272. ADJUTANT.—The
Adjutant is the official organ of the Regimental Commander through
whom he communicates with the subordinates in the Regiment. He has
charge of the books, records, and papers pertaining to the Regiment.
He superintends the machinery and workings of the Regiment. He
communicates the orders of the commander, and sees that they are
obeyed, and that the regular returns and reports are made. He keeps
the roster of the officers, makes the details that are called for
from the Regiment, and forms and marches on the guard at guard
mounting.
The following returns and reports are required to be forwarded by
him after their revision and signature by the Commanding Officer of the Regiment:
y—End of
December, viz.:
- Annual Return of Casualties.
- Report of Name and record of Firing of Regimental Prizeman.
273. In addition to the foregoing regular reports and returns,
the Adjutant is required to make all the reports and returns, and
keep books similar to a Company Commander in case he has a band to
take care of and provide for. (Rag. 81.) He must also be familiar
with, and understand the orders, regulations, and laws relative to
clothing, rations, and pay for troops and forage for public animals,
and the regular and authorized supplies of all kinds for troops.
This involves a knowledge of the forma, object and time of making,
and the destination of the following papers, viz.:
- Requisitions for forage, fuel, stationery, straw, and for every
kind of property: as arms, accoutrements, ammunition, clothing,
camp, and garrison equipage, quartermaster’s property, and all
other property that may be authorized to be issued to troops.
-Provision returns.
- He should have a sufficient knowledge to be able to revise and
determine the correctness and disposition of the following company
papers as they are received, viz.:
- Certificate of
disability.
- Final statements of
soldier’s accounts of pay and clothing.
- Discharges.
- Description rolls.
- Leaves of absence,
furloughs, passes, sick furloughs, etc.
- Affidavits,
certificates, etc.
- Inventories of deceased
soldiers.
- Proceedings of Councils
of Administration.
- Inventories and
inspection reports of public property.
- Inventories of public
property, and applications for Boards of Survey.
- Complaints of soldiers,
applications for transfer,
- Reports of target
practice.
- Guard report.
- Charges and
specifications.
- And all letters,
correspondence, and reports that are usually sent up from the
officers and men of a Regiment in relation to their duties.
274. He should be well informed in the etiquette of service, both
in the official and Social relations of officers, as many questions
in relation thereto will be referred to him. He should himself bear
in mind that he only signs those communications from the Commanding
Officer of the Post to his subordinates; and the Commanding Officer
must himself sign all communications that require to be sent up to
his superiors (Reg. 451). Art. XXXIV. Reg. requires his special
attention and study.
The Adjutant has no right to give an order in the name of his
commander in a special and peculiar case. But in all cases involving
a general principle, in which the Adjutant can readily understand
what will be the commander’s decision in the case, from decisions
already made, or from the nature of the case, he can with perfect
propriety assume to give orders in the name of his commander He
should, however, feel perfectly sure that he will be sustained by
his commander
275. At a Post the Adjutant may exercise a great influence over
the comfort and happiness of the command. In the social relations
between officers and their families he can so arrange the duties and
pleasures of the Post, as materially to affect all. He has control
of the Band, and the administration of the services of this adjunct
of the Regiment or Post will add materially to the comfort and
pleasure of officers and men.
276. The Adjutant may, with perfect propriety, constitute himself
manager to a greater or less extent, of every affair that requires
the co-operation of the various members of the command. Some one
must assume to direct and take responsibility in the matter, and the
habit of looking to the Adjutant in all official matters, makes him
also the natural director of most matters of a social or convivial
character. A suitableness in all these respects will conduce greatly
to the reputation and advancement of the officer, and aid materially
in harmonizing a command and preserving friendship among its
members.
277. As Post Adjutant there is, in the general principles, no
difference in the duties; the word Post takes the place of
Regimental in the title of headquarters, and all the reports and
returns and papers usually required. The annexed tabular statements
show the papers required from Post and Regimental Headquarters, and
their difference in title. The Commander is responsible for the
correctness of the books and papers, although the work devolves upon
the Adjutant.
278. The Adjutant has charge of the ceremony of Guard Mounting.
He parades the Guard, verifies the details, and superintends the inspection, or
inspects himself in the absence of an Officer of the Guard. He also makes and parades all other details
that may be required from time to time from the Regiment or Post.
279. The Adjutant is usually Post or Regimental treasurer, and
has charge of the Post or Regimental fund. He has charge of the
bakery, from which the greater portion of the fund is derived. It
is, however, not a necessity that he shall have these last duties,
but custom and convenience have assigned them to him.
280. The Adjutant should be selected with a view to his fitness
for the position, as the harmony of the Regiment or Post will depend
greatly upon him. Sound judgment, a disinterested character, and
genial manners, will enable him to settle many questions of duty and
detail between officers and men without offending; above all,
however, he should possess superior knowledge of his duties and
conscientious feeling in discharging them.
281. Above all things he must avoid favoritism. It is in his
power to make material distinctions, and, if he cannot overcome or
prevent the impression that he is partial and unjust, his usefulness
will be irremediably counteracted. Ignorance or neglect of his
duties will be far more unpardonable in his position, than in that
of any other officer in the Regiment.
