command, throw the sword point slightly to the
rear to clear the point of the adversary's sword, and extend the arm
quickly, sword edge down, and attack the forehead of the
adversary, hand at the height of the shoulder. (See plate 152, art.
1099.)

Plate 155. Arts. 1100 and 1108. Right cheek attack and parry.

1108. Being at the left or, right guard: 1. Right (or Left) cheek (or
neck), 2. ATTACK

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At the second command; disengage and extend the arm quickly,

sword at the height of the cheek, or neck, edge to the

Plate 156. Arts. 1100 and 1108. Left cheek attack and parry.

right, and point directly for the middle of the face, or neck
(See plates 155 and 156.)

Plate 157. Arts. 1102 and 1109. Thrust attack and parry.

1109. Being at right guard: 1.Thrust, 2. ATTACK.

At the second command, disengage and extend the arm quickly.
point of the sword at the height of the breast, edge to the right,
hand opposite the left breast. (See plate 157.)

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1110. Being at the left or right guard: 1. Right (or Left)

flank, 2. ATTACK.

Plate 158. Arts. 1101 and 1110. Right flank attack and parry.

At the second command disengage and extend the arm quickly,

lower the point to the height of the belt, edge to the right, and point
at the flank. (See plates 158 and 159.)

Plate 159 Arts. 1102 and 1l10. Left flank attack and parry.

1111. After all attacks for the face, neck, or body, press with
the thumb on the hilt and then withdraw the sword in an oblique
direction to obtain a clear cut.

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1112. The parries and attacks are first taught separately and
afterwards in combination, thus:
1.Head, 2. PARRY (or ATTACK), 3. GUARD, etc.
1.Head, 2. ATTACK, 3. LUNGE, 4. GUARD, etc.
1. Left cheek, 2. ATTACK, 3. LUNGE, 4 Right flank,
5. PARRY, 6.GUARD, etc.
RETURNS.
1113. The attacks from the positions of the parries are called
returns, and are made as follows: After the head parry: 1. Head (or,
Left cheek, neck, or flank), 2. RETURN.
At the second command, describe a quarter-circle with the point
above the head from left to right by way of the rear without
disturbing the position of the hand; when the sword points directly
to the rear reverse the hand, bringing the edge to the left, extend
the arm quickly and finish the movement as for the head, cheek,
neck, or left flank attack.
1114. After the cheek or neck parry: 1. Right (or Left) cheek, (neck
or flank), 2. RETURN.
Throw the point slightly to the rear to clear the point of the
opponent's sword, then quickly turn the back of the hand up (or
down) and attack in the designated direction.
1115. After the right flank parry: 1. Thrust, 2. RETURN.
(1.) Raise the hand, nails down, extend the arm quickly and thrust
for the face or the upper part of the body.
(2.) To parry this return, raise the sword, point to the left, and take
the head parry.
1116. After the left flank parry or thrust parry: I. Head, 2
RETURN.
At the second command, execute a left moulinet and attack the
forehead of the adversary, sword edge down, hand at the height of
the shoulder.
1117. The parries, attacks, and returns will next be taught in
combination, thus:
1. Left flank, 2. PARRY. 3. Head, 4. RETURN, 5. LUNGE, 6. GUARD.
1. Thrust, 2. ATTACK, 3. LUNGE, 4. Head,. 5. PARRY, 6. GUARD
Head, 2. ATTACK, 3. LUNGE, 4. Left cheek, 5. PARRY, 6. Right flank,
7. RETURN, 8. LUNGE, 9. GUARD, - etc

COMPOUND ATTACKS AND RETURNS.

1118. (1.) A compound attack. or return, consists of a feint
followed by an attack or return and will be taught after proficiency
is attained in single attacks. For example: --

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(2.) Being at right guard: 1. Left and right cheek, 2. ATTACK,

3. LUNGE, 4. GUARD.
At the second command, feint for the left cheek, at which the
opponent begins to parry left cheek; then reverse the hand quickly
and attack the right cheek.
(3.) Being at head parry: 1. Left and right cheek, 2. RETURN,
3. LUNGE, 4. GUARD.
At the second command, feint for the left cheek, at which the
opponent begins to parry left cheek; then reverse the hand quickly
and attack the right cheek.

THE ENGAGEMENT.
1119. (1.) After careful instruction in the foregoing principles
and movements, the engagement will be taught. The men will form
in two ranks, take intervals, and the front rank will then be faced
about.
(2.) At the command, sword exercise, the front-rank men, in
executing the movement, will place themselves in front of their
rear-rank men, and at such a distance that the swords will overlap
about six inches when on guard.
(3.) In the engagement, the opponents' swords will be held edge
to edge when on guard.
(4.) The rank to attack will be designated in the command; the
rank attacked will execute the parry and return.
(5.) The parry will always be taken at a feint, or at the first
motion of an attack.

Examples In Single Attacks.

1120. (1.) 1. Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Step right, 3. STEP.
At the third command, the designated rank executes Step right,
and the other rank Step left.
(2.) 1. Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Head. 3. ATTACK, 4 LUNGE,
5. GUARD.
At the third command, the designated rank will attack, and the
other rank will parry.

Examples In Single Attacks And Single Returns.

1121. 1. Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Head, 3. ATTACK, 4 LUNGE,
5. Left cheek (or neck), 6. RET'URN, 7. LUNGE, 8. GUARD.
At the third command, the designated rank will attack, and the
other rank will parry. At the sixth command. the rank attacked will
return, and the opposing rank will parry.

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Examples In Compound Attacks and Single Returns.

1122. 1 Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Left and right cheek, 3. ATTACK, 4.
LUNGE, 5. Left cheek, 6. RETURN, 7. LUNGE, 8. GUARD.
At the third command, the designated rank will feint and
attack and the other rank will parry left and right cheek. At the
sixth command, the rank attacked will return, and the opposing
rank will parry.

Examples In Single Attacks and Compound Returns.

1123. 1. Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Head, 3. ATTACK, 4. LUNGE
5. Left and right cheek, 6. RETURN, 7. LUNGE, 8. GUARD.

Examples In Compound Attacks and Compound Returns.

1124. 1. Front (or Rear) rank, 2. Right and left cheek, 3. AT-
TACK, 4. LUNGE, 5. Right and left cheek, 6. RETURN, 7. LUNGE,
8. GUARD.
1125. To repeat a movement, the commands of execution alone
need be repeated: for example, to repeat the last movement:
1. ATTACK, 2. LUNGE, 3. RETURN, 4. LUNGE, 5. GUARD.

THE ASSAULT.
1196. After careful instruction in all the principles. and move-
ments of the engagement, the instructor may permit the men to
engage at will at the command, assault, provided that an outfit of
masks is supplied for this purpose. The men must be cautioned to
move the hand and sword as little as possible from the position of
guard, in order to keep themselves covered: to watch the hand of
the opponent instead of his eyes, and to attack close to his sword.
1127. (1.) To discontinue the engagement or assault. the in-
structor will command: I. Order, 2. SWORDS, at which the men
will resume the order.
(2.) The men are assembled as in the bayonet exercise.

To Dismiss.
1128. Having assembled: 1. Carry, 2. SWORDS, 3. DISMISSED.

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