Each day’s record will commence with a march table, or statement of the operations or location of the organization, including an account of weather, roads, camp, health of troops, etc., and a statement of the supply of ammunition, rations, and forage. This will be followed by a chronological record of events, including time and place of issue and receipt of orders and messages, with a copy or a synopsis of contents.
It is of especial importance that the exact hour and place at which movements are begun and ended, and orders or important messages sent or received be noted. After an engagement, the war diary will contain a report of losses and captures and will be accompanied by a sketch showing the positions of the command at the most important phases.
Each day’s record will be attested by the commander or by the adjutant; and, with attached copies of orders and messages sent and received, will be forwarded daily to the next higher commander, who as soon as practicable, after the receipt thereof, will forward the war diary direct to the War Department.
Commanders of armies, or of units not components of a higher command, will forward their war diaries direct to the War Department.”[18] Thus these documents become the authentic material for our military history.
To go into the War Diary more specifically, let us tabulate what we might actually state therein. We should start with the heading:
War Diary,
3d Battalion, 72d Infantry,
3 May, 1920.
The date in this case would cover the whole period from midnight May 2/3 to midnight May 3/4.
Since a march would most likely be the first happening of any note after midnight May 2/3, the diary would start with a march table.
Reveille, 3-30 a. m.
Breakfast, 3-45 a. m.
First call, 4-10 a. m.
Assembly, 4-15 a. m.
Head of column moved out, 4-17 a. m.
First Halt at SQUARE CORNERS, 5-02 a. m.
Second Halt at LIBERTY, 5-51 a. m.
Third Halt at MILES RIVER, 6-41 a. m.
Fourth Halt at SMITH’S FARM, 7-47 a. m.
Message from C. O., 72d Infantry; received 400 yards west HOPE
FARM, 8-40 a. m.
Fifth Halt at Orchard near HOPE FARM, 8-47 a. m.
Extent of march: 13-2 miles.