SERJEANT, or SERGEANT, is a non-commissioned officer in a troop of ca valry or in a company of infantry. The duties of serjeauts are to drill or instruct in discipline the recruits of a regiment ; and on parade they act as markers or guides in the performance of the evolu tions. The serjeants of infantry are now armed with muskets like the rest of the troops. In each company, when a batta lion is in line, a covering serjeaut is always stationed behind the officer com manding the company ; when the ranks take open order, and that officer advances before the front rank, the serjeant steps into his place; but upon the ranks being closed, he falls again to the rear. Four or six serjeants are charged with the im portant duty of guarding the colours of the regiment: they constantly attend the officers who carry them, and are called colour-serjeants. One serjeaut in each troop or company is appointed to pay the men; also to keep the accounts relating to their allowances, the state of their ne cessaries, &c.
The name of sergens or servientes was, in the armies of France during the reign of Philip Augustus, applied to gentlemen who served on horseback, but were below the rank of knights; and also, as a gene ral term, to the infantry soldiers who were furnished by the towns.
In the reign of Philip and Mary the serjeant-major of the army was an officer whose post corresponded to that of the modern major-general ; and the serjeant major of a regiment was a field-officer, who would now be designated the major. At present the serjeant-major is an as sistant to the adjutant, and keeps the roster for the duties of the serjeants, cor porals, and privates. The quartermaster serjeant is one who acts immediately under the quartermaster of a regiment in all the details relating to the quarters of the officers and men, the supplies of food, clothing, &c.