The British Soldier in 1774

Resources about British Soldiers in the 18th Century

 

Manuals for the management of armies and instruction of soldiers have been written and published for hundreds of years. The 18th century was no exception, and many management manuals and drill manuals were written to be studied by officers in England and America. Cuthbertson's and Simes' books were two of the most popular, including instruction on such minutia as how often the men should comb their hair, and how to prevent the companies' tailors from getting drunk on the job.

 

These links take you to pdfs in Google Books and on the web site of the 33rd Regiment. These links will open in a new window. You will need the free Adobe Reader program to read these files. You can download the reader through the link on the right of the page.

 
 

The Manual Exercise, or, Firing a Musket

Drill was one of the most important parts of a soldier's life. The quick, efficient loading of a flintlock musket could mean the difference between victory and defeat to a regiment on the battlefield. For an individual soldier, training meant that he could operate despite the fear and confusion of battle. The following links go to a transcription of the full 35 count drill used for training, and two videos demonstrating first, just the firing procedure, and second, the full 35 count drill. The two gentlemen demonstrating the manual in the video are from Minute Man National Historical Park. Jim Hollister, the Education Coordinator and Historic Weapons Supervisor, is dressed as a member of the colonial militia, and Roger Fuller, park ranger, is dressed as a British grenadier.

 

Last updated: April 22, 2021

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