Reveille! Daily Bugle Calls of an 1840s Garrison

Private Louis H. Benz, chief bugler at West Point Military Academy, with his bugle

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division LC-DIG-ppmsca-40184

From the first notes of Reveille early in the morning to the final strain of Tattoo, bugle calls ordered garrison life of the 19th century. The times for assembling for meals, visiting the doctor, caring for horses, and parading on the grounds were all conveyed in this manner. Instilling a spirit of patriotism, comradery, and discipline, daily bugle calls have been an iconic military tradtion from pre-Revolutionary War through the present day.

This is a typical schedule of bugle calls as used at U.S. Army frontier forts in the mid 19th century.

• 6:00 AM Reveille

  
  

  This call signaled the beginning of the day for soldiers, a time to get up and dressed for the morning roll call.
  Audio Transcript

   Bugle music signalling the beginning of the day and for soldiers to get up and dressed for the morning roll call.

• 6:15 AM Assembly

  
  

  This call brought soldiers to formation at their barracks for the morning roll call.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling soldiers to formation at their barracks for the morning roll call.

• 6:40 AM Stable Call

  
  

  This call sent dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.

• 7:10 AM Sick Call

  
  

  This call brought sick soldiers to the hospital for evaluation by the post surgeon.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling sick soldiers to the hospital for evaluation by the post surgeon.

• 7:30 AM Mess Call

  
  

  This called soldiers to the mess hall for breakfast.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling soldiers to the mess hall for breakfast.

• 7:55 AM Fatigue

  
  

  This call indicated for designated soldiers to arrive for fatigue duty. Fatigue duty was sometimes used as a form of punishment and included performing physical tasks such as cleaning, ditch digging, etc.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music indicating when designated soldiers were to arrive for fatigue duty. Sometimes used as a form of punishment, fatigue duty included performing physical tasks such as cleaning, ditch digging, etc.

• 8:00 AM First Sergeant's Call

  
  

  On hearing this call, company first sergeants reported to post headquarters with their "Morning Reports." These reports gave the number of their men sick, on guard duty, on drill or fatigue, or on special assignment.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music indicating when company first sergeants were to report to post headquarters with their "Morning Reports."

• 8:15 AM Adjutant's Call

  
  

  This call indicated the adjutant is about to form a military unit.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music used to indicate the adjutant is about to form a military unit.

• 9:00 AM Officer's Call

  
  

  The officer's call signaled all officers to assemble.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call signalling all officers to assemble.

• 9:15 AM Assembly of Guard Detail

  
  

  This call signaled soldiers assigned to guard detail to assemble.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call signalling soldiers assigned to guard detail to assemble.

• 9:30 AM Dress Guard Mounting

  
  

  This call indicated the guard mounting or a changing of the guard.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call indicating the guard mounting or changing of the guard.

• 10:00 AM Drill

  
  

  This call signaled soldiers to assemble for drill.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music signaling for soldiers to assemble for drill.

• 11:20 AM Stable Call

  
  

  This sound called dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.

• 11:40 AM Assembly

  
  

  This call signaled soldiers to assemble.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music signaling soldiers to assemble.

• 12:05 PM Mess Call

  
  

  This call instructed soldiers to arrive at the mess hall for a meal.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music instructing soldiers to arrive at the mess hall for a meal

• 1:00 PM Fatigue

  
  

  This call indicated designated soldiers to arrive for fatigue duty. Fatigue duty was sometimes used as a form of punishment and included performing physical tasks such as cleaning, ditch digging, etc.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music indicating when designated soldiers were to arrive for fatigue duty. Sometimes used as a form of punishment, fatigue duty included performing physical tasks such as cleaning, ditch digging, etc.

• 1:30 PM Drill

  
  

  This sound called soldiers to assemble for drills.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling soldiers to assemble for drills.

• 3:00 PM Drill

  
  

  This sound called soldiers to assemble for drills.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling soldiers to assemble for drills.

• 4:30 PM Recall

  
  

  This call was used to signal the end of drills.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music used to signal the end of drills.

• 4:45 PM Assembly

  
  

  This sound called soldiers to assemble.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music used to call soldiers to assemble.

• 4:50 PM Dress Parade

  
  

  This call signaled the commencement of a dress parade, a formal parade on the fort grounds in full uniform.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call signalling the commencement of dress parade, a formal parade on the fort grounds in full uniform.

• 4:55 PM To the Colors

  
  

  This call honored the flag as it was raised or lowered in lieu of the national anthem.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music honoring the flag as it was raised or lowered in lieu of the national anthem.

• 5:00 PM Retreat

  
  

  This call signaled the end of the day at the fort.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call signaling the end of the day at the fort.

• 5:10 PM Stable Call

  
  

  This sound called dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music used to call dragoons to the stables to care for their horses.

• 6:00 PM Mess Call

  
  

  This sound called soldiers to the mess hall for their evening meal.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle music calling soldiers to the mess hall for the evening meal.

• 8:55 PM Assembly

  
  

  This sound was the preparatory call to assemble for tattoo.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call to prepare for assemble for tattoo, a term akin to lights out at night.

• 9:00 PM Tattoo

  
  

  This call signaled for all lights to be extinguished and loud disturbances ceased as soldiers went to sleep.
  Audio Transcript

  Bugle call signaling that all lights be extinguished and loud disturbances ceased as soldiers went to sleep.

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