Escort of the Color

=637. By a company.= The regiment being in line or line of ma.s.ses, the colonel details a company, other than the color company, to receive and escort the national color to its place. During the ceremony the regimental color remains with the color guard at its post with the regiment.

The band moves straight to its front until clear of the line of field officers, changes direction to the right, and is halted; the designated company forms column of platoons in rear of the band, the color bearer or bearers between the platoons.

The escort then marches without music to the colonel's office or quarters and is formed in line facing the entrance, the band on the right, the color bearer in the line of file closers.

The color bearer, preceded by the first lieutenant and followed by a sergeant of the escort, then goes to obtain the color.

When the color bearer comes out, followed by the lieutenant and sergeant, he halts before the entrance, facing the escort; the lieutenant places himself on the right, the sergeant on the left of the color bearer; the escort presents arms, and the field music sounds =to the color=; the first lieutenant and sergeant salute.

Arms are brought to the order; the lieutenant and sergeant return to their posts; the company is formed in column of platoons, the band taking post in front of the column; the color bearer places himself between the platoons; the escort marches in quick time, with guide left, back to the regiment, the band playing; the march is so conducted that when the escort arrives at 50 paces in front of the right of the regiment, the direction of the march shall be parallel to its front; when the color arrives opposite its place in line, the escort is formed in line to the left; the color bearer, pa.s.sing between the platoons, advances and halts 12 paces in front of the colonel.

The color bearer having halted, the colonel, who has taken post 30 paces in front of the center of the regiment, faces about, commands: =1. Present, 2. ARMS=, resumes his front, and salutes; the field music sounds to the color; and the regimental color bearer executes the color salute at the command =present arms=.

The colonel then faces about, brings the regiment to the order, at which the color bearer resumes the carry and takes his post with the color company.

The escort presents arms and comes to the order with the regiment, at the command of the colonel, after which the captain forms it again in column of platoons, and, preceded by the band, marches it to its place, pa.s.sing around the left flank of the regiment.

The band plays until the escort pa.s.ses the left of the line, when it ceases playing and returns to its post on the right, pa.s.sing in rear of the regiment.

The regiment may be brought to a rest when the escort pa.s.ses the left of the line. (736)

=638. By a battalion.= Escort of the color is executed by a battalion according to the same principles. (737)

Escorts of Honor

=639.= Escorts of honor are detailed for the purpose of receiving and escorting personages of high rank, civil or military. The troops for this purpose are selected for their soldierly appearance and superior discipline.

The escort forms in line, opposite the place where the personage presents himself, the band on the flank of the escort toward which it will march. On the appearance of the personage, he is received with the honors due to his rank. The escort is formed into column of companies, platoons or squads, and takes up the march, the personage and his staff or retinue taking positions in rear of the column; when he leaves the escort, line is formed and the same honors are paid as before.

When the position of the escort is at a considerable distance from the point where the personage is to be received, as for instance, where a courtyard or wharf intervenes, a double line of sentinels is posted from that point to the escort, facing inward; the sentinels successively salute as he pa.s.ses and are then relieved and join the escort.

An officer is appointed to attend him and bear such communication as he may have to make to the commander of the escort. (738)

Funeral Escort

=640. Composition and strength, formation, presenting arms, marching, etc.= The composition and strength of the escort are prescribed in Army Regulations.

The escort is formed opposite the quarters of the deceased; the band on that flank of the escort toward which it is to march.

Upon the appearance of the coffin, the commander commands: =1.

Present, 2. ARMS=, and the band plays an appropriate air; arms are then brought to the order.

The escort is next formed into column of companies, platoons, or squads. If the escort be small, it may be marched in line. The procession is formed in the following order: =1. Music, 2. Escort, 3.

Clergy, 4. Coffin and pallbearers, 5. Mourners, 6. Members of the former command of the deceased, 7. Other officers and enlisted men, 8.

Distinguished persons, 9. Delegations, 10. Societies, 11. Civilians.= Officers and enlisted men (Nos. 6 and 7), with side arms, are in the order of rank, seniors in front.

The procession being formed, the commander of the escort puts it in march.

The escort marches slowly to solemn music; the column having arrived opposite the grave, line is formed facing it.

The coffin is then carried along the front of the escort to the grave; arms are presented, the music plays an appropriate air; the coffin having been placed over the grave, the music ceases and arms are brought to the order.

The commander next commands: =1. Parade, 2. REST.= The escort executes =parade rest=, officers and men inclining the head.

When the funeral services are completed and the coffin lowered into the grave, the commander causes the escort to resume attention and fire three rounds of blank cartridges, the muzzles of the pieces being elevated. When the escort is greater than a battalion, one battalion is designated to fire the volley.

A musician then sounds =taps=.

The escort is then formed into column, marched in quick time to the point where it was a.s.sembled, and dismissed.

The band does not play until it has left the inclosure.

When the distance to the place of interment is considerable, the escort, after having left the camp or garrison, may march =at ease= in quick time until it approaches the burial ground, when it is brought to attention. The music does not play while marching =at ease=.

In marching at attention, the field music may alternate with the band in playing. (739)

=641. Funeral of general officer; playing national air, sounding ruffles, etc., as honor.= When arms are presented at the funeral of a person ent.i.tled to any of the following honors, the band plays the prescribed =national air=, or the field music sounds to the =color=, =march=, =flourishes=, or =ruffles=, according to the rank of the deceased, after which the band plays an appropriate air. The commander of the escort, in forming column, gives the appropriate commands for the different arms. (740)

=642. Funeral of mounted officer or soldier.= At the funeral of a mounted officer or enlisted man, his horse, in mourning caparison, follows the hea.r.s.e. (741)

=643. When hea.r.s.e, cavalry, and artillery are unable to enter cemetery.= Should the entrance of the cemetery prevent the hea.r.s.e accompanying the escort till the latter halts at the grave, the column is halted at the entrance long enough to take the coffin from the hea.r.s.e, when the column is again put in march. The Cavalry and Artillery, when unable to enter the inclosure, turn out of the column, face the column, and salute the remains as they pa.s.s. (742)

=644. Escorting remains from quarters to church before funeral services.= When necessary to escort the remains from the quarters of the deceased to the church before the funeral service, arms are presented upon receiving the remains at the quarters and also as they are borne into the church. (743)

=645. Instructions to clergyman and pallbearers.= The commander of the escort, previous to the funeral, gives the clergyman and pallbearers all needful directions. (744)

Company Inspection

=646.= Being in line at a halt: =1. Open ranks, 2. MARCH.=

At the command =march= the front rank executes =right dress=; the rear rank and the file closers march backward 4 steps, halt, and execute right dress; the lieutenants pa.s.s around their respective flanks and take post, facing to the front, 3 paces in front of the center of their respective platoons. The captain aligns the front rank, rear rank, and file closers, takes post 3 paces in front of the right guide, facing to the left, and commands: =1. FRONT, 2. PREPARE FOR INSPECTION.=

At the second command the lieutenants carry saber; the captain returns saber and inspects them, after which they face about, order saber, and stand at ease; upon the completion of the inspection they carry saber, face about, and order saber. The captain may direct the lieutenants to accompany or a.s.sist him, in which case they return saber and, at the close of the inspection, resume their posts in front of the company, draw and carry saber.

Having inspected the lieutenants, the captain proceeds to the right of the company. Each man, as the captain approaches him, executes =inspection arms=.

The captain takes the piece, grasping it with his right hand just above the rear sight, the man dropping his hands. The captain inspects the piece, and, with the hand and piece in the same position as in receiving it, hands it back to the man, who takes it with the left hand at the balance and executes =order arms=.

As the captain returns the piece, the next man executes =inspection arms=, and so on through the company.

Should the piece be inspected without handling, each man executes =order arms= as soon as the captain pa.s.ses to the next man.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate VI]