"CAPITAINES (Captains).
(Three Stripes.)
There are two Captains in each squadron—the Captain Commanding (capitaine commandant) and a second Captain (capitaine en second).
Captain Commanding.—This officer is in full charge of the squadron (in time of peace a squadron consists of about 120 men and horses); he is the real chief and almost the only one the non-commissioned officers and men of his squadron know, many of them leaving the service without having ever been spoken to by such an exalted and god-like being as a Major, much less by their Lieutenant-colonel or Colonel. The Captain in command is himself a very great man indeed, who has very little intercourse with such riff-raff as common privates. No leave nor promotion can be obtained except through him, and punishments are usually increased when they reach His Mightiness. When I served my time I think I saw my Captain nearly twenty times in as many months, but nevertheless I must show what his duties are—in theory. Let us quote once more from the ""Service Intérieur."
"The chief duty of the Captain Commanding is to inspire the soldiers under his command with zeal and love [!] of the service; to develop among them feelings of duty, honour, and devotion to their Fatherland. He must endeavour to make their duties easy by advice, the equitable use of his authority, and a constant solicitude for their welfare. He is the necessary intermediary of all their requests.... He must repress the familiarity and harshness of his subordinates towards the privates, who must never be illtreated or insulted."
He has also to look after the officers under his direct orders. "He visits his squadron daily, visits the men in hospital, and signs a daily report to the Colonel."
"He is responsible for the military education of his squadron, for the discipline of the rank and file, the condition of the horses and stables...."
He is also responsible for the moneys and supplies handed over to him.
The Captain receives from the Treasurer the money for the use of the squadron on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 26th of each month. This money is divided into two parts: the first being the money to be spent on the men's food, and the second being the men's pocket-money, "which," say the regulations, "must not be less than 5 centimes (½d.) per day." The money invariably handed over to the men is 2½d. every five days in the infantry, and 4d. every five days in the cavalry! Corporals get about twice as much, while Sergeants get about 4d. a day, and Sergeant-majors 8d. What would Tommy Atkins say to that?
All the accounts and books are kept by the Sergeant-major, the Sergeant fourrier, and the Corporal fourrier, non-commissioned officers whose duties will be described more fully later on. All clothes, saddlery, arms, &c., are supplied to the men in the presence of the Captain: all repairs are done on his written requisition.
When the men's food is supplied through the Commission des ordinaires the Captain finds every day the amount of supplies required. When, however, he receives money for the purchase of provisions he must see that supplies are bought at the cheapest rate.