THEPLATTSBURG MANUAL
A HANDBOOK FOR MILITARY TRAINING
O. O. ELLIS MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRY
E. B. GAREY MAJOR, UNITED STATES INFANTRY
(INSTRUCTORS, PLATTSBURG TRAINING CAMP, 1916) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'TRAINING CAMP, FT. MCPHERSON, GA., 1917) (INSTRUCTORS, OFFICERS'TRAINING CAMP, FT. OGLETHORPE, GA., 1917)
WITH MORE THAN 220 ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1918
Copyright, 1917, by
The Century Co.
Published, March, 1917
Second Edition, March, 1917
Third Edition, April, 1917
Fourth Edition, April, 1917
Fifth Edition, May, 1917
Sixth Edition, May, 1917
Seventh Edition, August, 1917
Eighth Edition. September, 1917
Ninth Edition, January, 1918
Tenth Edition, May, 1918
TO
THOSE FAR-SEEING MEN
WHO INAUGURATED AND ATTENDED THE
FIRST FEDERAL TRAINING CAMP
THIS TEXT IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED
FOREWORD
The Plattsburg Manual, written by Majors Ellis and Garey, will provevery useful to men who are contemplating military training. It will alsobe of great value to those who are undergoing training.
It is full of practical information presented in a simple and directmanner and gives in detail much data not easily found elsewhere. It is auseful book, easily understandable by those who have had little or nomilitary experience.
It will be useful not only at training camps but it will be of verygreat value at schools and colleges where military instruction is beinggiven.
The authors of this book have performed a valuable service, one whichwill tend to facilitate and aid very much the development of militarytraining in this country. In addition to the purely mechanical detailsof training the book presents in a very effective and simple manner thetactical use of troops under various conditions.
In a word it is a useful and sound work and one which can be commendedto those who contemplate a course in military training.
(Signed) Leonard Wood,
Major General U. S. A.
PREFACE
This book is intended to serve as a foundation upon which the militarybeginner may build so that he may in time be able to study the technicalservice manuals intelligently. It has been written as an elementarytextbook for those who desire to become Reserve Officers, for schoolsand colleges, and for those who may be called to the colors.
The authors have commanded companies at Plattsburg, New York, and,noting the need of such a text, compiled their observations while there.
The average man undergoing military training wants to know as much aspossible about the art and science of war. He wants to acquire a goodknowledge of the principles involved. He is interested in the techniqueof movements. He is willing to work for these things, but he oftenbecomes lost in confusion when he attempts to study the technicalservice manuals. He does not know how to select the most important andomit the less important. The authors have selected from the standardtexts some of the vitally important subjects and principles and havepresented them to the civilian in a simple and plain way.
The first part of the text is for the beginner. It tells him how toprepare physically for strenuous military work. After assisting himthrough the elementary part of his instructi