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Standing Guard and Guard Forms

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  • Standing Guard and Guard Forms

    Standing guard is something that many enact during events. There were specific forms for keeping records of who was on guard, when, and so forth. Included here are photographs of 2 Guard Mount forms, one Union, one Confederate. Note that on the Union form, there is a section in the center of the form that specifies four people: Sergeant, Commanding the Guard, Corporal, and, Best Shot. Never saw that mentioned before by anyone.
    Cordially,

    Bob Sullivan
    Elverson, PA

  • #2
    Originally posted by BobSullivanPress View Post
    Note that on the Union form, there is a section in the center of the form that specifies four people: Sergeant, Commanding the Guard, Corporal, and, Best Shot. Never saw that mentioned before by anyone.
    I have seen similar on Danish paperwork.

    By the end of the Napoleonic wars it was pretty common for line infantry companies from mainland European armies to have a few Good shots, armed with (slow firing) rifles.

    One reason was specifically for when on guard duty.
    If a few enemy cavalry was riding around being annoying to a guardpost you would generally only use one good shot to try drive them off. Even if he miss, having a round go close past you or hit the ground close to you will get most people to back off.

    Thomas Aagaard

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