Background to Rebellion
Yeomanry Standing Orders
PAMPHLET IR. 358 P. 5
STANDING ORDERS
FOR THE
YEOMANRY CORPS
OF
IRELAND
DUBLIN CASTLE
15th May 1798
DUBLIN:
PRINTED BY J AND A. B. KING,
NO. 72, DAME STREET.
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STANDING ORDERS
FOR THE
YEOMANRY CORPS
OF COMMISSIONS AND SUCCESSIONS
I
All recommendations of officers must come through the commanding officers of Corps.
II
Whenever an officer resigns his situation , or is superseded, his commission is to be transmitted to the War-Office
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BRIGADE MAJORS
I
Brigade Majors will be appointed by the Government for the purpose of superintending and regulating (under the directions of the Generals) the Yeomanry corps in their respective districts.
II
These Officers will settle points of detail with the Yeomanry Officers in the manner best calculated for carrying into effect the directions of the General Officers with the least possible inconvenience to the Yeomanry.
III
They will convey the orders of the Generals in their districts.
IV
They will under the authority and instructions of the Generals arrange the detail of quartering and providing with barracks and necessaries the detachments of Yeomanry upon permanent duty.
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V
They are regularly to inspect the Yeomanry returns of all kinds.
ARMS
I
The commanding Officers of Corps are to be particularly strict in inspecting the arms of the men, they are to prevent as far as possible any waste of the ammunition, and ( in Cavalry Corps) they are to take care that the horse furniture may not be used, except when the men are at exercise or upon service.
II
Every Corps is to keep the arms issued by Government in repair at it’s own expense, except in very particular cafes reported to Government by the General of the District.
III
If any man is discharged, or retires from a Yeomanry Corps, the Captain is immediately to call in his arms, accoutrements, clothing and ammunition, according to the Act of Parliament.
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IV
When a Corps is disbanded the Captain is to take the very earliest oppurtunity of collecting the arms, accoutrements and ammunition, and delivering them to the nearest Field Officer until they can be sent to his majesty’s stores.
AMMUNITION
I
Application for Ammunition is to be made to the general of the district, who will give an order upon the most convenient store or depot, for the issue of such quantity as he may think necessary.
II
The Corps are at their own expense to keep up the stock of Ammunition issued to them, except in cafes of expenditure upon service.
III
Gunpowder for practice can upon no account be allowed by Government.
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IV
Once in a month a return of the Ammunition is to be made to the Brigade Majors of the district, according to the annexed form.
EXERCISE
I
All the Corps not furnishing detachments for permanent Duty are to exercise twice in the week, and not oftener.
II
When a corps furnishes a detachment duty exceeding a fourth of it’s establishment, the remainder of the corps will be allowed pay for exercise once in the week, and not oftener; but when the detachment shall not exceed a fourth of the establishment, the remainder of the corps will be allowed pay for two days exercise in the week.
III
It is however to be understood that no man will be entitled to pay for exercise unless he shall have been actually present on the ground for two hours at least.
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PERMANENT DUTY
I
Permanent duty is only to be undertaken by the appointment of a General Officer expressed in writing, specifying the number of the Corps to be so employed, and the head quarters of the detachment.
II
Yeoman undertaking permanent duty are not to be subject to martial law, unless they voluntarily put themselves under the provisions of the mutiny act, according to the terms of the 5th section of the Yeomanry Act.
III
It is recommended that a captain should be put on duty with fifty man and a subaltern with twenty.
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RETURNS
I
All returns are considered to be upon honour, and any officer making a false return, will, according to an Act passed in the present session of the parliament, be subject to a penalty of 2001.
II
Returns of every kind are to be monthly, beginning with the first and ending with the last day of the month.
III
Returns for exercise are to be sent to the War-Office.
IV
Returns for permanent duty are to be sent to the General of the District, who will certify them and transmit them to the War-Office, if the duty shall have been performed by his direction.
V
Although it is not absolutely necessary that all the officers of the corps should certify the returns, yet it is the Lord Lieutenant’s desire that the Captains will take every opportunity of examining the books of the Corps, and of seeing that the permanent sergeant
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makes up the returns correctly. It is recommended that books be kept in which the attendance of each man may be let down.
VI
If a detachment of a Corps is on permanent duty, and a change of the Officer commanding it should take peace in the course of the month, each officer is to certify the return for the period of his command.
VII
When a detachment is upon permanent duty, a morning and evening return according to the annexed form, is to be made to the General of the District or the Yeomanry Brigade Major, and no officer, non-commissioned Officer or Private will be entitled to pay for that day if not actually present.
VIII
It is expected that the returns will be transmitted either to the General or the War-Office, as the café may be, on or before the 6th day of every month; and the utmost expedition and correctness will be required in the observance of this regulation.
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PAY AND ALLOWANCES
I
Permanent Pay is to be issued at the following rates:
Cavalry.
£ s d
Captain, per Diem – 14 6
First Lieutenant – 9 –
Sub. Lieutenant – 8 –
Private – 2 –
Infantry.
Captain, per Diem – 9 4
First Lieutenant – 5 8
Sub. Lieutenant – 4 8
Private – 1 –
Second Captains are to receive the pay of first captains.
Officers of Cavalry Corps doing duty with their dismounted men to receive the same pay as those of equal rank in Infantry Corps.
II
Forge allowances are only made to the officers, non-commissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry corps; each man whose horse
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shall be on duty for twenty-four hours together, is to have an allowance for forage of one shilling per diem.
III
Forage money is not allowed when a detachment merely patrols and then separates.
IV
Thirty shillings per month will be allowed for Guard-room, fire, candles, &c. and if any extra expense under the head of barracks should under particular circumstances appear to the General of the District to be absolutely requisite, he is to certify the necessity of such additional expense in writing and report it to the War-Office.
V
Whenever a Corps or detachment of a Corps is put upon permanent duty the Captain is to give immediate notice of it to his agent, in order that he may make application at thr Treasury for an advance of pay.
VI
Permanent pay will be issued in advance, and if upon the Returns any balance appears due to Government, it will be deducted out of the exercise pay.
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VII
No advance of permanent pay will be made until a correct return for the preceding month is sent to the War-Office.
RANK
As it is essential that the relative rank of the Yeomanry Corps and if the officers should be arranged and settled in café of their meeting upon service, the following regulations for that purpose are to be adopted, and the decision thus obtained is to be considered as final.
I
On the first of June next, lots will be publicly drawn at the Castle under the inspection of the General commanding in Chief his Majesty’s Forces in this kingdom and the adjutant General, to determine the precedence of each County.
II
The Precedence of each corps in each county will also be fixed by lot.
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III
All Officers whose Commission bear date the 31st October 1796, are to rank according to the precedence of their Corps.
IV
All other Officers are to take rank according to the dates of their commissions.
V
Any new Corps established after this decision by lot is to take rank as the east of the County in which it is raised.
VI
Corps which have more than one company are to be drawn for as one corps, and the companies are to rank together according to their numbers; the captain of the first company is to have the command of the other companies.
VII
Printed lifts of the Yeomanry of Ireland, arranged according to their precedence, will be sent to every Corps as soon after the drawing of the lots as they can be prepared.
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VIII
A person will be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant for the purpose of drawing the lots, and any Yeomanry Officer who shall chose to attend the drawing will be permitted to be presented.
Finis