four hours. Absent. “Absent with leave” are those who have received permission from proper authority to be absent; officers on leave of absence, enlisted men on furlough or pass, provided their passes extend beyond the time at which the report is to be rendered, and “Absent without leave,” such men of the last enumerated classes as are absent without authority or have overstayed their pass. “Absent sick” are those who are officially known to the commanding officer to be sick, but are not with the company. “Absent in arrest and in confinement” or “Retained by civil authority,” are those who have been placed in arrest or confined and are not present with the company. The column for “Present and absent,” of course, includes the totals of the preceding columns under these heads. “Explanations of alterations since last report” are self-explanatory; the first sergeant and company commander must personally sign the book every morning; facsimiles are prohibited, and no officer or non-commissioned officer is permitted to sign for another.
WHEN IN THE FIELD.
Field records. 317. Too great emphasis cannot be given to the necessity of keeping a record of every letter, telegram, dispatch, order, or memorandum, of whatever character, received or sent during active operations in the field on campaign. To this end all officers performing the duties of adjutant, assistant adjutant-general, and aide-de-camp should procure and carry at all times note-books of suitable size to be carried conveniently in the pocket. Such note-books can be procured from any stationer, arranged with alternate sheets of carbon, so that two or more impressions can be made of all communications sent or orders or instructions received from the commanding officer. Similar note-books should be carried by sergeant-majors, first sergeants, and orderlies. These note-books, when filled with the duplicate copies, together with communications received, should be sent back to headquarters as frequently as opportunity presents itself, in order that their contents may be properly recorded. The compact and durable manner in which typewriting machines are now made and packed for carrying render it practicable for at least one to be carried by each regimental headquarters.
Prompt reports. 318. Another indispensable requisite to the successful progress of a campaign is the prompt rendition of reports and returns. First sergeants, company clerks, sergeant-majors, and regimental, brigade and division clerks, should be thoroughly instructed at National Guard armories in the correct method of filling out such blank forms as morning reports, regimental returns and muster
