Knowing the Bugle Calls

[flattop32355]

One of the most common things Civil War infantry soldiers would have known is the bugle calls for camp and skirmish.

With two calls being repeats between the general calls and skirmish calls (Quick Time and Double Quick Time), and the gradual replacement of "To Extinguish Lights" with "Taps" during 1862, there are 48 infantry bugle calls to learn.

How well do you know them?

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

I have been using Armory Guards website to learn the bugle calls http://www.armoryguards.org/ . I have not learned very many yet, but their site has been a great help. To get to the bugle calls, go under their research link and then click on "bugle calls".

[Indianabugles]

I know about 18 and have taught my society about 10. Work in progress!!

[Ken]

Get Infantry Bugle Calls of The Civil War by George Rabbai. Best way to Learn and most importantly the calls are played correctly!

[Hardtack Herring]

Please help me understand the Bugle Call Forward March and Halt.

When the verbal command is given Forward march......Forward is the prep command and march is the execution command.... The men step off on the left foot at the end of the execution command.

That is when we the Fife and Drum Corps start to play and move. If the command has already been executed and the men are moving what is the point of the bugle call Forward March?

I understand that Regiments were large and a voice command may not be heard by the whole regiment.

If only the bugle call Forward March is sounded and no verbal order forward march is given when would the men start to move? After the last note of the call?

Also if a verbal command Forward March is given and then sounded by the bugle when would the soldiers start to march? At the end of the execution command march? I doubt this question can be answered as it could be argued all day long.

Same for the halt.... If the bugle call Halt is played when would the men halt? On the last note of the call? Would the leading company halt on the verbal command halt and the bugle call would inform the last companys of the regiment that there was halt?

As fifers and drummers we would halt on the verbal command Halt and if we were in the middle of a strain we would halt and continue playing until the strain is finished.

What I am asking is when to start marching when a bugle call Forward march is played as well as well as when to halt when the bugle command halt is given.

Would a verbal command forward march or halt would be carried out by the soldiers before the bugle call. My guess is yes that the bugle call was used for soldiers that were out of earshot from the verbal command.

I hope my questions are clear.

I think it would be cool to hear the bugle command Forward March, and The Fife and Drum Corps starts to play and steps off on the LAST note of the bugle call. I want to make sure this is how it was done....What sounds and seems cool is not the way to do things. I prefer to do things the way they were really done.

I would prefer a reference to a manual rather than a bunch of replies my unit does it like this.....Then of course that may be an authentic answer as Regiments at times did thing different than other Regiments.

Thank you,

[Dale Beasley]

I know the one's that tell you to get up, eat, sleep, and charge.

[flattop32355]

So far, an almost perfect bell curve.

[Hardtack Herring]

Mr. Biederman,

Do you have an answer to my questions?

[flattop32355]

Mr. Biederman,
Do you have an answer to my questions?

I did not realize the questions were directed to me personally, rather than to forum members as a whole. My apologies for the misunderstanding.

No, I don't have the answer, at least not completely. I was hoping R.J. or Jari would be available to give a more complete response. I know the calls, but there are aspects of their execution that still are a mystery to me.

I am aware that, in reenacting, one often hears the Preparatory command vocalized, then the Bugle call, then the vocal "March". Whether this is a reenactorism or standard procedure of the time is unknown to me. My general opinion is that anything above regimental level, and quite probably there too, the officer in charge would turn to the Bugler and make his wishes known in a normal voice (provided there is a call for the command), and the bugler would sound the call. I suspect no vocal command was made above company level in these cases, but that is mere speculation. I've seen no evidence one way or another.

I also am aware that for a number of maneouver commands, the execution begins after the last note of the call is sounded. I've seen no evidence that this is true for all the skirmish calls (Halt, Commence/Cease Firing, Lie Down, etc.), however.

With the seemingly present lack of authority on the subject, my personal advice would be to discover how the commanding officer gives his commands. If he follows the Bugle call with a verbal "March", that's when to start playing. If he relies solely on the Bugler to make his wishes known, and you are not already playing, I'd start from the last note of the call.

Sorry I can't be of more help. As I said, I know the calls, but am still vexed as to how some are executed. It is a whole 'nother subject from learning the calls.

[Hardtack Herring]

Thanks for your response Mr. Biederman.

At first my post was to the general forum but it seemed to me you were fallowing the thread more than others at this time.

The way you explained it is pretty much the same feeling that I have as well.

Hopefully Jari or RJ will be by soon! Maybe they can shed more light on the subject.