Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-11-02
MILITARY FORMS.
The Why and Wherefore of Many
Army Customs.
HAND AID SWORD SALUTES.
The Origin Of tho Former Goes Back
to the Time of the 5Orsias and tho
Latter 70 the Knights Of the Cru
sades-Funeral Volleys and Taps.

e-NtNNNf ~ NfN NNNtgN~~ " NnO OI1-
sades-FuneraI Volleys and Taps.
Why does a soldier when Saluting q
superior raise his hand TO his head
covering? The beginning dates back
TO the time of the Borgias. IL not to an
earlier date In those days aSsasSina.
zion was in vogue. and in order that
an inferior might not have superior
at advantage the inferior was com
PEELED when coming into his superiors
presence TO raise his right hand, palm
10 the front. TO show that no dagger
was concealed there From this old
custom our hand salute has come down.
The salute with the sword was not
done that way I'm the beginning with
out any reason. When knights of the
cTuSadeS received their orders it was
the custom for them 10 call upon God
To witness their assumption Of the
orders given To DO this the sword
was raised 10 The front so that the
hilt reached the lips. when the cross
formed 10y the hilt and blade could be
kissed and an oath registered to carry
out the orders faithfully. The drop
ping of the sword, point TO the front,
indicates submission.
Why in the funeral cortege of a
mounted officer or soldier is the horse,
saddled and equipped. with the boots
OF the late rider placed heels to the
front in the stirrupS, led TO the place
Of burial? To show by reversal Of the
boots the owners march has ended.
We must GO back TO the days OF the
Romans for the reason why in the
service three volleys are fired over the
open grave OF 4 comrade. Among the
Romans the burial consisted Of the
throwing Of earth three times on the
coffin. Three times was the dead man
called 10y name. which ended the cere-
mony. and rs the friends and relatives
departed each said "Nale,' three
times. So as farewell to our dead
comrades we fire three volleys over
the grave. Then the service called taps
is sounded, this closing the ceremony.
Why should the call taps be sounded
i'm preference 70 any other? Because
taps is the call for lights out" and
the lights OF life are out in the com
rade who has Joined the silent
bivouac Of the dead" This ending Of
n service funeral dates back to the
early forties. but did not become q
fixed custom till late in the civil war.
There was reason for causing all
witnesses before 4 military court to
remove the glove from the right hand
before taking the oath. The raising
Of the hands and eyes toward heaven
when taking an oath is OF great an
uquiV. When the Bible was printed
the bare hand was laid on the book,
which was afterward kissed But the
Bible was not always ut hand when
needed. So the custom OF raising the
right hand and uncovering the head
has grown INTO general practice. In
olden days the criminal was branded
in the palm Of the right hand, and for
this reason the custom Of requiring
the removal Of the glove came into
vogue in order that the hand might be
inspected.
The colored silk sash long worn by
officers Of our army. which for many
years has ceased 10 form part Of the
uniform, except for general officers.
was not adopted simply because 1t
looked pretty. 1t was originally In
tended that this sash. which was very
strong. woven Of silk and could be
stretched out TO over 4 yard in width,
should be Used rs a hammock in which
wounded officers could be carried of
the battlefield.
And likewise the guady colored
horsehair plume that flowed from the
helmet was not placed there because II
looked so well. The original hair plume
hung down on the shoulders Of the
wearer. and it was intended that II
should be n safeguard against n sabe1
cut aimed at the back OF the neck, 70,
the long thick hair would turn the
blow and save decapitation or an ugly
wound. Today the little hair tuft seer
on the headdress of mounted soldiers
! is the result.
There is q reason why the flag al
half staff. as an indication Of sorrow
must always be hoiSted to the top o.
the stan before being lowered. The
! flag is saluted when raised and low
cred only when ii IS ut the peak o,
| the staff. So when IL Is necessary e
display it at half mast il must be rails
/ cd to the top before being finally low
cred, for at this time the gun fires it:
salute, and either the band or the
trumpeters are sounding appropriate
music or call.
Twenty-one guns. the number freC
in the international salute. were no
selected at random. The number wa.
chosen by our government because 4
was the number long used by the Brit
ish for their international salute Wn,
the British used twenty-one guns wa!
no doubt due to an early custom which
had for a warship salute seven guns
/ A fort was allowed TO fire three time!
as many guns &C a warship. because
IN those days II was difficult to keel
powder in good condition at sea. I
could be kept in good condition on land
and consequently the shore battery wa
allowed n larger number. or twenty one
When the time arrived that bette
powder was made and II could be car
ried ut sea without deterioration TIT
warship was allowed the same mum
Der OF guns us the shore battery, un(
the twenty-one OF today are the result
Major b. w. Atkinson. u. s. A., II
Chicago Rocord.Heraid.