Army Regulations, ca 1860

1. The utmost attention will be paid by commanders of companies to the cleanliness of their men, as to their persons, clothing, arms, accoutrements, and equipments; and also to their tents.
2. Where conveniences for bathing are to be had, the men should bathe once or twice a week. The feet are to be washed at least twice a week, and the hair kept short and the beard kept neatly trimmed.
3. Non-commissioned officers in command of squads will be held more immediately responsible that their men observe what is prescribed above; namely, that they wash their hands and faces daily; that they brush or comb their heads; and that those who are on duty put their arms, accoutrements, dress, and so forth in the best order.
4. On all occasions except fatigue and when out of quarters, the coat or jacket shall be buttoned or hooked at the collar.
5. Officers at their stations, in camp, or in garrison will always wear their proper uniforms.
6. All inferiors are required to obey strictly, and to execute with alacrity and good faith, the lawful orders of the superiors appointed over them.
7. Authority is to be exercised with firmness, but with kindness and justice to inferiors. Punishments shall be strictly conformable to the Articles of War.
8. Superiors of every grade are forbidden to injure those under them by tyrannical or capricious conduct, or by abusive language.
9. It is enjoined upon all officers to be cautious in reproving non-commissioned officers in the presence or hearing of enlisted men lest the non-commissioned officers’ authority be weakened.
10. Courtesy among soldiers is indispensable to discipline. Respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, but will be extended to all occasions. It is always the duty of the inferior to accost or to offer first the customary salutation, and of the superiors to return such complimentary notice. The customary salutation is to salute.
11. Sergeants with muskets will salute by bringing the left hand across the body so as to strike the musket near the right shoulder. Corporals out of ranks and privates not serving as sentries will carry their muskets at a shoulder as sergeants and salute in like manner.
12. When a soldier without arms (or with side-arms only) meets an officer, he is to raise his right hand to the right side of the visor of his cap, palm to the front and elbow raised as high as the shoulder; looking at the same time in a respectful and soldier-like manner at the officer, who will return the compliment thus offered.
13. A non-commissioned officer or soldier seated and without particular occupation will rise on the approach of an officer and make the customary salutation. If standing, he will turn toward the officer for the purpose of offering the same salutation. If the parties remain in the same place or on the same ground, such compliments need not be repeated.
14. It is equally the duty of non-commissioned officers and soldiers at all times and in all situations to pay the proper compliments to officers of the Navy and Marines; and to officers of other regiments, when in uniform, as to the officers of their own particular regiments and corps.
15. An officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier shall indicate respect for women when passing by them in public by touching the brim of the cap in the manner of a salute, or removing the hat.

Regulations 1 through 3 refer to personal hygiene. Regulations 4 and 5 deal with dress. Regulations 6 through 14 deal with personal conduct. The number of regulations dealing with any given category does not convey a level of emphasis, but only the degree of complexity involved with that topic. After all, the primary purpose of this treatment of military etiquette is to discuss desirable behavior.

The regulations numbered 1 through 3 should, we would hope, be self-evident. Comment is not required for those who would voluntarily subscribe to them nor, if required to be broached with any, apt to be heeded by the ones at whom it is aimed. Our hope is that we will not be posted too closely to the ones who need most to read and obey those directions.