Rest

[50th VA Corporal]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Am I to understand there are three forms of "REST"?

Command: "REST" - This command is given, for instance, when a battalion (or company) is in formation and has stacked arms and the soldiers are allowed to leave the formation, remaining behind the stacks, and not required to maintain position or silence.

Command: "IN PLACE REST" - This command is given, for instance, when a battalion (or company) is in formation and the soldier is not required to maintain silence but must maintain at least one foot in their file position.

Command: "PARADE REST" - At this command the soldier is required to maintain the position of Parade Rest and maintain silence in the ranks.

I have found at times when in battalion formation the command "REST" has been given but those in the ranks do not observe the criteria of the command "IN PLACE REST", moving their feet out of file position nor maintaining any uniform position of their hands relative to their musket as dictated in requirements of the command "PARADE REST".

Have some forms of "re-enactorisms" settled into the hobby in regards to these commands?

Jas. T. Lemon
50th VA Corporal

[dedogtent]

Jas,

Your three forms of 'Rest' look right on to me. This is what we do in the 2nd Delaware so I hope we are doing things right. If not, someone please inform.

[50th VA Corporal]

Jas,

Your three forms of 'Rest' look right on to me. This is what we do in the 2nd Delaware so I hope we are doing things right. If not, someone please inform.

Aha! There is yet a fourth "REST" that I overlooked: Coming from support arms: Hardee's School of the Soldier paragraph 137...

I brought up this topic as I believe I have yet to find those in my ranks and those around me are unaware of all of the facets of "REST". I do believe there are times while I am in formation where even officers use the command with ambiguity, that is without disclipine to the context of its use.

For the most part I believe I have been executing the command(s) correctly but with a recent promotion to 1st. Sgt. I have been digging far deeper into subjects I should, and better, know.

Jas. T. Lemon
50th VA Corporal

[dedogtent]

Aha! There is yet a fourth "REST" that I overlooked: Coming from support arms: Hardee's School of the Soldier paragraph 137...

I brought up this topic as I believe I have yet to find those in my ranks and those around me are unaware of all of the facets of "REST". I do believe there are times while I am in formation where even officers use the command with ambiguity, that is without disclipine to the context of its use.

For the most part I believe I have been executing the command(s) correctly but with a recent promotion to 1st. Sgt. I have been digging far deeper into subjects I should, and better, know.

Jas. T. Lemon
50th VA Corporal

You are right again, the command rest for the Support Arms.

[Huck Finn]

James:

You are headed down the very dark and winding path to authenticity. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[50th VA Corporal]

James:

You are headed down the very dark and winding path to authenticity. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Well, Huck,

As one elected / selected for leadership by his peers it would be encumbant of me to not only lead by example, but know what I need to show. I have been leaning more and more towards the authentic side of the hobby since being recruited; at least being more progressive in my impression. It's a lot easier to teach a truth than to correct the balderdash...

Route step is another command I have problems with. Generally when that command is given I see many, many re-enactors not only change their cadence of step, which is correct, they mistakenly find all the incorrect ways to carry their muskets. "Arms At Will" does not mean carry the musket any which way you please during route step. I have yet to find a reference in any of my manuals that indicate a specific manner in carrying arms at the route step in the same paragraph; but maybe that is an oversight. From day one I have found it easier carrying my musket against one or the other of my shoulders supported by my free hand - just as the manuals dictate.

Afraid, no; only afraid to be executing the wrong and not realizing it!

Jas. T. Lemon
50th VA Corporal

(Actually new 1st Sgt, but I still like the old signature and will keep it just in case I screw up bad enough and get demoted....)

[Silas]

Regarding the various positions of rest, see one of my old articles : Rest, rest, rest and rest.

[flattop32355]

I brought up this topic as I believe I have yet to find those in my ranks and those around me are unaware of all of the facets of "REST".

Welcome to the world of Trying To Do It The Right Way. You will find that there are numerous ways in which we can improve.

I do believe there are times while I am in formation where even officers use the command with ambiguity, that is without disclipine to the context of its use.

Never forget that many officers are in the same boat as you; still learning. We won't even talk about those who don't care enough about the men under them to try to lead them properly.

Should you note your officer making a mistake, let it ride for the moment, and bring the subject to their attention privately. It keeps them from getting embarassed or angry, keeps you from looking bossy, and on occasion may actually show that the officer was right and you were incorrect (don't ask me how I know that).

[RJSamp]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Am I to understand there are three forms of "REST"?

Command: "REST" - This command is given, for instance, when a battalion (or company) is in formation and has stacked arms and the soldiers are allowed to leave the formation, remaining behind the stacks, and not required to maintain position or silence.

Command: "IN PLACE REST" - This command is given, for instance, when a battalion (or company) is in formation and the soldier is not required to maintain silence but must maintain at least one foot in their file position.

Command: "PARADE REST" - At this command the soldier is required to maintain the position of Parade Rest and maintain silence in the ranks.

I have found at times when in battalion formation the command "REST" has been given but those in the ranks do not observe the criteria of the command "IN PLACE REST", moving their feet out of file position nor maintaining any uniform position of their hands relative to their musket as dictated in requirements of the command "PARADE REST".

Have some forms of "re-enactorisms" settled into the hobby in regards to these commands?

Jas. T. Lemon
50th VA Corporal

As others have stated their are 4 kinds...

In your above example....REST means REST.... lie down, start boiling coffee, tidy yup.....

no reenactorisms in our unit....the commands and their execution are explanatory.

BTW, while on the march, at the route step, we cause the Attention to be sounded. This brings the men back to cadence, support arms, closes up the ranks to their correct alignment, captains return to the head of the company.
Then the Halt is sounded and you halt. I don't find many references to Stacking Arms for a 10 minute halt in 50 covering 15+ miles per day....so you have the bugler sound Lie Down...which means REST...and you get in the shade, swap out socks, get off or your feet, etc.

When the colors are reposted on the road, Attention sounded, you get up off of your feet and resume your place in the column. The Forward is sounded and off you go, returning to route step when ordered, usually only a few rods down the road.

When converting from a column of manuever to a column of route, we will briefly halt and send the field musics to the head of the column where they can lead us over hill undt dale.

[Memphis]

Another question is whether "route" in route step is pronounced "root" or "rowt." Never have seen that one successfully argued to a definitive answer.