GUARD ORDERS.
Battery-guards.—A light battery serving with other troops will furnish its own park and stable guards, police, etc. Both officers and men will be exempt from other details, and the men will not be detailed for extra duty in the staff departments, nor for duty interfering with battery duties, if it can be avoided.
A light battery serving with other troops will furnish its own stable and park guard, which will be under the exclusive control of the battery commander.
Battery Stable and Park Guard.—The pieces, caissons, etc., with their ammunition and stores, as well as the horses, harness, and forage are under the charge of a stable and park guard, consisting of two non-commissioned officers and as many privates as may be necessary.
This guard will be mounted separately for each battery, and will be under the exclusive control of the battery commander.
A lieutenant of the battery is detailed daily, or for such period as the battery commander may direct, as battery officer of the day; the stable and park guard is under his immediate orders and those of the battery commander.
It is the duty of this guard to enforce the special regulations in regard to the stables, horses, and park.
The tour continues for 24 hours, or until properly relieved by a new guard.
The sentinels of the stable and park guard will be posted and relieved as prescribed in "Light-artillery Drill Regulations." They wear the sabre-belt without sabre when on post at the stable or picket-line. They are forbidden to strike or otherwise punish horses.
(Between retreat and reveille the sentinels should be armed with loaded revolvers.)
The sentinels over the horses or in charge of prisoners receive orders from the stable sergeant, so far as the exercise of his duties are concerned.
The guard, non-commissioned officers and sentinels, will perform their duties in accordance with the rules prescribed for the troop stable-guard.
The employment of stable-guards for police and fatigue duties at the stables is forbidden; but this will not prohibit the stable-guard from being required to assist in feeding grain before reveille. (It may be used as a herd-guard during the day.)
The stable-guard will attend stables with the rest of the battery and groom their own horses, the sentinels being relieved for the purpose. They will wear stable frocks while grooming, belt outside the frock; after grooming they take off their stable frocks, and the sentinel is again posted.
Neither the non-commissioned officer nor the members of the stable-guard will absent themselves from the immediate vicinity of the stables, except in case of urgent necessity and then for no longer time than is absolutely necessary. No member of the guard will leave for any purpose without the authority of the non-commissioned officer of the guard.
The non-commissioned officer and one member of the guard will go for meals at the proper hour; upon their return the other members will be directed to go by the non-commissioned officer. (With park and stable guard the guard will be so sent to meals as to leave at the guard-house one non-commissioned officer and one private, exclusive of sentinels on post.)
Smoking in stables or their immediate vicinity is prohibited. No fire or light other than the stable lanterns will be permitted in the stables.
Stable-guard duty in the field will be performed upon the same principles, with the modifications rendered necessary by the changed conditions.
Duties of the Battery Officer of the Day.—He has supervision of the guard, attends all stable duties and such drills and battery roll-calls as may be designated as requiring his presence.
He should inspect the guard and sentinels during the day and night as often as he may deem necessary.
After the new battery officer has visited the guard at guard-mounting and seen that the orders have been correctly turned over, he will report to the battery commander for instructions.
Commander of the Guard.—The senior non-commissioned officer of the guard is commander of the guard.
The commander of the guard is responsible for the instruction and discipline of the guard. He will see that all its members are correctly instructed in their orders and duties, and that they understand and properly perform them.
He receives and obeys the orders of the battery commander and the battery officer of the day, and reports to the last named without delay all orders relating to the guard not given or transmitted by him. He transmits to his successor all material instructions and information relating to his duties.
He is responsible for the general safety of the camp as soon as the old guard marches from the guard-house. In case of any emergency occurring while both guards are at the guard-house, the senior commander of the two guards will be responsible that proper action is taken.
A commander of a guard leaving his post for any purpose will mention his destination and the probable duration of his absence to the next in command.
Should it become necessary during the absence of the commander of the guard for the next in command to leave the guard, he will designate a member of the guard to take charge and assume the responsibility during his absence. The member so designated will be obeyed and respected accordingly, and will be held responsible for the proper performance of his duties.
All prisoners will be thoroughly searched before being allowed to enter the guard-house.
The prisoners will be marched under proper guard to the mess-hall for their meals; they must be sent to their meals at times when the other men of the battery are not present, and will be allowed the same time as other members of the guard.
The commander of the guard will record upon the guard report the names of all horses taken out during his tour (except under paragraphs a and c, p. 185), stating the authority under which they are taken and their condition when returned.
Should officers' horses be returned by an enlisted man, he will inspect them as prescribed.
Except in emergencies, the commander of the guard may divide the night with the next in command, but retains his responsibility; the one whose watch it is must be constantly on the alert.
The non-commissioned officer receives his orders from his battery commander and battery officer of the day, and when relieved will turn over all his orders to his successor.
He instructs his sentinels in their general and special duties; exercises general supervision over his entire guard; exacts order and cleanliness about the guard-room; prevents the introduction of intoxicants into the guard-house or stables; receives by count, from his predecessor, the animals, horse equipments, and all property (both private and public) pertaining thereto; examines, before relieving his predecessor, all locks, windows, and doors, and should any be found insecure he will report the fact to the battery officer of the day. He, or the junior non-commissioned officer of the guard, will personally post and relieve each sentinel, taking care to verify the property responsibility of the sentinel who comes off post, and see that the sentinel who goes on post is aware of the property responsibility he assumes. During the day and night the non-commissioned officers will alternate in tours, one of them remaining constantly on the alert.
That the non-commissioned officer may be more thoroughly informed of his responsibility, all horses returning, except those from a regular formation, will be reported to and inspected by him. He will then notify the sentinel on post, and see that the horses are promptly cared for. In case of abuse he will promptly report to the battery officer of the day. Should the horse be the private property of an officer, he will report such abuse to the owner.
The non-commissioned officer will report any unusual occurrence during his tour to the battery officer of the day.
Horses and other property for which the non-commissioned officer is responsible will not be taken from the stables without the order of the battery commander, with the following exceptions:
a. Officers' horses and private property are subject to their own written order.
b. Horses authorized for mounted duty or pass may be taken out on a written order of the battery commander.
c. No formal order will be required for horses and equipments to leave the stable at established hours for ceremonies, mounted drill, herding and watering horses. The commander of the guard must be present and satisfy himself that they are being taken out solely for these purposes.
d. The horses and equipments of the first sergeant and stable sergeant (unless otherwise ordered by the battery commander) may be taken out by themselves, or on their written order, between reveille and retreat. This privilege may be extended to the other sergeants.
e. The battery team will be allowed to leave the stables in the daytime (between reveille and retreat) when the wagoner reports it to be necessary.
In case of fire at the stable the commander of the guard will take the necessary precautions in opening or closing the doors, so as to prevent as far as possible the spreading of the fire and make it possible to remove the horses. He will then, assisted by all the available men, commence to lead out the horses, and, if practicable, secure them at the picket-line or other designated place.
The non-commissioned officer will have exclusive control of the lanterns, and will see that they are prepared during the day for lighting at night.
The lanterns will not be lighted, filled, or trimmed in the stables, but must be taken to the guard-room, or to such other place as may be designated by the battery commander for the purpose.
The non-commissioned officer must answer the sentinels' calls promptly.
Sentinel of Stable-guard.—The sentinel in the discharge of his duties will be governed by the regulations for sentinels of other guards 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 the proper authority.
The sentinel will receive orders from the battery commander, the battery officer of the day, and the non-commissioned officers of the stable-guard only.
The sentinel will not permit any horse or equipments to be taken from the stables except in the presence of the non-commissioned officer.
Should a horse get loose, the sentinel will catch him and tie him up. If he be unable to catch the horse, the non-commissioned officer will be at once 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 non-commissioned officer. Sentinels are forbidden to punish or maltreat a horse.
When a horse is taken sick, the sentinel will notify the non-commissioned officer, who will in turn call the stable sergeant, and see that the horse is properly attended to.
In case of fire the sentinel will give the alarm by stepping outside the stable and firing his pistol (if he be armed) repeatedly, calling out at the same time, "Fire, stables, battery—!"
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.
CHAPTER VI.
The Horse. How Obtained. Description of. Inspection of. Power of Teams. Weight behind Artillery-teams. Gaits of Artillery. Dentition. Plate of Diseases. Sick Horses. Health and Disease. Veterinary Medicines. Drugs and Doses, and How to Administer Them. Mashes, Poultices, etc. Veterinary Notes, with Symptoms and Treatment of Various Diseases. Stables and Stable Management. Grooming. Feeding and Kinds of Food. Watering. Training Horses. Rules for Treatment and Care of Horses. Destruction of Horses.