Page 180
Of a Quarter-Master.
IF the Regiment be marching with the Army, (and not alone) he is then eve∣ry evening to attend upon the Quarter-Master-General, to receive his dire∣ctions, and to take the place, ground, and houses, appointed by him, for the Quarter and Lodging of the Regiment; who presently is to acquaint and adver∣tise his Colonel of the same, and after to follow his charge. First, he appointeth or prepareth the Colonels Lodging, and other Officers of the Field, in the Center or midst of all the Quarters; and neer them himself, and all the other Officers of the Staff. After, according to the seniority of the Captains, and their march∣ings, to distribute forth their Quarters as may be designed. Having thus far acted through the help of the Constables and Head-boroughs of those places where the Regiment is to Quarter; and having drawn forth their Billets in a good and orderly way, he is before the Regiments entring the Quarters, to deliver the same to the Colonel, or other Field-Officers of that Regiment; and they to de∣liver it to the rest of the Captains, to direct them to their Lodgings, with the par∣ticular Souldiers of their Company. And during the time that he is about the visiting the distribution of the Lodgings, all the Troops are to keep watch round about the place, and to send out to discover: he must also be informed of the Lodgings of the whole Army, to know whom to give, or whom to receive Sup∣plies in case of necessity.
If the Quarter be in the open field, the Quarter-Master-General shall appoint to each Quarter-Master the place and ground which he shall take, which he is to distribute to the Serjeants of every Company of the Regiment, who are to assist him in taking the depth, length and breadth of their Quarters, with the distances of the Alarum-place between the head of the Quarters and the Trench, and the true distance of the Streets betwixt the in-getting of each Captains particular Company.
When an Army or Regiment shall sit down before a Town, or forraging place, to besiege it, they are imployed sometimes to be Forragers to fetch in provision for the Army, or particular Regiments. Which when they shall be required, they ought to have sufficient Convoys and Guards, both of Infantry and Caval∣ry to secure them; who are to be commanded by able Officers; and the Provost-Martial, or one of his Assistants is to go along with them, to punish such as are exorbitant, or do straggle. It will be expedient to the Regiment, that the Qua∣ter-Master upon the Service may be imployed twice in a week, to bring in a fresh Victual to the Souldiers; but not to go twice to one place, lest they be discover∣ed by an Enemy, and be way-laid by their Forces, who may sometimes prove stronger then themselves, to prevent, or to cut them off by the way, laying of them secretly in some Ambushments: Which being truely considered of, care may be taken accordingly of Supplies in other remote places, free from the danger of the Enemy. To conclude, a Quarter-Master ought to carry himself honestly and carefully in his place, and to be well skill'd in the Art of Mathematicks, that he may the better give Directions for fortifying and measuring of ground, quar∣tering of his whole Regiment, and in hutting of the particular Souldiers.