Butterfield: Interesting Notes

[JimConley]

In preparation for the Duck River Line, and for my own general study, I have been reading a reprint of Daniel Butterfield's Camp and Outpost Duty for Infantry. The work itself is full of some very good and basic information that helps greatly with understanding the procedures for Outpost and other duties. But, I wanted to share some entries that I found especially interesting. Now, we are all aware that specific practices in the field varied by time, place, unit, and other circumstances, so it easy to confirm that not all of these regulations were dutifully followed. However, I found some of these writings very interesting and many of them might come in handy to answer some of the more "basic" questions we see often.

All quoted entries are from:
Butterfield, Daniel. Camp and Outpost Duty for Infantry: With Standing Orders, Extracts from the Revised Regulations for the Army, Rules for Health, Maxims for Soldiers, and Duties of Officers. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1862. (Republished, Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books, 2003).

From Chapter, Standing Orders

Article I. Preparing for the March:

12. The 3d sergeants of companies will see to the packing of the cooking utensils and the baggage, and assist the quarter-master in the preparations, at the sounding of "General."

17. The regiment last or late in reporting at the "Color" call, on the brigade parade, will perform provost and rear-guard duty during the march, brigade guard duty during halts for rest and dinner, and throw out the guards, as provided hereafter, for the formation of camp or bivouac.

Article II. On The March-Officers at Stations-Marching Off-Silence-Route Step-Halting and Closing Up-Formation After the March:

14. When it is intended that the whole column should close up and halt, the head of the column will be halted silently, without bugle call or signal. The word will be passed to the rear to close up and halt; and when the last regiment of the brigade has closed up and halted, its bugler will sound the halt as an indication to the head of the column that the last regiment has closed up to its proper interval.

18. It is preferable always to have canteens filled with coffee; but either coffee, tea, or water being used, strict economy must be practiced as well for the men's comfort as saving one inducement to leave the ranks. The correction of this evil can not be too rigidly enforced. All neglect in this particular will be severely punished.

21. The men should not be allowed to open their haversacks or touch their cooked rations except when ordered to do so. The rigid enforcement of this rule is most necessary: any violation thereof should be punished. The food should only be taken at regular hours, as only by such a course can the cooked rations for a march of any length be made to hold out. This is equally necessary on picket or outpost guards.

Article III. Stragglers:

9. The only case in which any man should escape punishment, who falls out under the plea of illness without permission, is that which can rarely happen, of the illness being so sudden and severe as to deprive him of the power of asking it.

Article VI. Arrangements for Securing the Camp or Bivouac, or Halt-Duties of Officers on Arrival, Etc, Etc:

10. In case of rain while in bivouac, the greatest care will be taken to keep the arms and ammunition dry and ready for action. The men will be cautioned to secure them in the best possible manner.

11. An old soldier or a good soldier will, as soon as his tent is pitched, dig a trench six to eight inches deep all around it. Officers should see this done throughout the camp, and the whole properly drained off.

Article XI. Police, and Duties in Camp:

4. Fatigue parties will be frequently employed in removing and covering the filth, which, notwithstanding these regulations, may have so accumulated as to render parts of the camp offensive; and if the quarters of any particular corps be found dirty, some restraint or additional fatigue duties will be imposed on that regiment.

From Chapter, Revised Regulations for the Army, 1862, That Should Be Known By Every Soldier

85. Every article, excepting arms and accoutrements, belonging to the regiment, is to be marked with the number and name of the regiment.

86. Such articles belonging to the companies are to marked with the letter of the company, and number and name of the regiment; and such as belong to the men, with their individual numbers, and the letter of the company.

93. The utmost attention will be paid by commanders of companies to the cleanliness of their men, as to their persons, clothing, arms, accoutrements, and equipments, and also as to their quarters or tents.

100. Where conveniences for bathing are to be had, the men should bathe once or twice a week. The feet to be washed at least twice a week. The hair kept short, and beard neatly trimmed.

104. Cartridge-boxes and bayonet-scabbards will be polished with blacking; varnish is injurious to the leather, and will not be used.

105. All arms in the hands of the troops, whether browned or bright, will be kept in the state in which they are issued by the Ordinance Department. Arms will not be taken to pieces without permission of a commissioned officer. Bright barrels will be kept clean and free from rust without polishing them; care should be taken in rubbing not to bruise or bend the barrel. After firing, wash out the bore; wipe it dry, and then pass a bit of cloth, slightly greased, to the bottom. In these operations, a rod of wood with a loop in one end is to be used instead of the rammer. The barrel, when not in use, will be closed with a stopper. For exercise, each soldier should keep himself provided with a piece of sole leather to fit the cup or countersink of the hammer.

107. Ammunition issued will be inspected frequently. Each man will be made to pay for the rounds expended without orders, or not in the way of duty, or which may be damaged or lost by his neglect.

108. Ammunition will be frequently exposed to the dry air, or sunned.

111. The knapsacks will also be marked upon the inner side with the letter of the company and the number of the soldier, on such part as may be readily observed at inspections.

112. Haversacks will be marked upon the flap with the number and name of the regiment, the letter of the company, and number of the soldier in black letters and figures. And each soldier must, at all times, be provided with a haversack and canteen, and will exhibit them at all inspections. It will be worn on the left side on marches, guard, and when paraded for detached service, the canteen outside the haversack.

115. Soldiers will wear the prescribed uniform in camp or garrison, and will not be permitted to keep in their possession any other clothing. When on fatigue parties, they will wear the proper fatigue dress.

117. The bread must be thoroughly baked, and not eaten until it is cold. The soup must be boiled at least five hours, and the vegetables always cooked sufficiently to be perfectly soft and digestible.

118. Messes will be prepared by privates of squads, including private musicians, each taking his tour. The greatest care should be observed in washing and scouring the cooking utensils; those made of brass and copper should be lined with tin.

122. On marches and in the field, the only mess furniture of the soldier will be one tin plate, one tin cup, one knife, fork, and spoon, to each man, to be carried by himself.

126. Non-commissioned officers will, in no case, be permitted to act as waiters; nor are they, or private soldiers, not waiters, to be employed in any menial office, or made to perform any service not military, for the private benefit of any officer or mess of officers.

From Chapter, Rules for Health [Extracts from the Sanitary Commission; Dr. Hall's and other Advice to Soldiers.]

2. Sunstroke may be prevented by wearing a silk handkerchief in the crown of the hat, by a wet cloth, or by moistened green leaves or grass.

3. Never lie or sit down on the grass or bare earth for a moment; rather use your hat-a handkerchief, even, is a protection. The warmer you are, the greater need of precaution, as a damp vapor is immediately generated, to be absorbed by the clothing, and to cool you off rapidly.

4. While marching or on active duty, the more thirsty you are, the more essential it is to safety of life itself to rinse out the mouth two or three times, and then take a swallow of water at a time, with short intervals. A brave French general, on a forced march, fell dead on the instant by drinking largely of cold water when snow was on the ground.

6. Nothing is more certain to secure endurance and capability of long-continued effort than the avoidance of every thing as a drink except cold water (and coffee at breakfast). Drink as little as possible of even cold water. Experience teaches old soldiers that the less they drink on a march the better, and that they suffer less in the end by controlling the desire to drink, however urgent.

7. After any sort of exhausting effort, a cup of coffee or tea, hot or cold, is an admirable sustainer of the strength, until Nature begins to recover herself.

10. If you will drink spirits, it is incomparably safer to do so after an effort than before, for it gives only transient strength, lasting but a few minutes; as it can never be known how long any given effort is to last-and if longer than a few minutes, the body becomes more feeble than it would have been without the stimulus-it is clear that the use before an effort is hazardous, and is unwise.

12. Stew or boil your meat always. Roasting and frying are wasteful and unhealthy modes for camp cooking (particularly frying).

14. Never go to sleep, especially after a great effort, even in hot weather, without some covering over you.

15. Rather than lie down on the bare ground, lie in the hollow of two logs placed together, or across several smaller pieces of wood laid side by side; or sit on your hat, leaning against a tree. A nap of ten or fifteen minutes, in that position, will refresh you more than an hour on the bare earth, with the additional advantage of perfect safety.

21. Keep the hair of the head closely cut, say within an inch and a half of the scalp in every part, repeated on the first of each month, and wash the whole scalp plentifully in cold water every morning.

22. Wear woolen stockings and moderately loose shoes, keeping the toe and finger nails cut close. Wash the stockings whenever soiled, and the underclothing once a week; thoroughly dry both.

23. It is important to wash the feet well every night (not in the morning), because it aids to keep the skin and nails soft, to prevent chafings, blisters, and corns, all of which greatly interfere with a soldier's duty.

24. If the feet begin to chafe, rub the socks with common soap where they come in contact with the sore places. If you rub the feet well with soap (hard soap) before the march, you will scarcely be troubled with sore feet.

28. If wet to the skin by rain or swimming rivers, keep in motion until the clothes are dried, and no harm will result.

37. The men should sleep in their shirts and drawers, removing the shoes, stockings, and outer clothing, except when absolutely impracticable. Sleeping in the clothes is never so refreshing, and is absolutely unhealthy.