Payne's Farm

Culpeper, Va. Generals of the Army of the Potomac: Gouverneur K. Warren, William H. French, George G. Meade, Henry J. Hunt, Andrew A. Humphreys, George Sykes 1863 September. LC-B817- 7329

General Orders No. 1, Standing Field Orders

Headquarters
Hamburg, New York
December 30, 2004

The following General Orders No. 1 shall be published and disseminated to all troops of the battalion. These Orders shall be adhered to by all troops of the battalion throughout the event. The Lt. Col. commanding extends his thanks to Dominic Dal Bello of the Army of the Pacific for the template for these orders.

By Order Of:

Kevin O’Beirne
Acting Lieutenant Colonel,
Commanding,
Re-created 151st NYSV

FIELD ORDERS

When in the field, the officers and men of the re-created 151st New York State Volunteers shall follow the Field Orders set forth below. Military organization and duties are vital to the efficient functioning, safety and tactical superiority of the battalion. Other guidelines will be published as needed.

I. Camp Duties

Companies are expected to share in required duties. The Sergeant Major will ensure that the duties are fairly divided among the companies. Companies will provide details when necessary for:

Pickets and Camp Guards (Guard will generally be mounted all night long);

Details and Patrols;

Fatigues;

Other duties necessary for the safety or functioning of the battalion.

Officers and Non-commissioned Officers are expected to be familiar and functional in Guard duty, guard mounting ceremony, and general duties of sentinels. Such may be found in Dal Bello's Instructions for Guards and Pickets.

II. Camp Life

Reveille will be sounded at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 29 and at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 30, or other time designated by the battalion commander or higher authority. Companies will form in their company streets/areas for roll call. At least one company officer will be present at roll calls.

There should be at least 3 roll calls per day: Reveille, Retreat, Tattoo.

From Kautz:

427... If the company is forming without arms, the men fall in and take the position of parade rest, ... . 428. They should fall in in two ranks, whether with or without arms. With arms they fall in at a shoulder arms ... The company is formed between the musician's call and the last note of the assembly [Reveille]. 429. When the music has ceased, the first sergeant commands, "Attention!" ... and if with arms ... "Support Arms." The roll is then called ... . As each name is called, they answer , "Here," and if at a support, they come to a "shoulder," and finally to "order arms," immediately after answering.

Each Orderly (First) Sergeant will prepare his Morning Report, have the Company commander sign it, and turn it into to the Adjutant's office (or Sergeant Major if so designated by the Adjutant) by 7:30 a.m., or other time specified by the Adjutant. Other reports will be submitted as required. All necessary forms will be provided by the Adjutant's office.

There shall be at least one Battalion Parade daily, unless dispensed with.

On all duties, except fatigues, troops will appear with trousers unbloused, and all buttons buttoned, unless directed/permitted otherwise (the Regulations say that the coat is to be "hooked and buttoned," - this must be more than just the "top button").

7. Officers and men are expected to be with the battalion at all times, unless excused. Company officers will inform the Adjutant when they are absent from their commands, and who in the company is in charge during their absence.

All men and company officers will be equipped with shelter halves; field and staff officers with flies. Unless weather is foul, it is unlikely that shelter will be pitched due to the campaign nature of the event.

Quiet will be observed in the camp at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28 and 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, or other time specified by the Commanding Officer.

If cheering, please cheer "Hurrah!" Research done by Dom Dal Bello and Bob Braun indicates "Hurrah" was much more used than "Huzzah." ("Our Union forever, Hurrah, boys, Hurrah!" (See Dal Bello's "Three Cheers and a Tiger," in Camp Chase Gazette, July?, 1995).

III. Drill

The re-created 151st New York State Volunteers battalion is expected to drill and maneuver well on the field. This requires study on the part of the field officers, captains, subalterns and sergeants. It is upon these men that the success of battalion movements lies - don't expect to learn/see these for the first time on the drill field - study beforehand.

The importance of drill is to enable the men to work together, provide discipline and safety, and empower the battalion to function on the battlefield as an effective force. The battalion commander will attempt to run the battalion drills as efficiently as possible. None of us wants to be embarrassed, and we do not want the men to be standing around waiting for the "big bugs" to figure out what they are doing. A short but good drill is much better than a long and mediocre one.

Important Maneuvers to Study (drill manual for this event: Infantry Tactics by Silas Casey, supported by Parade, Inspection, and Basic Evolutions of the Infantry Battalion (PIE) by Dom Dal Bello):

Forming the battalion (see PIE).

Breaking from line into column of companies. Wheeling, By the right of companies to the rear, by the flank.

Forming column doubled on the center; column of divisions.

Deploying into line. Left into line; On the right into line, deploying from a column into line per Casey's.

5. Maneuvering in Column.

Maneuvering in Line of Battle. Forward, Changing Front, Obstacles.

By the right of companies to the rear/front. For maneuvering in trees, through gun lines, &c.

Skirmishing, especially the flank companies. Flankers, Advanced/Rear Guard duties.

IIII. Recommended Books

It is important to know the Schools of the Soldier and Company, and the Skirmish drill. The necessary administrative, Guard and fatigue duties should also be studied. Officers and sergeants should study battalion drills.

Casey's Infantry Tactics, 1862;

Dal Bello's Instructions for Guards and Pickets, 2002 (no material change from the 1998 edition);

Dal Bello's Parade, Inspection and Basic Evolutions of the Infantry Battalion, (PIE), 4th Ed, 1998.

Kautz's Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, 1864 - a "how to" on being a soldier and non-commissioned officer;

Kautz's Customs of Service for Officers of the Army, 1865 - a "how to" on being an commissioned officer;

Kautz's The Company Clerk, 1865 - a "how to" on army paperwork;

United States Army Regulations, 1861;

V. Drill Bits

The re-created 151s t New York State Volunteers shall rill per the drill manual specified above (i.e., Casey’s). Shouldered Arms is as per the light infantry drill.

All men shall be drilled in loading their weapon at the event. We should not take this for granted. First pour the powder, then lift the hammer and replace the cap. Safety IS written into the tactics - if you remove the cap first, air allowed into the vent keeps sparks in the barrel alive. Do not place paper in the muzzle. Half-cock is safer than letting the hammer down on the cap.

Arms will be stacked per Casey's Infantry Tactics, SoS, Para. 425 for the rifled-musket. While the "Ellsworth (Kentucky) Swing" was used by some Federal units, the Musket Stack was the only one authorized for the shank-bayonet by the Commanding Officer.

Parade Rest will be per Casey's (across the body), That given in the U.S. Army Regulations will not be used.

There will be NO echoing of commands. If the battalion commander can be heard, there is no reason to echo him and step on his next command. Plus, it looks/sounds ridiculous - the enemy can hear you. According to Casey's "School of the Battalion," the only commands that are repeated are those of "March" and "Halt" (by the Company commanders) and only in a column of companies, so that they move and halt at the same time (to preserve wheeling distance). Of course, in battle, and on the skirmish line, it becomes necessary to repeat commands that are not heard over the noise/distance. And, at times the company commander must give a preparatory command to his own company, or caution it to make some movement. In general, DO NOT ECHO COMMANDS. For now, if the Commanding Officer cannot be heard, commands will be repeated by the wing commanders; and if necessary, by the Adjutant and Sergeant. Major.

No gesturing of officers' swords is necessary or desired, unless on the skirmish line. Field officers may use gestures needed to maneuver and align the battalion (to indicate points, &c). Company officers will not use their swords to signal marching movements or arms movements; they are not drum-majors. Officers should carry their swords at the Carry (shoulder) while at drill or on the march; or at their pleasure (in the scabbard is fine) while at the route step. At double quick, the sword should be angled to the left, the tip in front of the left shoulder. See Walden, Geoff, "A Manual of the Sword for Foot Officers," Camp Chase Gazette, Vol. 24, No. 1, October 1996, pp. 34-39, or download

Dal Bello's "Manual of the Sword" MS Word File

Dal Bello's "Manual of the Sword" pdf file

File closers need not remain constantly at Shouldered Arms. This seems to be a long-standing reenacting misconception of the "Sergeants Manual." File closers, including the First Sergeant., should follow the commands for arms movements the same as the men in the ranks.

On the march (when the battalion is marching to the step), the battalion commander will generally indicate to the leading company commander that "You may change arms (positions) at your discretion, Mr. _____" (e.g., from Shouldered Arms to Right Shoulder Shift, &c.). After the first company changes arms positions, the second company will follow suit, then the third, &c. Thus, arms will be changed in a "rippling manner." This is the same idea from when the battalion is on Parade - the companies come to Parade Rest from right to left.

During each significant halt on the march, and after every battle, Orderly Sergeants shall call the Roll and all men
shall be accounted for.

In drill, and in the field (unless under fire), markers, company guides, and general guides will be utilized. Thus, SERGEANTS AND OFFICERS MUST KNOW (at least STUDY) THEIR DRILL.

In making a charge - CLOSING WITH ENEMY - the battalion will first come to Arms-Port, as per research by Dom Dal Bello (see Scott's 1830 Abstract of Infantry Tactics; period images of lines closing). The front/rear rank will not go to charge bayonet/right shoulder shift. For safety, the front rank will remain at Arms Port if the battalion actually come into contact with the "enemy" (in reality, it is when the lines meet that the front rank comes to charge bayonet; the rear rank remains ready at arms port to assist the front rank as needed). Such a charge should take place only when closing with the enemy is expected. See the figure entitled "The Charge" in Kelton's 1862 Manual for the Bayonet. The actual commands to charge (per Kelton) shall be, "Prepare to Charge" (at which all men in the battalion will come to Arms Porte), "Double quick, March!" (at which the troops will advance on the charge at the double quick). At the command "Halt!" or upon meeting the enemy, the troops shall remain at Arms Porte unless the line is at least 10 yards from the "enemy" in which case, upon the command "Halt", the front rank will assume the position of Charge Bayonet.

When counting off - "In each rank count - TWOS," the men do not need to yell, but state their number in a firm voice. The enemy can hear too many reenacting units counting off.

Casualties. "Files having been formed, as often as a front ... rank man falls or steps out of his rank, he will be immediately replaced, for the time, by his coverer in the next rank" [Scott, 1835, Vol. I, SoS, Para. 16]. If there is a casualty, step up. This (1) keeps the front rank men from crossing in front of the rear rank (safety), (2) retains the numbers (temporarily; a fortuitous result as doubling was not in "Scott's"), and (3) the battalion keeps its length in the line (and distance between battalions). If large gaps are created, the officers/file closers should see that they are filled.

It's "By file right (left)," not "By files..."

Presenting the piece for Inspection will be per Baxter's 1861 The Volunteer's Manual, and Caesy's.

[End of General Orders No. 1, re-crated 151st New York State Volunteers]