Post by Ground Sleeper on Mar 2, 2009 11:35:56 GMT -5
This article was written by Kevin O’Beirne of the Columbia Rifles. It has everything you need to know about saluting. It covers the who,what, when and where of saluting.
BASIC HONORS TO BE PAID BY THE TROOPS
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 1 of 8
BASIC HONORS TO BE PAID BY THE TROOPS
Notes on “Saluting” for Reenactors
by Kevin O’Beirne
Author’s Note: This article is geared toward Civil
War-era Federal infantry portrayals. While much of
it is applicable to other Civil War-era portrayals, the
author makes no representation of its completeness
for use by Confederate impressionists or those
representing other branches of the service.
Attention!
All members of the United States Army, both of
the 1860s and today, were and are expected to know
and provide basic “honors”, which many reenactors
think of only as saluting. Unfortunately, basic honors
paid by the troops are one of the “methods” aspects
of living history that are either poorly executed or
missing entirely in many portrayals.
Proper salutes and rendering of honors at living
history events can contribute to the “back in time”
feeling that many reenactors seek. Conversely, few
things can ruin a reenacting “moment” quicker than
seeing a fellow who is incapable of understanding
and presenting this most basic military behavior.
While attending several garrison-scenario events in
2002 and 2003 my comrades and I observed that few
reenactors, regardless of their apparent position on
the authenticity scale, know how and when to
properly salute and render basic honors.
“Saluting” is more complex than many reenactors
may initially think — it involves a lot more than the
simple hand salute and the “Sergeant’s Salute” (e.g.,
the salute often rendered while bearing a long-arm).
Various types of salutes and actions to show
deference to and acknowledgement of higher-ranking
individuals and bodies of troops are required and
should be known by everyone in reenacting, from the
private up through the general officer.
Some reenactors choose not to salute officers they
do not know, and many elect to put little effort into
saluting, often giving a lazy hand-wave in lieu of a
military salute. To repeat the old truism: salute the
office, not the man; in other words, salute the rank,
not the individual wearing it. And yes, reenactors
should certainly provide a fairly snappy salute to
officers with whom they are unfamiliar. Consider
what would have happened to a Civil War soldier
who elected not to salute a commissioned officer
simply because the officer was unknown to him.
While it is well-documented that there was often a
good degree of familiarity and, on occasion, even
fraternization between commissioned officers and
their men in many volunteer regiments1, basic
military honors were known by everyone in the Civil
War army and were used, particularly by guards,
when in garrison, and when the regiment was not on
campaign.
This article attempts to summarize the basic
honors to be paid by the troops in a brief, outline
format, and tries to answer the questions of how to
salute, who gets saluted, who is supposed to be doing
the saluting, and when and how often one should
salute, both for day-to-day honors to be paid by
individuals and for more-specialized situations such
as guard duty or when a soldier is called into the
quarters of a commissioned officer.
Citations to references are presented in each of
the following paragraphs. Abbreviations of source
names are provided in the list of references at the end
of this article.
Types of Salutes and How to Salute
• Without Arms
o Hand Salute – “When a soldier without arms
or side arms only meets an officer he is to
raise his hand to the right side of the visor of
his cap, palm to the front, elbow raised as
high as the shoulder, looking at the same
time in a respectful and soldier-like manner
at the officer, who shall return the
compliment thus offered.” (Reg., pg. 42,
Para. 256). A volunteers’ manual from 1861
suggested, “First motion. — Extend the arm
horizontally to the right, palm down.
Second motion. — Carry the hand to the
visor of the cap. Third motion. — Carry the
arm back to the horizontal position. Fourth
motion. — Drop the hand quickly to the
side.” (Viele, pp. 20-21). In 1867 Upton’s
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 2 of 8
manual changed hand saluting to the “palm
down” method; however, Army Regulations
did not delete the “palm to the front”
specification until 1881. Hand salutes should
be rendered when the commissioned officer
being saluted is distant approximately six
paces.
o Left Hand Salute – Some sources (Viele, pg.
21; Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 89) suggest
that left-hand salutes may have been
rendered in the Civil War era. Both Viele
and Upton state that a left-hand salute was
performed similar to the right-hand salute,
and that left-hand salutes should be rendered
when the person being saluted is on the
soldier’s right (i.e., salute with the hand on
the side opposite the person being saluted).
However, because the actual use of left-hand
salutes is not included in the U.S. Army
Regulations of the Civil War years and is
not otherwise well documented, reenactors
should carefully evaluate whether they wish
to render honors with the left hand. Left
hand salutes are probably “more acceptable”
when the right arm of the man presenting the
salute is “occupied” (i.e., carrying
something, in a sling, etc.).
o When indoors, a soldier shall remove his cap
and stand in the Position of the Soldier until
recognized (Kautz, COS/NCO&S, pg. 23, para.54
However if the soldier is in full or undress uniform, with his
musket or with only his side arms, he would
not remove his cap but rather would use the
Sergeant’s Salute (when bearing a long arm)
or the hand salute (e.g., touching his cap)
when bearing side arms only. (Jaeger,
A&NJ, March 19, 1864 and May 21, 1864)
• With Arms:
o The Carry (shoulder arms) (Reg., Para. 420,
pg. 64; Casey Vol. 1, pp. 35-36 etc., Paras.
127-132, etc.)
o Present Arms (Casey Vol. 1, pp. 39-40,
Paras. 150-151)
o Sergeant’s Salute – “Sergeants... will
salute... with muskets, by bringing the left
hand across the body, so as to strike the
musket near the right shoulder. Corporals
out of the ranks, and privates not sentries,
will carry their muskets at the shoulder as
sergeants and salute in like manner.” (Reg.,
page 42, Para. 255). Regarding how the
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 3 of 8
hand is to strike the musket, evidence is
inconclusive whether the hand was typically
oriented so that the open palm struck the
piece or whether the palm was down;
probably both (and variations) were actually
used. However, in 1866 a correspondent to
a military magazine suggested that the U.S.
Army Regulations be revised to explicitly
state that the back of the hand should be to
the front when the hand strikes the piece,
which lends some weight to that method.
(A&NJ, July 14, 1866)
o Commissioned Officers and Sergeants with
Swords, Sword Salute – “[from Shouldered
Arms]: Three times (or pauses). One. At the
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 4 of 8
distance six paces from the person to be
saluted, raise the sword or sabre
perpendicularly, the point up, the flat of the
blade opposite to the right eye, the guard at
the height of the shoulder, and the elbow
supported on the body. Two. Drop the point
of the sword or sabre by extending the arm,
so that the right hand may be brought to the
side of the right thigh, and remain in that
position until the person to whom the salute
is rendered shall be passed, or shall have
passed, six paces. Three. Raise the sword
or sabre smartly and place the back of the
blade against the right shoulder.” (Casey
Vol. 1, pg. 224; also see Dal Bello’s Sword
Manual). Upton’s 1867 manual stated that
when the blade is dropped in the second
motion, “with the edge to the left, by
extending the arm so that the right hand may
be brought to the side of the right thigh, the
back of the hand down”. Reenactors should
consider that Upton’s manual is a post-war
work. There were variations on this method;
one late-war source states: “First Motion.--
Bring up the right hand, as high as the
breast, sword pointing up between the eyes
and four inches from them, edge turned to
the left. Second Motion.--Drop the sword by
extending the arm, making as nearly as
possible a straight line from the shoulder to
the point; the sword directed at the ground
eighteen inches to the front and right. Third
Motion.--Bring the sword to the shoulder.”
(Jaeger/A&NJ, January 9, 1864). Upton’s
1867 manual also clarifies: “In saluting with
troops, the first time will be executed at the
command present; the second, at the
command arms; the third motion will be
executed as the arms are brought to the
carry.”
• Duration of Salute – It is unclear whether a man
rendering a salute in the Civil War era held the
salute until it was returned. Common sense
dictates that it was. (CRRC Article III.5)
• Stand – “A noncommissioned officer or soldier
being seated, and without particular occupation,
will rise at the approach of an officer, and make
the customary salutation. If standing, he will
turn toward the officer for the same purpose.”
(Reg., pg. 42, Para. 257) A post-war manual
added, “Soldiers, whether standing or sitting,
will, when an officer approaches, take the
position of the soldier [e.g., stand ‘at attention’],
face toward him, and salute. If walking, they
will salute an officer as they pass him,
commencing the salute, when approaching from
opposite directions, at six paces from the
officer.” (Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 90)
• Upon Entering an Officer’s Quarters – “When a
soldier enters an officer’s quarters he remains
standing in the position of the soldier until
invited to sit down. When soldiers are in a room
and an officer enters, they should rise and remain
standing until invited to sit down.” (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, pg. 24, Para. 57)
• When Mounted – When a soldier is mounted and
is to salute a dismounted officer of superior rank,
he shall first dismount before rendering the
appropriate salute. (Kautz, COS/NCO&S, pg. 24,
Para. 56)
• Color Salute – Color bearers carry the colors
“whether at a halt or in march... [with] the heel
of the color lance supported on the right hip, the
right hand generally placed on the lance at the
height of the shoulder... When the color has to
render honors, the color-bearer will salute as
follows: At the distance of six paces slip the
right hand along the lance to the height of the
eye; lower the lance by straightening the arm to
its full extent, the heel of the lance remaining on
the hip, and bring the lance back to the habitual
position when the person saluted shall be passed,
or shall have passed, six paces.” (Casey Vol. 1,
pg. 225) 2
Who Salutes?
• Enlisted men salute all commissioned officers.
(Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers salute other
commissioned officers who are superior to them
in rank. (Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers return the salute of
juniors who have first saluted them. This is
mandatory (Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254). In 1864
a United States military magazine stated, “The
rule is invariable that all salutes should be
returned” (Jaeger/A&NJ, August 13, 1864).
• It is unclear whether the Civil War army
followed the modern custom of the senior person
in a group being the only one in the group to
salute a superior officer when in formation; it is
probably best to follow this procedure until
proven otherwise (CRRC, Article III.5). Several
period sources (some cited below) appear to
support this theory.
• When not in formation, all enlisted men in a
group should salute upon the approach of an
officer, in accordance with modern military
procedure, until such time as a period reference
is found.
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 5 of 8
• A post-war source states that Orderly Sergeants
salute the Sergeant Major during guard mount
ceremony. This is the only time an enlisted man
is saluted. (Dal Bello IGP, pg. 16, Para. 39).3
• Inspection – After a battalion is broken into
column for inspection, company commanders
should salute the inspector as he approaches to
inspect their respective companies
(Jaeger/A&NJ, August 13, 1864). The
reviewing officer should not salute the colors
when he goes down the line (Jaeger/A&NJ, July
2, 1864).
• Reviews – When passing in review the battalion
Sergeant Major should salute the reviewing
officer (Jaeger/A&NJ, March 19, 1864). The
reviewing officer shall return salutes rendered
and shall salute the colors when they pass him
(Jaeger/A&NJ, July 2, 1864).
Who Gets Saluted?
• All commissioned officers by men of lesser rank.
(Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers not in uniform should be
saluted by inferior ranks who recognize them to
be an officer (Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 91).
This protocol was apparently unclear during the
Civil War era because one year before Upton
wrote his manual the Army and Navy Journal
asserted, “An officer is entitled to the salute due
his rank only when in the uniform of that rank.”
(A&NJ, July 7, 1866). Apparently during the
Civil War era there was confusion on this issue.
It may be best to stick with the maxim, “Salute
the office, not the man” regardless of the
clothing worn until more conclusive
documentation of period practice is found.
• Guard Duty – Sentinels shall stop and face their
proper front (not necessarily toward the officer!
Jaeger/A&NJ, October 1, 1864) and render the
proper honor. Sentinels should salute officers
who pass near but behind their beat
(Jaeger/A&NJ, December 24, 1864). Common
sense dictates that salutes by sentinels are not
rendered during hours of challenging.
o Line Officers (captains and lieutenants who
are not the Officer of the Day) – The Carry
(per Reg., pg. 64, Para. 420) OR the
Sergeant’s Salute (per period practice).4
o Officer of the Day (i.e., captain or lieutenant
wearing a sash across his chest) and
Commanding Officer of the Battalion or
Post – Present Arms (Reg., pg. 64, Para.
420)
o Field and General Officers – Present Arms
(Reg., pg. 64, Para. 420). Surgeons held the
equivalent rank of Major and therefore
should also be saluted by sentinels with
Present Arms. (Jaeger/A&NJ, December 5,
1863). “A sentinel should not present arms
to a field officer when he passes in rear of
him.” [emphasis added for this article]
(Jaeger/A&NJ, February 20, 1864)
o While in a Guard Box/Sentry Box, Any
Commissioned Officer – Sergeant’s Salute
Reg., pg. 64, Para. 421) 5
o Turning Out the Guard – The Guard turns
out (i.e., assembles in formation under arms
at the guard tent) at Present Arms once per
day for the Officer of the Day and
Battalion/Post Commander, and any general
officer. The Guard turns out at the Carry all
other times (Reg., pg. 65, Paras. 426-427,
431). The Guard turns out and Presents
Arms for passing regimental colors and for
armed parties commanded by a
commissioned officer. The Guard turns out
at the Carry for armed parties commanded
by a non-commissioned officer. The Guard
turns out but does not present at all if the
person being complimented passes behind
the Guard. During hours of challenging, the
Guard turns out only for Grand Rounds.
(Reg., pg. 41, Paras. 247-251. Also see Dal
Bello IGP, pp. 30-31, Paras. 81-90).
• A post-war source states that Orderly Sergeants
salute the Sergeant Major during guard mount
ceremony. This is the only time an enlisted man
is saluted.3
• Dignitaries – Honors to be paid are per the U.S.
Army Regulations, pages 40-41, Paras. 237-246.
• Officers of the Navy and Marines – Are entitled
to the same compliments as officers of the Army.
(Reg., pg. 41, Para. 252)
• Chaplains – It is unclear whether chaplains were
saluted, although they were given the pay and
allowances of Captains and were even permitted
to wear Captain’s insignia (Reg., pp. 507, 524).
Whether or not a chaplain was saluted may have
depended upon his standing with the men of his
regiment.
When and How Often Do You
Salute?
• Salute a given commissioned line officer once
per day (the first time you see him, per U.S.
Army Regulations, page 42, Para. 257) unless
you are addressing or being addressed by him, or
otherwise encounter him directly (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, page 23, Para. 53). For example,
a soldier in town who encounters the same
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 6 of 8
commissioned officer in the street multiple times
would probably be expected to salute the officer
each time.
• When spoken to by a commissioned officer, an
enlisted man salutes, and salutes again before
leaving the officer’s presence. (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, pg. 23, Para. 53).
• Sentinels – During daylight hours, sentinels
(camp/police guards) salute every commissioned
officer who passes them, no matter how many
times per day.
• During hours of challenging, no compliments are
paid for obvious reasons; however, between
Retreat and Reveille the Guard turns out for
Grand Rounds. (Reg., pg. 41, Para. 251).
• A modern reference for reenactors (Dal
Bello/IGP, pg. 31, Para 90) maintains that
courtesies are not rendered on the picket line
because drawing attention to a commissioned
officer is liable to make the officer the target of
an enemy sharpshooter. While this appears to
make a good deal of sense, this writer has been
unable to locate a period reference for this
practice. It strikes this writer that simply
“shouldering arms” was a fairly innocuous way
to salute, and guards are not supposed to let their
weapons touch the ground in the first place.
• Details of Troops Under Arms – The commander
of the detail salutes; the men in the detail do not
salute unless so ordered (Kautz, COS/NCO&S,
pg. 23, Para. 52).6
• Fatigue Parties – Do not have to stop working to
salute a passing officer. (Kautz, COS/NCO&S,
pg. 23, Para. 52)
• While not strictly a form of saluting,
commissioned officers should “honor” their men
by having their sword drawn at all times their
men are in formation and under arms, until the
command to stack, rest, march at the route step,
or dismissal is given. A Civil War military
periodical stated, “The rule is invariable
that...officers in command of troops
should have their swords drawn” (Jaeger/A&NJ,
August 13, 1864). All commands to men under
arms are given with a drawn sword (Dal Bello
Sword Manual “Introduction”, citing Upton’s
1874 Infantry Tactics, Paras. 755-758, 760-761).
To not do so may give the appearance of
disrespect toward the men. Upton’s 1867
manual also states, “Officers on all duties under
arms are to have their swords drawn, without
waiting for any words of command for that
purpose.”
Other Honors
There are other types of honors to be paid by the
troops but they are either a work unto themselves
(dress parade, guard mount, etc.) or rare to non-
existent in reenacting (funerals, cannon salutes, etc.).
Among them are:
• Honors paid during Dress Parade are per the U.S.
Army Regulations, pp. 50-57.
• Honors paid during Guard Mount ceremony and
when the new Guard relieves the old are per the
U.S. Army Regulations, pp.58-61.
• Cannon-salutes to be fired for visiting dignitaries
are per the U.S. Army Regulations, pp. 42-43,
Paras. 258-270.
• Escorts of honor for personages of high rank
(civil or military) are per the U.S. Army
Regulations pg. 43, Paras. 271-274.
• Funeral honors are per the U.S. Army
Regulations pp. 43-46, Paras. 275-302.
• Others not covered in this article.
Remarks on the Utility of This
Article
The events attended by many reenactors typically
require that the participants know only the hand
salute and the Sergeant’s Salute. For those
accustomed to rendering such a fairly un-intensive
level of honors much of this article may represent
semi-interesting but functionally useless information.
However, there are events where almost every item
presented in this article is essential knowledge.
Reenactors who desire a more-realistic representation
of Civil War military courtesies, complete with
proper honors paid by the troops, should consider
participating in such an event.
Some reenactors may believe that an emphasis on
saluting and other honors is “too much like the real
military”. In response we offer that living history
often involves conveying to the public and other
reenactors the appearance of a bona-fide military
organization, and rendering basic honors is an easy
way to represent that the living history scenario does,
in fact, portray real soldiers in an army that expected
and enforced discipline, particularly while in camp or
garrison.
Conclusions
All living history portrayals can always be
enhanced and this writer has observed that
improvement in the way we pay honors while in
uniform is one of the most basic areas requiring
attention in the hobby today. Further, learning how
to properly render honors is fairly easy and certainly
costs less than some other ways of improving one’s
portrayal, such as buying new uniforms and
equipment.
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 7 of 8
Consider copying this article and referring to it
prior to and during events.
Happy saluting!
Acknowledgements
The author thanks Mark Jaeger of Purdue
University for generously providing information used
in this article, and for reviewing the draft and
providing many useful and insightful comments.
The author thanks Nicholas Redding of
Tonawanda, New York for posing for many of the
photographs used to illustrate this article.
Selected References
Butterfield, Daniel, Camp and Outpost Duty for
Infantry, New York: Harper & Brothers
Publishers, 1862.
Casey, Silas, Infantry Tactics (3 vols.), New York:
Van Nostrand, 1862 (abbreviated as “Casey Vol.
X”).
Craighill, William P., The Army Officer’s Pocket
Companion, New York: Van Nostrand, 1862.
Dal Bello, Dominic Instructions for Guards and
Pickets, 2nd Edition, Santa Barbara CA: Army of
the Pacific Press, 1998 (abbreviated as “Dal Bello
IGP”).
Dal Bello, Dominic, “Manual of the Sword for
Officers of the Army of the Pacific” (pamphlet),
1995, available online at www.domdalbello.
com/aoppress/swordmanual.doc (abbreviated as
“Dal Bello Sword Manual”).
Jaeger, Mark, ed., Excerpts from Army and Navy
Journal, August 1863-1865, Mark Jaeger
Collection (abbreviated as Jaeger/A&NJ). A&NJ
was a Civil War era journal published by the War
Department that, among other things, contained
clarifications of drill and protocol.
Jaeger, Mark, “‘Military Notes and Queries from The
United States Service Magazine”, The Watchdog,
Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2003, pp. 2-8
(abbreviated as “Jaeger/USSM”).
Kautz, August V., Customs of Service for Non-
commissioned Officers and Soldiers, Philadelphia: J.P.
Lippincott Co., 1864 (abbreviated as “COS/NCO&S”).
Kautz, August V., Customs of Service for Officers of the
Army, Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott Co., 1866
(abbreviated as “COS/OOA”).
Tobey, John, et. al., eds., The Columbia Rifles Research
Compendium, 1st Edition, Boxborough MA: The
Columbia Rifles, Inc., 2001 – Knickerbocker, Lewis,
“How to Salute”, Article III.5 (abbreviated as “CRRC
Article III.5”).
United States War Department, Revised United States Army
Regulations of 1861, With an Appendix Containing the
Changes and Laws Affecting Army Regulations and
Articles of War to June 25, 1863, Washington:
Government Printing Office, 1863 (abbreviated as
“Reg.”).
Upton, Emory, A New System of Infantry Tactics, Double
and Single Rank (1st Edition), New York: Appleton,
1867 (abbreviated as “Upton 1867”).
Upton, Emory, A New System of Infantry Tactics, Double
and Single Rank (3rd Edition), New York: Appleton,
1874 (abbreviated as “Upton 1874”).
Viele, Egbert L., Hand-book for Active Service, New York,
D. Van Nostrand, 1861 (abbreviated as “Viele”).
Endnotes
1
As examples of familiarity between commissioned
officers and enlisted men the writer offers the following:
1) A sergeant wrote to his wife, “I had a conversation
with Major Byrne the other day... He wondered why I
was making so strange with him. He wants me to call
and see him oftener after this.” (Tipping, George, 155th
New York Co. I, letter dated February 15, 1864,
Catherine Keane Collection, Buffalo and Erie County
Historical Society, Buffalo N.Y.). 2) “With few
exceptions, there is too little pride and effort at soldierly
bearing among the officers, and too much familiarity
between them and their men.” (Letter from the Inspector
General’s Office of the Trans-Mississippi Department,
October 26, 1863, Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 22,
Part 2, pg. 1050). 3) “It has been brought to the
knowledge of the brigadier-general commanding that in
some of the regiments of this corps... officers are in the
habit of associating on terms of familiarity with the
enlisted men of their regiments, even to the extent of
playing certain games together.” (General Orders 14,
Tenth Army Corps, July 12, 1864, Official Records,
Series 1, Vol. 40, Part 3, pg. 205).
2
The modern custom of not saluting with the Unites States
flag did not exist in the 1860s; it apparently started at
the 1908 Olympics in London, England. Therefore,
when at a reenactment or similar event, the National flag
should salute. However, when reenactors march in a
modern parade or participate in a function with modern
organizations (e.g., a color guard ceremony with police
or firemen, or modern military units), it may be
advisable to observe the modern custom regarding the
National color.
3
Dal Bello’s assertion that the Orderly Sergeants salute the
Sergeant Major during guard mounting ceremony is
based on Emory Upton’s A New System of Infantry
Tactics, 3rd Edition, 1874, Para. 818. Because this
source post-dates the Civil War by nine years, further
conclusive evidence that the Sergeant Major was saluted
at guard mounting during the Civil War is necessary.
4
Of special note is a letter to United States Service
Magazine’s May 1865 issue (see Jaeger/USSM, pp. 5-6)
that points out: ““Does the last sentence of [Regulations]
paragraph 420, requiring sentinels to ‘carry arms’ to all
officers below field officers, include the usual salute
with the left hand brought to the shoulder, or not?” The
inference from the language of that paragraph is, that the
sentinel should stand at shouldered arms; but the
common practice in the volunteer army is otherwise.
This practice is doubtless derived from the requirements
as to salutes in other cases. Indeed, it is hardly
consistent that the single sentry should simply carry
arms to a line officer, when walking on a beat; because
the same sentry, if in a sentry-box, would salute the
same officer by raising the left hand; and if not a sentry,
but simply a soldier under arms, and not on duty, he
would offer the same salute under paragraph 255. From
these facts has originated the custom of interpreting the
language of paragraph 420, “carry arms,” to mean “carry
arms and salute as a sergeant.”” Another Civil War
source (Jaeger/A&NJ, December 24, 1864) explicitly
states, “Officers below the rank of Major receive the
sergeant's salute from sentinels.” However, some
regiments did salute per the Regulations (Jaeger/A&NJ,
February 6, 1864). Therefore, either “carry arms” OR
the “Sergeant’s Salute” should be acceptable at living
history events, with the Sergeant’s Salute being
preferred, because it was apparently common among
volunteer troops.
5
When posted in a sentry box, the only salute rendered is
the Sergeant’s Salute, regardless of the commissioned
officer’s rank, because any other salute would generally
result in jamming the bayonet into the roof of the sentry
box.
6
According to United States Service Magazine’s May 1864
issue (Jaeger/USSM, pp. 2-3), when one regiment is
being received by another (i.e., marching past a regiment
drawn up in line), each commissioned officer of the
marching regiment salutes when he reaches a point six
paces from the receiving unit’s left. The enlisted men of
the marching regiment remain at shoulder arms.
BASIC HONORS TO BE PAID BY THE TROOPS
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 1 of 8
BASIC HONORS TO BE PAID BY THE TROOPS
Notes on “Saluting” for Reenactors
by Kevin O’Beirne
Author’s Note: This article is geared toward Civil
War-era Federal infantry portrayals. While much of
it is applicable to other Civil War-era portrayals, the
author makes no representation of its completeness
for use by Confederate impressionists or those
representing other branches of the service.
Attention!
All members of the United States Army, both of
the 1860s and today, were and are expected to know
and provide basic “honors”, which many reenactors
think of only as saluting. Unfortunately, basic honors
paid by the troops are one of the “methods” aspects
of living history that are either poorly executed or
missing entirely in many portrayals.
Proper salutes and rendering of honors at living
history events can contribute to the “back in time”
feeling that many reenactors seek. Conversely, few
things can ruin a reenacting “moment” quicker than
seeing a fellow who is incapable of understanding
and presenting this most basic military behavior.
While attending several garrison-scenario events in
2002 and 2003 my comrades and I observed that few
reenactors, regardless of their apparent position on
the authenticity scale, know how and when to
properly salute and render basic honors.
“Saluting” is more complex than many reenactors
may initially think — it involves a lot more than the
simple hand salute and the “Sergeant’s Salute” (e.g.,
the salute often rendered while bearing a long-arm).
Various types of salutes and actions to show
deference to and acknowledgement of higher-ranking
individuals and bodies of troops are required and
should be known by everyone in reenacting, from the
private up through the general officer.
Some reenactors choose not to salute officers they
do not know, and many elect to put little effort into
saluting, often giving a lazy hand-wave in lieu of a
military salute. To repeat the old truism: salute the
office, not the man; in other words, salute the rank,
not the individual wearing it. And yes, reenactors
should certainly provide a fairly snappy salute to
officers with whom they are unfamiliar. Consider
what would have happened to a Civil War soldier
who elected not to salute a commissioned officer
simply because the officer was unknown to him.
While it is well-documented that there was often a
good degree of familiarity and, on occasion, even
fraternization between commissioned officers and
their men in many volunteer regiments1, basic
military honors were known by everyone in the Civil
War army and were used, particularly by guards,
when in garrison, and when the regiment was not on
campaign.
This article attempts to summarize the basic
honors to be paid by the troops in a brief, outline
format, and tries to answer the questions of how to
salute, who gets saluted, who is supposed to be doing
the saluting, and when and how often one should
salute, both for day-to-day honors to be paid by
individuals and for more-specialized situations such
as guard duty or when a soldier is called into the
quarters of a commissioned officer.
Citations to references are presented in each of
the following paragraphs. Abbreviations of source
names are provided in the list of references at the end
of this article.
Types of Salutes and How to Salute
• Without Arms
o Hand Salute – “When a soldier without arms
or side arms only meets an officer he is to
raise his hand to the right side of the visor of
his cap, palm to the front, elbow raised as
high as the shoulder, looking at the same
time in a respectful and soldier-like manner
at the officer, who shall return the
compliment thus offered.” (Reg., pg. 42,
Para. 256). A volunteers’ manual from 1861
suggested, “First motion. — Extend the arm
horizontally to the right, palm down.
Second motion. — Carry the hand to the
visor of the cap. Third motion. — Carry the
arm back to the horizontal position. Fourth
motion. — Drop the hand quickly to the
side.” (Viele, pp. 20-21). In 1867 Upton’s
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 2 of 8
manual changed hand saluting to the “palm
down” method; however, Army Regulations
did not delete the “palm to the front”
specification until 1881. Hand salutes should
be rendered when the commissioned officer
being saluted is distant approximately six
paces.
o Left Hand Salute – Some sources (Viele, pg.
21; Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 89) suggest
that left-hand salutes may have been
rendered in the Civil War era. Both Viele
and Upton state that a left-hand salute was
performed similar to the right-hand salute,
and that left-hand salutes should be rendered
when the person being saluted is on the
soldier’s right (i.e., salute with the hand on
the side opposite the person being saluted).
However, because the actual use of left-hand
salutes is not included in the U.S. Army
Regulations of the Civil War years and is
not otherwise well documented, reenactors
should carefully evaluate whether they wish
to render honors with the left hand. Left
hand salutes are probably “more acceptable”
when the right arm of the man presenting the
salute is “occupied” (i.e., carrying
something, in a sling, etc.).
o When indoors, a soldier shall remove his cap
and stand in the Position of the Soldier until
recognized (Kautz, COS/NCO&S, pg. 23, para.54
However if the soldier is in full or undress uniform, with his
musket or with only his side arms, he would
not remove his cap but rather would use the
Sergeant’s Salute (when bearing a long arm)
or the hand salute (e.g., touching his cap)
when bearing side arms only. (Jaeger,
A&NJ, March 19, 1864 and May 21, 1864)
• With Arms:
o The Carry (shoulder arms) (Reg., Para. 420,
pg. 64; Casey Vol. 1, pp. 35-36 etc., Paras.
127-132, etc.)
o Present Arms (Casey Vol. 1, pp. 39-40,
Paras. 150-151)
o Sergeant’s Salute – “Sergeants... will
salute... with muskets, by bringing the left
hand across the body, so as to strike the
musket near the right shoulder. Corporals
out of the ranks, and privates not sentries,
will carry their muskets at the shoulder as
sergeants and salute in like manner.” (Reg.,
page 42, Para. 255). Regarding how the
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 3 of 8
hand is to strike the musket, evidence is
inconclusive whether the hand was typically
oriented so that the open palm struck the
piece or whether the palm was down;
probably both (and variations) were actually
used. However, in 1866 a correspondent to
a military magazine suggested that the U.S.
Army Regulations be revised to explicitly
state that the back of the hand should be to
the front when the hand strikes the piece,
which lends some weight to that method.
(A&NJ, July 14, 1866)
o Commissioned Officers and Sergeants with
Swords, Sword Salute – “[from Shouldered
Arms]: Three times (or pauses). One. At the
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 4 of 8
distance six paces from the person to be
saluted, raise the sword or sabre
perpendicularly, the point up, the flat of the
blade opposite to the right eye, the guard at
the height of the shoulder, and the elbow
supported on the body. Two. Drop the point
of the sword or sabre by extending the arm,
so that the right hand may be brought to the
side of the right thigh, and remain in that
position until the person to whom the salute
is rendered shall be passed, or shall have
passed, six paces. Three. Raise the sword
or sabre smartly and place the back of the
blade against the right shoulder.” (Casey
Vol. 1, pg. 224; also see Dal Bello’s Sword
Manual). Upton’s 1867 manual stated that
when the blade is dropped in the second
motion, “with the edge to the left, by
extending the arm so that the right hand may
be brought to the side of the right thigh, the
back of the hand down”. Reenactors should
consider that Upton’s manual is a post-war
work. There were variations on this method;
one late-war source states: “First Motion.--
Bring up the right hand, as high as the
breast, sword pointing up between the eyes
and four inches from them, edge turned to
the left. Second Motion.--Drop the sword by
extending the arm, making as nearly as
possible a straight line from the shoulder to
the point; the sword directed at the ground
eighteen inches to the front and right. Third
Motion.--Bring the sword to the shoulder.”
(Jaeger/A&NJ, January 9, 1864). Upton’s
1867 manual also clarifies: “In saluting with
troops, the first time will be executed at the
command present; the second, at the
command arms; the third motion will be
executed as the arms are brought to the
carry.”
• Duration of Salute – It is unclear whether a man
rendering a salute in the Civil War era held the
salute until it was returned. Common sense
dictates that it was. (CRRC Article III.5)
• Stand – “A noncommissioned officer or soldier
being seated, and without particular occupation,
will rise at the approach of an officer, and make
the customary salutation. If standing, he will
turn toward the officer for the same purpose.”
(Reg., pg. 42, Para. 257) A post-war manual
added, “Soldiers, whether standing or sitting,
will, when an officer approaches, take the
position of the soldier [e.g., stand ‘at attention’],
face toward him, and salute. If walking, they
will salute an officer as they pass him,
commencing the salute, when approaching from
opposite directions, at six paces from the
officer.” (Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 90)
• Upon Entering an Officer’s Quarters – “When a
soldier enters an officer’s quarters he remains
standing in the position of the soldier until
invited to sit down. When soldiers are in a room
and an officer enters, they should rise and remain
standing until invited to sit down.” (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, pg. 24, Para. 57)
• When Mounted – When a soldier is mounted and
is to salute a dismounted officer of superior rank,
he shall first dismount before rendering the
appropriate salute. (Kautz, COS/NCO&S, pg. 24,
Para. 56)
• Color Salute – Color bearers carry the colors
“whether at a halt or in march... [with] the heel
of the color lance supported on the right hip, the
right hand generally placed on the lance at the
height of the shoulder... When the color has to
render honors, the color-bearer will salute as
follows: At the distance of six paces slip the
right hand along the lance to the height of the
eye; lower the lance by straightening the arm to
its full extent, the heel of the lance remaining on
the hip, and bring the lance back to the habitual
position when the person saluted shall be passed,
or shall have passed, six paces.” (Casey Vol. 1,
pg. 225) 2
Who Salutes?
• Enlisted men salute all commissioned officers.
(Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers salute other
commissioned officers who are superior to them
in rank. (Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers return the salute of
juniors who have first saluted them. This is
mandatory (Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254). In 1864
a United States military magazine stated, “The
rule is invariable that all salutes should be
returned” (Jaeger/A&NJ, August 13, 1864).
• It is unclear whether the Civil War army
followed the modern custom of the senior person
in a group being the only one in the group to
salute a superior officer when in formation; it is
probably best to follow this procedure until
proven otherwise (CRRC, Article III.5). Several
period sources (some cited below) appear to
support this theory.
• When not in formation, all enlisted men in a
group should salute upon the approach of an
officer, in accordance with modern military
procedure, until such time as a period reference
is found.
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 5 of 8
• A post-war source states that Orderly Sergeants
salute the Sergeant Major during guard mount
ceremony. This is the only time an enlisted man
is saluted. (Dal Bello IGP, pg. 16, Para. 39).3
• Inspection – After a battalion is broken into
column for inspection, company commanders
should salute the inspector as he approaches to
inspect their respective companies
(Jaeger/A&NJ, August 13, 1864). The
reviewing officer should not salute the colors
when he goes down the line (Jaeger/A&NJ, July
2, 1864).
• Reviews – When passing in review the battalion
Sergeant Major should salute the reviewing
officer (Jaeger/A&NJ, March 19, 1864). The
reviewing officer shall return salutes rendered
and shall salute the colors when they pass him
(Jaeger/A&NJ, July 2, 1864).
Who Gets Saluted?
• All commissioned officers by men of lesser rank.
(Reg., pp. 41-42, Para. 254)
• Commissioned officers not in uniform should be
saluted by inferior ranks who recognize them to
be an officer (Upton 1867, pg. 15, Para. 91).
This protocol was apparently unclear during the
Civil War era because one year before Upton
wrote his manual the Army and Navy Journal
asserted, “An officer is entitled to the salute due
his rank only when in the uniform of that rank.”
(A&NJ, July 7, 1866). Apparently during the
Civil War era there was confusion on this issue.
It may be best to stick with the maxim, “Salute
the office, not the man” regardless of the
clothing worn until more conclusive
documentation of period practice is found.
• Guard Duty – Sentinels shall stop and face their
proper front (not necessarily toward the officer!
Jaeger/A&NJ, October 1, 1864) and render the
proper honor. Sentinels should salute officers
who pass near but behind their beat
(Jaeger/A&NJ, December 24, 1864). Common
sense dictates that salutes by sentinels are not
rendered during hours of challenging.
o Line Officers (captains and lieutenants who
are not the Officer of the Day) – The Carry
(per Reg., pg. 64, Para. 420) OR the
Sergeant’s Salute (per period practice).4
o Officer of the Day (i.e., captain or lieutenant
wearing a sash across his chest) and
Commanding Officer of the Battalion or
Post – Present Arms (Reg., pg. 64, Para.
420)
o Field and General Officers – Present Arms
(Reg., pg. 64, Para. 420). Surgeons held the
equivalent rank of Major and therefore
should also be saluted by sentinels with
Present Arms. (Jaeger/A&NJ, December 5,
1863). “A sentinel should not present arms
to a field officer when he passes in rear of
him.” [emphasis added for this article]
(Jaeger/A&NJ, February 20, 1864)
o While in a Guard Box/Sentry Box, Any
Commissioned Officer – Sergeant’s Salute
Reg., pg. 64, Para. 421) 5
o Turning Out the Guard – The Guard turns
out (i.e., assembles in formation under arms
at the guard tent) at Present Arms once per
day for the Officer of the Day and
Battalion/Post Commander, and any general
officer. The Guard turns out at the Carry all
other times (Reg., pg. 65, Paras. 426-427,
431). The Guard turns out and Presents
Arms for passing regimental colors and for
armed parties commanded by a
commissioned officer. The Guard turns out
at the Carry for armed parties commanded
by a non-commissioned officer. The Guard
turns out but does not present at all if the
person being complimented passes behind
the Guard. During hours of challenging, the
Guard turns out only for Grand Rounds.
(Reg., pg. 41, Paras. 247-251. Also see Dal
Bello IGP, pp. 30-31, Paras. 81-90).
• A post-war source states that Orderly Sergeants
salute the Sergeant Major during guard mount
ceremony. This is the only time an enlisted man
is saluted.3
• Dignitaries – Honors to be paid are per the U.S.
Army Regulations, pages 40-41, Paras. 237-246.
• Officers of the Navy and Marines – Are entitled
to the same compliments as officers of the Army.
(Reg., pg. 41, Para. 252)
• Chaplains – It is unclear whether chaplains were
saluted, although they were given the pay and
allowances of Captains and were even permitted
to wear Captain’s insignia (Reg., pp. 507, 524).
Whether or not a chaplain was saluted may have
depended upon his standing with the men of his
regiment.
When and How Often Do You
Salute?
• Salute a given commissioned line officer once
per day (the first time you see him, per U.S.
Army Regulations, page 42, Para. 257) unless
you are addressing or being addressed by him, or
otherwise encounter him directly (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, page 23, Para. 53). For example,
a soldier in town who encounters the same
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 6 of 8
commissioned officer in the street multiple times
would probably be expected to salute the officer
each time.
• When spoken to by a commissioned officer, an
enlisted man salutes, and salutes again before
leaving the officer’s presence. (Kautz,
COS/NCO&S, pg. 23, Para. 53).
• Sentinels – During daylight hours, sentinels
(camp/police guards) salute every commissioned
officer who passes them, no matter how many
times per day.
• During hours of challenging, no compliments are
paid for obvious reasons; however, between
Retreat and Reveille the Guard turns out for
Grand Rounds. (Reg., pg. 41, Para. 251).
• A modern reference for reenactors (Dal
Bello/IGP, pg. 31, Para 90) maintains that
courtesies are not rendered on the picket line
because drawing attention to a commissioned
officer is liable to make the officer the target of
an enemy sharpshooter. While this appears to
make a good deal of sense, this writer has been
unable to locate a period reference for this
practice. It strikes this writer that simply
“shouldering arms” was a fairly innocuous way
to salute, and guards are not supposed to let their
weapons touch the ground in the first place.
• Details of Troops Under Arms – The commander
of the detail salutes; the men in the detail do not
salute unless so ordered (Kautz, COS/NCO&S,
pg. 23, Para. 52).6
• Fatigue Parties – Do not have to stop working to
salute a passing officer. (Kautz, COS/NCO&S,
pg. 23, Para. 52)
• While not strictly a form of saluting,
commissioned officers should “honor” their men
by having their sword drawn at all times their
men are in formation and under arms, until the
command to stack, rest, march at the route step,
or dismissal is given. A Civil War military
periodical stated, “The rule is invariable
that...officers in command of troops
should have their swords drawn” (Jaeger/A&NJ,
August 13, 1864). All commands to men under
arms are given with a drawn sword (Dal Bello
Sword Manual “Introduction”, citing Upton’s
1874 Infantry Tactics, Paras. 755-758, 760-761).
To not do so may give the appearance of
disrespect toward the men. Upton’s 1867
manual also states, “Officers on all duties under
arms are to have their swords drawn, without
waiting for any words of command for that
purpose.”
Other Honors
There are other types of honors to be paid by the
troops but they are either a work unto themselves
(dress parade, guard mount, etc.) or rare to non-
existent in reenacting (funerals, cannon salutes, etc.).
Among them are:
• Honors paid during Dress Parade are per the U.S.
Army Regulations, pp. 50-57.
• Honors paid during Guard Mount ceremony and
when the new Guard relieves the old are per the
U.S. Army Regulations, pp.58-61.
• Cannon-salutes to be fired for visiting dignitaries
are per the U.S. Army Regulations, pp. 42-43,
Paras. 258-270.
• Escorts of honor for personages of high rank
(civil or military) are per the U.S. Army
Regulations pg. 43, Paras. 271-274.
• Funeral honors are per the U.S. Army
Regulations pp. 43-46, Paras. 275-302.
• Others not covered in this article.
Remarks on the Utility of This
Article
The events attended by many reenactors typically
require that the participants know only the hand
salute and the Sergeant’s Salute. For those
accustomed to rendering such a fairly un-intensive
level of honors much of this article may represent
semi-interesting but functionally useless information.
However, there are events where almost every item
presented in this article is essential knowledge.
Reenactors who desire a more-realistic representation
of Civil War military courtesies, complete with
proper honors paid by the troops, should consider
participating in such an event.
Some reenactors may believe that an emphasis on
saluting and other honors is “too much like the real
military”. In response we offer that living history
often involves conveying to the public and other
reenactors the appearance of a bona-fide military
organization, and rendering basic honors is an easy
way to represent that the living history scenario does,
in fact, portray real soldiers in an army that expected
and enforced discipline, particularly while in camp or
garrison.
Conclusions
All living history portrayals can always be
enhanced and this writer has observed that
improvement in the way we pay honors while in
uniform is one of the most basic areas requiring
attention in the hobby today. Further, learning how
to properly render honors is fairly easy and certainly
costs less than some other ways of improving one’s
portrayal, such as buying new uniforms and
equipment.
The Columbia Rifles’ Research Compendium: DRAFT Article III.XXXX
Page 7 of 8
Consider copying this article and referring to it
prior to and during events.
Happy saluting!
Acknowledgements
The author thanks Mark Jaeger of Purdue
University for generously providing information used
in this article, and for reviewing the draft and
providing many useful and insightful comments.
The author thanks Nicholas Redding of
Tonawanda, New York for posing for many of the
photographs used to illustrate this article.
Selected References
Butterfield, Daniel, Camp and Outpost Duty for
Infantry, New York: Harper & Brothers
Publishers, 1862.
Casey, Silas, Infantry Tactics (3 vols.), New York:
Van Nostrand, 1862 (abbreviated as “Casey Vol.
X”).
Craighill, William P., The Army Officer’s Pocket
Companion, New York: Van Nostrand, 1862.
Dal Bello, Dominic Instructions for Guards and
Pickets, 2nd Edition, Santa Barbara CA: Army of
the Pacific Press, 1998 (abbreviated as “Dal Bello
IGP”).
Dal Bello, Dominic, “Manual of the Sword for
Officers of the Army of the Pacific” (pamphlet),
1995, available online at www.domdalbello.
com/aoppress/swordmanual.doc (abbreviated as
“Dal Bello Sword Manual”).
Jaeger, Mark, ed., Excerpts from Army and Navy
Journal, August 1863-1865, Mark Jaeger
Collection (abbreviated as Jaeger/A&NJ). A&NJ
was a Civil War era journal published by the War
Department that, among other things, contained
clarifications of drill and protocol.
Jaeger, Mark, “‘Military Notes and Queries from The
United States Service Magazine”, The Watchdog,
Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2003, pp. 2-8
(abbreviated as “Jaeger/USSM”).
Kautz, August V., Customs of Service for Non-
commissioned Officers and Soldiers, Philadelphia: J.P.
Lippincott Co., 1864 (abbreviated as “COS/NCO&S”).
Kautz, August V., Customs of Service for Officers of the
Army, Philadelphia: J.P. Lippincott Co., 1866
(abbreviated as “COS/OOA”).
Tobey, John, et. al., eds., The Columbia Rifles Research
Compendium, 1st Edition, Boxborough MA: The
Columbia Rifles, Inc., 2001 – Knickerbocker, Lewis,
“How to Salute”, Article III.5 (abbreviated as “CRRC
Article III.5”).
United States War Department, Revised United States Army
Regulations of 1861, With an Appendix Containing the
Changes and Laws Affecting Army Regulations and
Articles of War to June 25, 1863, Washington:
Government Printing Office, 1863 (abbreviated as
“Reg.”).
Upton, Emory, A New System of Infantry Tactics, Double
and Single Rank (1st Edition), New York: Appleton,
1867 (abbreviated as “Upton 1867”).
Upton, Emory, A New System of Infantry Tactics, Double
and Single Rank (3rd Edition), New York: Appleton,
1874 (abbreviated as “Upton 1874”).
Viele, Egbert L., Hand-book for Active Service, New York,
D. Van Nostrand, 1861 (abbreviated as “Viele”).
Endnotes
1
As examples of familiarity between commissioned
officers and enlisted men the writer offers the following:
1) A sergeant wrote to his wife, “I had a conversation
with Major Byrne the other day... He wondered why I
was making so strange with him. He wants me to call
and see him oftener after this.” (Tipping, George, 155th
New York Co. I, letter dated February 15, 1864,
Catherine Keane Collection, Buffalo and Erie County
Historical Society, Buffalo N.Y.). 2) “With few
exceptions, there is too little pride and effort at soldierly
bearing among the officers, and too much familiarity
between them and their men.” (Letter from the Inspector
General’s Office of the Trans-Mississippi Department,
October 26, 1863, Official Records, Series 1, Vol. 22,
Part 2, pg. 1050). 3) “It has been brought to the
knowledge of the brigadier-general commanding that in
some of the regiments of this corps... officers are in the
habit of associating on terms of familiarity with the
enlisted men of their regiments, even to the extent of
playing certain games together.” (General Orders 14,
Tenth Army Corps, July 12, 1864, Official Records,
Series 1, Vol. 40, Part 3, pg. 205).
2
The modern custom of not saluting with the Unites States
flag did not exist in the 1860s; it apparently started at
the 1908 Olympics in London, England. Therefore,
when at a reenactment or similar event, the National flag
should salute. However, when reenactors march in a
modern parade or participate in a function with modern
organizations (e.g., a color guard ceremony with police
or firemen, or modern military units), it may be
advisable to observe the modern custom regarding the
National color.
3
Dal Bello’s assertion that the Orderly Sergeants salute the
Sergeant Major during guard mounting ceremony is
based on Emory Upton’s A New System of Infantry
Tactics, 3rd Edition, 1874, Para. 818. Because this
source post-dates the Civil War by nine years, further
conclusive evidence that the Sergeant Major was saluted
at guard mounting during the Civil War is necessary.
4
Of special note is a letter to United States Service
Magazine’s May 1865 issue (see Jaeger/USSM, pp. 5-6)
that points out: ““Does the last sentence of [Regulations]
paragraph 420, requiring sentinels to ‘carry arms’ to all
officers below field officers, include the usual salute
with the left hand brought to the shoulder, or not?” The
inference from the language of that paragraph is, that the
sentinel should stand at shouldered arms; but the
common practice in the volunteer army is otherwise.
This practice is doubtless derived from the requirements
as to salutes in other cases. Indeed, it is hardly
consistent that the single sentry should simply carry
arms to a line officer, when walking on a beat; because
the same sentry, if in a sentry-box, would salute the
same officer by raising the left hand; and if not a sentry,
but simply a soldier under arms, and not on duty, he
would offer the same salute under paragraph 255. From
these facts has originated the custom of interpreting the
language of paragraph 420, “carry arms,” to mean “carry
arms and salute as a sergeant.”” Another Civil War
source (Jaeger/A&NJ, December 24, 1864) explicitly
states, “Officers below the rank of Major receive the
sergeant's salute from sentinels.” However, some
regiments did salute per the Regulations (Jaeger/A&NJ,
February 6, 1864). Therefore, either “carry arms” OR
the “Sergeant’s Salute” should be acceptable at living
history events, with the Sergeant’s Salute being
preferred, because it was apparently common among
volunteer troops.
5
When posted in a sentry box, the only salute rendered is
the Sergeant’s Salute, regardless of the commissioned
officer’s rank, because any other salute would generally
result in jamming the bayonet into the roof of the sentry
box.
6
According to United States Service Magazine’s May 1864
issue (Jaeger/USSM, pp. 2-3), when one regiment is
being received by another (i.e., marching past a regiment
drawn up in line), each commissioned officer of the
marching regiment salutes when he reaches a point six
paces from the receiving unit’s left. The enlisted men of
the marching regiment remain at shoulder arms.