U. S. Marine Barracks, Norfolk.
INTERNAL REGULATIONS.
The following regulations will be observed by members of this Command:
1. Implicit obedience to orders is the fundamental basis of military discipline; all inferiors of whatever rank are required to obey strictly and to execute with alacrity and good faith the lawful orders of those appointed over them.
2. Military authority should be exercised with firmness, but with kindness and justice; punishments must be strictly conformable to law. Superiors are forbidden to injure those under them by tyrannical or capricious conduct or by abusive language.
RELIEF OF OFFICERS.
3. The officers will relieve each other at the prescribed hour of guard-mounting in discharging the duties of Officer of the Day, and they should exact at all times a strict performance of the duties required. They should attend at the cells and guard-house, in order to receive or transfer prisoners and property, and orders they may have received regarding them. The Officer of the Day is charged with the superintendence of the police and duties of the post. After guard-mounting and verifying the prison list, he will report at the Commanding Officer's office for orders. He will see that all who are authorized to receive obtain the countersign, especially to ships of war at the Yard, (and to the Sergeant of the Guard at retreat.) He will inspect provisions, appurtenances to the quarters, &c., and on Mondays have them reported to the Commanding Officer for his inspection. He will visit the guard at Troop, Retreat, Tattoo and Reveille, and see that the prisoners are secure [2] and properly policed by questioning them. In these inspections he will be particular that no member of the Guard is unfit for duty by reason of liquor or otherwise. He will visit each, relief of his guard formally during the day, and also assure himself of their vigilance at other times. Any unusual occurrence is to be immediately reported by messenger, telephone or otherwise. Other than unusual occurrences to be mentioned in the written morning report.
ABSENCE.
4. No one will absent himself or remain out of the Yard without permission.
5. Members of the command on general pass list will always report, before going out, to the Officer of the Day and to the Sergeant of the Guard. The Commandant's Orderly excepted specially.
ROLL CALLS.
There will be four roll calls daily: At Reveille, Troop, Retreat, and Tattoo, the result of each being reported by the Sergeant to the Officer of the Day, who should superintend all roll calls.
MEALS.
The calls for meals will be sounded by the musician of the Guard at the proper times. All members of the Command fall in to be marched to meals by the Police Sergeant, who is enjoined to see that the men are in clean condition. Cleanliness is a virtue, and it is recommended as the best means of preserving their health, and adding comfort to one's comrades.
POLICE CALL.
Reveille will be sounded at 7 a. m., breakfast at 7:30, and at 8 the police call will be sounded. The command will fall in, be divided into parties for the thorough cleaning up and putting things in order. The Guard Room is to be policed by the Guard; the quarters by command not on guard. After the quarters are policed the command will get ready for troop inspection, and afterwards marched to the main gate, so as to be ready at 9:50 for parade.
[3] GUARD MOUNTING.
A guard will be mounted and relieved daily in a manner as conformable as possible to regulations as space and circumstance will permit, under superintendence of the senior officer present. The meals of the Guard will be wheeled from the Barracks, and table furniture kept in the mess chest and in order by the daily duty men detailed for the purpose.
GENERAL INSPECTION.
On Mondays there will be a general inspection of the Command, full marching order, knapsacks neatly packed and fatigue caps inside, not slung outside knapsack. The knapsacks will correspond to the company or squad number of the man.
DRILLS.
After reveille roll call, and immediately before breakfast, all will be exercised in open file, in setting up drill, every day for a few minutes. And the Officer of the Day will require the non-commissioned officers to recite in the Drill Book regularly. Instruction as to the sighting and use of the rifle cannot fail to have great effect. This, in reality, is the most important duty to thoroughly understand. For target practice such times should be availed of when it is impracticable for other drills.
ON PASS, OR LIBERTY.
All those not on duty or restricted are eligible. They are to report their going and returning, and upon returning their liberty ceases, unless renewed by the Officer of the Day. Knapsacks should be put in safe keeping, with the guard, or in the store room.
CITIZENS
Not allowed to enter the barrack quarters or guard house without first obtaining permission from proper authority.
DUTIES OF FIRST SERGEANT.
The First Sergeant will make and keep the roster, warning [4] those who have been the longest off, assign quarters to troops joining, number each individual and note number of rifle, &c., served out, and squad number on each article of clothing. No citizen's clothing to be worn, or kept in Barracks. With aid of Clerk in the Orderly room, he will keep copies of all orders, also keep daily posted the conduct book and official communications, returns, furloughs, accounts, &c.; examine the dress arms, &c., of the Command before parade, and should any one be unfit for duty in any respect report to the Officer of the Day. He will be prompt in correcting disorderly conduct, and have made inventory of effects of the dead or deserters, which effects should be immediately deposited in the store room. He will make out two reports of the distribution of the Command—one original in the book, one a copy for the Commandant—daily.
ISSUE OF CLOTHING.
On Mondays, after police work, clothing will be issued if due. Extra clothing will only be issued near the end of the current month, and the checkages therefore promptly reported, so that they may be entered upon the monthly pay roll. Extra issues should be kept in the General Clothing book, in the place appropriated for that purpose, with the acknowledgments of the men, the amounts, and total amounts.
SERGEANT OF THE GUARD.
He will be responsible for the regular posting and relief of sentinels, and safety of prisoners, and see that they get nothing not authorized. Endeavor to turn over the guard house and appurtenances correct and in good order. He will see the calls are sounded at the proper times, the due execution of orders, striking of the half hourly bells, and especially to those referring to fire. He will make a tour of the Yard, endeavor to instruct the sentinels in their duties by reading the general and special orders, and examine sentry boxes carefully. He will require one non-commissioned officer to be constantly on the alert at the gate way. The Corporals with their respect- [5] ive reliefs after the posting of sentinels. He will inspect each relief, and post no man who is unfit in his judgment. He will permit nothing to be passed out without an authorized pass. Drunken men not to pass in without escort to their quarters, and if need be they will be detained in lock-up for action. All passes to be cancelled and kept on file, to be handed in to the Captain of the Yard, if any are received. The reliefs of the Guard not on post must be ready for an emergency at all times. A report of the duties performed will be made and submitted to the Officer of the Day for annotation.
POLICE SERGEANT.
Will attend particularly to the police duties of the Barracks and surroundings. He will report to the Officer of the Day, in case there be prisoners for labor, for his orders, and the Sergeant of the Guard will turn over the prisoners, with a guard, if necessary, and if ordered, and see that they are properly confined after being returned by the Police Sergeant. The Police Sergeant will see that the chiefs of squads attend to their duties as such, reporting any negligence. He will report to the Officer of the Day, when everything is ready for his inspection, at the prescribed time. He will march the Command to meals, and report any one out of order in any way in the mess room.
CHIEF OF SQUADS
of the Barrack divisions will see their men put bedding, clothing, arms, &c., in order and place. Have floors, walls, shelves and bedding cleaned. Damage done to furniture, glass, &c., to be charged to delinquent. The effects of sick absentees and prisoners to be looked up and turned into store room. They will have all soiled clothing collected for wash, and when returned see there is no loss. The laundress will be responsible for loss. The bed sacks and pillow cases are on charge, and when not in use should be put in store for wash, or to be accounted for.
[6] MUSICIANS.
The Musicians will be required to maintain a soldierly deportment and perform on their instruments at the times assigned for Yard and Barracks. "Troop" and "Retreat" will be sounded also at the flag staff. They will deliver carefully the countersigns as addressed. They will be subject to detail as orderlies, and to lend a helping hand in the mess room when necessary.
PRIVATE SERVICE.
The non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates are not to perform menial duties, nor are they to be employed in any private service.
COMMUNICATIONS.
In general all applications should be made during office hours. Any soldier wishing to see the Commanding Officer out of office hours will make his request known to the Officer of the Day, who can communicate by telephone or otherwise, as may be most convenient.
GRIEVANCES.
Any soldier deeming himself aggrieved will make complaint to the Chief of his Squad. After his Chief inquires into the case, finding cause, he will present the matter for investigation to the Officer of the Day, who, deeming it necessary, will refer it to the Commanding Officer.
All communications of an official nature are to be presented to the next superior, and there should be a regular chain of official responsibility from the lower to the higher authority. This prevents delays and misunderstandings, tending to in convenience, if not discomfort, throughout.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Commanding Officer enjoins upon the members of the Command to look upon him as their friend, and to feel assured that he and the officers will always be glad to advance their [7] comfort and happiness in any way commensurate with their means.
These regulations will be published to the Command, and copies kept for reference in the office of Officer of the Day, and in the Guard Houses, at the Main Gate and Barracks.
McLANE TILTON,
Major U. S. Corps Marines.Approved.
Commodore Commandant.
GENERAL ORDERS FOR SENTINELS.
Sentinels are not to leave their posts or allow themselves to be relieved, except regularly in the presence of a non-commissioned officer of their Guard. They are not to converse with any one except on matters of duty. They are never to quit their arms or remove any article of equipment or clothing, or lounge on or sit down on post. If sick, they will call for the Corporal of the Guard. They are to march their post in a brisk, soldierly manner, with arms habitually at " support," or on either shoulder. If halting, they should stand at "place rest." They are to take charge of and protect all Government property in view, and other property put in their care; keep vigilant, and report all infractions of orders and anything of note occurring in view during their tour. When taking post over prisoners they should be specially careful to verify the number handed over to them, and satisfy themselves that the list is correct, by personal examination, before taking charge. They are to give immediate alarm in case of fire. Pass all calls from post to post. Allow no one to pass over, under or around the wall, and nothing to be smuggled in or out of the Yard, and allow no nuisance to be committed on or near post, and no defacement on or near post. Suffer no one to approach after dark without challenging, taking the position of "charge bayonet." When one of the challenged party approaches within bayonet reach he will be halted and detained until the countersign is given.
When any person approaches a post of the Guard at night the sentinel before the post, after challenging, causes him to halt until examined by a non-commissioned officer of the Guard.
When orders are being given to a sentinel, or when holding communication, he will hold his piece at "arms post."
THE END.
[On 9 March 1888, McLane Tilton was commissioned a major and began duty at the Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Virginia.]
POSTCARDS
Marine Barracks Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va.
No. 7 U. S. Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Va.
Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Va.
Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Va.
Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Va.
No. 7 U. S. Marine Barracks, Norfolk, Va.
Marine Barracks, Norfolk, VA.
U. S. Marine Guard, Norfolk, Va.
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