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OFFICER
OF THE DAY.
THE
officer of the day, during his tour of service, is the immediate
commander of the encampment, under the directions of the Colonel or
commanding officer, and is charged with its good order and
cleanliness. His authority embraces the entire encampment. A fatigue
is furnished him when necessary. He will see that the regular calls
ale beaten at, the proper time by the drummer of the guard. The
drummer of the guard is usually the drummer of the company commanded
by the officer of the day.
Immediately after the old guard is marched off, the new officer of
the day will report for orders either to the commanding officer, or
to such person as may be designated by him for that purpose, usually
the Lieut. Colonel.
He will see that the officer of the guard is furnished with the
parole and countersign before twilight. He visits the guards during
the day at such times as he may deem necessary, and ascertains from
the sentinels their orders and instructions.
During the night he will satisfy himself frequently of the vigilance
of the guard, and himself make the rounds at night, at least, once
before and once after midnight. Upon being relieved, he will make
such remarks in the report of the officer of the guard as
circumstances require, and present the same at head-quarters.
OFFICER
OF THE GUARD.
This
officer in regimental encampments is usually a First Lieutenant. He
is subordinate to the officer of the day, and will, obey all orders
received from him. He will remain constantly at his post, at or near
the guard tent, unless while visiting his sentinels, or necessarily
engaged elsewhere in his proper duty. Upon leaving his post, he will
mention his intention and probable time of absence to his immediate
subordinates, the officer of police, or Sergeant of the guard.
Neither officers or soldiers will take off any of their clothing or
accoutrements, or retire to their quarters while on guard, but hold
themselves in constant readiness at the guard-tent, at all hours of
the day and night, during their entire tour of duty.
The officer of the guard must see that the countersign is
communicated to the sentinels a little before twilight. During the
night, he orders patrols and rounds to be made by the officer of the
police and Sergeant of the guard, whenever he thinks necessary, and
himself visits the sentinels frequently. Patrols are made usually
after the sentinels have been on post an hour, or intermediate to
the relief.
He will make a report of his tour of service according to the form
prescribed by regulation, and when relieved forward it to the
officer of the day.
OFFICER
OF POLICE.
The
officer of police will be subordinate to the officer of the guard,
and will aid and assist him in his duties. He will have the
immediate superintendence of the police guard during his tour of
service, and all police duty about the encampment. The sentinels of
the police guard, and all interior guards, are not provided with the
countersign.
The sword and sash will be worn by officers of the day, guard, and
police, during their entire tour of service. The sash will be worn
by officers of the day across the body, from the right shoulder to
the left hip, instead of round the waist.
SENTINELS.
Sentinels
should be relieved every two hours, unless the weather renders it
necessary to shorten their duty on post.
Each relief, before mounting, is inspected by the officer of the
guard. The Corporal, or Sergeant in command of the relief reports to
him, and presents the old relief on his return.
The countersign is given to such persons as are entitled to pass
during the night, and to officers, non-commissioned, officers, and
sentinels of the guard.
The parole is imparted to such officers only as have the right to
visit the guards and to make the grand rounds, and to officers
commanding guards.
In brigade encampments the parole is imparted to general officers;
in regimental encampments it is usually given to field officers.
When a fire breaks out, or any alarm is given in camp, all guards
are to be immediately under arms.
Sentinels will not take orders, or allow themselves to be relieved,
unless by an officer or non-commissioned officer of the guard, the
officer of the day. a general or field officer, or the commanding
officer. All orders given to sentinels by any officer of higher rank
than the officer of the guard, will be immediately notified to him
by the officer giving them.
Sentinels will report every breach of orders or regulations they are
instructed to enforce.
Sentinels must keep themselves on the alert, never sitting down
while on post, but observing everything that lakes place within
sight and hearing of their post. They will carry their arms
habitually at a support, or on either shoulder, but will never quit
them, or allow them to be examined or taken out of their possession
by any person whatever. In wet weather they will secure arms.
No sentinel will quit his post or hold conversation with any persons
not necessary to the proper discharge of his duty. If circumstances
require a temporary relief, he must call for the Corporal of the
guard, and be regularly relieved. All persons, of whatever rank in
the service, are required to observe respect toward every sentinel.
In case of disorder, a sentinel must call out the
guard. If a fire
breaks out, he must cry "Fire," adding the number of his
post. If in either case the danger is imminent, he must discharge
his piece before calling out.
Each sentinel must repeat all calls made from posts more distant
from the guard-tent than his own, and no sentinel will be posted so
distant as not to be heard by the guard, either directly or through
other sentinels. Thus, the sentinel on post No. 9, upon healing the
call, "Corporal of the guard No. 10," must repeat the call
in the same words, "Corporal of the guard No. 10," and
this call will be repeated in succession by the sentinels at posts
Nos. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. By this means, the Corporal of the
guard is not only notified of the demand made upon him, but of the
precise locality where his presence is required.
Sentinels will present
arms to general and
field officers, to the officer of the day, and the commanding
officer, although of a rank below a field officer. To all other
officers they will shoulder
arms, having
previously brought their pieces to the support arms, prior, to the
officer's approach. Sentinels are instructed to present arms to all
officers who have two rows of buttons upon their coats, or the sash
worn across their bodies; to all other officers they shoulder arms
from the support.
The sentinel at any post of the guard, when he sees a body of troops
or an officer entitled to compliment approach, must call out the
guard, and announce who approaches. Thus, on the approach of the
commanding officer, he would call; "Turn
out the guard; commanding officer!''
when the guard is paraded, and salutes with presented arms. In
active service this rule, however, is somewhat modified as to the
commanding officer, who is entitled to the same compliment as the
officer of the day, on his approaching the guard-tent.
In the day time, when the sentinel before the guard tent, sees the
officer of the day approach, he will call: " Turn
out the guard; officer of the day! "
The guard will be paraded and salute with presented arms.
Sentinels present arms to all bodies of troops under the command of
a commissioned officer; to those in command of a non-commissioned
officer they will shoulder arms from a support.
Guards do not turn out, as a matter of compliment, after sunset, and
no compliments will be paid by sentinels after that hour, other than
those prescribed for grand rounds.
After the countersign is issued, until broad day light, sentinels
will challenge every person who approaches them, bringing their
pieces to arms port. They will not come to the charge bayonet,
unless the person challenged continues to advance after the order to
halt. They will not fire, unless three successive challenges are
passed unnoticed, or unless they are attacked.
A sentinel in challenging calls: "Who
comes there?"
If answered: "Friend
with the countersign,"
and he is instructed to pass persons with the countersign, he will
reply: "
Advance friend with the countersign."
If answered: "
Friends with the countersign,"
he will reply: "Halt
friends; advance one with the countersign."
This rule is absolute and imperative. The sentinel must never allow
more than one person to approach him. Thus, if his challenged is
answered, "relief,"
or "patrol,"
or "grand
rounds," he
will reply: "Halt
relief," or "patrol,"
or "grand
rounds, advance Corporal,"
or "Sergeant
with the countersign," and
satisfy himself that the persons or party are what they represent
themselves to be. If lie have no authority to pass persons with the
countersign, or a wrong countersign be given, or the persons have no
countersign whatever, he will cause them to stand and call: "
Corporal of the guard,"
adding the number of his post. The sentinel will compel every person
to advance to him and give the countersign, and never advance
himself for the purpose of receiving it.
It is a safe rule, after dark, to compel every person to enter or
leave the camp by the guard tent, whether they have the countersign
or not."
When any person approaches the guard tent at night, the sentinel
before the guard tent, after challenging, Causes him to halt until
examined by a non-commissioned officer of the guard. If it be the
officer of the clay, or any other officer entitled to inspect the
guard and to. make the grand rounds, the non-commissioned officer
will call: "
Turn out the guard,"
and announce who approaches, when the guard will be paraded at
shouldered arms, and the officer of the guard will, if he thinks
necessary, demand the countersign and parole.
The officer of tile day, or any other officer authorized to do so
and wishing to make the grand rounds, will take from the guard an
escort of a Sergeant and two men. When the rounds are challenged by
a sentinel, the Sergeant will answer: "
Grand rounds," and
the sentinel will reply: "
Halt grand rounds; advance Sergeant with the countersign." The
Sergeant then advances alone and gives the countersign. The sentinel
will then call:
"Advance rounds," and
stand at a shoulder till they have passed. After having made the
tour of the camp and arrived once more at the guard tent, when the
sentinel before the guard tent challenges and is answered: "Grand
rounds" by the
Sergeant of the escort, the sentinel will reply: "Halt
grand rounds; turn out the guard, grand rounds," upon
which the guard will be drawn op at shouldered arms. The officer of
the guard then directs a Sergeant and two men to advance. When
within ten paces, this Sergeant challenges. The Sergeant of the
grand rounds answers: "grand
rounds." The
Sergeant of the guard replies: "Advance
Sergeant with the counter sign."
The Sergeant of the rounds advances alone, gives the countersign,
and returns to his round. The Sergeant of the guard calls to his
officer: "The
countersign is right,"
on which the officer of the guard calls: "Advance
rounds." The
officer of the rounds then advances alone, the guard standing at
shouldered arms. The officer of the rounds passes along the front of
the guard to the officer, who keeps his post on the right, and gives
him the parole.
In brigade encampments any general officer, or the commanding
officer of a regiment, may visit the guards of his own command, and
go the grand rounds, and be received in the same manner as
prescribed for the officer of the day. In regimental encampments any
field officer of the regiment is entitled to the same privilege.
All material instructions given to a sentinel on post, by persons
entitled to make grand rounds, ought to be promptly notified to the
officer of the guard, by the persons giving such instructions.
DRESS
PARADE.
There
will be daily one dress parade at troop or retreat, as the
commanding officer may direct. Half an hour before troop or retreat,
a signal will be beaten or sounded, (usually the assembly) for the
music to assemble on the regimental parade, and each company to turn
out under arms on its own parade, for inspection and roll call by
its own officers. Ten minutes after that signal, the Adjutant's call
will be given, when the Captains will march their companies (the
band playing) to the regimental parade, where they take their
positions in the order of battle as follows: The color company takes
its position first, under the direction of the Adjutant. This
company will throw out both right and left guides, and be aligned by
its Captain by the right. This captain will then step into the rear
rank of his company, to allow the Captain of the company on the
right of the color to align his company by the left. The first
Sergeant of the color company will take post in the line of file
closers opposite his interval. As soon as the color company is
aligned by its Captain, the company on the left of the color will
take its position in line. Its left guide will place himself on the
alignment of the guides of the color company, so as to be opposite
one of the three left files of his company. Its Captain will then
align his company by the tight. The company on the right of the
color will then take its position, its right guide placing himself
upon the alignment of the color guides, so as to be opposite one of
the three right files of his company. Its Captain will then align
his company by the left. The other companies will then form
successively to the right and left, the Captains of the left wings
throwing out their left guides, and aligning their companies by the
right, and the Captains of the right wing throwing out their right
guides, and aligning their companies by the left. The guides, as
they place themselves upon the alignment, will bring their pieces to
the present. The Adjutant seeing the battalion in line, will command
Guides-POSTS,
when the guides will resume their positions in line,
passing for this purpose through the nearest Captain's interval; the
Captains of the right wing, who are on the left of their companies,
shifting to the right, passing by the front rank, and the Captain of
the color company will step into the front rank, and be covered by
his First Sergeant. The Adjutant will then command
Present-ARMS,
when
arms will be presented, officers saluting.
The Adjutant will then face about to the commanding officer, salute,
and report: "Sir, the battalion is formed," The commanding
officer, having acknowledged the salute by touching his cap, will
draw his sword and command,
1.
Battalion. 2. Shoulder --ARMS.
He
will then return his sword and direct the Adjutant to form the
parade.
The Adjutant then takes his post two paces on the right of the line,
the Sergeant Major two paces on the left. The music will be formed
in two ranks on the right of the Adjutant. The Captain of the first
company, on notice to that effect from the Adjutant. steps one pace
to the front, faces to the left, and gives to his company the
command
1.
First Company. 2. Order ARMS. 3. PARADE REST,
and
retires to his post on the right of his company. This is repeated by
each Captain in succession, from right to left. Each Captain will
describe his company by its number, as " second company,"
"third company," etc.
The ceremony will then proceed in accordance with the form as
prescribed in army regulations. All field and company officers and
men will be present at dress parade, unless specially excused, or on
some duty incompatible with such attendance. At the last, word of
the command " PARADE REST," the soldier will carry the
right foot six inches in rear of the left heel, the left knee
slightly bent, the body upright upon the right leg, the musket
resting against the hollow of the right shoulder, the hands crossed
in front, the backs of them outward, and the left hand uppermost. In
this position the soldier will remain silent and motionless, not
turning the head or changing the position of the feet. At the
command " ATTENTION" the soldiers will resume the position
of ordered arms.
The officers, at the command " PARADE REST," will reverse
the sword, rest the point on the ground in front of and between the
feet, clasp the left hand over the right, both resting on the guard,
and carry the right foot six inches in rear of the left heel, the
left knee slightly bent, the body upright upon the right leg. At the
command "attention," they will raise the sword smartly,
place the back of the blade against the right shoulder, bring the
right heel upon the line of the left, and stand erect.
BEATING THE CALLS.
The drummer's call will be beaten by the drummer of
the guard five minutes before the time for beating the regular
calls, when the drummer of each company will take post on the color
line, in front of his own company's street. As soon as the beat
begins on the right, it will immediately be taken up along the line.
For reveille and tattoo, however, all the drums and fifes will
assemble on the right of the color line, and as the call is beaten,
the field music will march through the different company streets.
For an hour previous to tattoo, the band will play in front of
headquarters.
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