TRAINING
INFANTRY

BY

JOHN F. MORRISON

Colonel of Infantry

U. S. CAVALRY ASSOCIATION
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
1914

In my commissioned service of over thirty-threeyears I have spent over twenty-two years with myregiment and three years in training a battalion ofcollege cadets. I have been intimately associatedwith the national guard of one state and have hadexperience with the guard of four other states. Ihave seen something of foreign troops in both peaceand war. In these many years I have observed themethods of training employed by a number ofofficers.

Our infantry training has improved over what Ifirst knew but there still exists in places a lack ofcompleteness and system. Of late years a muchgreater interest than formerly has been taken in thetactical instruction and training of our officers andthe progress has been marked. The tactician is,however, but the skilled mechanic; the tools withwhich he works are his troops. New recruits arelike the lump of ore, of no use until converted intosteel and then forged into shape. The making ofthis tool from the raw material is our principalbusiness during peace.

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At the request of officers with whom I haveoften talked and corresponded on the subject oftraining infantry, this little book of suggestions hasbeen prepared. It is based on my own experienceand observation and what others have told me oftheir work. It is offered by an older officer to hisyounger brothers in the infantry in the hope thatit may be of some service to them.

J. F. M.