Bugle Calls
Long before the advent of the public address systems of today, there existed a way to communicate to those that were assigned to and lived on military installations. The bugle and it was used throughout the armed forces of many, if not all nations..
Here you will find the general bugle calls utilized aboard the United States installations (many still in usage today), as documented by Philip St. George Cooke, Brig. Gen. U.S. Army. These calls are provided courtesy of Chris Hurley.
The Assembly - Troopers will form up in ranks.
Assembly of the Buglers - Also known as First Call. This signal was used to call all the buglers to gather; it is also the first call of the camp day and the signal to wake up, wash and get ready for the morning roll call.
Assembly of the Guard - All those assigned to guard duty are to assemble and mount the guard. This call was also used to call the relief of those standing guard (SEE SENTRIES).
Boots and Saddles - This call was adopted by the army in 1841. It calls the troopers to their mounts.
Breakfast Call - Troopers to report to the mess tent for breakfast, or time to prepare and eat breakfast.
The Charge - Army 1841 signal to charge.
Dinner Call - This signal is sounded for the main meal of the day (lunch).
Distributions - If anything needed to be distributed, at this signal, the men would fall in to receive it.
Drill Call - Troopers fall in on the drill field for drill instruction.
Fatigue Call - This call was the signal for policing of quarters, grounds and stables by fatigue parties.
The General - This call was used to strike camp and prepare to move out.
The March - The order to move out.
Officer's Call - Calls officers to headquarters.
Orders for Orderly Sergeants - This call was used to signal all those on duty to stand by for the issue of orders.
The Rally - Sounded when regrouping of the forces was in order, this signal summoned all to gather and re-execute a previous command.
The Recall - Used for a variety of reasons: to call back details, skirmishers, etc. to the main body.
Retreat - This call is used to signal the afternoon roll call. The call is sounded when the men are formed on the color line, and signals the 1st Sergeants to call the men to attention for afternoon roll call. The first eight notes are also sounded in the field to signal the falling back of a cavalry action.
The Reveille - Sounded to mark morning roll call. This was not used to wake up the troops. The call is sounded when the men are formed on the color line, and signals the 1st Sergeants to call the men to attention.
Sick Call - This call was sounded to assemble the sick so they could report to the hospital tent for treatment.
Stable Call - Those who tended the stable were called to their duty with this call.
Taps - Late in the war, this call was used to signal lights out.
To Arms - Troopers to take up their weapons and prepare for a fight.
Tattoo / To Extinguish Lights - This call was used to signal the evening roll call. The call was sounded when the men were formed on the color line, and signaled the 1st Sergeants to call the men to attention. This call is also sounded later to signal lights out.
To Horse - The troopers will mount their horses.
To the Standard - A call to form at the colors, hardly ever used in the field.
Watering Call - Details would be sent out for water with this call to replenish the camps' water supply.