Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States

Baron Von Stuben

• Publisher: Yoakum Press
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9781443772419
• eBook ISBN: 9781447487135
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

Originally published in 1794, this early work on the American Military is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It contains details on the ranks, discipline, order and regulations of the American military. This is a fascinating work and thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in military history. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

INSTRUCTIONS.

Insrucions for the Commandant of a Regiment.

THE state having entrusted him with the care of a regiment, his greatest ambition should be to have it at all times and in every respec as complete as possible: To do which, he should pay great attention to the following objecs:

The preservation of the soldiers health should be his first and greatest care; and as that depends in a great measure on their cleanliness and manner of living, he must have a watchful eye over the oGicers of companies, that they pay the necessary attention to their men in those respecs.

The only means of keeping the soldiers in order is, to have them continually under the eyes of their superiors; for which reason the commandant should use the utmost severity to prevent their straggling from their companies, and never suGer them to leave the regiment without being under the care of a non-commissioned oGicer, except in cases of necessity. And in order to prevent any man’s being absent from the regiment without his knowledge, he must often count the files, and see that they agree with the returns delivered him, stricly obliging every man returned fit for duty to appear under arms on all occasions; and if any are missing, he must oblige the commanding oGicer of the company to account for their absence. In a word, the commandant ought to know upon what duty and where every man of his regiment is. To these points the other field oGicers must also pay attention.

The choice of non-commissioned oGicers is also an objec of the greatest importance: the order and discipline of a regiment depends so much upon their behaviour, that too much care cannot be taken in preferring none to that trust but those who by their merit and good conduc are entitled to it. Honesty, sobriety, and a remarkable attention to every point of duty, with a neatness in their dress, are indispensable requisites; a spirit to command respec and obedience from the men, an expertness in performing every part of the exercise, and an ability to teach it, are absolutely necessary; not can a serjeant or corporal be said to be qualified who does not write and read in a tolerable manner.

Once every month the commandant should make a general inspecion of his regiment, examine into the state of the men, their arms, ammunition, accoutrements, necessaries, camp utensils, and every thing belonging to the regiment, obliging the commanding oGicers of companies to account stricly for all deficiencies.

He should also once every month assemble the field oGicers and the eldest captain, to hold a council of administration; in which should be examined the books of the several companies, the pay-master and quarter-master, to see that all receipts and deliveries are entered in proper order, and the aGairs of the regiment duly administered.

All returns of the regiment being signed by the commanding oGicer, he should examine them with the greatest care before he suGers them to go out of his hands.

The commandant must always march and encamp with his regiment; nor must he permit any oGicer to lodge out of camp, or in a house, except in case of sickness.

On a march he must keep his regiment together as much as possible, and not suGer the oGicers to leave their platoons without his permission; nor permit any of them, on any pretence whatsoever, to mount on horseback.—There is no fatigue the soldiers go through that the oGicers should not share; and on all occasions they should set them examples of patience and perseverance.

When a regiment is on a march, the commandant will order a serjeant and six men into the rear, to bring up all stragglers; and the serjeant on his arrival in camp or quarters, must make his report to him.

In a word, the commanding oGicer of a regiment must preserve the stricest discipline and order in his corps, obliging every oGicer to a stric performance of his duty, without relaxing in the smallest point; punishing impartially the faults that are committed, without distincion of rank or service.

Insrucions for the Major.

THE major is particularly charged with the discipline, arms, accoutrements, cloathing, and generally, with the whole interior management and œconomy of the regiment.

He must have a watchful eye over the oGicers, and oblige them to do their duty on every occasion; he must often cause them to be exercised in his presence, and instruc them how to command their platoons and preserve their distances.

He must endeavour to make his regiment perform their exercise and manœuvres with the greatest vivacity and precision, examine often the state of the diGerent companies, making the captains answer for any deficiencies he may perceive, and reporting the same to the colonel.

He must pay the greatest attention to have all orders executed with the stricest puncuality, so far as respecs his regiment; and should every week examine the adjutant’s and quarter-master’s books, and see that all returns, orders and other matters, the objecs of their respecive duties, are regularly entered.

He must cause to be kept a regimental book, wherein should be entered the name and rank of every oGicer, the date of his commission, and the time he joined the regiment; the name and description of every non-commissioned oGicer and soldier, his trade or occupation, the place of his birth and usual residence, where, when and for what term he was enlifted; discharges, furloughs and courts martial, copies of all returns, and every casualty that happens in the regiment.

He must be at all times well acquainted with the strength of his regiment and brigade, and the details of the army, and see that his regiment furnishes no more than its proportion for duty.

He must often inspec the detachments for duty furnished by his regiment, see that they are complete in every respec, and formed agreeably to the regulations.

On a march he must often ride along the flanks of his regiment, see that the platoons march in order, and keep their proper distances.

When the regiment is detached, he will post the guards ordered by the colonel, often visit them, examine whether the oGicers, non-commissioned oGicers and sentinels are acquainted with their duty, and give them the necessary instrucions.

Insrucions for the Adjutant.

THE adjutant is to be chosen from among the subalterns, the field oGicers taking care to nominate one the most intelligent and best acquainted with the service.

He must keep an exac detail of the duty of the oGicers and non-commissioned oGicers of his regiment, taking care to regulate his roster in such a manner as not to have too many oGicers or non-commissioned oGicers of the same company on duty at the same time.

He must keep a book, in which he must every day take the general and other orders, and shew them to the commanding oGicer of the regiment, who having added those he thinks necessary for the regiment, the adjutant must assemble the first serjeants of the companies, make them copy the orders, and give them their details for the next day.

He must attend the parade at the turning out of all guards or detachments, inspec their dress, arms, accoutrements and ammunition, form them into platoons or secions, and conduc them to the general or brigade parade.

When the regiment parades for duty or exercise, he must count it oG, and divide it into divisions and platoons, and carry the orders of the colonel where necessary.

The adjutant is to receive no orders but from the field oGicers and oGicer commanding a battalion.

On a march he must ride along the flanks of the regiment, to see that regularity is observed, and must pay attention to the serjeant in the rear, that he brings up all stragglers.

On the arrival of the ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Chap. I. Of the Arms and Accoutrements of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers
• Chap. II. Objects with which the Officers and Non-commissioned Officers should be acquainted
• Chap. III. Of the Formation of a Company
• Chap. IV. Of the Formation of a Regiment
• Chap. V. Of the Instruction of Recruits
• Chap. VI. The Exercise of a Company
• Chap. VII. Exercise of a Battalion
• Chap. VIII. Of the Points of View
• Chap. IX. Of the Formation and Displaying of Columns, with the method of changing Front
• Chap. X. Of the March of Columns
• Chap. XI. Of the March in Line
• Chap. XII. Of the Disposition of the Field-pieces attached to the Brigades
• Chap. XIII. Of the Firings
• Chap. XIV. Of the March of an Army or Corps
• Chap. XV. Of the Baggage on a March
• Chap. XVI. The Manner of laying out a Camp, with the Order of Encampment
• Chap. XVII. Manner of entering a Camp
• Chap. XVIII. Necessary Regulations for preserving Order and Cleanliness in the Camp
• Chap. XIX. Of Roll-Calls
• Chap. XX. Of the Inspection of the Men, their Dress, Necessaries, Arms, Accoutrements and Ammunition
• Chap. XXI. Of the different Beats of the Drum
• Chap. XXII. Of the Service of the Guards
• Chap. XXIII. Of the Arms and Ammunition, with the Methods of preserving them.
• Chap. XXIV. Of the Treatment of the Sick
• Chap. XXV. Of Reviews
• Instructions for the Commandant of a Regiment
• Contents.
• Appendix