It was a good presentation though a bit over the head and continued interest level of one seven year old boy. It was interesting to observe, the children 9 years old and up where quite interested, but the 8 and under crowd got quite restless after about 40 minutes. They just wanted to be able to move and explore the items that the speaker brought.
I took a bunch with evernote but somehow they aren't showing up for me to do a copy paste type of thing so that's rather vexing.
Rev. Christopher Timm told us what life was like for the common soldier who would have fought in the war. The clothing they wore, the pay they received, how most would be separated from their families, the discipline they experienced, the food they ate and so much more. It was a very informative presentation.
My notes using Evernote
- Seven year enlistment time introduced for a time, but generally enlistment was for a lifetime. British army began one hour before sunrise and went to sunset. Ate twice a day. They were the best army at the time.
- Best because they were so disciplined.
- Time after sunrise was their own.
- Only six wives allowed per company unless they were garrisoned then 12 allowed.
- Could be 10-14 years before see spouse if married if not allowed to come.
- Children from age five were expected to work, and could draw rations until 14 years old, then had to work (usually as a soldier)
- 5-6 people would sleep in one tent ...this included children. They were not allotted space and just fit in where'er there was space.
- Soldiers were not allowed civilian clothing. This way hey couldn't desert. It was a life time enlistment.
- Seventy-five caliber musket. An India musket, accurate 50-70 yards. They learned to fire as quickly as possible . 3 round/minute
- 100 yards was max range for accuracy
- Flintlock...small piece of stone that lit the ammunition and that's what drives the musket ball forward.
- They had a bayonet attached....these were rarely used. They yelled hussah!
- 60 rounds of ammunition
- Stove pelt shako.... not practical, didn't breathe, made only to make a person look more imposing. People would faint ROM heatstroke because the hats were so horridly hot. The feather on them denoted rank/battalion/position
- Carry water in wooden canteen
- Haversack carried their food.
- Neck stop forced them to keep their head up and looking forward.
- Music was going every thing was going well, and flags. These were often points of attack since it was demoralizing to the soldiers to lose that part of things.
- Colour soldiers were the ones who carried the flags...usually young officers 14-15 years old.
One doctor per regiment.
More men died of wounds and disease than really died in battle.
Wounds were very terrible.
Food
- Two meals a day. Men full ration, women half, children 1/4 of that.
- One meat net weight. 1.5 lb flour. 1 oz cheese. Quarter pint peas. 1 oz Oatmeal.
- Tin plate. Mug. Soldiers knife. Horn spoon.
Journal if literate.
Used rags to make paper,......learn how to make.
If you lost anything you would be charged for it.
- People sometimes deliberately lost their neck stop because they hated to wear them.
Sideburns were grown to cover the scald marks from getting burned by firing the gun.
Pants were drop pants (buttons to undo to drop the front of the pants to go bathroom)
Soldiers simply had shoes marched in dress shoes. Not left or right. Were required to rotate them daily so they would wear evenly.
All worldly possessions carried in pack.
- Barrcack coat...called a forge coat
- Always had something on their head cause it was impolite to not have head covered
- Blanket to sleep under
- Spare shirt, socks, underwear
- Musket cleaning kit
- Candle saved for special occasions
- Soldiers soap (made out of lard)
- Extra fork and knife. ... a gift from dead friend
- And that is what they carried.
- Punishment was being flogged (whipped)
- 50 lashes, 300 lashes....these were done in allotments....as 300 would kill you so did as much as you could handle and then after you healed gave you more.
Facts brought out during discussion period:
- The battle in Canada was mostly fought by the regular soldiers of the British.
- We won all the land battles and aren't under American rule. This is the proof that we won the battle though some historians say the Americans won because they won some strategic battles.
- Horseback would have sabers, short pistols or musket-tals (short muskets)
- 1840's switched from flint to percussion muskets. Reason was accuracy.
- Most food was boiled. Roasting and frying was considered unhealthy.
- Often stew was what they had for supper, oatmeal for breakfast. Each group shared a cook pot.
- Often they slept under the stars. Tents were a luxury because they needed to be hauled around.
- Soldiers need to be hardy, frostbite a problem in the winter,.....lost fingers and toes.
- Surprise battles would happen in the winter,.... barns from farmers would be used as shelter in the winter.
- Americans won the battle of New Orleans...the last battle.
- But many states didn't join in the battle because they just didn't want to, ergo politically when they started losing they decided to make a treaty and call an end to it. Basically the end of the war was political expediency.
- No hearing protection offered to the soldiers.
- Second level battalions were sent to the Canada's to fight. The best regiments were sent to fight France.
- Forging was part of the life of a soldier. Gave variety to their diet. Fences used for firewood.