Numberofvouchers.Names of recruits(arranged inalphabeticalorder.)Datesofinlistment.Periodsofinlistment.Bountyallowed.Bountypaid.Balancesofbounty.Premiumallowed.Bounty paid,andpremiumallowed.When, and in what companyor detachment these recruitswere first mustered presentafter their inlistment.dolls.dolls.cts.dolls.cts.dolls.dolls.cts.Remarks, &c.
☞The paper (D.) next page, is usually prepared or printed on the back of (C.)
(D.)
Dr.The United States in Account Current (for bounties and premiums) withCr.Date.Dolls.Cts.Date.Dolls.Cts.For bounties and premiums allowed for recruits, per within account,ByFor cash received of him on account of bounties and premiums to recruits,For advances made to the following officers, on account of bounties and premiums to recruits, for which advances the said officers are accountable, viz.Toper receiptNo.
Ido hereby certify, upon my word and honor, as an officer and a gentleman, that this recruiting account exhibits a faithful, accurate, and true statement of all monies received and paid away by me, on account of bounties and premiums to recruits, not heretofore accounted for; and that the balance ofdollars,cents, stated in the above account current, is due fromtoGiven atin the state ofthisday of18
Ido hereby certify, upon my word and honor, as an officer and a gentleman, that this recruiting account exhibits a faithful, accurate, and true statement of all monies received and paid away by me, on account of bounties and premiums to recruits, not heretofore accounted for; and that the balance ofdollars,cents, stated in the above account current, is due fromto
Given atin the state ofthisday of18
Recruit-horses, are the horses brought up for completing the regiments of horse, and dragoons, &c.
RECTANGLE,Fr.rectangle.
RECTANGLE,-RECTANGULAR,
SeeAngle.
RECTILIGNE,Fr.rectilinear, or right lined.
RECTILINEAR,-RECTILINEOUS,
after the manner, or consisting of right lines.
RECUIT,Fr.A term used its the French foundaries of artillery, signifying the annealing or hardening of a cannon-mould.
RECULdu canon,Fr.The recoil of a piece of ordnance. SeeRecoil.
RECULADE,Fr.The act of recoiling or falling back.
RECULER,Fr.To fall back. This expression is used by the French in a figurative sense, viz.
Reculerpour mieux sauter,Fr.To fall back or retreat, in order to return and advance with more energy.
REDhot shot, shot made red hot, and in that state thrown out of cannon, against the vessels or magazines of an enemy.
REDCOAT, a familiar term for a British soldier.
REDANS, infield fortification, are a kind of indented works, lines, or faces, forming sallying and re-entering angles, flanking one another; generally constructed on the sides of a river which runs through a garrison town. They were used before bastions were invented, and are by some thought preferable to them. They are likewise calledOuvrages à scie, from their resemblance to a saw.
REDDITIONd’une place,Fr.The surrender of a besieged place.
REDIGER,Fr.To draw out.
Redigerdes memoires,Fr.To draw out memorials.
REDINTEGRATION, the act of restoring any single substance, from a damaged mixed body, to its former nature and properties. Thus col. Congreve, of the British artillery, by theredintegrationof nitre from damaged gunpowder, has effected a vast saving in that article.
REDOUBT, (Redoute,Fr.) infortification, a square work raised without the glacis of the place, about musquet shot from the town; having loop-holes for the small arms to fire through, and surrounded by a ditch. Sometimes they are of earth, having only a defence in front, surrounded by a parapet and ditch. Both the one and the other serve for detached guards to interrupt the enemy’s works; and are sometimes made on the angles of the trenches for covering the workmen against the sallies of the garrison. The length of their sides may be about 20 toises; their parapets must have two or three banquettes, and be about nine or ten feet thick. They are sometimes (in a siege) called places of arms.
Redoubt, is also the name of a smallwork made in a ravelin, of various forms. SeeFortification.
Redoubt,castleordonjon, a place more particularly intrenched, and separated from the rest of a ditch. There is generally in each of them a high position, from whence the country round the place may be discovered.
DetachedREDOUBT, is a work made at some distance from the covert-way, much in the same manner as a ravelin with flanks. SeeArrow.
Redoubtsen cremaillere, differ from all the rest, because the inside line of the parapet is broken in such a manner as to resemble steps of stairs, or teeth of a saw; whereby this advantage is gained, that a greater fire can be brought to bear upon the defile, than if only a simple face was opposed to it, and consequently the passage is rendered more difficult.
REDOUTER,Fr.To be alarmed at.Redouter les armes d’un ennemi, to be alarmed at the strength of an enemy.
REDOUTESde terre,Fr.redoubts that are hastily thrown up, and are made with earth, for the purpose of securing entrenchments, circumvallations, passages of rivers, &c.
Redoutesde maconnerie,Fr.redoubts made of mason work. These are generally constructed in places where an enemy might derive advantage from establishing himself; they are likewise built upon the saliant angles of the glacis.
Redoutescasematées,Fr.Casemated redoubts. These are arched over and are bomb proof. Those constructed for the defence of Gibraltar, and for the security of Dover Castle, are of this description.
Redoutesà machicoulis,Fr.redoubts made of stone work, which are several stories high. The highest story juts out about one foot beyond the wall that surrounds or fronts the redoubt.
REDRESSER,Fr.in a military sense, to recover. To make straight again, viz.
Redressez vos armes, recover arms.Redressez la ligne, redress the line.
ToREDRILL. To drill again. To put a soldier through the first elements of military training. Every soldier on his return from furlough, should beredrilledbefore he is permitted to act in the ranks of his company.
ToREDUCEa place, is to oblige the governor to surrender it to the besiegers, by capitulation.
ToREDUCEthe circle. To restore or bring back a battalion or company, which has been formed in circle, to its original position in line.
ToREDUCEthe square. To restore or bring back a battalion or battalions, which have been formed in a hollow or oblong square, to their original situation in line or column. On the wordform close column, the front which the column is to have is noted to stand still by its proper officer, whether it beflankorcentre; the other portions of the line arefacedtowards the point of formation; and thenquarterfaced or wheeled to front or rear; as the columns is to be formed. Thecolumn upon the centre, is the best and most effective of all the formations forcolumns of attack.
To beREDUCED, in a military sense, to be taken off the establishment, to cease to receive pay as soldiers. When a regiment is reduced, the officers are generally put upon half pay. Sometimes the corps are reduced, and the officers remain upon full pay. This happens at the close of a war, when the standing army of the country is confined to a certain number of battalions. Hence is derived the expression,inandoutof the break.In the break, is the liability of being reduced;out of the break, is the certainty of being kept upon the establishment.
To beREDUCEDto the ranks. To be taken from a superior appointment in a regiment, and to be ordered to the duty of a common soldier. This sometimes happens, by way of punishment, when a serjeant or corporal misbehaves himself.
REDUCT. SeeRedoubt.
REDUCTIONdes troupes,Fr.A reduction of the armed force of a country.
REDUIRE,Fr.in drawing, to copy, to reduce a plan or picture. This operation differs from that of chalking out. The French use the expression in various senses, viz.
Reduireen grand,Fr.To copy an original drawing, by giving it larger dimensions.
Reduireen petit,Fr.To copy an original drawing, by giving it smaller dimensions, which is literally to reduce it.
Reduireun plan au petit pied,Fr.To make a copy of a drawing, in which every part is faithfully represented, though on a small scale.
REDUIT,Fr.literally means a nook, or bye-place; in a military sense, it signifies a sort of citadel, which is extremely inconvenient to the inhabitants of the town, because it takes up more ground than those that are regularly built, and is, at the same time, uncomfortable to the troops, because they must be very much crowded. This word is explained by an English lexicographer, in the following manner:—ReductorReduit, an advantageous piece of ground, intrenched and separated from the rest of the place, camp, &c. for an army, garrison, &c. to retire to in case of surprize.Reduitsare sometimes made for the purpose of securing different posts in a town independent of its citadel. These have been proposed by the celebrated Vauban.
Reduit, in architecture, a recess.
REED, an arrow.
REEDIFIER,Fr.To rebuild.
RE-ENTERINGangle, infortification, is that which, turns its point towardsthe centre of the place. SeeFortification.
REFAIT,bois refait et remis à l’equerre,Fr.An expression used among French carpenters, and by the artificers belonging to the train, to signify any piece of wood which has been planed and made perfectly square and level.
REFEND,Fr.in architecture, a partition wall, viz.Mur de refend.
ToRE-FORM, in a military sense, is after some manœuvre or evolution, to bring a line to its natural order, by aligning it on some given point. This frequently occurs in the passage of lines, &c. viz. When a line or several battalions hath passed another that remains posted, by retreating through by files, it may be reformed in the following manner:
ToRE-FORMby a flank battalion, on a central battalion, in an oblique position.
When by a flank battalion, the line that has passed is fronted in column, and the several pivots are dressed correctly before wheeling up into line. To this effect, the commander of the head battalion will instantly place the pivots of his three first platoons in a true direction, and order the officers of his other platoons to line on them; himself remaining with the head platoon at the point d’appui, will see that this is correctly done. The first battalion thus steadied, will become a sufficient direction for the second, and every other one, to prolong it by their adjutants; and this operation, though successive from platoon to platoon, and from battalion to battalion, may be performed quickly and correctly; if the adjutants are timeously detached, and if the head of the column be quickly arranged.
ToRE-FORMa first line on a central battalion. In order to give the alignment from a central battalion, after halting and fronting, the platoon pivots of the given battalion are from its head to be accurately lined by its commander, in the true direction. This battalion being placed, from which distances and dressings are taken, the others will instantly proceed to line their pivot flanks upon it: those that are behind it, will readily do this; those that are before it will find more difficulty, as they must take their distances from the rear; to facilitate this necessary object, their platoon officers will face to the directing battalion, and will then successively take their distances and covering from their then front; as soon as each has acquired his true position, he will face about and make his platoon join to and dress to him. The line will then be ready to form, by wheeling up to the pivot flank.
ToRE-FORMa first line, that has passed through a second which remains posted, in an oblique position.
When it is found necessary that the passing battalions, which constitute the first line should take a new position not parallel to the second, or to their own original formation, the commander, with his two leading platoons, will first enter it (i. e. the new position) and direct the others to regulate their flanks by them; and if several battalions are passing the second line, thenewalignment is thus made easier for them.
It frequently happens, that a height in the rear is to be crowned by a retiring line. In this case, each officer must not dress exactly to the platoon that precedes him, but in joining it he musthalt, and arrange his own in such a manner, that theslopeof the rising or ascent can be entirely seen and commanded, which is here the great object, and would not be attained, if the troops were to adhere to a straight line.
ToReform, (Reformer,Fr.) is likewise to reduce a corps of men, by either disbanding the whole, or only breaking a part, and retaining the rest; or sometimes by incorporating them with other regiments.
REFORME,Fr.reduced.
OfficierREFORME,Fr.An officer put upon half-pay; orsecondedaccording to the regulations of the old French service.
REFORMEDofficer. One whose troop or company being broke, is continued on whole or half-pay. He preserves the right of seniority, and continues in the way of preferment.
REFOULER,Fr.To ram down.
REFOULOIR,Fr.A cannon rammer.
REFUGEE, (Réfugeé,Fr.) SeeEmigrant.
ToREFUSE. A military phrase, signifying to throw back, or to keep out of that regular alignment which is formed when troops are upon the point of engaging an enemy. This often occurs in order to occupy a particular position, to prevent the enemy’s designs on any particular part of a line, or at least to make him take a greater detour to effect his purpose; or that he may be obliged to align his own on a height which is occupied, and from which he may be flanked. When a first line has passed through a second, and it is found necessary to refuse a wing, the several platoons of that line must pass according to the wing which is to be refused. If the left, for instance, is to be posted, and the right to be refused, the platoons may pass from their left by the facing of the platoon to the left, and marching to the required position in succession; the column will thereby have its left in front, will be more readily directed on the point d’appui, and the preservation of the distances will be facilitated, as they will then be taken from the front. If the right is to be posted, the platoons may pass from their right; but the movement into echellon, and wheeling into line is preferable to any mode, as errors can always be remedied in an instant, and without confusion.
It may happen where the passing line is to post one flank andrefusethe other,that the officers will have their distances to take from behind; halt the whole at any time after passing, and countermarch each platoon, which will then cause the future formation to be taken from the front of the column.
A retiring line may alsorefusea wing, by forming in line very soon after passing, and then taking up an oblique position to the rear, by the echellon march, or some other of the modes prescribed. SeeAmer. Mil. Lib.
Frederic, surnamed the great, king of Prussia, who had attentively studied the tactics of the ancients, first adopted the method of refusing a wing in the forming of an attack. This method has been since successfully followed by the best modern generals. It answers to a partial reserve of a force which is always ready at command; and in point of security, it is the reverse of what the French mean inpréter un aile, to expose a wing, or post it in a precarious manner. The French during the whole of the action which was fought in Egypt, on the 21st of March, 1801, refused their right wing. Notwithstanding this precaution they were defeated by the British.
As a correct formation of the line by the echellon march, whether it advance or retire in the presence of an enemy, is generally resorted to when it is found necessary to refuse any part of a line, it will not appear superfluous to submit the following mode which is practised by the French.
Formation of the line by the echellon march of divisions, by the covering serjeants or guides running out to mark the point in the new alignment, for their respective divisions.
When the battalion changes position to the front on a fixed flank company, by throwing forward the rest of the battalion, the commander having determined the new line, and wheeled a given company into that line the named number of paces (say 4) the remaining companies wheel two paces on their right forward into echellon. Theguideor covering serjeant of the second company instantly moves out, takes about ³⁄₄th distance for his company, faces the point d’appui, and places himself in such a manner, that the outside of his right arm will pass in line with the breast of the men of the company already in the line. He is corrected, if necessary, on the distant point of formation by a proper person placed on the right for that purpose. On the wordsform lineandmarchbeing given by the commander, theguideor covering serjeant of the third company runs briskly out, places himself so as to cover the secondguideor serjeant, faces the point d’appui, and takes the order ³⁄₄th distance, corrected on the distant point by the person on the right. The officer commanding the second company, marches on till he sees himself clear of the left flank of the right company; he then gives the wordquarter face to the right, (his right pivot marking time) and when he observes his company square with the new line, he gives the wordforward, runs nimbly out and places himself in front of the third left file of the first formed company, and when the men of his company have their feet off the ground ready to finish the last pace to bring them into line, he gives the wordmark time, and dresses his men close to the outside of the right arm of the covering serjeant: and then gives the wordhalt. Taking care that the outward flank of his company does not shut out the distant point of dressing: he then places himself on the right of his division, covered by his serjeant, who quits his ground and briskly passes through the interval on the right of his division, at the wordhalt.
In this manner division after division arrives in the new line; and as the covering serjeants of each of the other divisions approach within 15 or 20 paces of the line, they run out to mark the points for their respective companies, face the point d’appui as already directed, and there remain till the wordmark time—front—halt, when the guides quit their places in front and take post on the flank or in the rear.
In forming line to the rear by the echellon march, (suppose on a left company) the same operation takes place with regard to the covering serjeants running out, to mark the points of dressing for their respective divisions; but with this difference, that instead of their taking only about ³⁄₄th distance, they are to take about one pace more or less than the proper distance; face the point of appui, and are corrected on the distant point, as before, by a proper person on the left. The commanders of companies will, as soon as they see the proper front rank of their companies touch that part of the line already formed, give the wordmark time,front,halt. Each officer dresses the men of his platoon at themarked time, till he brings them in line with the outside of the left arm of his covering serjeant; he then gives the wordhalt; taking post on the right of his company, covered by his serjeant, who quits his ground as before on the wordhalt.
It is to be observed, in order to preserve the proper interval, on the covering serjeant quitting his division to mark the point in the true line, the officer’s place is to be immediately filled by a supernumerary or other man from the rear, where he is to remain till replaced by the officer, or covering serjeant.
It is likewise to be observed, that in forming line to the front on a right division, the dressing is close to, and on the outside of the right arm of the covering serjeant; and on forming the line forward on a left company or division, the dressing is close to and on the outside of the left arm. In forming line to the rear on a right division, the dressing is on the right arm: and in forming line to the rear on a left division, the dressing is on the left arm of the covering serjeant.
In forming line to the rear, the officers, or other persons appointed to correct the serjeants on the distant point of formation, move along in the rear and correct the serjeants, as they successively arrive to mark the points for their respective divisions.
By the foregoing method of sending out the covering serjeants or guides to mark the point in the new line for their respective companies, that inaccuracy of dressing, which so often takes place when forming line to the front; and that very great confusion and incorrectness, which too frequently occur when forming to the rear, (particularly so, when the wheel into echellon is in any degree less than the one eighth of the circle or four paces,) are entirely obviated.
REFUSER,Fr.For its application in a military sense, seeTo Refuse.
Refuser,Fr.This word is used among the French as a sea-phrase, viz.le vaisseau a refusé. The ship has missed the wind.
REGAIN,Fr.in carpentry and masonry, means the surplus of a piece of stone or wood when it proves too broad or too long for any particular use, and must of course be taken off. It likewise means after-grass or math.
REGALER,Fr.to level or make even.
REGIE,Fr.government, administration.
REGIMENT, (Regiment,Fr.) a term applied to any body of troops, which, if cavalry, consists of one or more squadrons, commanded by a colonel; and, if infantry, of one or more battalions, each commanded in the same manner. The squadrons in cavalry regiments are divided, sometimes into six, and sometimes into eight, nine, or ten troops. The battalions of infantry are generally divided into ten companies. There is not, however, any fixed rule on this head; as both cavalry and infantry regiments differ according to the exigencies of service in time of war, or the principles of economy in time of peace. The German regiments frequently consist of 2000 men: and the regiment of Picardy in the old French service had 6000. The French formerly made a distinction between the commanding officer of a regiment of cavalry, and the commanding officer of a regiment of infantry. The former was stiledMestre de camp, the lattercolonelas with us; but according to the establishment of the present French army, the term of regiment is confined to the cavalry and artillery: and the name of half brigade is given to the infantry. So thatchiéf de brigade, chief of brigade, corresponds with our colonel of a regiment of infantry. The denomination of colonel is again established in the French cavalry.
With respect to the derivation of the word, it appears, that the best etymology is from the French wordRégie, management, which comes from the Latinregere, to govern. Hence a regiment is said to be governed by a colonel. M. Beneton, a celebrated French etymologist, differs from this explanation. He traces it from the Frenchrégime, which signifies system, regimen, administration, and which is again derived from the Latinregimen, bearing the same import. In a physical acceptation of the term,regimeis used to express any body that is composed of several others. But this is mere conjecture on his part.
Regiments were first formed in France in the year 1558, and in England in the year 1600.
DromedaryREGIMENT, a corps raised by the French during their stay in Egypt. The men were mounted upon dromedaries. To quote the words of Mr. Morier, in his account of a campaign with the Ottoman army in 1800, the dromedaries composing this troop are made to go through a number of evolutions, and when attacked, they are formed into a hollow square: they kneel, and by means of a cord which is thrown round one of the knees, they are prevented from getting up, and thus they afford a breast-work for the soldiers. The same author observes in a note, page 59, that the most convenient and only way of travelling in Egypt is upon dromedaries. The traveller need not encumber himself with food for his animal, as a very scanty allowance of beans suffices for many days journey. Travellers ride upon convenient saddles; and the animal is so docile, that he is guided only by touching him with a small stick on the side that he is to turn. Some have a ring through each nostril, which serves as a bit to a bridle fastened to them. They walk very fast; and their trot is swift, but very inconvenient.
CapeREGIMENT. We have already mentioned under the articleHottentots, (which see) that a proposal had been delivered in to the British government to raise, train, and discipline a certain number of the original inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope. This proposal, after considerable delay, and much deliberation, was finally accepted; and a few days previous to the sudden cessation of arms between England and France. Sir John Dalrymple many years ago proposed to the British government the raising of African corps for the subjection of the West and East Indies, and South America.
MalaysREGIMENT, a corps which has been raised by the British on the islands and on the coasts of Malacca, for the specific purpose of doing duty in the island of Ceylon.
REGIMENTAL, any thing belonging to a regiment.
Regimentalstaff. SeeStaff.
REGIMENTALS, the uniform clothing of the army; as a leather cap, coat, waistcoat, breeches, stocks, shoes, boots, spats, spatterdashes, &c.
Regimentalcourts-martial. SeeCourts-Martial.
Regimentalbond. SeeBond.
Regimentalparade. SeeParade.
Regimental, belonging to a regiment.
Regimentalorders. SeeOrders.
Regimentalnecessaries. By the British mutiny act, it is declared, that any person, buying, detaining, or exchanging any articles called regimental necessaries, or who shall cause the color of the clothes to be changed, shall forfeit 5l. Soldiers selling or exchanging them, are liable to military punishment, &c.
Regimentalreceipts for forage on service. Vouchers which must be produced by the contractors of an army to authorize them to have their claims discharged by the commissary general, or his deputies. It is sensibly observed in page 32 of the British Commissary, that in every case there should, if possible, be only one voucher for one issue. The mode of accomplishing this must be simple, and it is adopted by those who certainly have most experience; for every German corps, or German officer, who draws forage, or any other article, from the commissariat, sends a mere receipt. This prevents farther writing or trouble, because the receipt may be presented in the open field, and is in itself a complete voucher. All that is required, is, for the regiment to order its forage party to bring back the receipt, if the quantity be not obtained; and the quarter-master, or foraging serjeant, to give a receipt for what he gets, if only part can be had.
REGIR,Fr.to govern; to manage; to take charge of, viz.
Régir des soldats; to take charge of soldiers.
REGLE,Fr.SeeRule.
VentREGLE,Fr.a trade wind.
REGALEMEN. SeeRegulation.
REGRATTER,Fr.in architecture, to scrape the outside of a building.
Among engravers this word signifies to re-touch a plate.
REGULAR. In geometry, aregularbody is a solid, whose surface is composed of regular and equal figures, and whose solid angles are all equal.
REGULARattacks, in asiege, are such as are made in form; that is, by regular approaches. SeeAttacks.
Regular, when applied to the army, signifies those troops that are inlisted for a regular period, do duty as soldiers and nothing else; contradistinguished from those who are citizens occasionally exercising the duties of soldiers; thus the militia are not ranked among the regulars, unless on actual service and well disciplined, and fit for any service. Hence regular troops, or regulars.
REGULARS, (Troupes Régulieres,Fr.) Those troops whose conditions of enrollment are not limited to time or place, in contradistinction to fencibles, militia, or volunteer corps; called alsothe line.
ToREGULATE, to adjust by rule or method.
RegulatingBattalion. SeeParallelism of a March.
REGULATION, the act of regulating, or adjusting by rule or method.
Regulation, a term generally used in the British army to signify the regulated price at which any commission, or saleable warrant is permitted to be disposed of. These prices have been fixed by the king. For particulars see Military Finance, page 160.
REGULATIONS,for the American army.
There is no coherent or consistent system of regulations in existence for the military establishment of the United States. The economy of military arrangement is as essential as the discipline of the field, to assure the effects of military operations. There should be a well digested system of regulations, and upon that system should be engrafted a staff, susceptible of adaptation to the peace or the war establishment, to the smallest or the largest force. The French have derived the greatest advantage from their regulations, which have been formed by a well digested body of principles adapted to all circumstances, and the enforcement and execution of which is always distinctly appropriated to the proper officers of the staff. At present the regulations of the United States army is confined to a few general orders from the war department, on detached points of service; and of occasional orders of the commander in chief, issued upon some exigency, at remote periods; and adopted into permanent use. In many instances these regulations have been altered by the war office, in others the circumstances which gave rise to them have ceased, and the regulations become obsolete or inappropriate. In 1810, an attempt was made, by the establishment of a quarter-master general’s office, to commence something like a system; should this be accomplished it may be beneficial, though the want of information in the duties of a staff, particularly if those heretofore arranged under the quarter-master general’s department alone are to be adopted, that it is to be feared the system may remain defective, should the old English model, now exploded by the British themselves, be kept in view instead of the more enlarged system introduced in modern wars. The treatise on the staff byGrimoard, contains the best body of regulations extant. It has been translated, and will form a part of the American Military Library.
The following are among the principal regulations in force at the beginning of the year 1810.
(General Orders.)
Head Quarters,Fort Washington, May 22, ’97
To prevent the necessity of repetition,to establish principle, without which there can be no permanent order, to define the rights of individuals, to exclude caprice, to promote economy, and precision, to disseminate an uniformity of duty and of service throughout the army, and to impress the necessary ideas of subordination and discipline, the following regulations have been digested, and must be duly respected by all ranks.
I. Precedence in command is attached to seniority of corps, and the oldest commission subject to such deviations as the commander in chief may deem essential to the national weal, and the point of honor is determined by the following gradation.
1. Guard of the president.
2. The attack.
3. Reconnoitring parties, and corps of observations.
4. Foraging before the enemy.
5. Posts in the enemy’s country.
6. National barriers.
7. Detachments and out posts.
8. Guard of the trenches.
9. Van guards to the front.
10. Rear guards in retreat.
11. General courts-martial.
12. Guard of the commander in chief.
13. Guards of camp or garrison taken from the line.
14. All other guards mounted from the grand parade.
15. Guards of general officers, and the staff according to rank.
16. Pickets.
17. General fatigues.
18. Regimental police.
Should a tour of service occur while an officer is on any subordinate duty, he shall be relieved, but the tour on which he was engaged shall pass to his credit. If an officer’s tour for general court-martial, picket, or fatigue, occurs while he is on any other duty from the grand parade, he shall not be relieved, but is to stand for the next tour.
II. In all services by detachment, the corps are to furnish according to their strength, the longest off the first on; but in all cases of duty and of service where it may be found practicable, the troops are to operate by companies, battalions, or regiments.
III. Marching off the grand parade, or swearing in on general court-martial, is to pass for a tour of duty.
IV. Return detachments not to be excused from duty more than two days.
V. Police in conformity to the regulations of Baron de Stuben.
VI. Fatigues, general or particular, to be regulated by detail, and duty of every kind to be apportioned impartially.
A soldier, by voluntary compact, becomes the servant of the state, but not the slave of any individual. Extra men are never to be drawn from the ranks, but by permission of the commanding officer of a district, department, or regiment; and when employed in the service of officers, they are to be paid one third of a dollar per day, by the individual for whom they work. To abstract a soldier from his professional duties, and to subject him to the orders of persons not attached to the army, or to impose upon him menial laborious services, is an abuse of authority, a breach of contract, and a deep injury to the service; because it authorizes negligence in the soldier, and in effect destroys his arms and clothes. This practice is therefore positively prohibited.
VII. The annual clothing should be issued in the following manner.
In the Southern States.
On the first day of December, woollen overalls and vests, two shirts, two pair shoes, and two pair socks.
On the first day of April, the residue.
In the middle and Eastern States.
On the first day of November, woollen overalls and vests, two shirts, two pair shoes, and two pair socks.
On the first day of May, the residue.
Where circumstances will permit, it is to be drawn by the paymasters of corps, under the orders of the commanding officers, upon returns certified by the captains, or officers commanding companies, who are to receive it, and are to be held responsible for the distribution; extraordinary arrangements will be applied to extraordinary cases.
VIII. Company books and papers belong to the company, and are never to be separated from it, therefore whenever an officer is taken from his company, by promotion, transfer, or leave of absence, he is to deposit all the books and papers belonging to it, with the officer next of rank, taking duplicate receipts for the same, one of which is to be lodged with the paymaster of his corps; and whenever a man is transferred or ordered upon distant service, the commanding officer of the company from which he is taken, will be held responsible, that the date of his inlistment and a state of his accounts, as to pay, clothing, arms, ammunition, and accoutrements, be transmitted to the commanding officer of the corps, garrison, or detachment, which he is to join: certificates of provision are always to accompany individual soldiers and non-commissioned officers commands, from post to post.
IX. Servants to be taken by voluntary consent from the regiment, corps, or detachment, to which the officer served may belong, in the following proportions, viz.
A lieutenant colonel commandant on duty, three, one without arms.
Major on duty, two, one without arms.
Captain commanding a post or battalion, two, one without arms.
Captain on ordinary duty, one with arms.
Quarter-master general with the army, two, one without arms.
Paymaster general two, one without arms.
Subordinate staff, at the discretion of the commanding officer.
The servants of platoon officers are always to accompany them on duty, and will be included in the same detail: no officer on furlough can be allowed more than one servant, and him without arms.
This allowance is a liberal one, and but too sensibly impairs the strength of the line. If gentlemen will mess, as in all other armies, it will be found abundant; otherwise they must employ domestics to be fed, paid, and clothed from their privy purses, as no further indulgence on the part of the public can be admitted.
The commanding officers of corps, posts, and detachments, will be held responsible for the strict observance of this order, and the violation by whomsoever permitted or committed, will be followed by an arrest, and the sentence of a general court-martial.
X. Four women per company complete, and in that ratio, are permitted to draw provisions and no more; washing the clothes of the company is to be performed by these women, at such price as the commanding officer of the regiment may establish; the officer commanding the company will be held responsible that it is fairly and impartially distributed, rating an officer as four men; mistresses or kept women are prohibited to the officers—the habit is a vicious one, it is repugnant to the rules of society, it is burthensome to the service, ever pregnant with discord, often afflictive to the meritorious soldier, always disgraceful, and frequently destructive to men of merit; the ceremony of marriage heretofore performed by the officers of the army, is also strictly forbid.
XI. Discharges for services fully performed to be given by the commandants of regiments, upon the certificate of the captain or commanding officer of the company in which the soldier served; but in all other cases by the commander in chief, or superior authority—retiring officers are not to take off soldiers with them as waiters or in any other capacity; a contrary practice has lost many valuable men to the service, and has perplexed the company accounts.
XII. The power of granting furloughs is in the commander in chief, on the recommendation of the colonel or officer immediately commanding the applicant, unless where the authority of the president is interposed.
XIII. Settling is restricted to the permission of the commander in chief, or officer commanding a separate department, but no permission is to be granted, except to citizens of the United States of known probity, and attachment to the government.
XIV. As we have no chaplain, the troops are to be inspected by companies every Sunday, and by regiments, battalions, or detachments, monthly; when returns of inspection are to be made out agreeably to the established form, these returns are to be regularly transmitted to the commander in chief, under the certificate of the commanding officers of companies, and the inspecting officer, who in the absence of the inspector, is to be appointed by the commanding officers of corps, posts, or detachments.
XV. The appointment of adjutants and quarter-masters of corps, hertofore in the commander in chief, appertains of right to the lieutenant colonels commandant, who have the power of removal from office. The regimental paymaster is elective by the officers of the regiment, under the orders of the colonel.
XVI. The appointment of non-commissioned officers, held of great importance in all services, because it is the root of all subordination and discipline, has been much neglected in ours. More circumspection on this interesting point is strictly enjoined, the captain or commanding officers of companies may recommend, but the appointment is in the colonel or commanding officer of the corps only.
XVII. Reformation being the end of all punishments, a soldier is never to be punished when drunk, but when found in that disgraceful situation, he is to be confined until he recover his senses, and is then to be punished.
XVIII. The residence of the regimental staff is at the head quarters of the regiment, except the surgeons mates, who are subject to be detached.
XIX. Stoppages of pay are to be rigorously enforced for lost arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and clothing, which cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, it therefore becomes indispensible that company and regimental books, as well as those of the paymaster and quarter-master, should be kept with great exactness, and that councils of administration should sit quarterly whenever practicable, to scrutinize the regimental accounts.
XX. Garrisons of posts are not to be varied, except by the officer who establishes them, or his superior, but subordinate officers commanding posts in the department, are to report monthly to the head quarters of the regiment to which they belong.
XXI. Commanding officers of posts, under the grade of field officers, are to be relieved annually, and majors biennially, this rotation is founded in the principles of justice and sound policy.
XXII. The use of cards and dice are strictly prohibited in camp or quarters, except for the game of backgammon.
XXIII. In military institutions the force of example is incalculable, no officer, therefore, off duty, can be excused from parades, regimental or general, except incase of actual sickness or confinement; the officer who feigns sickness to elude duty, is a dishonor to his cloth, and will be held in infamy: and should any officer or non-commissioned officer, (be his command ever so diminutive,) betray such indolence and insensibility of professional obligation, as to omit one regular roll call, he shall be made an example to the army.
These orders are to be read to the troops, on the first day of the months of January, April, July, and October.
(Extract of General Orders.)
Head Quarters,Loramiers, June 12, 1797.
To correct and extinguish the abuses which have crept into the service, is an herculean task, yet the commander in chief owes it to his own honor, to the honor of the army, and to his country, to effect a reform, and he calls upon his officers of every grade, for their co-operation in the arduous undertaking.
The spirit of cropping,[16]which is almost every where to be seen, is repugnant to the principles of soldiership, destructive to the service, and disgraceful to those who indulge it; not less exceptionable is the practice of collecting and breeding live stock in large quantities.