Gentlemen,
I just remembered I had seen this photo awhile back and thought it might help.
Notice the presumably Corporal on the left of the line with no rear rank man behind him, and the Sergeant near and slightly in front of him. It appears that the Sergeants were ordered to the front for the photo.
Here is the full photo.
According to David M. Sullivan's book "The Civil War Uniform of the United States Marine Corps: The Regulations of 1859". This photo was taken at the Boston Navy Yard in late 1863 - early 1864.
Based on the "Rules and Regulations for the Government of Marines on Shore" Prepared by a board of officers pursuant to orders from Bvt. Brig Gen. Archibald Henderson dated December 14, 1852, and submitted December 23, 1852.1 Article 3 states the following:
3d. The instruction of the Marine Corps shall be according to the system of Infantry tactics prescribed for the Army of the United States.
And article 56 states,
56th. The general regulations of the Army of the United States in all that regards the discipline and military control of the Marine Corps (not provided for by these regulations) shall be the same that is now, or may hereafter be, prescribed for the government of the Army. 2
That being said there is some evidence that the Marines (at lest in part) continued to use older tactics or even mixed manuals. Generally form what I can tell this only took place at sea where the new manual hadn't caught up with the ship. However it appears that the whole Corps (at lest every photo I have seen) did "support arms" with the arm horizontally across the body like in Baxter's manual, which I believe may be left over from von steuben's.
All of this to say that at that time the Marine Corps was most likely using a modified version of Casey's.
Page No. 228 Marines of the Civil War The Officers, Honors, Records, and Regulations by David M. Sullivan
Page No. 233 Marines of the Civil War The Officers, Honors, Records, and Regulations by David M. Sullivan
Hope this helps.
Regard,
Karl Jacob
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