The canteen should always be filled before starting out.  Use the water very sparingly.  None at all should be drunk during the first three or four hours of the march.  After that take only a few mouthfuls at a time and wash out the mouth and throat.  Except possibly in very hot weather, one canteen of water should last for the entire day’s march.  Excessive water drinking on the march will play a man out very quickly.  Old soldiers never drink when marching.  A small pebble carried in the mouth keeps it moist and therefore reduces thirst.  Or a small piece of chocolate may occasionally be eaten.  Smoking is very depressing during a march.

Canteens will not be refilled on the march without authority from an officer, as the clearest water, whether from a well, spring, or running stream, may be very impure and the source of many camp diseases.  If canteens are to be refilled, it should be done by order, and a detail is generally made for this purpose.

Entering upon private property without permission, or stealing fruit, etc., from gardens and orchards, is a serious military offense, as well as a violation of the civil laws.

When a cooked meal is carried, it should not be eaten until the proper time.

A command ordinarily marches for 50 minutes and halts for 10 minutes.  The first halt in a day’s march is for about 15 minutes, is made after about 30 minutes’ marching, and is for the express purpose of allowing the men to relieve themselves.  Men who wish to do this should attend to it at once and not wait until the command is almost ready to march again.

At every halt get all the rest possible and don’t spend the time wandering around or standing about.  Only green recruits do this.  If the ground is dry, stretch out at full length, removing the pack or blanket roll and belt, and get in as comfortable position as possible.  The next best way is to sit down with a good back rest against a tree or a fence or some other object.  Never sit down or lie down, however, on wet or damp ground.  Sit on your pack or blanket roll, or on anything else that is dry.  At a halt it is very refreshing to adjust the underclothing.

SECTION 3.  MAKING CAMP.

On reaching the camp site the men should be allowed to fall out and rest as soon as the arms have been stacked and the shelter tents pitched.  If the blanket rolls have been carried on the wagons, then the location of the front poles of the shelter tents should be marked before they are allowed to fall out.  The men will not be allowed to relieve themselves until sinks are dug.  Temporary sinks may be dug with intrenching tools, if carried.  A guard should be placed over the water supply at once.

As soon as the shelter tents are pitched the company proceeds to the remainder of the camp work in accordance with a permanent assignment similar to the following: