To be sent to Drill, to be placed under the command of the drill officer, or non-commissioned officer, and made to join the recruits in performing the manual and platoon exercise, &c. This is sometimes ordered as a punishment to those who are perfect in their exercise, when a battalion, company, or individual has done something to merit exposure.
DRIVERS of baggage or artillery, men who drive the baggage, artillery, and stores, having no other duty in the army.
DRUM, is a martial musical instrument in the form of a cylinder, hollow within, and covered at the two ends with vellum, which is stretched or slackened at pleasure, by means of small cords and sliding leathers. This instrument is used both by infantry and artillery; which is done in several manners, either to give notice to the troops of what they are to do, or to demand liberty to make some proposal to an enemy. Every company of foot or artillery, has two or more drums, according to the effective strength of the party. The drum was first invented by Bacchus, who, as Polyenus reports, fighting against the Indians, gave the signal of battle with cymbals and drums; and the Saracens, who invaded Christendom, introduced the drum into the European armies. The various beats are as follow, among the British.
The general, is to give notice to the troops that they are to march.
| The assembly, | - | |
| The troop, |
to order the troops to repair to the place of rendezvous, or to their colors.
The march, to command them to move, always with the left foot first.
Tat-too, to order all to retire to their quarters.
The reveille, always beats at break of day, and is to warn the soldiers to rise, and the centinels to forbear challenging, and to give leave to come out of quarters.
To arms, for soldiers who are dispersed, to repair to them.