{"first_publish_date": "1757", "description": {"type": "/type/text", "value": "Just another drill manual? Far from it! 1764 Manual draws on additional primary sources in an attempt to clarify and standardize the basic drill used by 18th-century armies during the American War for Independence. The basic positions needed for priming, loading, firing and facing are clearly reproduced -- many with additional explanations. Additional material is also included for \"motions commonly practiced but not in the manual,\" plus there are illustrated notes on the proper distances of ranks and files, military steps and cadences, wheeling, the oblique step and musket nomenclature."}, "title": "Manual exercise", "subject_places": ["Massachusetts"], "lc_classifications": ["U101 .S59 no. 4"], "subject_people": ["Continental Army"], "key": "/works/OL2086426W", "authors": [{"type": {"key": "/type/author_role"}, "author": {"key": "/authors/OL256559A"}}], "subject_times": ["Revolutionary war period"], "type": {"key": "/type/work"}, "subjects": ["Drill and tactics", "Early works to 1800", "Great Britain", "Great Britain. Army. Infantry", "Handbooks, manuals", "Infantry drill and tactics", "Military art and science", "Militia", "Massachusetts. Militia"], "latest_revision": 7, "revision": 7, "created": {"type": "/type/datetime", "value": "2009-12-09T22:51:52.482472"}, "last_modified": {"type": "/type/datetime", "value": "2025-03-16T14:58:05.181705"}}