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The Daily Life of a Soldier
The daily life of a soldier was not an easy or joyful one. Every afternoon a small section of soldiers, commanded by an officer, were assigned to each guardhouse. Each guard was responsible for a particular area of the fortress and manned three or four sentry posts. The soldiers would take turns standing at the sentries for two hours at a time, within a 24 hour period. Every two hours, during their break, the officer always had something for the soldiers to do, such as cutting the grass or cleaning the barracks. After midnight, if they were lucky, they would be able to rest during their break. Once their 24 hour duties were complete they would then have 48 hours off duty before their next sentry posting. During this time the soldiers usually did not rest, instead they would work on the fortifications or help construct private buildings for a little extra money.
When they did eventually receive the remaining livre and a half they usually spent it on alcohol to drink, to drown their sorrows, so to speak. Instead of being considered as living people they were just existing. Even with their low spirits and dreams of getting out of the service, the soldiers had a certain honour about them. Their honour came with the presence of their camaraderie. Instead of deserting their fellow soldiers in a time when it seemed that everyone would be killed, the soldiers stayed and fought, not for the king, not for their country, not for the new colony, but for each other. Throughout their many hardships with their officers, the adjustment to the new climate and lifestyle they had become comrades, friends, and even family.
Living conditions for the soldiers in the eighteenth century were sometimes fair and other times very unjust. The men were housed in the barracks of the King's Bastion unless they were on post, and even then, they would have the guard house to rest in. In the barracks there were 15 to 20 men to a room with two to a bed. The disadvantage of living in the barracks was the leaking roof and rotten floor. The rations issued to the soldiers were not completely unfair. Their rations were expected to last for two weeks. They received a six pound loaf of whole wheat bread for four days and four ounces of salted meat and vegetables for each day. They were given a pound of butter each month. For personal tidiness, they were issued two livres of soap, two wooden combs and one eighth of a pound of thread per year. Soldiers would also supplement their rations by hunting or fishing in season.