Guard Duty
The Basics
"I am required to take charge of this post and all public property in view; to salute all officers passing, according to rank; to give the alarm in case of fire, or the approach of the enemy or any disturbance whatsoever; to report all violations of the Articles of War, Regulations of the Army, or camp or garrison orders; at night to challenge all persons approaching my post, and to allow no one to pass without the countersign until they are examined by an officer or non-commissioned officer of the guard."
- Guards who are posted to prevent the enemy from surprising a force are generally referred to as "pickets." Guards who protect the camp are often referred to as "camp guards" or "police guards." Their responsibilities are similar, but the degrees are different - one is keeping order in camp and the other is protection of the camp.
- When the soldier is placed upon his post, he becomes a "sentinel."
- Sentinels are generally posted, two hours on and four hours off.
- The "guard house" or "outpost" or "support" should be shielded from view of the enemy. - [it may be just a place for a campfire]
- The guard is normally posted in a location for the first time by an officer - not the Officer of the Guard. The Sergeant of the Guard may also post the men, but the norm would be for an officer to at least to inspect the men at their posts as soon as possible to correct any ill positioning.
- While the very first relief is being posted, the remainder of the guard (both the new guard and the old guard) stand under arms at the "guard house" until all the posts are manned.
- After the first relief is posted the corporal of the first relief or OOG should, by turns, take the corporals of the other two reliefs on an inspection of the posts so that they learn them. One corporal should remain available at the "guard house" for emergencies.
- Guards will report all violations of camp/garrison orders, or regulations, or Articles of War; by calling the corporal of the guard and report the facts to him. This includes all the irregularities usually prohibited among troops, such as discharging fire-arms, committing nuisance, drunkenness, disorderly conduct, sale of liquor, and, in general, every thing that is known to be prohibited and improper.
- Pickets will keep vigilant watch over the country in front of them for movements of the enemy, will prevent unauthorized persons from passing in or out of the lines, and will arrest all suspicious individuals. The pickets should remain concealed from the enemy as much as possible. In case of attack, they will act as a line of skirmishers, and hold their ground to the last moment, and fall back to their supports.
- To challenge is to call out, "Who comes there?"If answered-'Friend, with the countersign,' he will reply-Advance, friend, with the countersign!'
If answered-'Friends!' he will reply-"Halt! Advance one with the countersign!'
If answered-'Relief,' `Patrol,' or `Grand rounds,' he will reply-'Haft! Advance, Sergeant (or Corporal), with the countersign!' and satisfy himself that the party is what it represents itself to be. If the wrong countersign be given, or if the persons have not the countersign, he will cause them to stand, and call-'Corporal of the guard!' - To give the alarm is to call out the guard, to fire off his piece, or to cry "fire."
- Soldiers usually commence challenging after taps, and continue until reveille; although it is sometimes ordered to commence challenging immediately after retreat.
- After retreat (or the hour appointed by the commanding officer), until broad daylight, a sentinel challenges every person who approaches him, taking, at the same time, the position of arms port. He will suffer no person to come nearer than within reach of his bayonet, until the person has given the countersign.
- When a sentinel is called upon by the commanding officer, the officer of the day, or some officer or noncommissioned officer of the guard, to give his orders he does so, in substance, in the following general terms, which he should understand sufficiently well to explain, vis.:
"I am required to take charge of this post and all public property in view; to salute all officers passing, according to rank; to give the alarm in case of fire, or the approach of the enemy or any disturbance whatsoever; to report all violations of the Articles of War, Regulations of the Army, or camp or garrison orders; at night to challenge all persons approaching my post, and to allow no one to pass without the countersign until they are examined by an officer or non-commissioned officer of the guard."