[Instructions from the Adj^t Gen Office respecting the Inspections of the Army Rec^d [undecipherable] March [undecipherable] 1800 W] Adjutant Generals Office Newport Feb^y 1^st 1800 Instructions On the first monday in every Month an Inspection of all the Troops in the service of the United States must take place, at which time an General Return of each Company, a General Return of the Non commissioned [undecipherable] the Inspector, whose duty it is to inspect the Regiment. The Return with his remarks and observations which must be full on every point in which there is report without prejudice, favour, or affection must be forwarded by the Inspector without delay of time to the Adjutant Generals Office. Where Brigades and Divisions are not appointed, or where it is impracticable from distance, Detours or any other obstacle for them to attend on the first Monday of each Month to the Inspection of all the Troops within the District assigned them, the Commanding Officer of the District or Brigade may appoint an Officer or Officers to inspect each part of the Troops as he may think proper, but nothing must prevent the regular Division or Brigade Inspectors from inspecting and disciplining, as far as may be practicable, all and every part of the Troops within the Division or Brigade at least once in three Months. Without frequent Inspections by Officers of knowledge, accuracy, activity, and Zeal for the service there can be neither economy, uniformity or discipline in an Army. When a Regiment is together, an Inspection Return of each Company and General Return of the Regiment is to be made. The Battalion — a Return of each Company and a General Return of the Battalion — When a Garrison or other command is composed of different Corps or Companies — Detachments, a Return of each Company, each designating the Regiment to which they belong and a General Return of the Garrison. Where there are only two Companies or Detachments, particular Returns of each Company & Detachment only will be required, but in no case must the noting of the Regiment to which each officer & detachment belongs be omitted — and Where there are different Corps of the Battalion, only, together as in a Garrison and a third on [undecipherable] the particular Corps to which each officer belongs must be noted. With respect to the Returns it is believed little doubt can exist as to the regulations but to prevent mistakes it is to be understood That [undecipherable] shows not only the men actually on parade but shows at the [undecipherable] or otherwise or in any other situation where they can [undecipherable] be seen by the Inspector, men in health [undecipherable] supposed that no man who is able to bear arms [undecipherable] whether [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Inspection or in some other [undecipherable] It is the duty of the Inspector to visit the sick all those of them who are in Tents, Barracks, or Huts are considered as present. Those in Hospitals & elsewhere who are of those in arrest or confined, no man is to miss the place of inspection. At his discretion, what it may, it is to be considered as a Command or other duty.— Prisoners are either those taken by an enemy such as are confined at a distance from the Regiment for military crimes, or by the civil [undecipherable] — those who are by sentence of Courts Martial to be confined for any given time of service, are to be considered as transferred. Straggling men must be Returned but once — in the most Return which shall be figured on that Column, at the least there is most probability that they belong.— The establishment of a Regiment of Artillery is 1 Colonel Commandant, 4 Majors, 1 Adjutant, 1 Pay Master, 1 Quarter Master, each being a Lieut, 1 Surgeon, 2 Surgeon Mates, 16 Captains, 32 Lieutenants, besides the 3 before mentioned, 16 Cadets, 4 Sergeant Major, 4 Quarter Master Sergeants, 1 Chief Musician, 16 other Musicians, 64 Sergeants, 64 Corporals, 128 artificers, 1600 privates, the formed into 4 Battalions each Battalion into 4 Companies — The establishment of a Regiment of Infantry is 1 [strikethrough: Col] Colonel Commandant — 2 Majors, 1 Adjutant, 1 Pay Master, 1 Quarter Master, each being a Lieut, 1 Surgeon, 2 Surgeon Mates, 10 Captains, 10 first and 10 second Lieutenants, besides the 3 before mentioned, 10 Cadets, 4 Sergeant Major, 4 Quarter Master Sergeants & Chief Musician and 10 other Musicians, 40 Sergeants, 40 Corporals, and 800 privates — in the new establishment at present the establishment is only 600 privates. In shew or in hand not obtained relates only to any place of depot, that the Company may have. I do not know of this to any quantity as there are none at present at any place besides allowed to [undecipherable] finding those stores in the Return — and it is to be left blank. When the Clothing allowed a Soldier has been worn out, if he has served the time for which it was furnished, it is to be given in to be considered as worn out and condemned. The Regimental Return besides embracing every thing named in the Company Returns is to contain separate Columns for the Pay Master & Quarter Master in which the office they [undecipherable] they had in other [undecipherable] to the last Inspection and every thing which they have received or delivered since inspected or changed. The receipts and deliveries between the Companies & Pay Master & Quarter Master will undoubtedly agree and if [undecipherable] are made by either of the Officers to other persons the person should be designated. Blank Columns are left for the insertion of other articles than those noted which may be furnished by the United States. In order that the General Return may be completed on the day of Inspection — the Company Returns should be made the day before in which it is presumed there can be little difficulty as the instruction points out who are to be considered present and absent, and it is not probable that the Commanding Officers of a Regiment will materially change the situation of a Company when so near the moment of Inspection. In fine it is by these Returns intended to bring every thing into view which concerns the component parts or the whole of a Regiment, and accuracy is expected in filling them up. The Captains are answerable for the truth of their Returns. The Pay Master & Quarter Master for their particular accounts and as the Commanding Officers to some degree vests the responsibility of the whole. It having been found impossible to print the Regimental Returns on one sheet notwithstanding the different Columns smaller than was intended, a greater degree of neatness in the different papers & attention in making the figures than usual will be found necessary. The first Inspections to take place on the first Monday of March next, if the forms arrive in time, if they do not arrive [undecipherable], he must as soon as may be to the next Inspection take on the first Monday of the next Month. W. North Adj^t Gen & Offg Insp. General