Regulation hours or camp hours
By Antoine

From the diane in the morning to the retraite at night, wood picking or cleaning chores, weapon cleaning, roll calls, meals, drill, manoeuvres and lessons didn't leave any room for laziness.

We aim to respect these hours, but will adapt them to the limits and wishes of the organisation of every event, and practical matters.

Regulation Hours
7h00 (September to March)
6h00 (the rest of the year) 		the wake-up call is given by a cannon shot or other signal, followed by the diane, beat by the tambour de la garde de police.
7h30 the tambour de police beats three rolls. All soldiers assemble for the roll call without weapons and in their tenue de service.
8h00 the tambour de police beats the breloque, which signals cleaning duty. This activity is supervised by the lieutenant de la garde de police. The corporals of the week make sure the streets of the camp get sweeped by the duty soldiers.
8h30 the tambour de police beats the roll call for the drummers (in certain regiments this is a breloque followed by a roll call) The drummers are inspected by the tambour-major, who checks in particular the cleanliness and the way in which the drums are strung.
9h00 the drummers beat the guard (l'assemblée). The sergeants of the week gather the corporals and soldiers assigned to guard and picket duties and present them to the officers of the week for inspection. These particularly inspect weapons and ammunition.
9h30 the tambour de police beats two rolls for the inspection by the sergeants of the week.
10h00 the tambour de police beats a roll for lunch (la soupe)
10h30 the tambour de police beats three rolls for the inspection by the officers of the week.
11h30 Lead by the tambour-major, all the drummers go to the guard post by 11.30. 50 paces before their arrival, they beat the aux champs. The mounting guards and pickets assemble. After inspection, the guards parade, then are relieved. The drummers go back to their quarters.
12h00 the tambour de police beats three rolls. All soldiers assemble for roll call, in uniform, with weapon and backpack.

Between 12h00 and 16h00 or 17h00, all soldiers participate in drill or lessons. Drummers take part in the drummers' school (école du tambour), under the orders of the caporal-tambour and supervised by the tambour-major

16h00 in winter,
17h00 in summer		 the tambour de police beats a roll for dinner (la soupe).
19h30 the tambour de police beats the assembly for the drummers. The tambour-major and all the drummers, their drums on their backs, assemble at the place d'armes (drill square).
20h00 the drummers beat the retreat (la retraite). The camp is now 'closed'.
Immediately after the retreat the tambour de police beats l'ordre. The officers and the corporals on duty for the night assemble and are given the password for the night. The garde de police supplies the men for the outer perimeter.
20h30 the tambour de police beats three rolls. Soldiers assemble for a roll call, without their weapons.
22h00 drum roll by the tambour de police to extinguish the fires. The duty sergeant goes round the vivandière stalls to tell the soldiers and NCOs to go back to their quarters, and to verify that the cooking fires have been put out.

* The password is a code composed of two words that are changed every day. It is passed on to the guards, patrols and reconnaissance detachments as a means to distinguish themselves from the enemy and to avoid surprises.

The first word is the order word; the second word is the answer. The order word is usually the name of a battle or a historical character, and is loudly spoken by the guard or soldier who finds himself in the presence of a stranger. The latter then has to answer with the right code word, usually a virtue, before he can be asked to advance.
The command of the army makes up a list of passwords and answers, usually for one month, and passes these secretly to the staff of the regiments.


Source: Bardin, Étienne Alexandre, Manuel d'infanterie, Paris, Magimel, Paris, 1807, réed. 1811, 1813.