The Life of a Continental Soldier During the Revolutionary War
Life in the Continental Army was difficult. When soldiers were not engaged in combat, they drilled 8 hours a day with their musket in marching formations. They also took turns serving guard duty. When they were not drilling or standing guard, they were occupied with manual labor, such as digging latrines and trenches, clearing fields, erecting fortifications, foraging for food or chopping firewood.
Soldiers spent much of their time marching (sometimes up to 50 miles a day) carrying 45 to 60 pounds of gear including: arms, ammunition, mess kits, food rations, extra clothes, bedding, personal gear and small items for entertainment.
Continental Army enlistment agreement ca. 1775-1777 The Society of the Cincinnati, The Robert Charles Lawrence Fergusson Collection, https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/exhibition/a-revolution-in-arms/
The Arms and Ammunition
Musket
The average soldier who fought in the Continental Army carried a flintlock musket. These were often brought from home or captured on the field of battle. These weapons could be loaded quickly, but were inaccurate compared to rifles. Soldiers who carried muskets often fought in lines at close range, within 100 yards from their opponent.
Long Rifle
Long rifles gave the Continental army an essential edge in America's war against the British. They were introduced by German immigrants in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They were more expensive to make, and often could not mount a bayonet. However, rifles could accurately hit targets up to 300 yards away compared to muskets which were accurate only to 100 yards. These incredible increases in both range and accuracy were due to the "rifling" of the barrel that produced a bullet that spun.
Cartridge box
Every soldier carried a cartridge box which held his ammunition. Making the cartridges took precious time and couldn't be done in the heat of battle. So they were made and carried into battle in secure boxes made of tin or leather.
Soldiers trained to be able to fire four rounds per minute or one every 15 seconds. The best soldiers could squeeze off five rounds per minute.
25 rounds of ammunition
A soldier carried black powder, projectiles, and wadding to make his ammunition. He would make his own shot by heating lead over a fire and pouring it into hand-held molds to cool.
Powder Horn
A soldier carried his gunpowder in a powder horn which hung from his body with a leather or woven strap. Powder horns were lightweight and durable. They protected the powder from moisture and were often personalized with engravings of names, dates, maps, designs or even portraits.
Powder Measure
The powder was poured into a measure and then into the pan of the lock mechanism on the side of the weapon and more was poured down the barrel.
Powder measure, Horn, rawhide, wood. L 10.1 cm The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 1311
The Paper Cartridge
The musket would be loaded with a paper cartridge, which contained gunpowder, and a solid lead ball and all would be pushed down the barrel with a ramrod.
Flint
When the trigger was pulled a piece of flint was needed to strike a steel frizzen which created sparks and ignited the gunpowder. It burned through a small hole in the side of the barrel setting off the main charge, pushing the bullet out the barrel.
Socket Bayonet and Scabbard
Muskets could be fixed with a bayonet which created a six-foot spear, allowing soldiers to charge and engage in close-quarters combat even when their guns were not loaded.
Bayonets were carried in scabbards attached to a leather or fabric strap.
Revolutionary War Bayonet With Original Belt and Scabbard. https://www.icollector.com/Revolutionary-War-Bayonet-With-Original-Belt-and-Scabba_i8662271
Tomahawk
Many soldiers carried a tomahawk. It could be used in hand-to-hand combat, and as a tool for camp duties, and could even be thrown short distances.
Knife
Most soldiers caried a knife which could have a bone or antler handle. These were helpful camp tools but could also be used in close combat.
Antler handled knife, C 1750-1850 Iron, antler. L 33.65 cm The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 842
Pistols
Officers often carried pistols and swords, as well as other edged weapons.
French Pistols, Iron, wood, gold wash. L 35.8 (barrel L 20.6) cm C. B. H. Jackson Collection Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 5281 and 5282
Tools needed for camp life
Soldiers brought much of what they needed from home. Most carried a wooden canteen, mess kit with cup, plate and eating utensils as well as a bedroll. The smaller items were carried in a haversack and the larger items in a knapsack.
Wooden Canteen
American stave canteen owned by William Adrian Hawkins (1742-1817), an officer in the New Hampshire Continental Line during the Revolutionary War, https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/continental-army-soldier/
Haversack made of cloth
A haversack was used to carry food and eating utensils – a fork, spoon, plate and cup
utensils needed to be lightweight and easily cleaned
Cups could be made of tin, horn or wood.
Crafted from a cow horn, soldiers made these crude drinking cups for field service. Horn. H 7.0, D 5.4 cm The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 115
Plates were typically made of tin or wood.
Pewter. D 22.7 cm The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 1192
Spoons could be made of wood, antler, horn or metal.
Forks of this era were simple with two tines.
1750-1820 Wood, brass. L 19.1 cm The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 1172
Knapsack
A soldier’s personal items, such as a razor for shaving, tinderbox for starting a fire and other miscellaneous items, were held in a knapsack
This knapsack and accompanying note was carried by Connecticut soldier, Benjamin Warner, during the American Revolution. (Courtesy Fort Ticonderoga)
Blanket
Blankets were very much in demand during the winter months. so much so that the Council on Safety issued orders for blankets to be collected for the men from homes in every township in Bucks County.
12 blankets were collected from Tinicum Township in June of 1777 for the soldiers, purchased for a total of 21 pounds.
Wool blankets kept the men kept the men from freezing during the winter
Food Rations
Each day a soldier would receive one and one-half pound of beef or pork, and one pound of flour or bread, and, one quart of beer, one pint of milk and one quart of spruce beer or cider.
Each week he would receive five pints of peas or beans, one pint of meal, and six ounces of butter. Vinegar was issued on occasion and rum was issued to those men working around the camp and on guard duty.
What they wore
Their was no standardized Continental Army uniform until well into the war. Most units tried to match. But many, especially in the Militias, were dressed in the clothes they brought from home
Linen and Wool
A soldier would generally wear a linen shirt, cotton or linen vest, wool or cotton breeches, leather shoes or boots, a leather belt and a three sided hat.
1 waistcoat, 1 pair of cloth breeches, and another of ticking, 2 white stocks, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of black linen gaiters and 1 pair of half-gaiters, 1 pair shoe-buckles and 1 pair garter-buckles from Fort ticonderoga
A wool coat with contrasting cuffs, collar and lapels,
October 1775 - Augustine Willett of Bensalem Twp., Bucks County, become captain one of the Pennsylvania Battalion companies. His company is sent off to take part in the American offensive against Canada. Later Willett rises to the rank of Brigadier General of militia. Uniform Coat of Gen. Augustine Willett, 1780s, Mercer Museum Collection.
Stockings with garters
The Pennsylvania Rifle regiments often wore fringed hunter shirts
Hunting Shirt United States of America 1780-1790 Linen, Wool Museum of the American Revolution 2013.05.0001
Tri-corn hat
Their Personal Gear
Most soldiers carried odds and ends for personal hygiene, as well as necessities in their kits.
Razor
Comb
Iron, glass. W 13.0cm, The George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park, VAFO 1532
Past times
Soldiers enjoyed down time. They smoked tobacco or pinched snuff, made music on small instruments like the jaw harp, or played games of chances with cards or dice.
Letters