((Guidelines are transmitted to all military personal in the Haute-Garonne sub-theatre.))
September 15th, 1815, Toulouse: "To the Departmental Legions of Toulouse and the surrounding regions, on the matter of the State of Emergency."
We have been charged by our King to maintain order in this area of Occitanie for the duration of the state of emergency. All officers and soldiers of his Majesty will attend to their duties, submit reports on their charges to their commanding officers, and to carry out the King's justice within the bounds of the law. Sentiment for some may dictate leniency towards a member of the Verdets or towards the Veteran's League--indeed, all known members of either who put down their arms and surrender to the King's justice are to be treated with mercy and clemency--but those sentiments must be tempered with the knowledge that we are here, carrying out our orders to deliver impartial justice in the King's name. We will obey the law, obey any additional mandates from Paris, and pursue any who would further disturb the peace with vigor.
I have additional words for those rankers assigned to the garrison, those with patrol duties and pickets; you are the front-line against the escape of any who have violated the King's peace. Many of you have served before but many of you are new to soldiering and thus unaccustomed to these duties. Either way, these directives are a good refresher for what is expected of you and the process by which you will obey your superiors while on post;
Keep in mind these directives and go forth and keep the King's peace.
By his own hand,
M. Saint-Cyr, Marshal of France
---
((A dispatch is sent to Lieutenant Alexandre Louis Desrosiers, and his immediate superiors, from Marshal Saint-Cyr. @oxfordroyale))
In recognition for services rendered in the initial occupation of Toulouse and other meritorious conduct as reported by his immediate superiors, on my authority as commander, I grant a brevet promotion to Lieutenant Alexandre Louis Desrosiers of the Curssasiers to the acting rank of Capitaine, and note my recommendation to make such a rank permanent shall be forwarded to the War Ministry.
By his own hand,
M. Saint-Cyr, Marshal of France
September 15th, 1815, Toulouse: "To the Departmental Legions of Toulouse and the surrounding regions, on the matter of the State of Emergency."
We have been charged by our King to maintain order in this area of Occitanie for the duration of the state of emergency. All officers and soldiers of his Majesty will attend to their duties, submit reports on their charges to their commanding officers, and to carry out the King's justice within the bounds of the law. Sentiment for some may dictate leniency towards a member of the Verdets or towards the Veteran's League--indeed, all known members of either who put down their arms and surrender to the King's justice are to be treated with mercy and clemency--but those sentiments must be tempered with the knowledge that we are here, carrying out our orders to deliver impartial justice in the King's name. We will obey the law, obey any additional mandates from Paris, and pursue any who would further disturb the peace with vigor.
I have additional words for those rankers assigned to the garrison, those with patrol duties and pickets; you are the front-line against the escape of any who have violated the King's peace. Many of you have served before but many of you are new to soldiering and thus unaccustomed to these duties. Either way, these directives are a good refresher for what is expected of you and the process by which you will obey your superiors while on post;
Firstly, you shall maintain your post and take charge of all government property in your immediate surroundings; when you are a sentry, you are master of your post. This means that no one—no matter what their rank or position—may overrule your authority in carrying out your orders. The only way that you may be exempted from carrying out your orders is if your orders are changed by your superior. For example, if your orders are to allow no one to enter a depot, you must prevent everyone from entering, even if someone of higher rank tells you it is all right for him or her to enter. The officer in charge may modify your orders to allow additional persons to enter, but without that authorization you must keep that individual of higher rank out. Situations such as this will not often, if ever, occur, but it is important that you understand the principles involved. It is also your responsibility to know the limits of your post. This information will be conveyed to you among your special orders, if necessary. You must also treat all government property that you can see as though it were your own, even if it is not technically part of your assigned post.
Secondly, you are to be always alert. You are not to hide or take shelter from inclimate weather, you must keep eyes on your post and an active stance to ward off troublemakers at all times.
Thirdly, you are to report all violations of your orders to your superiors, and not to act rashly on your own volition. For example, if someone is climbing a fence near your post, you must report it, even if the offender stops climbing and runs away after your challenge. In this case, even though it appears that the threat to security is over, there is no way for you to know whether this violator is the only one involved. You cannot be certain that there is not something more sinister involved. Let your superiors make the judgment call; your job is to report what happens on or near your post and then act on their orders. Likewise, if attacked while on patrol you are to await a command before discharging your weapon. There are of course exceptions but these are rare, far safer for all concerned to stick to established rules of engagement.
Fourthly, you are to quit your post only when properly relieved, and when relieved pass on all orders to your relief. It should be fairly obvious that you should not leave your post until someone has come to take your place or until the your superior has told you that the watch is no longer necessary. If the person relieving you is late, report it to your superior but do not quit your post.
Fifthly, you are not to have idle chatter while on post. Having conversations about matters not pertaining to your duty is distracting and must be avoided. If someone tries to engage you in casual conversation while you are standing your watch, it is your responsibility to inform them courteously that you are on duty and cannot talk with them.
Sixth, when in need of clarification, always ask your superior. If you are not sure what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, it is better to ask for clarification than to make an assumption or to guess.
Seventh, during curfew and for all those attempting to enter restricted areas, you shall not allow them to pass without lawful authority. Challenging persons while you are on sentry duty or patrol is accomplished by a mix of custom and common sense. When a person or party approaches your post, you should challenge them at a distance that is sufficient for you to react if they turn out to have hostile intentions. You should say in a firm voice, loud enough to be easily heard, "Halt! Who goes there?" Once the person answers, you should then say "Advance to be recognized." If you are challenging a group of people, you should say, "Advance one to be recognized." If you have identified the person or persons approaching, permit them to pass. If you are not satisfied with that person's identification, you must detain the person and call the officer of watch or your superior while on patrol. When two or more individuals approach from different directions at the same time, challenge each in turn and require each to halt until told to proceed.
Secondly, you are to be always alert. You are not to hide or take shelter from inclimate weather, you must keep eyes on your post and an active stance to ward off troublemakers at all times.
Thirdly, you are to report all violations of your orders to your superiors, and not to act rashly on your own volition. For example, if someone is climbing a fence near your post, you must report it, even if the offender stops climbing and runs away after your challenge. In this case, even though it appears that the threat to security is over, there is no way for you to know whether this violator is the only one involved. You cannot be certain that there is not something more sinister involved. Let your superiors make the judgment call; your job is to report what happens on or near your post and then act on their orders. Likewise, if attacked while on patrol you are to await a command before discharging your weapon. There are of course exceptions but these are rare, far safer for all concerned to stick to established rules of engagement.
Fourthly, you are to quit your post only when properly relieved, and when relieved pass on all orders to your relief. It should be fairly obvious that you should not leave your post until someone has come to take your place or until the your superior has told you that the watch is no longer necessary. If the person relieving you is late, report it to your superior but do not quit your post.
Fifthly, you are not to have idle chatter while on post. Having conversations about matters not pertaining to your duty is distracting and must be avoided. If someone tries to engage you in casual conversation while you are standing your watch, it is your responsibility to inform them courteously that you are on duty and cannot talk with them.
Sixth, when in need of clarification, always ask your superior. If you are not sure what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, it is better to ask for clarification than to make an assumption or to guess.
Seventh, during curfew and for all those attempting to enter restricted areas, you shall not allow them to pass without lawful authority. Challenging persons while you are on sentry duty or patrol is accomplished by a mix of custom and common sense. When a person or party approaches your post, you should challenge them at a distance that is sufficient for you to react if they turn out to have hostile intentions. You should say in a firm voice, loud enough to be easily heard, "Halt! Who goes there?" Once the person answers, you should then say "Advance to be recognized." If you are challenging a group of people, you should say, "Advance one to be recognized." If you have identified the person or persons approaching, permit them to pass. If you are not satisfied with that person's identification, you must detain the person and call the officer of watch or your superior while on patrol. When two or more individuals approach from different directions at the same time, challenge each in turn and require each to halt until told to proceed.
Keep in mind these directives and go forth and keep the King's peace.
By his own hand,
M. Saint-Cyr, Marshal of France
---
((A dispatch is sent to Lieutenant Alexandre Louis Desrosiers, and his immediate superiors, from Marshal Saint-Cyr. @oxfordroyale))
In recognition for services rendered in the initial occupation of Toulouse and other meritorious conduct as reported by his immediate superiors, on my authority as commander, I grant a brevet promotion to Lieutenant Alexandre Louis Desrosiers of the Curssasiers to the acting rank of Capitaine, and note my recommendation to make such a rank permanent shall be forwarded to the War Ministry.
By his own hand,
M. Saint-Cyr, Marshal of France
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