“In Every Other Busines of the Adjutant, To Whom He Is An Assistant” - The Role of the Sergeant Major in the Continental Army

Recently, a question was posed on the Facebook group “Progressive Rev War Reenactors” about the appropriateness of the rank of “sergeant major” and whether the position existed during the Revolutionary War era. There was also some confusion over where the rank fell within the command structure. Some assumed the position was a senior officer rank equal to that of a brigade command officer, while others asserted the position was an administrative role with little to no authority above a clerk.

So, what was a sergeant major of the American forces during the Revolutionary War, particularly for Massachusetts forces?

As a preliminary matter, the Nerds did serve as a sergeant major during many of the 225th commemoration events. We had the benefit of having mentors who took the time to carefully train us to ensure the interpretation of the role was accurate given the available research at the time. Finally, the Nerds were fortunate during the 225th to have a wonderful and very positive relationship with the British Brigade’s sergeant major, who always made himself available for questions, advice, and guidance on how the British army addressed the administrative and supervisory responsibilities of non-commissioned officers.

The Nerds' memories of being a sergeant major during the 225th were that of heavy administrative work - assisting the battalion adjutant, compiling returns, relaying brigade and company orders to sergeants, overseeing the formation of the regiment on the parade ground, and posting guards.

We did not command the battalion, a company, or a platoon.

When the question was posed to “Progressive Rev War Reenactors”, fortunately, several leading historians on the Continental and British armies, including John U. Rees, Don Hagist, and Eric Chetwynd, shared their research and knowledge on the position. This, in turn, spurred the Nerds to earn their keep and do a little digging of their own. This is what we found.

The position of “sergeant major” did exist in the 18th Century and was referenced in many pre-Revolutionary War drill manuals, including Bland’s Military Discipline (c. 1759 edition) and Cumberland’s A New Exercise. 

Photo Credit Rob Hoogs, Bidwell House

However, not all treatises were equal, and many pre and early Revolutionary War manuals and resolutions surprisingly did not reference the rank. For example, the Norfolk Drill, the Boston and New York Editions of the 1764 Crown Manual, and the Pickering Drill lacks any reference the position.

Similarly, a review of the minutes of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress reveals twenty-seven instances when the rank of “sergeant” or “serjeant” was discussed/ there are no findings within the minutes for the rank of sergeant major. Early pay scales for the Massachusetts militia and minute companies and regiments, as established by various towns, did not list sergeants major. Finally, the 1775 “Rules and Regulations of the Massachusetts Army” did not differentiate between sergeants major and other non-commissioned officers.

However, as historian John U. Rees noted, the position did exist within the Continental Army. A cursory review of Continental muster rolls confirms his position. For example, John Flowers of the 15th Massachusetts, John Hawkins of the 2nd Canadian Regiment and JohnChampe of Lee’s Legion all held the rank of sergeant major during the Revolutionary War. As discussed below, Baron Von Steuben even addressed the rank and responsibilities of a regimental sergeant major.

Excerpt from Cumberland's "A New Exercise"

Historian Don Hagist has indicated that a sergeant major was a regimental non-commissioned officer and was not part of a brigade, division, or army command staff. As such, a sergeant major held no authority over regimental or staff officers. Even a lowly ensign outranked a sergeant major.

Likewise, sergeants major did not wear any unique rank insignias or trappings of an officer to distinguish themselves from other sergeants. During the American Revolution, non-commissioned officers were merely identified by colored epaulets or strips of cloth. According to General Washington’s 1775 order, “corporals may be distinguished by an epaulet or stripe of green cloth sewed upon the right shoulder, the sergeants by one of red.” In June 1780, Washington issued a second order regarding NCO rank insignias. The order mimicked the 1775 instructions and required NCOs to wear a green or red epaulet on their right shoulder. At no point during the war did Washington or any other general issue orders regarding the wearing of unique clothing 

When a regiment paraded, a sergeant major did not field at the head of the regiment or with field officers. Instead, he was stationed at the rear of the regiment behind the center of the line. 

So with all this said, how was a sergeant major chosen, and what were their responsibilities in a regiment?  

Historian Eric Chetwynd shared the recommendations of Bennet Cuthbertson regarding sergeants major within the British army.

In his work, System For The Complete Interior Management and Oeconomy of A Battalion of Infantry, Cuthbertson outlines the expectations and duties of a sergeant major. Specifically,  “The choice of a Serjeant-major must never be influenced by any other consideration, than that of real merit; besides his being a compleat Serjeant in every respect, he ought to be sensible, sedate, and have a good address: in particular, he must be above conniving at the least irregularities committed by the Non-commission officers or Soldiers whom, he is to observe a becoming distance: he should be a perfect master of every branch in the interior management and discipline of a Regiment; be expert at Calculations, keeping Rosters, and forming Details: in his temper, he must have a certain degree of coolness, to give instructions in the Exercise, and to bear with patience the stupidity of Recruits, and often of the older Soldiers; at the same time that he possesses a necessary smartness, to enforce, when requisite, a strict attention to his directions: and as he has frequent opportunities, of closely attending to the morals and behavior of the Serjeants and Corporals, he should be quick in discovering their faults; and as ready in communicating them to the Adjutant, whose authority, he must, on every occasion endevor to promote.”

The United States Army’s Office of the Historian noted a sergeant major of the Continental Army was “required …  to be well acquainted with the management structure, disciplining the Soldiers and overseeing rosters and forming unit details.”

Excerpt from Von Steuben's "Blue Book"

Baron Von Steuben followed the recommendations of Cuthbertson. In his famed “Blue Book,” he suggested a sergeant major should be “well acquainted with the interior management and discipline of the regiment and the manner of keeping rosters and forming details. He must always attend the parade, be very expert in counting off the battalion, and in every other business of the adjutant, to whom he is an assistant.”

In short, a sergeant major was an administrative position that assisted the adjutant in managing the regiment. His other duties centered on supervising other sergeants, carrying out discipline, and assisting in guard and forage details.

The role of sergeants major has evolved over the past two centuries.

In 1820, the Massachusetts militia system and the United States Army expanded the role of the sergeant major to include offering practical and theoretical instruction to sergeants and corporals under their command. 

In 1920, the sergeant major position was eliminated by an act of Congress. However, in 1958, the rank was restored. By 1965, the Army had issued a policy statement declaring sergeants major “represent and uphold the image of “The Backbone of the Army” mentality. This position [is] tasked with answering to the Chief of Staff for enlisted affairs and acting as a personal advisor.”