Revolutionary War Soldier
A Day in the Life
The Men Who Led a Revolution
You probably know or have seen pictures of some of the men and women who
serve in the U.S. military today. They are usually wearing fatigues—sturdy
clothing in neutral colors designed to blend into the environment. They travel
to dangerous places DURXQG the world and help maintain peace and order, all
ZKLOHdoing their best to stay in touch with loved ones. Their everyday lives as
VROGLHUVinvolve hardships and sacrifices that the rest of us can hardly imagine,
EXWWKH\are employed by a powerful nation and are usually equipped with the
EHVWprovisions and weapons available on the planet. This is very different than
WKHexperiences of the soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War.
Soldiers in the Continental army were men were employed by a rebel
government—a disorganized group of Patriots who dared to stand up to the
mighty British Empire. The nation was not
yet even a nation. The rebels had very little
money, equipment, or supplies. Life as a
Revolutionary War soldier was not only filled
with the dangers that all soldiers face, but it
also included hunger, cold, and a host of
other hardships, such as poor pay and a life
of strict order and discipline.
The first thing to note about the soldiers who
foughtLQ the American Revolution is that
This 1775 engraving of a painting by
PRVWof them were not much older than you.
Charles Wilson Peale shows George
Washington wearing his Virginia
Thousands of the men who served were
colonel’s uniform.
under the age of 20. Many were 15 or 16;
some were even as young as 12 or 13. So as
you read about a day in the life of a Revolutionary War soldier, imagine that
this is your life—because 240 years ago, it might have been!
From Chaos to Order
At the beginning of the war, there was little discipline or order in the life of a
Revolutionary War soldier. Before the Revolutionary War, each colony had its
own militia. When the war started, the militias joined together to form one
army. Some of the men, distrusted WKLVDUP\GHVSLWHVHUYLQJLQLW7KH\IHDUHGLW
it was too similar to the British forces they were fighting DJDLQVWDQGWKH\UHVLVWHG
calls for order.
At first there were few rules and regulations. Men could come and go as they
pleased, serving in the army when it best fit their schedules. Farmers were
known to walk away from battle and head home when harvest time approached.
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Revolutionary War Soldier
A Day in the Life
The men in the army did not know how to march or perform battle maneuvers.
The army was not only disorganized: it was chaos. Soldiers often did not obey
their officers and instead made their own decisions about where to go and how
to spend their time. There was also no communication between the different
groups of men in the army, so there was no cohesive plan of action.
Camp life, too, was disorganized. Army camps were filthy. Dead animals were
left to rot, and the men did not bother to use the “privies,” or bathroom
facilities, that had been set up. Personal hygiene was often ignored. As a result,
diseases such as dysentery and typhus ran rampant through army ranks.
George Washington was the commander of the Continental army. He knew that
major changes had to be made if the colonists
had any hope of winning the war. He knew that
even a small army could do great things if LWZDV
were disciplined. Congress responded to his
pleas in 1778 by hiring Nathaniel Greene to
handle getting supplies to the men. Baron von
Steuben was chosen to train them. After these
two men went to work, the Continental army
began to look and act like a real army, rather
than a disorganized group of men from all over
the colonies.
By 1778 life in the Continental army began to
take on an orderly rhythm. Life was very
regimented and controlled. Soldiers awoke at
dawn each day to the sound of a drumbeat. Some
slept in temporary huts made of logs, with a
stone fireplace at one end. Each soldier had just
enough room to lie down in the huts, because 12
men shared a space that measured 16 feet by 14
feet. Other men slept in tents, and some slept
outside. This was true whether the outside
temperature was 80 degrees or 20 degrees
Fahrenheit.
Dressed for Battle
Upon rising, the men dressed in what uniforms
they had. Officially, each soldier in the
Continental army was to be issued a complete set
of clothes. The set included a heavy linen shirt
Both state militia soldiers and
Continental army soldiers served in
the Revolutionary War. State militias
each had their own uniforms. This
illustration shows a soldier who
served in the Connecticut militia. His
uniform was similar to that worn by
the Continental army, except for its
color.
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Revolutionary War Soldier
A Day in the Life
and pants of linen or wool that came to the knee, called breeches. Long wool
socks covered the lower part of the leg. These were called longstockings. Over
the shirt went a vest, called a waistcoat. On top of that was worn a heavy wool
coat. Shoes at the time were made of leather and fit either foot. At the neck was
a neckerchief of linen or cotton. Gaiters made of canvas or leather were worn
over the ankles. They were meant to keep out the rain and snow. The uniform
was topped by a hat with a triangular shape, called a three-cornered hat.
Although today’s armies dress to blend into their surroundings, things were
different in the 1770s. Battlefields were filled with smoke from muskets.
Soldiers could only see a short distance. Because of this, the color of a uniform
could be a matter of life or death because they helped the men tell enemies from
countrymen. By act of Congress in 1775, the official color of the Continental
Army uniform was to be brown. When brown fabric could not be had, however,
the uniform might be either blue or gray. War shortages, including a lack of
funds, meant that not only brown fabric was in short supply. Soldiers often had
no uniforms at all. In fact, many had no shoes or coats. During the brutal winter
of 1777–1778, General Washington was deeply distressed at the suffering his
men were forced to bear. He said, "You might have tracked the army . . . to
Valley Forge by the blood of their feet.” Soldiers’ clothes were worn to rags.
They wrapped themselves in blankets, which were little more than rags as well.
After dressing, the drum beat again at eight or nine o’clock to summon the men
to inspection. An officer would call roll and make sure all of the soldiers were
present. He would also inspect the men and make sure they had all of their
weapons and equipment and were ready for the day’s work. Afterward, they
were sent to their duties for the day. Between battles, they spent their time
performing drills and maneuvers, hauling water, cutting firewood, and tending
to other camp duties.
Feeding the Soldiers
Meals were roasted or boiled over a fire. The men usually cooked their own
food. Each day the soldiers were supposed to receive the following rations of
food: one pound of bread; one pound of meat, usually salted beef or pork; one
pint of dry beans or peas; water, beer, or rum; salt; and butter. In most cases,
however, they were lucky to get even half those amounts. The bread was as hard
as a rock because it was made from just flour and water. Soldiers usually soaked
their bread in water to soften it. At times, rather than being given bread, they
were issued only the flour and water. The men made their own dough and
cooked it in the fire. This is how bread got the name “fire cake.”
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Revolutionary War Soldier
A Day in the Life
On many days during the long, hard war, soldiers did not receive their daily
rations. Getting food to them was difficult because it had to be transported long
distances over rough and inadequate roads. Soldiers could not even count on a
holiday meal. Even after having nothing to eat for the two or three days before,
the Thanksgiving meal in 1777 at Valley Forge consisted of two ounces of rice
and a tablespoon of vinegar for each man.
The Weapons of War
Each soldier was issued equipment by the Continental Congress—most
importantly, the flintlock musket. ThHPXVNHWwas not very accurate, so the
soldiers just shot in the general direction of the enemy, hoping to strike their
target. The muskets used paper cartridges, which consisted of a lead ball and
gunpowder. Before each shot, the paper cartridge had to be torn open, the
powder poured into the gun’s barrel, and the lead ball pushed down on top of
the powder with a rod. An experienced shooter could get off three or four shots
every minute. Some of the men also used the American long rifle. This gun had
long grooves down the inside of the gun that made it more accurate than the
musket. British soldiers feared the long rifle.
In addition to the musket, each soldier was given a bayonet. This was a short,
sharp blade that was attached to the end of the PXVNHWRUWKHORQJrifle. It was
XVHGGXULQJFORVHcombat. Soldiers also used their bayonets to cook meat over
WKHILUH$FDUWULGJHbox, canteen for water, blanket, candles, a powder horn for
FDUU\LQJgunpowder, a haversackDEDJWKDWLVZRUQRYHUWKHVKRXOGHU for food,
DQGDNQDSVDFNIRUH[WUDFORWKHVHZHUHDOVRprovided to each man. The
SRZGHUKRUQZDVPDGHIURPDQDFWXDODQLPDOKRUQusually a bull. Each man
SURYLGHGKLVRZQPHVVNLWZKLFKLQFOXGHGDZRRGHQbowl or plate, a tin cup, a
VSRRQDQGDNQLIH$IHZRWKHUVXSSOLHVVXFKDVkettles and water EXFNHWV
ZHUHSURYLGHGWRWKHPHQ
When a soldier dressed for a day of marching or a battle, he strapped his
cartridge box on his right side. On the left, he wore his bayonet in a leather
holder called a scabbard. Haversacks and knapsacks were carried on the back or
slung across the body. Most men kept a tinderbox in their knapsacks for
starting fires. Some also carried a fishhook and twine in case the company
happened upon a stream or pond where fish might be caught.
At the end of the day, the drumbeat called the men to roll call. Afterward, they
had free time. Men usually spent their free time writing letters home, cleaning
equipment, or trying to mend worn-out clothing. The men might also have
played games. Card games were popular, but the soldiers were not allowed to
play any games that involved gambling. They also played games with dice and
coins, as well as checkers. At eight or nine o’clock, the drum would sound for
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Revolutionary War Soldier
A Day in the Life
bedtime. The men had survived another tough day as a Revolutionary War
soldier.
After reading the passage, answer the following questions:
1. How do today’s U.S. soldiers differ from those of the Continental
army of the late 1700s?
A. Today’s soldiers are not given uniforms to wear.
B. Today’s soldiers cannot communicate with loved ones at
home.
C. Today’s soldiers are ill-equipped and poorly trained.
D. Today’s soldiers serve all over the world.
2. Why were uniforms during the Revolutionary War made to stand out
rather than to blend in with the environment?
A. to use whatever cloth was available
B. to be seen through the smoke of the battlefield
C. to confuse the British during battle
D. to show the pride and spirit of the Continental army
3. The vast majority of Revolutionary War soldiers were
A. younger than 20
B. older than 20
C. between 30 and 40 years old
D. 50 or older
4. Why was the Continental Army more of a mob than an army? Use
evidence from the reading passage to help you develop your answer.
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