General John Burgoyne who participated on the British side of the American Revolutionary War, had great respect and obedience from his soldiers. His method of punishment was different. If a soldier misbehaved, he had the man wear his coat inside out.

Deeper Dive:

General John Burgoyne—nicknamed “Gentleman Johnny” by his men—was uniquely progressive for an 18th-century British commander. During an era when the British Army routinely relied on harsh corporal punishment, flogging, and strict subordination to enforce discipline, Burgoyne took the rare approach of treating his soldiers as thinking human beings rather than mere automatons.
Burgoyne’s Reformist Code

In 1759, when Burgoyne raised and commanded the 16th Light Dragoons, he issued a famed code of instructions to his officers:

Humiliation Over Brutality: Burgoyne strongly discouraged physical flogging, arguing that it degraded a soldier’s dignity and destroyed his self-respect.

The “Inside-Out Coat” Punishment: Instead of the whip, Burgoyne used public shame as a corrective measure. If a soldier misbehaved or showed poor conduct, he was ordered to wear his uniform coat turned inside out to visibly mark him as an example of bad behavior and dishonor to his comrades.

Encouraging Initiative: Burgoyne encouraged his soldiers to exercise independent judgment on the field—a revolutionary concept at the time.

Because he treated his soldiers with fairness, respect, and restraint, Burgoyne earned the immense devotion and obedience of his troops throughout his campaigns.

General John Burgoyne(1722 – 1792)