THE ORDER
Our Field Service Regulations state[16] that “orders in contra-distinction to field, general, and special orders, are used by commanders of divisions and separate brigades for regulating the movements and resupply of the field trains, fixing the position of distributing points (rations and forage), authorizing the use of reserve rations, providing for the refilling of combat trains after combat or a march, providing for ambulance or hospital service in camps, and for furnishing such other similar information or instructions as it is desired to communicate to troops. They also include such instructions as may be sent to the commander of trains, relative to the movements and disposition of the trains and information with regard to the arrangements made with the line of communication relative to the positions of refilling, rendezvous, and evacuation points.”
Thus, when separate orders are necessary for such conditions as cited, they are called simply orders. They may be transmitted as field messages between commanders or as more formal documents. In either case they are usually addressed to the person concerned.
Examples of orders follow:
51st Division, 9th Corps,
Gettysburg,
3 June ’19, 6-30 p. m.
To Commander of Trains:
Have one wagon company small arms ammunition at cross-roads near EPPLEY at 8 p. m.
Have one wagon company artillery ammunition at north edge of McPHERSON RIDGE at 8 p. m.
Have 1st Section, supply, ready to issue at Central Square in GETTYSBURG at 8 p. m.
Have empty wagons return to LITTLESTOWN tonight to refill; have them report en route to Field Hospital No. 1 at the crossing of ROCK CREEK to carry back wounded. Have them well filled with straw or hay.
MABIE,
Chief of Staff.
Telegraphed to Commander of Trains.
Copies to Regimental Commanders.
19th Division,
Marysville,
5 Oct. ’22, 6-45 p. m.
To Officer in Charge of Trains:
You will move with your trains at 3-45 a. m., by corduroy road JEPSOM-SMALLEY-SAINT MARYS.
Arrange your columns as follows: one section artillery ammunition, one section small arms ammunition, bridge train, supply column, field hospitals, remainder of ammunition column.
On reaching SAINT MARYS have the two sections ammunition turn north and, when they have cleared the road, halt and await orders.
Have the remainder of the ammunition columns halt beside the road between SAINT MARYS and ALEXANDER and await orders. Have the field hospitals park off the road near HILLIS.
On the march, as you overtake, or are joined by, the field trains of the troops, you will assume command.
Hasten your march until you are clear of JEPSOM.
SMITH,
Chief of Staff.
Copies to all Commanders.
By Lieut. Jones to officer in charge of trains.
Birmingham,
8 Sept. ’25, 9-50 a. m.
To Captain Mott, commanding trains:
Our advance guard met at 9-30 a. m. two battalions hostile infantry at GARLINGTON.
Have trains keep well closed and follow main body without distance.
NORTON,
Colonel, commanding.
The first two examples are of the formal type. The third one is less so.
Verbal orders are usually transmitted by officers. However, if the order consists of a single sentence such as, “The trains will halt two hours at Bingham,” it may be transmitted by an enlisted man.
Although there is more latitude in the form of written order than in that of the field order, the one should be as brief and unmistakable in its construction as the other. The paragraph structure and sequence should be as logical and unified as English composition can make them.
With your book open at the extract from Field Service Regulations in regard to the order, compose enough imaginary orders to cover all the instances therein given.