As an CW re-enactor, whose unit used Hardee's 1855 manual, I knew whar toi
ask for. I did a Google search on 'Hardee's manual salute'. I came up with
a number of interesting hits, including:

http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/salute.htm

[from Hardee's 1855, Gilham's 1859/60]

THE SALUTE


"To salute the soldier raises his right hand to the right side of the
visor of his cap, palm to the front and the elbow raised to the height of
the shoulder [this is the same basic salute used by the British army].
Sergeants with muskets will salute by bringing the left hand across the
body, so as to strike the musket near the right shoulder. Corporals and
privates out of ranks and with muskets will carry their muskets as
sergeants (the sergeant's carry which is the same as shoulder arms for
light infantry), and salute in the same manner."


There are a number of other sites which showed up on the search, none of
which give any symbolism to the palm in/out point raised earlier, but also
did not, as far as I have found, give a date to the change from palm up to
straight ahead for the US salute.

[Also, as a relapsed Rev War Re-enactor (HM 64th Reg of Foot), we were
taught that if one were standing guard, say at right shoulder arm, one
should salute a passing officer with the left hand, palm out, to the
hat; note the above "sargeants with muskets..."]

Thomas Kavanagh
Curator of Collections
Mathers Museum
Indiana University

Formerly:
Majors' Company, 64th Regiment of Foot
Co. B. First Special Battalion, Louisiana Volunteers, Wheat's Tigers.

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