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I found this to be a quite interesting recollection of the camp duty. It appears that "drummer's call" is played before reveille in this regiment (a topic that has been debated), and the author got confused and called the "troop" the "retreat". Also interesting is the use of the long roll to form by company instead of the assembly. Not sure if this is an error on the part of the writer or just the way the 7th NYSM did things. The use of the bass drum in the dress parade stood out to me as the highlight. There are two taps, the first for the preparative "about", and the second for "face."
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
COMPRISING THE PROMINENT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE
FAMOUS SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK MILITIA BY AN EX-ORDERLY SERGEANT A Veteran Of The National Guard
YORK
J. M. BRADSTREET & SON
1868
Regulations Of The Camp, Roll-calls, &c.
At daybreak a call will be made by the drum of the guard for the music to repair to the parade; ten minutes after, the whole will commence the "Reveille," when all the officers and men will rise. The First Sergeants, under the inspection of their officers, will call the rolls of their companies, formed in front of their tents; this done, and the companies dismissed, the chiefs of squads will cause the men to put their tents in order, and from each company a party will be detailed, under the conduct of the First Sergeant, to procure water, &c., for their companies.
At seven o'clock, the drum of the guard will sound "Peas on the trencher," when the Regiment will breakfast; at eight, the guards are detailed; at half-past eight, the long roll is beat, when each company will assemble on its own ground, and be marched to tho parade, when the line is formed and Orders are read; each Captain then, by direction of the Commander of the Parade, returning to his company, and marching it off, instructs it in company drill until 12 o'clock (if not by special order otherwise directed); they are then dismissed.
At one o'clock, the drum of the guard sounds "Roast Beef" the signal for dinner. At ten minutes before three o'clock, or such time as the Commandant shall specially direct, the guard drum beats the "drummer's call" and tho music will assemble on tho parade, and the "long roll" will be beat, when the companies will be marched into line (the band playing) preparatory to battalion drill.
The drums beat for evening parade one hour before sunset; a signal will be sounded for the music, which will assemble on the parade; each company will assemble at the same time, on its own ground, and be inspected by its officers; ten minutes after the first signal, a second will be sounded, and the call will be given by the whole music, when the companies, with fixed bayonets, will be marched into line by the First Sergeants, and posted in o;jen ranks; company officers will form in the rank of file closing, with swords sheathed; the line being completed the Adjutant will take post on the right, and by signal the "Adjutant's call" will be beat; on which the field officers will move from the right, one pace in advance of the line, and halt opposite their respective stations. As soon as the field officers are thus situated, all the officers will advance, the Commandant sixteen paces front of the center, the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major eight paces in front of the right and left wings, and company officers six paces in front of their companies, all facing to the line, with arms folded; the staff officers will take post on the right of the company officers; non-commissioned staff on the right of the front rank; the whole will remain immovable on their posts. The Adjutant will then, from the right, command: " Battalion— " order arms," and to the music, " beat ojf," at which will commence " The "retreat" marching from the right to the left, and thence to the right, concluding with "a roll," (at which officers drop their hands,) and two distinct "taps" on the bass drum, at the first of which the officers (with the exception of the Commandant) will prepare, and at the second will face to the front. The Adjutant will then, from the front of the center, command: "Attention, Battalion—shoulder arms;" at "shoulder," the officers will prepare, and at " arms" will draw swords; he will then command: " Pre- "sent arms;" and then face about, salute the Commandant of the Parade, and report, " Sir, the parade is formed." The Adjutant then puts up his sword, and takes his station one pace to the right and rear of the Com mandant. The Commandant, after acknowledging the salute of the line, will draw sword and order such exercises as he may judge proper; on an intimation from him the Adjutant will draw sword, advance, halt at a proper distance, and order: "First Sergeants to the front—march;" at the first words, they will "advance arms," at the last, march four paces to the front, and halt; the Adjutant then adds, "Call rolls;" thereupon the Captains and First Sergeants fall to their companies, and the Sergeants call the rolls, and immediately resume their front without an order. The Adjutant orders: "First Sergeants, inward face—center, march—front, report;" each Sergeant, commencing on the right, recovers his musket, or brings his sword to the first motion of present, and reports distinctly, "One (or more) "absent," or, "None absent," as the case may be; each, after reporting, will advance arms; when the Adjutant will order: "First Sergeants, out- "ward face—posts—march;" the Sergeants march on a straight line, until they arrive opposite their intervals, when they face, resume their posts, and order arms. The Adjutant faces the Commandant, salutes, and reports the result of the roll-calls; and then, on an intimation from the Commandant, faces the line, and commands: "Attention to Orders," puts up his sword, and reads the Orders; this done, he again draws his sword, faces to and salutes the Commandant, and, on an intimation from him, turns again to the line, and announces, " The parade is dismissed." Thereupon the officers put up their swords; the First Sergeants will bring their companies to a shoulder, close ranks, and march them off to their respective parades.
The Adjutant will place himself in the center of the line of officers, who will face inward and close upon him; the senior Captain orders; " Front—-forward, march," and when within six paces of the Commandant, they will half face to the right, salute by touching the cap, and disperse.
The Reveille, Retreat, and Tattoo are announced by the field music, and must be strictly attended to. The hour for Reveille is fixed at five o'clock, and Tattoo at ten o'clock; after tattoo, the lights are to be extinguished in the camp, and profound silence is to be observed; all strangers, unless having special permission, will be excluded from the camp before the countersign is given out; this is done at dark.
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
COMPRISING THE PROMINENT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE
FAMOUS SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK MILITIA BY AN EX-ORDERLY SERGEANT A Veteran Of The National Guard
YORK
J. M. BRADSTREET & SON
1868
Regulations Of The Camp, Roll-calls, &c.
At daybreak a call will be made by the drum of the guard for the music to repair to the parade; ten minutes after, the whole will commence the "Reveille," when all the officers and men will rise. The First Sergeants, under the inspection of their officers, will call the rolls of their companies, formed in front of their tents; this done, and the companies dismissed, the chiefs of squads will cause the men to put their tents in order, and from each company a party will be detailed, under the conduct of the First Sergeant, to procure water, &c., for their companies.
At seven o'clock, the drum of the guard will sound "Peas on the trencher," when the Regiment will breakfast; at eight, the guards are detailed; at half-past eight, the long roll is beat, when each company will assemble on its own ground, and be marched to tho parade, when the line is formed and Orders are read; each Captain then, by direction of the Commander of the Parade, returning to his company, and marching it off, instructs it in company drill until 12 o'clock (if not by special order otherwise directed); they are then dismissed.
At one o'clock, the drum of the guard sounds "Roast Beef" the signal for dinner. At ten minutes before three o'clock, or such time as the Commandant shall specially direct, the guard drum beats the "drummer's call" and tho music will assemble on tho parade, and the "long roll" will be beat, when the companies will be marched into line (the band playing) preparatory to battalion drill.
The drums beat for evening parade one hour before sunset; a signal will be sounded for the music, which will assemble on the parade; each company will assemble at the same time, on its own ground, and be inspected by its officers; ten minutes after the first signal, a second will be sounded, and the call will be given by the whole music, when the companies, with fixed bayonets, will be marched into line by the First Sergeants, and posted in o;jen ranks; company officers will form in the rank of file closing, with swords sheathed; the line being completed the Adjutant will take post on the right, and by signal the "Adjutant's call" will be beat; on which the field officers will move from the right, one pace in advance of the line, and halt opposite their respective stations. As soon as the field officers are thus situated, all the officers will advance, the Commandant sixteen paces front of the center, the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major eight paces in front of the right and left wings, and company officers six paces in front of their companies, all facing to the line, with arms folded; the staff officers will take post on the right of the company officers; non-commissioned staff on the right of the front rank; the whole will remain immovable on their posts. The Adjutant will then, from the right, command: " Battalion— " order arms," and to the music, " beat ojf," at which will commence " The "retreat" marching from the right to the left, and thence to the right, concluding with "a roll," (at which officers drop their hands,) and two distinct "taps" on the bass drum, at the first of which the officers (with the exception of the Commandant) will prepare, and at the second will face to the front. The Adjutant will then, from the front of the center, command: "Attention, Battalion—shoulder arms;" at "shoulder," the officers will prepare, and at " arms" will draw swords; he will then command: " Pre- "sent arms;" and then face about, salute the Commandant of the Parade, and report, " Sir, the parade is formed." The Adjutant then puts up his sword, and takes his station one pace to the right and rear of the Com mandant. The Commandant, after acknowledging the salute of the line, will draw sword and order such exercises as he may judge proper; on an intimation from him the Adjutant will draw sword, advance, halt at a proper distance, and order: "First Sergeants to the front—march;" at the first words, they will "advance arms," at the last, march four paces to the front, and halt; the Adjutant then adds, "Call rolls;" thereupon the Captains and First Sergeants fall to their companies, and the Sergeants call the rolls, and immediately resume their front without an order. The Adjutant orders: "First Sergeants, inward face—center, march—front, report;" each Sergeant, commencing on the right, recovers his musket, or brings his sword to the first motion of present, and reports distinctly, "One (or more) "absent," or, "None absent," as the case may be; each, after reporting, will advance arms; when the Adjutant will order: "First Sergeants, out- "ward face—posts—march;" the Sergeants march on a straight line, until they arrive opposite their intervals, when they face, resume their posts, and order arms. The Adjutant faces the Commandant, salutes, and reports the result of the roll-calls; and then, on an intimation from the Commandant, faces the line, and commands: "Attention to Orders," puts up his sword, and reads the Orders; this done, he again draws his sword, faces to and salutes the Commandant, and, on an intimation from him, turns again to the line, and announces, " The parade is dismissed." Thereupon the officers put up their swords; the First Sergeants will bring their companies to a shoulder, close ranks, and march them off to their respective parades.
The Adjutant will place himself in the center of the line of officers, who will face inward and close upon him; the senior Captain orders; " Front—-forward, march," and when within six paces of the Commandant, they will half face to the right, salute by touching the cap, and disperse.
The Reveille, Retreat, and Tattoo are announced by the field music, and must be strictly attended to. The hour for Reveille is fixed at five o'clock, and Tattoo at ten o'clock; after tattoo, the lights are to be extinguished in the camp, and profound silence is to be observed; all strangers, unless having special permission, will be excluded from the camp before the countersign is given out; this is done at dark.