The formation of the color company completed, the captain faces to the front; the color guard, conducted by the senior sergeant, approaches from the front and halts at a distance of 10 paces from the captain, who then faces about, brings the company to the =present=, faces to the front, salutes, again faces about and brings the company to the =order=. The color guard comes to the =present= and =order= at the command of the captain, and is then marched by the color sergeant directly to its post on the left of the color company. (776)
=669. Escorting color to office or quarters of colonel.= When the battalion is dismissed the color guard escorts the color to the office or quarters of the colonel. (777)
=670.= At the =carry=, the heel of the pike rests in the socket of the sling; the right hand grasps the pike at the height of the shoulder.
At the =order=, the heel of the pike rests on the ground near the right toe, the right hand holding the pike in a vertical position.
At =parade rest=, the heel of the pike is on the ground, as at the =order=; the pike is held with both hands in front of the center of the body, left hand uppermost.
The =order= is resumed at the command =attention=.
The left hand assists the right when necessary.
The =carry= is the habitual position when the troops are at a shoulder, port, or trail.
The =order= and =parade rest= are executed with the troops.
=The color salute:= Being at a carry, slip the right hand up the pike to the height of the eye, then lower the pike by straightening the arm to the front. (778)
=671. Drawing saber; position of carry saber dismounted; unhooking scabbard before mounting; on foot carrying scabbard hooked up.=
At the command =draw=, unhook the saber with the thumb and first two fingers of the left hand, thumb on the end of the hook, fingers lifting the upper ring; grasp the scabbard with the left hand at the upper band, bring the hilt a little forward, seize the grip with the right hand, and draw the blade 6 inches out of the scabbard, pressing the scabbard against the thigh with the left hand.
At the command =saber=, draw the saber quickly, raising the arm to its full extent, to the right front, at an angle of about 45° with the horizontal, the saber, edge down, in a straight line with the arm; make a slight pause and bring the back of the blade against the shoulder, edge to the front, arm nearly extended, hand by the side, elbow back, third and fourth fingers back of the grip; at the same time hook up the scabbard with the thumb and first two fingers of the left hand, thumb through the upper ring, fingers supporting it; drop the left hand by the side.