HISTORY

Military Funerals

Funeral operations for the 1812-1815 period are sparsely documented, but there are a specific set of military instructions from our old friend, and generally despised Gen. Smyth, directly from his manual:

The colors of the regiment, if present, will be borne covered with crape.

The drums shall be muffled, and covered with thin black serge. [This would assume a garrison standing, where the material would be available and may not have been performed in the field].

The escort being formed in line, with shouldered arms, without bayonets, before the tent or quarters where the corpse lies, it will be brought out. (See above illustration.)

On its appearance, the detachment will present arms, and the music will play an appropriate air.

The corpse will be borne to, and halted on the right; the detachment will shoulder arms, and form the open column, with the left in front. The commanding officer will then order:

Reverse ARMS.
Column forward.
Guide to the right.
MARCH.

At the first command, the soldiers will come to the position of "secure firelock;" the officers will bring their swords under the right arm, the right hand at the hilt.

[Note: This set of instructions is not internally consistent. The question that needs to be asked is why there is an order of Reverse Arms when the intention is Secure Firelock, as described. One has to assume that this reverse is ment to be understood to be the reverse of Secure Firelock, with the barrel and not the butt under the arm and the butt pointed up, not down. Otherwise, why the different order? This is just logical conjecture, but the resulting position would be consistent with the military practice of the time.]

At the fourth command, the column followed by the music and procession, will be marched to the grave, taking a direction to leave it on the directing flank of the column. When the centre of the column is opposite to the grave, it will be halted, brought to shouldered arms, and wheeled into line.

The commanding officer will then order:

Rest on ARMS.

The same as the two first motions of "present arms." Turn up the butt with the right hand, place the muzzle on the left toe, the barrel to the front, lay the right hand on the butt and the left hand on the right, bend the right knee, incline the head forward, and look downward.

The corpse will then be interred; this being done, the commanding officer will order:

Attention.
Shoulder ARMS.
Prime and LOAD.

This command will be executed as has been prescribed; and the detachment will fire three rounds over the grave. This being done, they will be ordered to shoulder arms, wheeled into open column to the right, and marched off in quick time, the music playing a sprightly air.