THE NON

THE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS GUIDE
FOR CIVIL WAR REENACTORS

By
Craig Hadley

"The Choice of non-commissioned officers is an object of the greatest importance: The order and discipline of a regiment depend so much upon their behavior, that too much care cannot be taken in preferring none to that trust but those who by their merit and good conduct are entitled to it. Honesty, sobriety, and a remarkable attention to every point of duty, with a neatness in their dress, are indispensable requisites...."

-Baron Von Stuben-

The success of any military unit ultimately rests on the actions of the private soldier. These actions are a direct reflection of his state of training, morale, and motivation to do the job. From the very beginning, the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) has been the person most responsible for training and motivating the private.

He does this through being trained and motivated himself and passing this on to his men through continual communication and education. Communication stays open only as long as the NCO has the respect of the officers over him and the men in his charge. Education is the constant watchword of the NCO. It is the duty of the NCO to learn the job at the next highest rank in case he must eventually fulfill that role. A good NCO realizes that there is always more to learn.

Many of the duties listed below can be found directly in the book "Customs of Service" by August V. Kautz. I have placed the article numbers from Kautz's book at the end of each section if it is a direct quote. I highly recommend any serious NCO to purchase this book and study it well.

1.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION & RULES REGARDING NCOs

A. Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are entitled to implicit obedience from the soldiers, and they should be obeyed and respected by the men; and when a NCO fails in obtaining this regard and obedience from the men, he fails in his most essential qualification (309).

I know that this is not the real military and every unit has it’s own personality. But the principle here remains the same. However, unlike the real military, these men do not automatically jump when you command them to. The commands you give off the field are even harder at times to give and have carried out properly. So it does not matter if you were elected or appointed, you must be able to get the people under your command to respect and follow your instructions.

I have found that the best way to earn the respect of men under you, especially those that know you as a friend in real life, is to lead by example. This means you should know the manual inside and out. You should know your drill better than any private in the ranks and are able to teach it.

This includes how you carry yourself at events, your dress, appearance and keeping your equipment well maintained. You should be the first person to clean his musket and keep his area clean and neat. They should see you work harder than any other private and realize that the well being of your unit comes before socializing or visiting the sutlers. This is the best way to gain the respect of your men and have them follow your orders.

B. The confidence of the soldiers in the integrity of a NCO can only be obtained by his being rigidly just and impartial to those under him, and by keeping his temper on all occasions, and discharging his duty without passion or feeling. A NCO who cannot control himself will find difficulty in controlling those whom he is placed (310).

This is especially true in a reenacting unit. Once again, as this is not the real military you will have “buddies” in the ranks and those folks who also rub you the wrong way. But you must be impartial to all of them when you are in the field. You should also never lose your temper in front of the men. If you need to be stern, that is fine, but if you lose control in front of your men, or in front of men front other units, you will lose credibility and respect.

C. Confidence and energy are the progressive traits of the NCO who would be successful. Let him first feel he is right, and acting in obedience to orders and instructions, and then do his duty with decision and firmness; and success will be more certain, and failure much less discreditable (311).

Once again, this is referring to knowing your place within the company. The knowledge that comes from knowing your duties, your drill and having the respect of your men will give you the confidence and energy you need to carry out the position. Then that confidence will guide you on your behavior and attitude as an NCO.

D. ATTENDANCE: This is very important. To be an NCO in a reenacting unit, 100% attendance to all events should be the norm. Once again, this is lead by example. You have been given an honor and serious responsibility as an NCO in your unit. If you are not willing or able to make every event, then you need to decide if you are really NCO material.

As an NCO in your unit, you should be one of the first ones there and the last to leave. Hey, no one said that being an NCO was easy! But trust me when I tell you that it makes a real impression upon the men in the unit as they see that you take your duties seriously, and it will inspire them to attend events more regularly as well.

E. NOTEBOOK: The NCO will provide himself with pencil and notebook in which to enter the names of men forming the details. Orders and instructions given to him verbally should at once be reduced to writing, and not trusted to memory. This is very important and cannot be stressed enough. Always have a good period notebook on your person at all times, even when you are off duty, and a sharp period pencil ready.

At the end of an event, you should be able to go back through your notebook and see every order given to the company throughout the weekend as well as a list of all the names of men under your command that were assigned details and when. This also helps in ensuring that you assign details fairly, as you know who has done what throughout the event, or even the event before.

F. SMOKING: The smoking of modern cigarettes is expressly forbidden either in camp, the immediate view of camp or any company formation. If you have a bad cigarette habit, try to curb it by smoking a period pipe. If that does not work and you must smoke, make sure you do it out of site of everyone, not just those in your unit, but everyone! Even if it becomes real inconvenient and you have to walk a mile to an out of sight tree, you should do it. Once again, it is lead by example.

G. PARROTING COMMANDS: This is a terrible reenactorism that has its roots way back to the 1960's, which is likely why it is so hard to correct among NCOs, especially corporals. NCOs should never parrot a command in formation, except under dire situations.

If the battalion commander can be heard, then no one (not even officers) parrot the command, if he cannot be heard, then the wing commanders parrot it, if they cannot be heard, then the company commander parrots it, and he should be easily heard among the company. If the company commander cannot be fully heard, then the 1^st Sergeant can parrot it, but only if absolutely necessary. Many of the drill manuals do allow for NCOs to parrot commands on the drill field, but this was meant only as an instructional tool for raw recruits in their initial training. A sharp company in the field should have quiet NCOs when commands are being given.

H. BUGLE CALLS: Every NCO should know all the basic infantry bugle calls! There are some good bugle instructional tapes out there and as an NCO you should purchase and learn them. Even if your group does not have a bugler, you should know them so in the event you are at a reenactment where the bugle is being used extensively, you know and understand these calls and can teach them to your men.

I. THANKLESS JOB: Being an NCO is usually a thankless job, which if done properly, will be a great deal of work. There are a large number of Civil War reenactors who simply wear the stripes with no clue as to what they mean or the responsibility they carry. The units that have such NCOs are undisciplined, badly drilled, and dangerous to themselves and others. Unfortunately, there are likely more of these units out there than there are good ones. But that is why you must learn the job properly.

Although this is not a real war, or the real military, those men’s lives and their well-being, and even those of the reenactors around you, are still in your hands and your responsibility. That is why you must take this responsibility seriously! Having a good impression and kit is certainly one aspect of your job, but it is the duties of your rank that carry the most importance. Once you accept the role and duties to become an NCO, you have an obligation to learn the job properly and correctly. I hope that this manual will give you a starting point in which you may better understand the responsibility you carry as a non-commissioned officer in a reenacting group.
2.0 THE CORPORAL

The corporal should be able to TEACH school of the soldier and have a good understanding of School of the Skirmisher. He is the closest NCO to the private in the ranks and his first and primary concern is the welfare of the men in his care! A Civil War corporal was usually in command of a squad of men, as there were normally eight corporals in a company.

However, reenacting companies are certainly set up differently, so the number of corporals in a reenacting company often varies as well as whom they are responsible for. I often see corporals in charge of sections or even platoons at times. But the important this to note here is that the corporal has the most contact with the men in the company, and this places an additional burden upon him in regards to his duties as well as respect from the men. As for other duties:

A. APPOINTMENT: The appointment of a corporal is the first step to promotion in the Army, and may lead to the highest distinction in the military service. The corporal is usually selected from the most intelligent privates, who have been longest in the service, and who are noted for their military appearance and attention to duty (313).

Well, we know this is not always the case in reenacting units. Popularity, necessity, and any number of factors go into the election or appointing of corporals in a reenacting unit. So this places an additional burden on the man selected to be a corporal. He should take his job seriously and if he is not the person that Krautz describes in that paragraph above, then he should immediately begin to mold himself into that person before his first event as corporal.

B. DUTIES: The duties of a corporal are simple, but important, and depend on their successful performance mainly upon his capacity to control and direct soldiers in the performance of their duty. They are frequently given the responsibilities of sergeant in his absence and should, therefore, be familiar with his duties. The corporals in any reenacting unit need to have as much direct contact with the men as possible. He should be the NCO that the private confides in, comes to with questions or concerns, or gets immediate help with problems. If it is something the corporal should pass along, then this is where the chain of command comes into play, and the corporal then goes to the sergeant in charge of his squad/section or platoon. While the sergeants may share a mess of their own together, and even share quarters or camp area together, the corporal needs to camp and eat with the men under his direct command, be it a squad, section or platoon.

C. NOTEBOOK: The corporal must always have a sharp pencil and notebook on his person with the names of the men in his group whom he is directly responsible for. These names should be kept in alphabetical order as well. He should also have the names of every other man in the unit with the NCO responsible for each section of that group. An NCO should never discipline a soldier that he is not responsible for. But then he can refer to his notebook and go to the NCO who is in charge of that soldier and discuss the matter privately and allow that NCO to handle the problem. He must also have this notebook on hand in order to keep track of fatigue and guard details, as well as schedules and orders for the day.

D. APPEARANCE: Corporals should be living examples for the soldiers in the neatness and cleanliness of their clothing, arms, and accoutrements. They should be the first to fall into ranks at roll calls, and should have their tents or bunks, wherever their quarters, always systematically in order (323).

This is good advice and should be followed closely. I cannot stress it enough, LEAD BY EXAMPLE!

E. DRILL: They should be adapt and familiar with the drill manual your unit has adopted and their "School of the Soldier" and capable of instructing the men in the ranks both the "School of the Soldier" and the elementary principles of tactics. He should also be familiar with Drill of the Skirmisher. The corporal will be in charge of assuring that his men can perform the School of the Soldier drill and will drill his men at assigned times.

F. COOKING: In the field, when it is difficult to cook for the entire company, it is divided into "messes" and the NCOs placed in charge of the different messes. They attend to the drawing of provisions for their mess, and are held responsible for the conduct of the messmates in keeping of their tents and the care of the camp and garrison equipage in their charge. In the case of corporals, they should always eat with the men in their care, whether it is a squad or section, and ensure that all the men in his care eat and are properly fed.

G. PASSES: Corporals must insist that their men tell them where they are going and approximately how long they will be gone. No one should be allowed out of camp without a written pass from the 1st Sergeant, or the senior Sergeant on duty. The corporal will take the names of his men requesting passes to the Sergeant on duty and obtain passes from the men. He will then inform his platoon sergeant of the men that are going off duty and when they will be back. This will allow the corporal to keep track of the men in his charge and to remind them of up-coming duties and details to be preformed and when they need to be back. Now this does not often happen at reenactments. Usually, when a battle or drill is over, men from units just sort of “gaggle” wherever they wish.

As an NCO, you should really know where your men are at all times, in case of emergency or need. I cannot tell you how many times I have had a situation where someone in a particular unit had a family emergency and we needed to get in touch with them and I went to their company commander or senior NCO on duty and asked where they were and all I got was a shrug or comment “Have you checked the sutlers?”. Then asking when they would be back and getting nothing but a “Not sure”.

I would strongly recommend that your unit adopt this policy, and as an NCO, if you are touring the site or sutlers and come across one of your men off-duty walking around, challenge them to see their pass. It makes for a fun first-person, but it also shows the men that you are not just keeping track of them for no reason and that you take it seriously. The first time an emergence arises and you are able to track down one of your men quickly because of this policy, you will see its wisdom.

H. INFORMATION: Keep your men informed. Know what is happening and going to happen. Call your men together and explain delays and changes as soon as possible. You should be the source of much of their knowledge.

I. HEALTH: Know the symptoms of heat and cold injuries. Check the men's health regularly. Ensure that they are eating properly and drinking sufficient water to ward off heat injuries in hot weather. As a corporal it is your responsibility to ensure that every man in your section drinks a whole canteen of water each morning, and that they have a full canteen at formation every time.

In case of cold weather, make sure that the men have protection from the cold. This includes assigning men to keep the sleeping fires burning all night and ensuring that every sleeping fire is built properly and encourage the men to “spoon” if necessary. The drinking of water is also very important in the cold. It is much easier to tell if a man is suffering from dehydration in the heat than in the cold, which makes dehydration in cold weather much more dangerous. Therefore, make sure that your men still drink sufficient water!

Find out if any man in your group has a health problem of ANY kind (high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) and keep that marked in your notebook next to their name. Do not depend on your memory!

Go to each man in your group and question them about this extensively. It could be the difference between life and death if a problem occurs and you need to have that information available to give to EMS. I would also recommend that as an NCO, you should seriously consider taking CPR and first responder courses from the Red Cross.

As you are responsible for the men under your command, you should be prepared for all eventualities as much as possible. Do not be afraid to tell a man under your command that he has to sit this one out if he is in danger. When in battle, always think to check your men regularly to ensure that they are fine. If one of them “takes a hit,” then make sure that is all it is. Once the battle is over, immediately go back and account for all those men, as they can fall ill simply by lying out in the sun playing dead. If you remember nothing else, remember this: The well-being and safety of your men should ALWAYS be your first duty!

J. CONDUCT: Correcting bad conduct begins with the section corporal. Being loud after taps, profane language around women and children, abuse (other than the good-natured kind) in word and deed must be stopped. This can be a tough duty to perform, especially as you count these guys as your friends too, but it must be done.

K. WEAPONS: The corporal is responsible in ensuring that every man in his squad/section or platoon clean their weapons immediately following battle, and that they take proper care of their weapons in the field. If a weapon in your section needs further maintenance, the corporal is to take charge of the weapon and either make the repair's himself or find someone who can make the repairs. This means that you need to understand the inner workings of the rifled musket, how to break it down properly and clean it.

This also means that you need to make sure that you have all the proper period tools to both break down all aspects of the musket as well as clean it. As corporal, you should also encourage that each of the men under your command purchase these items as well. Find the time to give a workshop on how to break down and clean the musket, so that every man in your charge understands how to do it properly. You should always act as their mentor.

Ensure that there is plenty of hot water and cleaning materials to clean mess gear and rifles and see that the men use them. No man in your group should be allowed out of camp following a battle or firing demonstration without cleaning their musket first! It is your responsibility to inspect each mans weapon before allowing them to leave camp or relax.

L. OBEDIENCE: When a soldier neglects his duty towards a corporal, the corporal should at once report the fact to the first sergeant, whose duty it is either to decide in the matter, or to report it to his company commander. Non-commissioned officers have it in their power at times to favor certain soldiers, that is, to relieve them from the most disagreeable part of the duty before them and give it to others. Such distinctions soon destroy their influence over men, and give rise to trouble and difficulty. They should seek to be just towards the men, treat all alike, and when a hardship falls upon an individual he should have no grounds for thinking he has been especially selected.

M. CAMPING: Each corporal MUST camp with the men in his care. This will help build a bond between him and his men, and help him ensure that his men are in good health and spirits. You should be there to encourage them and assist them with the smallest details. This is where a good corporal can make a real difference. By camping with his men, the corporal can work with individuals one-on-one on things such as school of the soldier, musket maintenance, or to simply be there to give advice. He is the NCO that is closest to them and the most accessible, or should be. In turn, the Corporal has the direct pulse of the men and should relay privately any problems he observes or hears about to the sergeant in charge of his squad or section.

3.0 SERGEANTS

As the discipline and efficiency of a company materially depend on the conduct and character of its sergeants, they should be selected with care and properly instructed in all the duties appertaining to their rank. Once again, this does not always happen within a reenacting unit. So if you have been elected or appointed, you should immediately go to work on your uniform, equipment and begin to learn in earnest all of the information and drill needed.

All sergeants should be able to TEACH School of the Soldier and Drill for Skirmisher, and have a good working knowledge of School of the Company. They should able and be prepared to take over as 1st Sergeant in case of his absence or incapacity. As to other duties:

A. It is difficult to draw the line between the duties of the corporal and those of the sergeant. There is really no great difference in their duties. Sergeants generally have larger details under charge, and have corporals under their direction to assist them. They are usually entrusted with more responsible duties, and they are supposed to have greater experience, and to approach nearer the commissioned officer in knowledge of all military matters. Sergeants generally have a more general supervision of the men, whilst the corporals have more of the detail to attend to (365-366).

As a sergeant, you need to be familiar with every man in your charge and be very familiar with the corporals. Get to know your corporals very well so that you trust them. If you feel they are lacking in certain areas, talk to them about it and help them become better NCOs.

B. FILE-CLOSER: The most important duty of a sergeant is that of a file-closer. Posted in the rear of the company when paraded, it is his duty to see that the men pay attention to their duty, preserve order, march properly, and keep closed. In time of battle, it is his duty to keep the men in ranks, not allow them to fall out on any pretext, and to prevent them from misbehaving before the enemy. He is even required to shoot men down when they attempt to run away in times of danger (368-369).

This is certainly the prime responsibility of a sergeant in the field. You are there to make sure the men keep their ranks, and help them with their drill and field maneuvers. As a file-closer you are also a safety officer! This means you do not shoot your musket in battle, or watch the battle, rather you are watching the men in your charge. You are ensuring that they are firing safely and using proper safety procedures while in battle.

If a musket fouls, you are to take charge of that man’s musket and give him yours to fire until you clear his piece. If you have more than one piece to clear, you might strongly suggest that the man with the fouled piece take a “hit”.

You also ensure that no one pulls his rammer on the field. There may be exceptions to this rule depending on the event, but the rule of thumb is that only file-closing sergeants can pull a rammer on the field, and even then, only to clear a fouled piece.

This safety measure assumes that the sergeant knows the inner workings of a rifled musket. Therefore, as a sergeant an additional responsibility to for you to learn all that you can about the rifles in your company. You should know how to break them down, clean them properly, and the various problems that can arise and how to fix them. This is not as easy as it sounds, and you should consult a gunsmith and the rifle manuals for proper instruction. Then give a workshop to your corporals on these procedures as well.

C. OTHER DUTIES: He must see that the men fill their canteens with water and not whiskey, before the march commences, and that they do not eat up their rations at improper hours on the march (372).

This may seem like a minor concern, but trust me this is a big responsibility. There are many reenactors out there that drink a lot of alcohol, soft drinks and other liquids that are not water. Nothing takes the place of water to prevent dehydration while in the field! As I discussed in the corporals section about safety and watering the men, as sergeant your responsibility is to make sure the corporal has done his job! Specifically ask each corporal if the men in his charge have been drinking water and that their canteens are full!

As to rations, you should always make sure the men are eating properly and if there is a ration issue during the event and this is the primary food stores for the men to eat during the event, you need to make sure the men do not eat all the rations prematurely. Always remember, you are responsible for the men’s well-being!

D. ASSIGNMENT OF SERGEANTS: The following is the military breakdown for a Civil War company and how the sergeants are broken down in responsibility and position:

· 1st SERGEANT = NCO in charge of the entire company and its compliment of NCOs. He is the "top soldier" of the company and answers to the commanding officer of the company. And in the absence of a 2nd Lieutenant, he is in charge of 1st Platoon as well.

· 2nd SERGEANT =NCO in charge of 4th Section, 2nd Platoon
· 3rd SERGEANT = NCO in charge of 3rd Section, 2nd Platoon
· 4th SERGEANT = NCO in charge of 2nd Section, 1st Platoon
· 5th SERGEANT = NCO in charge of 1st Section, 1st Platoon

The 1st Lieutenant is in command of 2nd Platoon. Normally, the 2nd Lieutenant would be in command of 1st Platoon, but as we do not have such an officer, the 1st Sergeant will command 1st Platoon in the event the platoons split for details or other various duties. The captain is in command of the entire company. Of course, there are very few reenacting companies that field enough men to have all of these sergeants (not to mention the eight corporals). Usually, a decent sized unit will have a first and second sergeant only and perhaps two to four corporals.

4.0 THE FIRST SERGEANT

The duties of first sergeant are peculiar to his position, and require capacity and knowledge superior to those of the other sergeants. Whilst he does not rank as high as some others, nor receive as much pay, his position is one of the most responsible and most honorable that non-commissioned officers can occupy (419).

As Kautz states, this is the most important NCO position to have and I cannot stress its importance enough. Usually, a reenacting groups personality, the respect they receive from other organizations, and their performance in both the field and in camp is a direct result of the Orderly (First) Sergeant.

The First Sergeant MUST be able to understand thoroughly and be able to TEACH School of the Soldier, Skirmisher, and Company and be able to command the company in the absence of an officer. His FIRST duty is to the welfare of the men in the company and to ensure that all the NCOs are kept informed of the daily duties required of them.

As to other duties:

A. He has immediate supervision of the company. He gets his orders from the Captain or officer commanding the company, and sees that they are performed in the company. He is, in fact, the foreman; the men are the artisans. He lay’s out and superintends the details of the work, which the captain has been directed to be executed (421).

The First Sergeant (also known as the Orderly Sergeant) is in charge of the company, and answers only to the company commander. In reality it is his company more than anyone else's. A good company commander will let the First Sergeant run the company in its daily routine and details, but only if the First Sergeant is capable of performing these tasks. If he cannot, then he is not doing his job as top soldier of the company and should be replaced!

B. The Orderly Sergeant is in charge of training and drilling the company in the School of the Soldier and Company. He oversees and supervises the company drill, and ensures that the covering sergeants and section corporals properly drill the men in their care.

C. He keeps rosters, and makes all the details; he superintends the company clerk, and assists him in making out the required papers (424).

Most reenacting companies do not employ a company clerk, but usually assign the paperwork duties to the Orderly (First) Sergeant. Therefore it is necessary that a good First Sergeant should be able to write clearly and have a good knowledge of the company paperwork from morning reports to ordnance reports and more. He should know what they look like, how to fill them out properly and keep a proper supply with his kit at every event.

D.     At roll calls, the first sergeant takes his place six or eight paces, according as the company is small or large, in front of, and opposite the center of his company, facing towards it. If the company is forming without arms, the men fall in and take the position of Parade Rest, and the first sergeant takes the same position (427).

As to the procedure of roll call, there are varying procedures that can be followed. This is one such correct period procedure that I recommend. When the first sergeant commands, "Attention!" the company, if at Parade Rest, takes the position of the soldier, and if with arms, the sergeant adds "Support, ARMS!" The roll call is then called commencing with the sergeants, in the order of rank, until all are called; then "corporals", then "musicians," and finally "privates". The private's names should be called in alphabetical order of last names. As each name is called, they answer, "Here, first sergeant!" and if with arms at a support they come to a "shoulder" and finally to "order arms" immediately on answering to their names. If the men fall in for roll call without arms, they should come to attention and once there name is called, the answer "Here, first sergeant!" and go immediately to parade rest.

E.     After the roll has been called, the first sergeant turns to the officer superintending the roll call, and reports the absentees by name. If none are absent without proper authority, he reports "All present and accounted for". If the officer should then take command of the company, the first sergeant takes his post on the right of the company, and acts as right guide (430).

F.     The first sergeant makes out the morning report and signs it, and then submits it to the commanding officer of the company for his signature, after which it is handed in to the regimental or post commander (431).

Once again, this is where the Orderly Sergeant must know and understand the paperwork aspect of his position. As first sergeant, you should always know when the paperwork is due to the company commander. Check with the battalion Sergeant Major if you need to know when the paperwork is due. Give yourself 30 minutes to fill out the paperwork, then another 15 minutes to get it to the battalion adjutant. This will ensure that you get it there in time or earlier. Make sure you know where the battalion adjutant’s tent is at all events as well as the battalion Sergeant Majors.

G. NOTEBOOK & COMPANY BOOK: The Orderly Sergeant should keep a notebook and sharp pencil on him at all times. This has been said in regards to the other NCOs, but the first sergeant certainly has no excuse for not having one on his person at all times. His notebook should always have the following information within it for each event:

1. A complete alphabetical listing of the men in the company present for the event. NCOs, then musicians if you have them, and finally privates.

2. A breakdown of the company by platoons, sections and squads. Who is in each as well as the NCO in charge of each.

3. A detailed list of fatigue details, guard mount schedules and other duties assigned to each man and NCO throughout the event.

4. A list of the men who are out of camp on passes and when they are due to return.

The Orderly Sergeant should also keep a detailed company book with his kit. This should likely be a hardbound book with water resistant pages that keeps the following information within it:

1. A complete listing in chronological order (assign an order number to them if they have none) of all orders given to the company either through the company commander or battalion staff.

2. Copies of each completed morning report.

3. A complete listing of all officers, NCOs, musicians, and privates within the company in alphabetical order, in order of rank. Next to each name should be comments that include the following information:

A. Time of service in the company

B. Age

C. Medical information

D. Emergency phone numbers

4. Directions to the nearest emergency room/hospital to the event site. This is very important that the Orderly Sergeant call ahead before each event and find out where the local hospital is and get specific directions from the event site to the hospital. Most medium to small events do not have around the clock staff or medical personnel on duty. Many times one of your men could get sick during the night or get injured during the night or morning and needs real medical attention, yet it’s 2:00am and no one is around to be found! But if you have these directions, you can then take your man to a vehicle and find the hospital so your man can be helped as soon as possible without spending precious time running around an event site looking for a staff person who can help.

H. The first sergeant should be quartered with the men, and, when possible has a separate room or tent. He has supervision over all the company property (433).

The first sergeant should certainly camp with a view of the men in his command, but he should camp separately from them. A certain amount of distance helps promote respect and order. If possible, he should have all the sergeants camp either with him or next to him and they should form their own private mess. He should have a close working relationship with all of his sergeants. By camping and eating together, this helps promote that relationship and enables them to understand what their First Sergeant expects from them.

I. He sees that all the other non-commissioned officers do their duty; he holds the chiefs of squads responsible for the condition of their respective squads, and reports to the captain when anyone neglects their duty in any respect (435).

The First Sergeant should hold a meeting with all of his company NCOs as soon as they arrive and should have a private meeting with them as a group each morning and evening. The meeting in the morning should follow any meeting with the battalion Sergeant Major or the events NCO call. He can then give them all the information necessary for them to make out duty rosters, fatigue details and drill schedules. He should always ensure that his NCOs are well informed of every detail.

The evening NCO meeting should take place before the evening meal. The first sergeant should go over the days events, things that went wrong, things that went right, go over the schedule of events for the next day, fatigue details that need to be handled that evening and more. In turn, the other NCOs must use this evening meeting to give the first sergeant feedback from the men. The NCOs can then go back and report to their men while they eat their evening meal and you know they are all together. These meetings are important and should always take place.

J. He is usually empowered by the captain to confine soldiers and arrest non-commissioned officers for offenses. In these cases he always reports the confinement or arrest to be by order of the captain or company commander. He should, however, report the facts in the case to the captain or company commander at once in order that he is prepared to sustain him in the act, or correct it if he does not approve of his action (436).

While we cannot really arrest or confine reenactors in our group, this is still important to understand as the first sergeant is the central disciplinarian for the company. If a soldier in your group breaks the rules in some fashion, it is the responsibility of the first sergeant to determine how serious it is and what punishment should be warranted. If the incident is serious, he is responsible for taking statements from all the witnesses separately to ensure objectivity, then put together a report and bring it to the attention of your company commander.

K. He makes all the details from the company, and sees that a record is kept on the roster. He parades the details, inspects them, and see that they are properly equipped for the duty they are to perform, and then turns them over to a non-commissioned officer to be marched to their posts, or marches them there himself (376).

This is often overlooked at events and I think it should be taken more seriously. The First Sergeant makes up all the details needed for the day or at a given time. This information is given at the morning NCO meeting. These would include guard details, fatigue details and more. The assignment of these details should be done with the other NCOs at the morning and evening meetings. This is where keeping track of the men performing details in your notebook comes to importance. Once fair assignments have been made, the NCOs responsible for assigning the details should being the various details as their assigned times over to the First Sergeant for approval and inspection before they begin. This includes even small details such as the firewood detail.

This gives a more military air to all the details and helps give the men more pride in the work they are doing. The first sergeant should approve the details ensuring the men are properly attired and have any tools that are needed. As opposed to just going “Hey Bob, get us some more firewood”, you take Private Bob over to the First Sergeant for inspection and approval. This private then feels he is performing an important job for his section and company and that it is not just a chore.

L. DRILL: The First Sergeant is the drill instructor for the company, not the company commander. The company commander is in charge of drill and either he or a junior officer should oversee the drill sessions, but it is the first sergeant that is the actual drill instructor. The First Sergeant should work with the company commander in putting together the drill schedule and they should discuss what aspects of drill the company is in need of practice. Once this is determined, the drill schedule is put together.

In a given one hour drill session with the company, the First Sergeant should put the company through its paces while either the company commander or junior company officer observes for the first 30 to 45 minutes. The final 30 to 45 minutes of drill should include either the company commander or junior officer in charge to command the company on the drill field. While the officer is the one giving the commands at this point, the First Sergeant is still the instructor and may correct the men and even the officer in charge as to procedure, placement and other aspects of the given maneuvers.

M. ATTENDANCE: Although this was discussed earlier, attendance to events by the First Sergeant should be mandatory. Not only that, he should be the FIRST one on site at an event and the LAST one to leave. He should arrive first to take charge of the camp and greet members and the last one to leave ensuring that the company camp has been broken down properly, that there is no trash left in their area, no lost items left behind and that every member of his group got off safely. A good company commander will do the same and keep the first sergeant company, but in the end, it is the First Sergeants job to do this. If you are not willing to make this type of commitment, then you should not be the First (Orderly) Sergeant.

N. OTHERS SOLDIERS FALLING IN WITH THE COMPANY: Many times at an event, unattached soldiers will come up to you or your company commander and ask if they can fall in with your company. There is an overwhelming urge to want to just say “yes!” in order to increase the size of your company, but this is the wrong approach! Anyone wishing to fall in with your group should have to see the First Sergeant and he should put them through a full examination of their School of the Soldier skills. Do they know proper drill, safety and the manual of arms? They need to be tested on this completely. Remember, once you have them in your company, no one knows that they are not part of your regular group so they will reflect on your company just like any other member!

If they pass the drill and safety examination, make sure you include an authenticity examination. Finally, talk to them and make sure they understand that if they are to fall in with your group they must adhere to the following:

1. They must camp with your company for the whole event.

2. They must agree to share camp fatigue duties as well as drill with the rest of your men.

3. They must agree to follow all orders from your NCOs and Officers without question.

4. Attach them at the end of your company, no matter if it is one or ten, keep all the new people together as a squad or section so you can keep a better eye on them during drill and battle. Do not integrate them with the rest of the company.

If they are not willing to follow all of these rules, then do not let them fall in with your group!

O. NOT A PLEASANT JOB: The role of the first sergeant is the most important to aspire to. However, if you perform this role as it should be performed, you will work harder than member in your group and will get little rest. It is a rewarding job, but it will be one you question constantly, and wish you were just a private in the ranks once again.

5.0 RECOMMENDED READING

I have put together a short recommended reading list of books that will help you with your impression. I have not included the drill manuals here as every unit has their own adopted manuals, whether it is Hardee’s, Casey’s, Gilliam’s or Scott’s. Those manuals aside, these are books that should be in every reenacting NCO library.

Customs of Service by August V. Kautz
I mentioned this book at the beginning of the guide. It is a must have for NCOs and most of the material I got for this handbook came from that book. This manual can be purchased from Fall Creek online at http://fcsutler.com.

Instruction for Guards and Pickets. By Dom Dal Bello
This manual is perhaps the best for understanding the complexities of the Guard Mounting process and its function. This manual can be purchased from Fall Creek online at http://fcsutler.com.

Mahan’s Outpost
The manual from which all guard and picket procedures are based on. This manual can be purchased from Fall Creek online at http://fcsutler.com.

The Company Clerk: What to do and How to do it. By August V. Kautz.
The understanding of company paperwork is essential in being a good NCO and this book gives you a basic understanding of all the various sorts of paperwork that was used during the Civil War by an infantry company. There are copies of original paperwork located in this book as well. This manual can be purchased from Fall Creek online at http://fcsutler.com.

Hardtack & Coffee by John Billings
This is the best book for understanding the daily routine of the common soldier. Granted, it deals primarily with the eastern Federal soldier, but it is still a wonderful book about army life and the daily routine. Much of it transcends any theater and works very well for both Union and Confederate. This book is widely available and can be purchased or ordered from any decent bookstore. You can also purchase it online from Amazon at www.amazon.com

Battle Tactics of the Civil War. By Paddy Griffith
This book is the best for both NCOs and Officers to understand the practicalities of drill and the real applications of it during the Civil War. As reenactors, we often tend to do too much "by the book" maneuvers on the battlefield. This books gives great insight into just what the realities of drill on the battlefield were. A must read. This book can also be ordered online at www.amazon.com

LINKS

INVITATIONAL GUIDELINES

FEDERAL INVITATION REQUEST FORM

FEDERAL REGISTRATION FORM

PHYSICAL HEALTH & APPEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

FIRST PERSON REQUIREMENTS

RECOMMENDED READING FOR THIS EVENT

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U.S. COMMAND STRUCTURE

US ENLISTED UNIFORM GUIDELINES

PHOTOS OF OFFICERS AND MEN 149th NY

NEWS PAPER ARTICLES about The 149th NYSVI