Number of Redcoats
Before the Revolutionary War broke out in Concord, Massachusetts, with "the shot heard 'round the world" in April 1775, only 8,500 Redcoats were in North America. Six years later when the British surrendered at Yorktown, the strength of the British army stood at around 48,000 Redcoats. Many of the original 8,500 Redcoats in North America at the outbreak of the war were killed; only about 16 percent survived through the war's first 12 months.
Life of a Redcoat
The British Redcoat lived a miserable life with meager pay. Once they enlisted in the British Army, they were a Redcoat for life. Their pay, for both infantry and officers, was hardly enough to subsist. An officer's pay, for instance, was equivalent to about 20 cents per day in today's money. The British did, however, allow a Redcoat's family members to accompany him while he served. Redcoats' wives cooked, washed and nursed the wounded. Children also did chores. At the age of 14, boys either enlisted for life or were forced to leave the camp; girls either found a Redcoat to marry or they, too, were turned away.
Before the Revolutionary War broke out in Concord, Massachusetts, with "the shot heard 'round the world" in April 1775, only 8,500 Redcoats were in North America. Six years later when the British surrendered at Yorktown, the strength of the British army stood at around 48,000 Redcoats. Many of the original 8,500 Redcoats in North America at the outbreak of the war were killed; only about 16 percent survived through the war's first 12 months.
Life of a Redcoat
The British Redcoat lived a miserable life with meager pay. Once they enlisted in the British Army, they were a Redcoat for life. Their pay, for both infantry and officers, was hardly enough to subsist. An officer's pay, for instance, was equivalent to about 20 cents per day in today's money. The British did, however, allow a Redcoat's family members to accompany him while he served. Redcoats' wives cooked, washed and nursed the wounded. Children also did chores. At the age of 14, boys either enlisted for life or were forced to leave the camp; girls either found a Redcoat to marry or they, too, were turned away.
Redcoat Rules
Because of the poor conditions and unruly nature of the Redcoats, discipline was an issue in the British army. The Redcoats were expected to abide by strict rules, and those who broke the rules faced severe punishment. Even a small theft was punishable by death, and many other offenses brought lashes, with up to 1,000 lashes not uncommon. This type of punishment always was administered in public, adding humiliation to the pain.
Redcoat Recruiting
With the paltry pay and miserable existence, the King was not swamped with volunteers for his army. Every regiment in the British army had a recruiting squad that would lurk in pubs to obtain new recruits, and no method was considered unfair in their recruitment. Judges were another recruiting tool for the Redcoats. Many criminals were given a choice of death or enlisting in the army.
Because of the poor conditions and unruly nature of the Redcoats, discipline was an issue in the British army. The Redcoats were expected to abide by strict rules, and those who broke the rules faced severe punishment. Even a small theft was punishable by death, and many other offenses brought lashes, with up to 1,000 lashes not uncommon. This type of punishment always was administered in public, adding humiliation to the pain.
Redcoat Recruiting
With the paltry pay and miserable existence, the King was not swamped with volunteers for his army. Every regiment in the British army had a recruiting squad that would lurk in pubs to obtain new recruits, and no method was considered unfair in their recruitment. Judges were another recruiting tool for the Redcoats. Many criminals were given a choice of death or enlisting in the army.
