'Bugler of the Seventeenth, Undress.'

One of 10 lithographs by M Gauci after E Hull, 1828. Published by Engelmann, Graf, Coindet and Company, 1828.

Buglers were normally young soldiers. They were responsible for sounding calls that signalled changes in the daily routines of a unit, especially when in camp. The most well-known call is 'The Last Post' , sounded at the end of the day when the duty officer had completed his inspection of the camp and its sentry posts. Bugle calls also relayed commanders' orders on the battlefield, whether to advance, retreat, cease fire and so forth.