A Weekend of 18th Century Military and Civilian Life

Fort George General Orders - Crown Forces

All officers and NCOs should read and comprehend these orders, and will be held responsible for them. These orders are detailed and demanding—this event will be demanding.

Our army represents the British, German, and Loyalist Army that defended Canada in 1782. As such, it represents a highly trained, efficient army that had lived and worked together for at least five years—an army where the Provincial loyalists were hardened, well-drilled veterans, and the British and German regulars were masters of the art of war—an army where hat men of a line regiment could be sent on 450 mile deep patrols into enemy territory, but also where a Native American war leader might command red coats and green coats.

Our army will depend on speed of maneuver to show its superior training even in defeat, and to support the scenarios, which will demand a great deal of skill and endurance from the Crown forces. Speed—in advance and retreat, in motions to the flanks, in rapidity of volley fire, in deployment of skirmishers—will mark every action.

If your role calls for you to be defeated—kindly be defeated. If you are victorious, pursue only as far as the scenario allows. In a scripted scenario, there is no dishonor in defeat and the only “losers” are those who can’t do what the scenario requires. But if both sides adhere to the scenario, both sides WIN by providing the public with a show that is educational, authentic, and hopefully, exhilarating for the participants.

1. All Parks Canada officers to be obeyed instantly.

2. All Regiments will form at loose files, 18” asunder, as required by Lord Howe’s General Order at Halifax and continued throughout the war. Light Infantry will form at Open files, 36” asunder. First, this is the way the British fought the war, and it is not for nothing that King Frederick of Prussia said “You may always tell militia—they are always touching elbows.” Second, we have, by reenacting standards, enormous battlefields to play on. Take up space. If you get crushed into a small space in the course of an action, then take time between engagements to re-order and shake out. The Brigadier will inspect the spacings at the time of your morning Safety Inspection Saturday.

3. All Light Infantry, not just that from the Light Infantry Division, must be prepared to cover the front of their own division and any adjoining divisions by deploying at the run to the front from loose or open order to extended order without going through the laborious process of “extending.” Light Infantry should be prepared to extend at six pace intervals from Open Order while advancing, for instance, and without a halt to “extend.” A the end of Saturday’s scenario, all the light Infantry of the Army will cover the armies front while the army reforms it’s column of march (convoy) and moves off. It is essential that the Light Infantry is prepared to cover that movement—all light infantry, including Loyalists and Rangers.

4. Brigade Majors and Sgts Major will need to identify parades for their brigades, as each brigade will be inspected separately at a place of its own choosing near its own camp Saturday morning. There may NEVER be a mass formation of the entire army in one place, and Brigade Majors and Sgt’s Major need to be prepared to form on time on their own parade and march to a rendezvous as ordered—flexibility will be key to preventing the men from standing on long inspections waiting their turn. It is the General’s intent to keep inspections and parades before and after actions as short as may be and to roll them. Let the men STAND DOWN unless they MUST be on parade.

5. Each Brigade to have two battalions, each capable of marching and fighting independently. Each Battalion and Brigade commander to have a deputy capable of taking command or fetching new orders—and learning the ropes for future commands. Subsequent references to “Battalions” in this document refer to the two battalions fielded in each of the three brigades, and the “Reserve Battalion” as well (Seven battalions total).

6. Every battalion should be prepared to launch an aggressive bayonet charge when ordered—to move at the double—to halt without disorder—to deliver an immediate volley after halting. How exactly you perform this maneuver is up to your Brigade commander.

7. Every battalion must be capable of back-stepping at least twenty paces without loss of order. The whole army will back step with our faces to the enemy in Saturday’s scenario. When ordered, this movement will leave all of the armies light infantry in place (to cover the army’s front while we march away to save the fort.)

8. Every battalion commander is required to choose two RUNNERS. These runners may be dressed as officers (ADC) or private soldiers—may be women dressed as women, for all I care, but must be distinguished by the ability to RUN with orders. At the time of each action, every Battalion commander should send one runner to his brigade commander and keep the other for himself.

9. In action, messages to the CinC can be delivered to Brigadier Grenier, Colonel O’Shaughnessy (2inC Army) or Col Amsterdam (Chief of Staff) where the Command Staff is, in a central location, if catching the CinC is too difficult or he is too remote, and the Staff can then issue orders for the CinC.

10. Every brigade will see to it that they have an appointed Commissariat and Baggage Officer—a woman or civilian impression man—to lead the women and civilian impression men of her brigade in supporting the actions as crowd control and safety officers—such leaders to attend Miss Moore’s meeting Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Officer’s Quarters on the Main Parade. Names to be submitted to Miss Moore immediately. Miss Moore of the KRRNY is the Army officer for such activities and ranks as Captain. Appointed C+B Officers (Commissariat and Baggage) should AT LEAST be qualified by a) knowing and being known to the women of their Brigade, and b) being capable of operating in the field on a hot day. Such officers from brigades shall rank as Lieutenants. Miss Moore adds that all women and civilian impression men are welcome at the 10AM meeting—but C+B officers are required.

11. Canteens and water bottles are essential safety items. No man may field without a water bottle or canteen FULL OF WATER any more than with an unsafe firelock, and canteens will be inspected at safety inspections. Battalion and Brigade staff (CO/2inC, Bde Major, Bde Sgt Major) should view themselves as responsible for heat and fatigue, as well as battlefield safety.

12. Music shall march by Brigade, except when ordered by the Brigadier and Drum Major of the Army—most specifically for the 4PM Saturday military tattoo.

13. Courtesy to officers and NCOs will be rendered by hand and weapon salute in the area of the Fort’s military entrances and in the face of the enemy. Elsewhere, unit tradition will determine the need for military courtesy, but all officers will return salutes.

14. The designated “no man’s land” area between the Congressional and Crown lines, and its immediate environs, reserved for free, aggressive interaction with the respective Quarter Guards demands the highest discipline, safety, and military courtesy. Therefore while on Quarter Guard, full adherence to discipline and courtesy will be observed including the rendering of salutes and paroles as desired by the QM General, Provost and Deputy Provost. From 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM both days, Provost/Quarter Guards will be prepared to react tactically in the siege lines. At ALL times the Quarter Guard will be responsible for the REAL safety, security and authenticity of the camp. Quarter Guard duty will be rotated as ordered by the Provost and Army Sgt Major. ALL BRIGADES WILL SUPPLY MEN AS REQUESTED. No Quarter Guard will stand from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM both days and the camps will be secured by Parks Canada. No Quarter Guard to be smaller than 12 men or larger than 20 men.

15. The south gate of the fort—the gate closest to the Congressional Camp—is neutral at all times and any member of either army may pass freely through the lines at this point without let or hindrance to see the sutlers or visit friends. Passage through “No Man’s Land”, on the other hand, will result in capture or at least interruption of a journey. Don’t go that way.