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MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, [MEMPHIS, TN], February 1, 1862, p. 3, c. 8
Chesterfield Tactics.
The following, from a late Yankee paper, will be appreciated by the lovers of fun:
Lord Chesterfield was greatly regarded as the paragon of politeness; and as some people think that orders given by military officers, from a colonel down to a corporal, as a general thing, are entirely too harsh, a correspondent, who has paid much attention to military etiquette, sends us the following, which plainly shows that even in warlike times these little amenities incident to first class gentlemen are not to be forgotten. Our correspondent, who is a member of the Home Guard, says:
From the fact that the usual mode of giving command by military officers falls so harsh upon the ears of sensitive privates, the following style has been attached to a regiment of "Reserved Grays," and is appropriately termed the Chesterfield manual:
By Commanding Officer.
1. Gentlemen, you will please give me your attention.
2. You will be kind enough to cast your head and eyes to the right, and endeavor to observe the "immaculate bosom" of the third gentleman from you.
3. Oblige me now by casting your visual organs to the front.
4. Allow me to suggest the propriety of coming to an order arms.
5. Gentlemen, will you condescend to order arms.
6. You will confer a special favor by coming to a support.
7. If it meets with your approbation, I beg leave to propose that you carry arms.
8. Now, gentlemen, you will please present arms.
9. I shall consider myself under everlasting obligations if you will once more oblige me by carrying arms.
10. Having a just and high appreciation of your intrinsic worth, as well as your exalted position in society, I humbly trust that I am not infringing upon your good nature when I request you to trail arms.
11. Gentlemen, for the last time, permit me to remark, that it is my earnest desire that you should come to a shoulder arms.
12. If it is not too laborious, I should be delighted to see you change your position by coming to a right face.
13. To conclude your arduous exercises, I will still further trespass upon your well-known affability by desiring you to come to arms port.
14. Gentlemen! soldiers! blood-stained heroes! if congenial to your feelings you may consider yourselves dismissed. I beg to remark, however, that should it suit your convenience, you will be kind enough to hold yourselves subject to be again called into line, which you will be made aware of by the repeated and vigorous tapping of the "spirit-stirring drum," recollecting at the same time, that the first vibrations of that sweet instrument that strikes the tympanum of your ears, is merely precautionary. Allow me to exclaim, in stentorian voice: Sever the ranks! march!
Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net
Chesterfield Tactics.
The following, from a late Yankee paper, will be appreciated by the lovers of fun:
Lord Chesterfield was greatly regarded as the paragon of politeness; and as some people think that orders given by military officers, from a colonel down to a corporal, as a general thing, are entirely too harsh, a correspondent, who has paid much attention to military etiquette, sends us the following, which plainly shows that even in warlike times these little amenities incident to first class gentlemen are not to be forgotten. Our correspondent, who is a member of the Home Guard, says:
From the fact that the usual mode of giving command by military officers falls so harsh upon the ears of sensitive privates, the following style has been attached to a regiment of "Reserved Grays," and is appropriately termed the Chesterfield manual:
By Commanding Officer.
1. Gentlemen, you will please give me your attention.
2. You will be kind enough to cast your head and eyes to the right, and endeavor to observe the "immaculate bosom" of the third gentleman from you.
3. Oblige me now by casting your visual organs to the front.
4. Allow me to suggest the propriety of coming to an order arms.
5. Gentlemen, will you condescend to order arms.
6. You will confer a special favor by coming to a support.
7. If it meets with your approbation, I beg leave to propose that you carry arms.
8. Now, gentlemen, you will please present arms.
9. I shall consider myself under everlasting obligations if you will once more oblige me by carrying arms.
10. Having a just and high appreciation of your intrinsic worth, as well as your exalted position in society, I humbly trust that I am not infringing upon your good nature when I request you to trail arms.
11. Gentlemen, for the last time, permit me to remark, that it is my earnest desire that you should come to a shoulder arms.
12. If it is not too laborious, I should be delighted to see you change your position by coming to a right face.
13. To conclude your arduous exercises, I will still further trespass upon your well-known affability by desiring you to come to arms port.
14. Gentlemen! soldiers! blood-stained heroes! if congenial to your feelings you may consider yourselves dismissed. I beg to remark, however, that should it suit your convenience, you will be kind enough to hold yourselves subject to be again called into line, which you will be made aware of by the repeated and vigorous tapping of the "spirit-stirring drum," recollecting at the same time, that the first vibrations of that sweet instrument that strikes the tympanum of your ears, is merely precautionary. Allow me to exclaim, in stentorian voice: Sever the ranks! march!
Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net
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