Click here to view the Day's Order for the Bugle Calls

Here are a list of Bugle Calls for the day. Click on them to save them to your computer and play them.

Adjutants Call - Signals that the adjutant is about to form the guard, battalion, or brigade.

Assembly - Signals troops to assemble at a designated place.

Attention - Sound as a warning that troops are about to be called to attention.

Call To Arms - Signals all troops to fall under arms at designated places without delay.

Call To Arms (2) - I found this also labelled as "Call to Arms". Maybe confederate or and earlier version?

Call To Quarters - Signals all personnel not authorized to be absent to their quarters for the night.

Call To The Color - To the Color is a bugle call to render honors to the nation.  It is used when no band is available to render honors, or in ceremonies requiring honors to the nation more than once.  To the Color commands all the same courtesies as the National Anthem.

Carry On - Self explanatory, I guess...

Charge - This doesn't mean rack up your credit card. A call to signal a frontal attack on the enemy.

Chicken On A Fence - A bugle song I found. don't know if it is used (like the English do with the pipes)

Drill Call - Sound as a warning to turn out for drill.

First Call - Sound as a warning that personnel will prepare to assemble for a formation.

First Sergeant's Call - Signals that the First Sergeant is about to form the company.

General's March - A bugle song I found. don't know if it is used (like the English do with the pipes)

Guard Mounting - Sound as a warning that the guard is about to be assembled for guard mount.

Infantry Forever - A bugle song I found. don't know if it is used (like the English do with the pipes)

Mail Call - No, this ain't for the Gunny. Signals personnel to assemble for the distribution of mail.

Mess Call - Signals mealtime.

Officer's Call - Signals all officers to assemble at a designated place.

Oh Look At The Soldier - A bugle song I found. don't know if it is used (like the English do with the pipes)

President's March - A bugle song I found. don't know if it is used (like the English do with the pipes)

Rally - A call to signal the regrouping of forces in order.

Recall - Signals duties or drills to cease.

Retreat - Signals the end of the official day.

Reveille - Signals the troops to awaken for morning roll call.  Used to accompany the raising of the National Colors.

Sick Call - Signals all troops needing medical attention to report to the dispensary.

Taps - Signals that unauthorized lights are to be extinguished.  This is the last call of the day.  The call is also sounded at the completion of a military funeral ceremony.

Tattoo - Signals that all light in squad rooms be extinguished and that all loud talking and other disturbances be discontinued within 15 minutes.

You're In The Army Now - An old favorite. don't know if used for anything

 

Day's Order of Bugle Calls

5:50 AM - Assembly of Trumpeters for Reveille [First Call]
The first signal for the soldiers to rise and shine. This call was historically sounded between 4:45 AM - and 6:00 AM - depending on the season. It bears a similarity to the French Cavalry call "La Garde a Vous."

6:00 AM - Reveille
Upon the last note of this call, the flag was raised, the morning gun fired and the men all had to assemble for morning roll call. It is the same as a French call which dates from the time of the Crusades.

6:15 AM - Stable Call
Soldiers in the cavalry would report to the stables to feed and groom their mounts.

6:30 AM - Breakfast Call [Mess Call]

7:00 AM - Sick Call
Soldiers who were ill were to report to the hospital for examination by the surgeon.

7:30 AM - Fatigue Call
Those soldiers appointed to a work party would report to their assignments.

8:50 AM - Guard Mounting, Assembly of Trumpeters
First call for "Guard Mount", or the changing of the 24-hour guard detail.

8:55 AM - Guard Mounting, Assembly of Guard Detail
Men assigned to guard duty assemble in front of their respective barracks.

9:00 AM - Guard Mounting, Adjutant's Call
The guard details were marched to the guardhouse where the Guard Mount ceremony took place.

9:15 AM - Water Call
Horses received their watering.

9:55 AM - Drill, First Call
Preparatory call for soldiers assigned to morning drill.

10:00 AM - Drill, Assembly
Soldiers would practice the Manual of Arms, bayonet drills and marching. New recruits would be taught more basic skills.

11:00 AM - Recall from Drill
Morning drill was to cease.

11:30 AM - Recall from Fatigue 
Morning work parties were to cease at the sound of this call.

12:00 Noon. Dinner Call [Mess Call]
Dinner was the main meal of the day.

1:00 PM - Fatigue Call
Afternoon work parties.

1:30 PM - First Sergeant's Call
Company First Sergeant's were to report to the post headquarters with their "Morning Reports" on the number of their men sick in the hospital, on guard duty, on drill or fatigue, or on special assignment.

2:00 PM - Mounted Drill, Boots and Saddles
This signal alerted cavalrymen to put on their riding boots and saddle their horses.

2:30 PM - Dismounted Drill
Cavalrymen are to practice all movements on foot before attempting them on horseback. This drill also allows cavalry men to prepare for battle on foot.

3:30 PM - Recall from Drill
Afternoon drill was to cease.

4:30 PM - Water and Stable Call
Horses received their afternoon watering and cavalrymen repeated the morning care of their horses.

5:00 PM - Recall from Fatigue
Afternoon work parties were to cease at the sound of this call.

5:15 PM - Assembly of Trumpeters for Retreat
Preparatory call for Retreat Parade.

5:30 PM - Assembly
The entire garrison would turn out for the Retreat ceremony. The actual lowering of the flag and playing of Retreat would occur at sunset.

5:45 PM - Adjutant's Call
The Captains march the companies (musicians playing) to the regimental parade grounds, where they take positions in the order of battle. After reporting to the senior officer present, the Retreat ceremony would commence.

6:00 PM - Retreat
The flag-lowering ceremony.

8:55 PM - Assembly of Trumpeters for Tattoo

9:00 PM - Tattoo
"Tattoo" was the signal for the men to prepare for bed and to secure the post.

9:05 PM - Assembly
Bed check, the last roll call of the day.

9:15 PM - Taps
By the final note of "Taps" all lights were to be extinguished, all men bedded down in their bunks, and all loud talking was to cease.
 

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Revised: 03/01/11 22:23:57 -0500.