Salute!

[John Hartwell]

What was the proper form of military salute during the Civil War? It seems I've seen many reenactors performing the European style (palm out) salute,

while others use the modern American (palm down) version. If there was a changeover, when did it occur?
[Come to think of it, you don't see reenactors saluting very often.]

jno

 

[sflickinger]

What was the proper form of military salute during the Civil War? It seems I've seen many reenactors performing the European style (palm out) salute,View attachment 75693 while others use the modern American (palm down) version. If there was a changeover, when did it occur?
[Come to think of it, you don't see reenactors saluting very often.]

jno

When I was in the military, I was taught that Americans always salute palms down. In fact, we were told in basic training that Americans never lost a war and had always saluted palms down. Now that was before Vietnam, so once I was there that kind of went out the window, although we can always argue about the way the war was conducted.

 

[E_just_E]

What was the proper form of military salute during the Civil War? It seems I've seen many reenactors performing the European style (palm out) salute,View attachment 75693 while others use the modern American (palm down) version. If there was a changeover, when did it occur?
[Come to think of it, you don't see reenactors saluting very often.]

jno

That's not European Salute, that is a 19th, 20th century- British (and Canadian) salute
(also at some Asian former colonies, like India & Pakistan)

Palm down is the accepted salute pretty much everywhere. But you got to have a covered head and an emblem. Saluting your forehead is a no-no.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Civil War was palms up.....

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

From a thread on CivilWarTalk a few years ago, found here http://civilwartalk.com/threads/hand-salute.70014/ by M. E. Wolf:

"Salutations according to the 1861 Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States
Article XXIX
Section: 253. It is equally the duty of non-commissioned officers and soldiers at all times and in all situations, to pay pthe proper compliments to officers of the navy and marines, and to officers of other geiments, when in uniform, as to officers of their own particular gegiments and corps.

254. Courtesy among military men is indispensable to discipline. Respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, but will be extended to all occasions. It is always the duty of the inferior to accost or to offer first the customary salutation, and of the superior to return such complimentary notice.

255. Sergeants, with swords drawn, will salute by bringing them to present -- with muskets, by bringing the left hand across the body, as to strike the musket near the right shoulder. Corporals out of the ranks and privates not sentries, will carry their muskets at a shoulder as the sergeants, and salute in like manner.

256. When a soldier without arms, or with side arms only, meets an officer, he is to raise his hand to the right side of the visor of his cap, palm to the front, elbow raised as high as the shoulder, looking at the same time in a respectful and soldier-like manner at the officer, who will return the compliment thus offered.

257. A non-commissioned officer or soldier being seated, and without particular occupation, will rise on the approach of an officer, and make the customary salutation. If standing, he will turn toward the officer for the same purpose. If the parties remain in the same place or on the same ground, shuch compliments need not be repeated.

[Typed word for word from the Regulations] The Confederate version issued in 1863, is word for word in this regard/topic of salutations (salutes).

M. E. Wolf "

Hope this helps