-F. Grose, Advice to Officers and Soldiers
of the British Army, 1801 "…the state offered every
inducement in the way of monotonous diet, monotonous occupation, climactic
discomfort, bad housing and abundant alcohol that could lure men to
drink; and then deplored the drunkenness of the Army." -Sir John Fortesque |
Licking the raw recruit into shape |
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Daybreak. |
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Soldiers Drilling: Late 18th Century,
Aquatint, artist unknown |
As you become more practiced, more time is devoted to increasingly sophisticated tactical maneuvers, often performed to the beat of drummers. You are taught to wheel and file in smaller squads, how to handle flintlock guns and bayonets, the precise process of loading and shooting, and ultimately, 'equalizing' the mechanics of movement and firepower. (Houlding, 260-262) 'Equalizing' is considered the most distinctive and challenging quality of the British military, in which the movements of all soldiers are meticulously synchronized to create consistent, disciplined lines of attack and fire even in the most chaotic of battles. (Houlding 291) | |
At 12:30 PM, you return to the barrack to prepare supper-your second
and final meal of the day. Since the 'tattoo' call is not sounded until
9:30 PM and 'Lights Out' at 10:15 PM, you'll want to make this meal count!
Again, the menu is limited: bread with stew, broth, or boiled beef, and
the occasional block of cheese. (Brereton, 38) These fabulous dishes and
more can be found in the unauthorized Soldier's
Cookbook. The officers decide to give you and your fellow grunts a free evening, and you have a choice: spend it learning the art of military hair-dressing, or go off to the grog shop? |
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