THE MILITARY FUNERAL The ceremonial elements of our military funerals are rooted in longtime usage. Taps, the funeral volley over the grave, the use of the national colors as a pall-all these have been an integral part of funeral honors to American military dead since the infancy of the Republic. Military funerals are divided into three general classifications. These are (1) the funeral with chapel service, followed by the march to the grave or place of local disposition with the prescribed escort; (2) the funeral without chapel service, with the funeral procession forming at the entrance to the cemetery; and (3) the funeral consisting of graveside services only. In a full military funeral, following the services at the chapel, a procession consisting of a band, an escort appropriate to the rank and grade of the deceased (including firing party and bugler), the colors, the clergy, a hearse or caisson to carry the casket, six military pallbearers, and honorary pallbearers is formed. If the deceased has served in the past as a mounted officer or enlisted man, a caparisoned horse may be led in the procession. For carrying the casket it is more common to use a hearse, but the old custom of using a horse-drawn caisson is still followed on occasion. The procession moves to the grave site, where the casket is carried from the hearse or caisson to the grave by the military pallbearers. The services of an Army chaplain are provided unless the family of the deceased requests some other clergyman to officiate. In this, as in all other aspects of the military funeral, the desires of the family are given the fullest possible consideration. When a firing party is included in the ceremonies, the commander brings the escort to attention at the completion of the graveside service. He then commands: ESCORT LESS FIRING PARTY, PRESENT ARMS; FIRING PARTY, FIRE THREE VOLLEYS. The firing party fires three volleys of blank cartridges, assumes the position of ready, and remains in this position until the conclusion of Taps. At the command ARMS, the bugler takes position at the head of the grave, and sounds Taps immediately following the last volley. At the conclusion of Taps, the flag is folded and given to the next of kin of the deceased. Thereby is symbolized the fact that the deceased served in the Armed Forces of the United States, and that his country, in conducting his ceremonial interment, has given its final and solemn recognition of the obligation which it owes to a faithful servant. First Continental Congress meets at Philadelphia. Adjourns 26 October. Crown Point, New York, captured from British. Birth date of United States Army. Continental Congress votes to Continental Congress appoints George Washington Commander-in- Adjutant General's Corps established. Finance Corps established. Quartermaster Corps established. Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill. -17 March, 1776, Boston Campaign. Washington assumes command of army besieging Boston. Army Medical Service established. Judge Advocate General's Corps established. Chaplains Corps established. U.S. Navy established. American forces under Brig. Gen. Richard Montgomery capture Force under Col. Benedict Arnold arrives on St. Lawrence opposite U.S. Marine Corps established. Montreal surrenders to General Montgomery. Quebec Campaign. Final reorganization of American forces at Boston as Continental Oldest present-day Regular Army unit authorized. 1st Field Artillery Continental Congress establishes Board of War and Ordnance, com- British attack on Charleston, South Carolina, repulsed. Continental Congress appoints Commissioner of Artillery Stores Long Island Campaign. British occupy New York City; Washington retreats to Harlem Heights. Congress completes "The Articles of War," with the injunction that they be read every two months at the head of each company, troop, and regiment. Battle of Harlem Heights. Captain Nathan Hale captured by the British and later hanged as a spy. Battle of White Plains. Fort Washington, New York, surrenders to British. Gen. Nathanael Greene surrenders Fort Lee to British. Birth date of Armor: one regiment of cavalry authorized by Continental Congress. Washington crosses the Delaware and defeats Hessians in surprise attack at Trenton. Princeton Campaign. Kegs of powder floated on Delaware River to destroy British fleet; 1 For descriptions of the wars, campaigns, and battles named in this chapter, see chapters 26, 27, and 29. The official name of a military campaign, in Army usage. includes the name of the war, thus: "Ticonderoga Campaign, Revolutionary War." In this chapter the name of the war is omitted unless necessary for clarity, -17 October, Saratoga Campaign. Battle of Oriskany. Battle of Bennington. Brandywine Campaign. Battle of Freeman's Farm. British forces, led by Howe, occupy Philadelphia unopposed. Battle of Bemis Heights. Burgoyne surrenders to Gates at Saratoga. Office of Inspector General established. Winter quarters of Continental troops established at Valley Forge. Congress rejects British peace offer. Americans will be satisfied only British evacuate Philadelphia. massacres in northern Pennsylvania and southern_New_York_require army expeditions, under the command of Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, to protect the settlers. Lt. Col. George Rogers Clark begins successful campaign to take what is now Kentucky, Illinois, and parts of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio from the British. France declares war against Great Britain. Franco-American attack on Newport, Rhode Island, fails. Tories and Indians massacre settlers of Cherry Valley, New York. British capture Augusta, Georgia. Spain declares war against Great Britain. American light infantry under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne storms fort at Stony Point on Hudson in silent bayonet attack. The Bonhomme Richard, commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, defeats the British Serapis. Franco-American assault on defenses of Savannah, Georgia, fails. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln surrenders entire force to British at Battle of Camden. Major Andre, a British agent, is captured and reveals plot of Maj. Congress reduces authorized strength of Continental Army to 58 Battle of King's Mountain. Six regiments of Pennsylvania line mutiny. No one is brought to trial for the outbreak. Benedict Arnold with British troops plunders and burns Richmond (Va.). Battle of Cowpens. Mutiny of New Jersey troops ended by execution of two leaders. Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Battle of Hobkirk's Hill. Washington begins movement of French and American forces south French fleet under de Grasse defeats British fleet and bottles up Battle of Eutaw Springs. -19 October, Yorktown Campaign. Cornwallis surrenders on 19 October. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln appointed Secretary of War. This office replaces Board of War and Ordnance and constitutes second step in evolution of War Department. Savannah, Georgia, evacuated by British. The Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart) established by General Charleston, South Carolina, evacuated by British. General armistice is effective between Great Britain and the United Great Britain and United States sign definitive Treaty of Peace at Washington bids farewell to his officers at Fraunces' Tavern, New York. Congress again directs disbandment of Army, stating "standing Armies in time of Peace are inconsistent with the principles of republican government," but retains a caretaking establishment of 80 artillerymen. Congress authorizes the raising of 700 untrained militia to garrison the western posts. Congress authorizes the raising of a body of 700 noncommissioned officers and privates for a term of three years to be organized into one regiment of 8 companies of infantry and 2 companies of artillery. Regiment remains as 3d Infantry Regiment, oldest in Regular Army. -February, 1787, "Shays' Rebellion.' New Federal Government becomes operative under the Constitution. Congress establishes the Department of War, whose principal officer is the Secretary of War. Henry Knox appointed first Secretary of War under the Constitution. An Act of Congress, to recognize and adapt to the Constitution the establishment of troops raised under Congressional resolution, provides for: (1) oath of allegiance, (2) authority of the President to call forth a militia, and (3) troops to be governed by Articles of War. -August 1795, Miami Campaign, Indian Wars. First general organization of the Army under the Constitution provides for one regiment of infantry, with three battalions of four companies each; one battalion of artillery with four companies; and a total strength of 1,283. A three-year term of enlistment is authorized U.S. Coast Guard established. Harmar expedition against Miami Indians defeated. St. Clair expedition against Miami Indians defeated. U.S. Army converted into a legion of 4 sublegions, each containing 8 companies of infantry, 4 companies of rifles, 1 company of artillery. and 1 company of cavalry. Congress passes universal militia law making every male citizen between 18 and 45 liable for military service. Battle of Fallen Timbers. -November, "Whiskey Insurrection." Legion organization of Army abandoned; sublegions become regiments. Navy Department established. -30 September 1800, (Naval) War with France. Eli Whitney announces his plan for manufacturing guns on a "new principle," that of standarized, interchangeable parts. An Act of Congress provides for a better organization of infantry. artillery, and cavalry regiments and the formation of brigades and divisions. -11 June 1805, War with Tripoli. Two batteries of U.S. Artillery Congress fixes military peacetime establishment of the United States Lewis and Clark Expedition organized by the Army. Lt. Zebulon Pike and his company reach Rio Grande River during Ordnance Corps established. United States declares war on Great Britain. -17 February 1815, Canada Campaign. U. S. S. Constitution sinks British frigate Guerriere. Battle of Queenstown. Maj. Gen. Zebulon Pike killed in successful assault on Fort Toronto. York (now Toronto), capital of Upper Canada, occupied by Americans, looted and burned. War Office prints Military Laws and Regulations for the Armies of the United States, forerunner of Army Regulations. -9 August 1814, Creeks Campaign (first phase). Naval Battle of Lake Erie. Battle of the Thames River in Upper Canada. Battle of Chrysler's Farm. American forces burn Newark, Upper Canada. In retaliation the British take Fort Niagara. Chippewa Campaign. Lundy's Lane Campaign. -29 August, Bladensburg Campaign. On 24 August British defeat Americans at Bladensburg, enter Washington, and burn Capitol, White House, and other public buildings. British flotilla on Lake Champlain repulsed. McHenry Campaign. British attack on Baltimore unsuccessful. "Star-Spangled Banner" written by Francis Scott Key following bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships. -8 January 1815, New Orleans Campaign. Treaty of Ghent brings War of 1812 to close on basis of status Congress fixes the military peacetime establishment of the United -31 October 1818, Seminoles Campaign (first phase). Congress fixes the military peacetime establishment of the Army Coast Artillery School established at Fortress Monroe, Virginia as "artillery school of instruction." Maj. Gen. Alexander Macomb and other Army officers begin survey of land for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Canal completed in 1850. Army engineers begin survey for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, first track for passenger cars in the United States. 14 September 1848 2 February 1853 1855 3 March 15 December 1857 5 October 1859 16 October 1860 1861 6 November 17 December -30 September, Black Hawk Campaign. Capt. Benjamin L. E. Bonneville, disguised as a fur trader, and 110 enlisted men of the 7th Infantry set out to study western Indians in the Rockies. Remain several years and return with much valuable information on the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians. The United States Regiment of Dragoons, now the 1st Cavalry, the oldest surviving cavalry unit in the Army, organized. President Jackson orders Federal troops sent to quell riots of work- -14 August 1842, Seminoles Campaign (second phase). Alamo garrison falls after thirteen-day siege by Mexicans under Lt. John C. Fremont and expedition arrive at Walla Walla, Wash- Fremont's Army expedition begins attempt to cross the Sierras. Mexican forces cross the Rio Grande above Matamoras and kill or Resaca de la Palma Campaign. United States declares that a state of war exists with Mexico. Buena Vista Campaign. Chapultepec Campaign. Occupation of Mexico City begins. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo closes Mexican War. Mexico cedes Territories of New Mexico and Upper California to the United States upon payment of $15 million. U. S. Army Engineers survey the most practicable and economical route for a railway from Mississippi River to Pacific Ocean. Engineers direct building of north and south wings of Capitol, and supervise initial construction of Washington Aqueduct. Minie ball bullet adopted for Army rifle. Manufacture of smoothbore Congress appropriates $30,000 for purchase of camels to be used by -May 1858, Seminoles Campaign (third phase). Utah Expedition under command of Col. Albert S. Johnston leaves John Brown raids U. S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Abraham Lincoln elected sixteenth President of the United States. 26-27 December Maj. Robert Anderson leaves Fort Moultrie and occupies Fort Sumter 30 December 4 February 4 March 12 April 15 April 17 April 19 and 27 16 July South Carolina troops seize U. S. arsenal at Charleston. Star of the West is fired upon by Confederate batteries at Seven seceding States meet at Montgomery, Alabama, and form a -13 April, Sumter Campaign. Lincoln calls for 75,000 militia for three months' service to suppress the rebellion. Virginia secedes. Arkansas follows on 6 May, North Carolina on 20 May, and Tennessee on 8 June. Lincoln declares blockade of entire Confederate coastline. Lincoln calls for 40 regiments of volunteers for 3 years' service, and increases Regular Army. -22 July, Bull Run (Manassas) Campaign. |