The Plattsburg Manual A Handbook for Military Training

The first part of the text is for the beginner. It tells him how to prepare physically for strenuous military work. After assisting him through the elementary part of his instruction, it presents for his consideration and study the Officers' Reserve Corps.

The second part, or supplement, is a more technical discussion of those subjects introduced in the first. It is intended principally for those who have made excellent progress.

CONTENTS

I General Advice 3 II Physical Exercise 21 III School of the Soldier 28 IV School of the Squad 63 V School of the Company 86 VI Fire Superiority 130 VII The Service of Security 136 VIII Attack and Defense 144 IX General Principles of Target Practice 153 X Practice March or "Hike" 159 XI Officers' Reserve Corps 169

SUPPLEMENT

I The Theory of Security 221 II Attack and Defense 242 III Patrolling 254 IV Target Practice 260 V Tent Pitching 292 VI Signals and Codes 297 VII First Aid to the Injured 309

Appendixes 321

Index 331

THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL

CHAPTER I

GENERAL ADVICE

The United States is divided geographically into military departments with a general officer commanding each department. The departments and their headquarters are as follows:

(1) The Northeastern Department, with headquarters at Boston, Massachusetts.

(2) The Eastern Department, with headquarters at Governors Island, New York.

(3) The Southeastern Department, with Headquarters at Charleston, South Carolina.

(4) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois.

(5) The Southern Department, with Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

(6) The Western Department, with Headquarters at San Francisco, California.

Overseas { (7) The Philippine Department, with Headquarters at Departments { Manila. { { (8) The Hawaiian Department, Departments with { Headquarters at Honolulu, Hawaii.

(For States comprising each department, see Appendix)

If you are a civilian and desire any information in regard to the army, any training camps, the officers' reserve corps, or any military legislation or orders affecting you, write to the "Commanding General" of the Department in which you live. Address your letter to him at his headquarters.

MAIL

Mail is most often delayed because there is not sufficient information for the Postmaster on the envelope. The delivery of your mail will be delayed unless your letters are sent to the company and the regiment to which you belong. Therefore, prepare, before you reach camp, several stamped postal cards, addressed to your family and business associates, containing directions to address all communications to you care of Company----, Regiment----. As soon as you are assigned to a company and regiment, fill in these data and mail these postal cards at once. This should be done by wire in case important mail is expected during the first week of camp. Mail is delivered to each company as soon as a complete roll of the organizations can be made out and sent to the post-office.

INOCULATIONS AND VACCINATION

As soon as you become a member of the army, whether as a private or as an officer, you will receive the typhoid prophylaxis inoculation and be vaccinated against smallpox.

WHAT TO BRING

1. Travel light. Bring only the bare necessities of life with you. Don't bring a trunk. Enlisted men (not officers) will be supplied with all necessary uniforms and underwear. This includes shoes.