Memorandum For Ensign John Nairne, 5th April, 1795
1st. You ought to read the Articles of War.
2nd. To pay the greatest attention to all orders from your Superior
Officers.
3rd. Take care to have your own Orders strictly obeyed by those who are
under your Command but before you give any Order, be sure it is right
and necessary.
4th. Attend the Parades, and learn without delay the different motions
and words of Command and every part of the Duty of a Subaltern officer
when upon guard; also when under Arms with the whole Battalion, or
otherwise.
5th. Be always ready and willing to go upon every military duty that may
be ordered. Never think you do too much in that way; the more the better
and the more honourable.
6th. Be careful in doing the Company Duty, in such a manner, that the
Soldiers may be kept in excellent Order and everything belonging to
them; as their Arms, Accoutrements, Ammunition, Necessarys, Dress,
Messing, etc., according as may be regulated by the standing Orders of
the Regiment, or that may be most agreeable to your Captain or
Lieutenant Commanding the Company; also not only to know every man of
the Company by Name, but, as soon as possible, to know their several
Characters and Dispositions that each may be encouraged, cherished, or
punished, as he deserves. You ought every day, or very frequently to
wait on your Captain, or Lieutenant Commanding the Company, in order to
report to him upon these matters, and to know if he has any directions
or Commands for you.
7th. Endeavour all you can to learn the Adjutant's Duty: To be able to
Exercise the Company (or even the Battalion) in the Manual, their
Manoeuvres and the firings.
8th. Make yourself fit for paying the Company, and to be exact in
keeping Accounts, so that you may be capable of even being paymaster to
a Regiment.
9th. You ought to practice writing Court-Martials, Returns, and Reports
of all sorts, Acquittance Rolls, Muster Rolls, and Letter Writing;
taking always great pains to have a good hand of writ and to spell well.
10th. It is also recommended to you to study Engineering and Drawing; To
read Military Books, The occurrences and news of the time and History,
etc.; Never to leave anything undone which you think ought to be done;
in short, not to lose or misspend time, but constantly [to] endeavour to
gain knowledge, and improvement, and to exert yourself in being always
steady and diligent in the Execution of every part of your Duty.
11th. No doubt you will soon get Acquainted with all the officers of the
Regiment, and to know the Companys the Subaltern Officers belong to,
likewise to know the Names and Characters of all the non-Commissioned
officers, and the Companys they belong to, even most of the private men
and what Companys they are in. You ought to have a Book of Quarters (or
List of the Army) and learn the Number, and any thing else Remarkable of
each Regiment; also concerning the Generals, and Field Officers, and the
Rules and Regulations of the Army.
N.B.—Never be ashamed to ask questions at any of your Brother Officers
in order to gain information. The Sergeants of your Company will furnish
you with any Rolls, Lists or Returns you may have occasion for
respecting the Regt.
