Standing Guard and Guard Forms

[BobSullivanPress]

Standing guard is something that many enact during events. There were specific forms for keeping records of who was on guard, when, and so forth. Included here are photographs of 2 Guard Mount forms, one Union, one Confederate. Note that on the Union form, there is a section in the center of the form that specifies four people: Sergeant, Commanding the Guard, Corporal, and, Best Shot. Never saw that mentioned before by anyone.

[thomas aagaard]

Note that on the Union form, there is a section in the center of the form that specifies four people: Sergeant, Commanding the Guard, Corporal, and, Best Shot. Never saw that mentioned before by anyone.

I have seen similar on Danish paperwork.

By the end of the Napoleonic wars it was pretty common for line infantry companies from mainland European armies to have a few Good shots, armed with (slow firing) rifles.

One reason was specifically for when on guard duty.
If a few enemy cavalry was riding around being annoying to a guardpost you would generally only use one good shot to try drive them off. Even if he miss, having a round go close past you or hit the ground close to you will get most people to back off.