Reville in combat?

[lukegilly13]

I just had a long conversation with a good friend of mine who has retired from the hobby. He had been talking to a group of reenactors who were considering moving what they called "reveille" to 6:30 in the morning. My first thought was that this was a strange time. Then I thought....for an event, is Reveille even correct? I cannot image a commander waking his men for an inspection only when they would need ever precious minute of sleep they could work in. Portraying events as we do as reenactors....we are soldiers in theater/combat situations.
1. Is there any period documentation for officers waking their soldiers for no other reason that to have them awake at a specified time? I know this is probably common proceedure for "boot camp"/training situations...but we are talking wartime combat theaters here.
2. If this is a common occurance, what would the time be (or would it just be daylight)?

I'm sure I probably spelled the term wrong....someone correct me and i'll fix it!

[Secesh]

Re: Reville in combat?

It's reveille...Any war-time documentation I have read stated that the officers and noncoms, in a combat situation walked among the men waking them....

[BrianHicks]

Re: Reville in combat?

Luke,

Even in combat, there is an established time at which all men are to be awakened.

If enemy contact is continuous, then it may simply be that all units are ordered to be up and at 100% alert at a designated time.

If contact is not continuous, and other than pickets and sentries are allowed to sleep, then Reveille will be held, and a roll call conducted. The time for such activities will vary depending on a number of factors.

How formal the conduct of getting everyone up at the designated time will also be influenced by a number of factors.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Reville in combat?

There are several accounts of one side being able to hear the other side's bugles for reveille and taps. Heck, entire bands would serenade enemy troops sometimes. So, if your question is based on remaining silent in the presence of the enemy, then that might not be a factor. If you know the enemy is present, chances are good he knows you are present. No need to hide.

If you were about to attempt a 3:00 a.m. attack and needed complete surprise, then, yes, you would wake the men quietly, without bugles, roll calls, and the clanging of mess tins. No need to give away the surprise.

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: Reville in combat?

Guys,

Do not forget the fifes and drums..... All I hear about these days on this forum is the Bugle.....

And by the way..... If we waited until 6:30 to play the reveille... we would be late!

[lukegilly13]

Re: Reville in combat?

Thanks Paul!!!!!!!!! That's exactly what I was thinking!!!! To me...If you're going to make a new rule for your outfit then you need to consider two factors.....1) Safety and 2) authenticity. This one does neither!

Let me see if I follow all the above posts:
Reveille was done in theater/combat situations because there was something for those soldiers to do daily. The idea of waking up soldiers to set in camp and do nothing was never the case? Soldeirs were awakened for some sort of orders....whether it be to fight, to move, to fortify, etc.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Reville in combat?

Luke,

I don't know, but you seem to think that soldiers did nothing after reveille until it was time for the battle to start. In a normal day, in an established camp, not about to go into battle, the bugles sounded calls all day long, telling the men when it was time to do the next order of business, whether it be meals, surgeon call, officer or sergeant calls, drill, church, whatever - until it was time to go to bed and turn off the lights. And, you would have guard, pickets, camp police details, as well as inspections and getting ready for that. When in the presence of the enemy, you would rise, maybe have time to eat, and then begin manuevering against the enemy. Part of that manuevering might actually be waiting, arms stacked, accoutrements on, milling about and waiting for orders. You wouldn't have any of this SOYA downtime like you do at reenactments.

Some events can give you this "too much to do" experience, but perhaps you haven't participated in one yet.

[NM1859]

Re: Reville in combat?

Gentlemen,

There is a huge difference in how Reville was used during the CW compared to modern applications (in my case, at least at Howe Military School).

Reville was used as an ASSEMBLY signal--not wake up. The first call of the day sounded on the bugle would be "ASSEMBLY OF MUSICIANS/BUGLERS". This would alert musician/buglers to arrive at a designated point in preparation to sounding the Reville 15-30 minutes later (I haven't had a lot of experience working with brass bands or fife/drummers-they are welcome to jump onto this post in and help describe their role).

There were 3 Assembly signals used each day-morning roll, afternoon (usually resulting in parade, reading of orders, etc) and evening (just before men being ordered to their quarters/tents).

Upon hearing the AoM/B most veteran soldiers (and seasoned campaigners I have had the pleasure working with) would get up and prepare his dress and toilet, knowing that he had only a short period of time before he had to take his place in the ranks for morning roll call. Granted, there were Jonahs, recruits or 'worshippers of Morpheus' who stayed in the sack until the last possible moment...but if they were late for formation (at the last note of Reville the roll call begins) their name was entered into the First Sgt's dreaded 'black book' and they could look forward to a days hard labor or lousy details.

I have never read of an accout during my research of CW buglers that Reville was used for any other purpose than in preparation for roll call.

RJ informed me that the only Medals of Honor issued twas to a bugler of a US Regular regiments who sounded 'To the Color' after his regiment was routed at Chickamagua. The routed troops rallied around him and the color bearer and gave the impression to the victorious southerners that they were going to meet a line of fresh troops. Because they were as broken by their attack as the Federals had been in retreat, they hesitated to reform their own lines. 'To the Color' is usually sounded to bring companies up onto line with the color company. IN this case it rallied the men.

When in close proximity of the enemy, it was not uncommon for bugle signals and band music to be dispensed with since the enemy arty could use the sound to estimate the location of the camp and rain down shells on the assembled formations. I believe Porters Corps had this as a standing order (seige of Yorktown 1862) due to the close proxmity of his lines to the CSA works.

I would strongly encourage campaigners to obtain copies of RJ or Geo. Rabbai's tapes/CDs. RJ in particular gives an excellent history of the signals and how they were used during the CW-and how campaigners can use them as well. Also, to help clear up any misunderstandings between modern and historical applications of these signals.


Bill Skillman
Randolf Mess-USSS

[Jubilo]

Re: Reville in combat?

Dear Mr. Gilly ,
Yours is a good question. However those who have had actual miltary service know that enlisted men's precious sleeep is usually of little concern to officers ( just like reenacting ! ). Consider also not allowing campfires in spite of freezing temperatures prior to the Battle of Stones River. I wonder if Rosecrans had reveille sounded or ordered the troops to be physically awakened the next morning.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[lukegilly13]

Re: Reville in combat?

Luke,

I don't know, but you seem to think that soldiers did nothing after reveille until it was time for the battle to start. In a normal day, in an established camp, not about to go into battle, the bugles sounded calls all day long, telling the men when it was time to do the next order of business, whether it be meals, surgeon call, officer or sergeant calls, drill, church, whatever - until it was time to go to bed and turn off the lights.

You are very right. A soldier's life was VERY busy daily! But my point is this....If reveille is blown at an event, it should be sounded for a purpose. The result of the sound should be soldiers doing something. Sounding reveille and then standing around the already stoked camp fire and drinking coffee would be rediculous and VERY inaccurate...right?

I just talked to a veteran of Vietnam. He could not remember EVER hearing "reveille" sounded while in theater. He said, "we slept when we could and were usually awakend by gunfire/artillery, or the thump of the squad leader kicking you." Would this be common to the civil war period? Of course not a "squad leader"...but would the good sgt. let his men sleep if at all possible?

[BrianHicks]

Re: Reville in combat?

...If reveille is blown at an event, it should be sounded for a purpose. The result of the sound should be soldiers doing something. Sounding reveille and then standing around the already stoked camp fire and drinking coffee would be rediculous and VERY inaccurate...right?

Yes. Depending on the situation, the daily routine should soon begin. If in combat, then the preparation and mounting of outposts, patrols or forming for Battle. If not in combat, then you still have Guard Details to be mounted, the morning meal to be prepared, Fatigue Duty to be marched off and begun, Morning Sick Call to be attended to, etc. Plenty of activities to occupy the men, other than long periods of standing around the fire and drinking coffee.

At mainstream reenactments, most units have nothing to do until the scheduled Drills and scheduled Battles. This is not the historical activities of the Civil War Soldier.

At better events, many of the details I mentioned above will take place, and therefore you will not have too much down time were you find too many men standing around the fire after reveille.

If you have issues with what happens after Reveille at the events you've been to, then I encourage you too consider attending different events. Hopefully the new events you go to will be more historically accurate.

But still... keep this in mind... the soldiers life is Weeks, Days and Hours of boredom and repetition, punctuated by moments of sheer death, destruction and madness.

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: Reville in combat?

Luke,

Reveille is not just played to wake the men up..... Sure that is one of the purposes. Reveille is an 8 minute set of tunes to signal the start of the day.

By the end of the last note of Reveille the Company should be formed for roll call. If the men are awake and standing by the fire, well they know they have about 8 minutes to be in line.

Page 28 of Bruce and Emmetts states the Musicians are to assemble at 6 am and beat the reveille.

Howe' US Regulation for the Fife and Drum states on page 23.

The Reveille is the signal for the men to rise, and the Sentinals to leave off challenging. It is usually played at dawn of day, except when the troops are on the march, when the signal may be played at a much earlier hour. The men form on their parade ground, and as soon as the reveille ceases, the rolls are called by the (I can not make out the word) sergeants are superintended by a commissioned officer.

Is it appropriate to play the Reveille at a re-enactment or living history. Heck yes.

The Reveille on Fifes and Drums is a fairly difficult set of music to learn. It takes some time and skill. We will play the Reveille at every event we attend.

At what time will we play it? That depends on our commanding officer or the event organizers. Typically we would play the musicians call at 5:45 and beat the Reveille at 6:00 am.

[lukegilly13]

Re: Reville in combat?

If you have issues with what happens after Reveille at the events you've been to, then I encourage you too consider attending different events. Hopefully the new events you go to will be more historically accurate.

I plan to have my future schedules much more heavily weighted in more authentic events!!! Thanks for the info!

Thanks Paul....
I never realized it lasted so long. I appreciate the quotes! Perhaps 6 is a good choice of hour......

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Reville in combat?

Reveille is an 8 minute set of tunes to signal the start of the day.

It's the coolest 8 minutes of the morning!!

It sucks getting up, but listening to reveille on the fifes and drums in the morning while you're still trying to get out from underneath your blanket, is just so frickin sweet!

[Eric Burke]

Re: Reville in combat?

The idea of waking up soldiers to set in camp and do nothing was never the case

Somehow I find that concept very difficult to believe being as it was still the United States Army involved... ;)