When did salutes change?

[Captain Lee Bishop]

I am finding really tough to find records regarding salutes. When did salutes go from the European fashion of palm outward to the way we know them today?
Also, during the Span-Am war, did they really salute with an almost vertical forearm? I'm told that a TM from the 1890s calls for this, but I can't find one to verify it.
If I were dressed as a member of Wood's 1st Volunteer Cav (1898), would my salute be more like a modern one?

[RattlesnakeJack]

Can't really help with the answer to your question, but here's a suggestion ....

Go with a British Empire impression, and you won't have to change!   

[St. George]

The Salute...
« on: December 31, 2006, 12:51:31 PM »     

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There was a question on a different board dealing with the hand salute.

It was felt that the salute as rendered in the movie 'Gettysburg' - wasn't somehow 'proper' - in today's context.

It was...  from the following Manuals:

'Customs of the Service, for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, Practiced in the Army of the United States' - by August V. Kautz - 1864 - are identical to those printed in Hardee's in 1855, and in Gilham's Manual printed in 1859/1860.

'To salute the soldier raises his right hand to visor of his cap, palm to the front and the the elbow raised to the height of his shoulder...'

The standards of respect were identical on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

It closely resembles the British Military Salute but without the full, stiffened open palm.

The hand salute as rendered today does differ, as does the salute as rendered by different Services and by type of unit - with a bit of 'stylizing' tossed in for effect.

Some sort of 'toss it off' almost casually, while others are extremely 'sharp'.

No matter - as long as the salute is given with pride and a sense of honor.

Today - the right hand is raised directly and smartly until the tip of the forefinger touches the lower part of the cap above and slightly to the right of the right eye.

Thumb and forefingers are extended and joined - upper arm level with the ground and forearm at a 45 degree angle - wrist and hand straight as a continuation of the line made by the forearm.

When returned at the end of the salute - the hand is cut away smartly to the side.

This from the Army's Drill and Ceremonies manual - FM 22-5, though this change began roughly after the Spanish-American War.

The Regulations of that time specify it in the School of the Soldier as early as the Infantry Drill Regulations of 1911, and it's remained unchanged since.

Thought you ought to know, since the Grand Army of the Frontier represents an earlier time frame...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Pitspitr]

...And these regs are from the 1874 Upton's Infantry Tactics manual:

Raise the right hand smartly, pointing in the same direction as the right foot, the palm of the hand down, the thumb close to the forefinger, the arm extended, and horizontal. (Two.) Bring the hand around till the point of the thumb and the side of the forefinger touch the lower edge of the cap or visor, at the same time turn the head a little to the left, look toward the person to be saluted, and retain this position till the salute is acknowledged. (Three.) Bring back the hand and arm to the position of the first motion, at the same time cast the eyes to the front. (Four.) Drop the arm quickly by the side.

So, to answer your original question it would appear that the salute changed sometime between 1865 and 1874.

[Drydock]

I seem to recall that the salute was changed in 1872, when the army undertook its first significant alteration in regulations of all types since the end of the war.