The stacks made, the loose pieces are laid on them by the even, numbers of the front rank.

When each man has finished handling pieces, he takes the position of the soldier.

114.  Being in line behind the stacks:  TAKE ARMS.

The loose pieces are returned by the even numbers of the front rank; each even number of the front rank grasps his own piece with the left hand, the piece of his rear-rank man with his right hand, grasping both between the bands; each odd number of the front rank grasps his piece in the same way with the right hand, disengages it by raising the butt from the ground and then, turning the piece to the right, detaches it from the stack; each even number of the front rank disengages and detaches his piece by turning it to the left, and then passes the piece of his rear-rank man to him, and all resume the order.

115.  Should any squad have Nos. 2 and 3 blank files, No. 1 rear rank takes the place of No. 2 rear rank in making and breaking the stack; the stacks made or broken, he resumes his post.

Pieces not used in making the stack are termed loose pieces.

Pieces are never stacked with the bayonet fixed.

THE OBLIQUE MARCH.

116.  For the instruction of recruits, the squad being in column or correctly aligned, the instructor causes the squad to face half right or half left, points out to the men their relative positions, and explains that these are to be maintained in the oblique march.

117. 1. Right(Left)_oblique_, 2.  MARCH.

Each man steps off in a direction 45 deg. to the right of his original front.  He preserves his relative position, keeping his shoulders parallel to those of the guide (the man on the right front of the line or column), and so regulates his steps that the ranks remain parallel to their original front.

At the command halt the men halt faced to the front.

To resume the original direction:  1. Forward, 2.  MARCH.

The men half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the front.

If at HALF STEP or MARK TIME while obliquing, the oblique march is resumed by the commands:  1. Oblique, 2.  MARCH.

TO TURN ON MOVING PIVOT.

118.  Being in line:  1. Right(Left)_turn_, 2.  MARCH.

The movement is executed by each rank successively and on the same ground.  At the second command, the pivot man of the front rank faces to the right in marching and takes the half step; the other men of the rank oblique to the right until opposite their places in line, then execute a second right oblique and take the half step on arriving abreast of the pivot man.  All glance toward the marching flank while at half step and take the full step without command as the last man arrives on the line.

RIGHT (LEFT) HALF TURN is executed in a similar manner.  The pivot man makes a half change of direction to the right and the other men make quarter changes in obliquing.