Of the sound of the drum

 

 

It is very necessary that soldiers should be instructed to know the sounds and beatings of the drum before they are dismissed from the drill; as, whether it be the general, assembly, march, reveille, troop, retreat, taptoo, to arms, parley, or chamade, &c. As they are thereby taught to march and perform their exercise, manoeuvres, &c. it is also very proper to teach them every other sound and signal.

​

To beat the general, is an order for the whole to make ready to march; the assembly to repair to their colours; and the march commands them to move: the reveille, at day-break, warns the soldiers to rise, and the centries to cease challenging; the troop assembles them together, to call over the roll and inspect the men for duty: the retreat is beat at sunset, for calling over the roll again to warn the men for duty, and read the orders of the day: the taptoo beats at ten o'clock every night in summer, and at nine in winter; the soldiers must then repair to their quarters or barracks, when the Non-commissioned Officers of each squad call over their rolls, and every man must remain there till reveille beating next morning. A beat to arms, is to advertise them to stand to their arms, or to repair to their alarm-posts; and a parley, or chamade, is to desire a conference with the enemy.

The Military Medley by Thomas Simes 1768

​

​

Signals

Turn or face to the right

One single stroke and flam

 

Turn or face to the left

Two single strokes and flam

 

To the right about

Three single strokes and flam

 

To the left about

Four single strokes and flam

 

To wheel to the right

Roll, one single stroke and flam

 

To wheel to the left

Roll, two single strokes and flam

 

To wheel to the right about

Roll, three single strokes and flam

 

To wheel to the left about

Roll, four single strokes and flam

 

To front

Strong double flam

 

To make ready

Preparative

 

To cease firing

General

 

To march

March

Quick pace

Quick march

 

To charge bayonets

Point of war

 

To form battalion

To arms

 

To ease your arms

Tow-row-dow

 

To secure your arms

First part of the taptoo

 

To shoulder your arms

Last part of the taptoo

 

To call the Adjutant

First part of the troop

 

To call a Sjt & Cpl of each Company

Two rolls, six flams

 

To call all the Sjts & Cpls

Three rolls, nine flams

 

To assemble the Pioneers

Pioneer's march

 

To assemble the Drummers

Drummers' call