=1823.= In case of fire, the noncommissioned officer will see that the requirements of paragraph 1831 are promptly carried out. (326)

=1824.= Whenever it becomes necessary for the noncommissioned officer to leave his guard, he will designate a member of it to take charge and a.s.sume his responsibility during his absence. (327)

Sentinels of the Troop Stable Guard

=1825.= The sentinel in the discharge of his duties will be governed by the regulations for sentinels of the main guard whenever they are applicable--such as courtesies to officers, walking post in a soldierly manner, challenging, etc.; he will not turn out the guard except when ordered by proper authority. (328)

=1826.= The sentinel will receive orders from the commanding officer, the troop commander, and the noncommissioned officers of the stable guard only, except when the commanding officer directs the officer of the day to inspect the stable guard. (329)

=1827.= In the field and elsewhere when directed by the commanding officer the sentinel when posted will verify the number of horses for which he is responsible, and when relieved will give the number to his successor. (330)

=1828.= The sentinel will not permit any horse or equipments to be taken from the stables, except in the presence of the noncommissioned officer. (331)

=1829.= Should a horse get loose, the sentinel will catch him and tie him up. If he be unable to catch the horse, the noncommissioned officer will at once be notified. In case a horse be cast, or in any way entangled, he will relieve him, if possible; if unable to relieve him, he will call the noncommissioned officer. Sentinels are forbidden to punish or maltreat a horse. (332)

=1830.= When a horse is taken sick, the sentinel will notify the noncommissioned officer, who in turn will call the farrier, and see that the horse is properly attended to. (333)

=1831.= In case of fire the sentinel will give the alarm by stepping outside the stable and firing his pistol or piece repeatedly, and calling out at the same time, "=Fire, stables, Troop (----)=."

As soon as the guard is alarmed, he will take the necessary precautions in opening or closing the doors so as to prevent the spreading of the fire and make it possible to remove the horses; he will drop the chains and bars, and, with the other members of the guard, proceed to lead out the horses and secure them at the picket line or such other place as may have been previously designated. (334)

=1832.= Sentinels over horses, or in charge of prisoners, receive orders from the stable sergeant, so far as the care of the horses and the labor of prisoners are concerned. (335)

=1833.= In field artillery and machine-gun organizations, the guard for the stables has charge of the guns, caissons, etc., with their ammunition and stores, as well as the horses, harness, and forage.

(336)

The Flag

=1834.= The lowering of the flag will be regulated as to be completed at the last note of "The Star Spangled Banner" or "to the color."

(338)

=1835.= When practicable, a detail consisting of a noncommissioned officer and two privates of the guard will raise or lower the flag.

This detail wears side arms or, if the special equipments do not include side arms, then belts only.

The noncommissioned officer, carrying the flag, forms the detail in line, takes his post in the center, and marches it to the staff. The flag is then securely attached to the halyards and rapidly hoisted.

The halyards are then securely fastened to the cleat on the staff and the detail marched to the guardhouse. (344)

=1836.= When the flag is to be lowered, the halyards are loosened from the staff and made perfectly free. At retreat the flag is lowered at the last note of retreat. It is then neatly folded and the halyards made fast. The detail is then reformed and marched to the guardhouse, where the flag is turned over to the commander of the guard.

The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground and should always be hoisted or lowered from the leeward side of the staff, the halyards being held by two persons. (345)

Reveille and Retreat Gun

=1837.= The morning and evening gun will be fired by a detachment of the guard, consisting, when practicable, of a corporal and two privates. The morning gun is fired at the first note of reveille, or, if marches be played before the reveille, it is fired at the beginning of the first march The retreat gun is fired at the last note of retreat.

The corporal marches the detachment to and from the piece, which is fired, sponged out, and secured under his direction. (346)

Guard Mounting

=1838.= Guard mounting will be formal or informal as the commanding officer may direct. It will be held as prescribed in the drill regulations of the arm of the service to which the guard belongs; if none is prescribed, then as for infantry. In case the guard is composed wholly of mounted organizations, guard mounting may be held mounted. (347)

=1839.= When infantry and mounted troops dismounted are united for guard mounting, all details form as prescribed for infantry. (348)

Formal Guard Mounting for Infantry

=1840.= Formal guard mounting will ordinarily be held only in posts or camps where a band is present. (349)

=1841.= At the =a.s.sembly=, the men designated for the guard fall in on their company parade grounds as prescribed in paragraph 106. I. D. R.

The first sergeant then verifies the detail, inspects it, replaces any man unfit to go on guard, turns the detail over to the senior noncommissioned officer, and retires. The band takes its place on the parade ground so that the left of its front rank shall be 12 paces to the right of the front rank of the guard when the latter is formed.

(350)

=1842.= At =adjutant's call=, the adjutant, dismounted, and the sergeant-major on his left, marches to the parade ground. The adjutant halts and takes post so as to be 12 paces in front of and facing the center of the guard when formed; the sergeant-major continues on, moves by the left flank, and takes post, facing to the left, 12 paces to the left of the front rank of the band; the band plays in quick or double time; the details are marched to the parade ground by the senior noncommissioned officers; the detail that arrives first is marched to the line so that, upon halting, the breast of the front-rank man shall be near to and opposite the left arm of the sergeant-major; the commander of the detail halts his detail, places himself in front of and facing the sergeant-major, at a distance equal to or a little greater than the front of his detail, and commands: =1.

Right, 2. DRESS.= The detail dresses up to the line of the sergeant-major and its commander, the right front-rank man placing his breast against the left arm of the sergeant-major; the noncommissioned officers take post two paces in rear of the rear rank of the detail.

The detail aligned, the commander of the detail commands: =FRONT=, salutes, and then reports: "=The detail is correct=;" or "=So many sergeants, corporals, or privates are absent=;" the sergeant-major returns the salute with the right hand after the report is made; the commander then pa.s.ses by the right of the guard and takes post in the line of noncommissioned officers in rear of the right file or his detail.

Should there be more than one detail, it is formed in like manner on the left of the one preceding; the privates, noncommissioned officers, and commander of each detail dress on those of the preceding details in the same rank or line; each detail commander closes the rear rank to the right and fills blank files, as far as practicable, with the men from his front rank.

Should the guard from a company not include a noncommissioned officer, one will be detailed to perform the duties of commander of the detail.

In this case the commander of the detail, after reporting to the sergeant-major, pa.s.ses around the right flank between the guard and the band and retires. (351)

=1843.= When the last detail has formed, the sergeant-major takes a side step to the right, draws sword, verifies the detail, takes post two paces to the right and two paces to the front of the guard, facing to the left, causes the guard to count off, completes the left squad, if necessary, as in the school of the company, and if there be more than three squads, divides the guard into two platoons, again takes post as described above and commands: =1. Open ranks, 2. MARCH.=

At the command march, the rear rank and file closers march backward four steps, halt, and dress to the right. The sergeant major aligns the ranks and file closers and again, taking post as described above, commands: =FRONT=, moves parallel to the front rank until opposite the center, turns to the right, halts midway to the adjutant, salutes, and reports: "=Sir, the details are correct=;" or, "=Sir, (so many) sergeants, corporals, or privates are absent=;" the adjutant returns the salute, directs the sergeant-major: =Take your post=, and then draws saber; the sergeant-major faces about, approaches to within two paces of the center of the front rank, turns to the right, moves three paces beyond the left of the front rank, turns to the left, halts on the line of the front rank, faces about, and brings his sword to the order. When the sergeant-major has reported, the officer of the guard takes post, facing to the front, three paces in front of the center of the guard, and draws saber.

The adjutant then commands: =1. Officer (or officers) and noncommissioned officers, 2. Front and Center, 3. MARCH.=

At the command =center=, the officers carry saber. At the command =march=, the officer advances and halts three paces from the adjutant, remaining at the carry; the noncommissioned officers pa.s.s by the flanks, along the front, and form in order of rank from right to left, three paces in rear of the officer, remaining at the right shoulder; if there is no officer of the guard the noncommissioned officers halt on a line three paces from the adjutant; the adjutant then a.s.signs the officers and noncommissioned officers according to rank, as follows: =Commander of the guard, leader of first platoon, leader of second platoon, right guide of first platoon, left guide of second platoon, left guide of first platoon, right guide of second platoon=, and =file closers=, or, if the guard is not divided into platoons: =Commander of the guard, right guide, left guide=, and =file closers=.

The adjutant then commands: =1. Officer (or officers) and noncommissioned officers, 2. POSTS, 3. MARCH.=

At the command =posts=, all, except the officer commanding the guard, face about. At the command =march=, they take the posts prescribed in the school of the company with open ranks. The adjutant directs: =Inspect your guard, sir=; at which the officer commanding the guard faces about, commands: =Prepare for inspection=, returns saber, and inspects the guard.

During the inspection, the band plays; the adjutant returns saber, observes the general condition of the guard, and falls out any man who is unfit for guard duty or does not present a creditable appearance.

Subst.i.tutes will report to the commander of the guard at the guardhouse. (352)

=1844.= The adjutant, when so directed, selects orderlies and color sentinels, as prescribed in paragraphs 140 and 141, and notifies the commander of the guard of his selection. (353)

If there be a junior officer of the guard he takes post at the same time as the senior, facing to the front, 3 paces in front of the center of the first platoon; in going to the front and center he follows and takes position on the left of the senior and is a.s.signed as leader of the first platoon; he may be directed by the commander of the guard to a.s.sist in inspecting the guard.

If there be no officer of the guard, the adjutant inspects the guard.

A noncommissioned officer commanding the guard takes post on the right of the right guide, when the guard is in line; and takes the post of the officer of the guard, when in column or pa.s.sing in review. (354)

=1845.= The inspection ended, the adjutant places himself about 30 paces in front of and facing the center of the guard, and draws saber; the new officer of the day takes post in front of and facing the guard, about 30 paces from the adjutant; the old officer of the day takes post 3 paces to the right of and 1 pace to the rear of the new officer of the day; the officer of the guard takes post 3 paces in front of its center, draws saber with the adjutant and comes to the order; thereafter he takes the same relative positions as a captain of a company.