During the American Revolution, Briton sent a large army to America and I wondered what the conditions were like on their troop transports ( ships ) of the time.
I know it took a long time to get here.
How was it done and how bad was it ?
This articletalks a little about the logistic issues the British faced during this period…
“In the late 18th century, Britain had a system to support its widely dispersed colonial armies, but it was plagued with many internal problems. When that support system was pressured by a quick succession of overseas conflicts, these faults were quickly exposed. The British, to their credit, were able to correct many of the deficiencies before the end of the Revolutionary War, but not in time to win.”
This articlediscusses the transport of horses during the War of Independence…
“Because of the logistical limitations of campaigning in North America, cavalry played a limited role in the war.[39] The transport of horses by ship was extremely difficult. Most of the horses died during the long journey and the ones that survived usually required several weeks to recuperate on landing.”
My guess is that transporting thousands of British troops on 18th century wooden ships must have been miserable for the average soldier. Can you imagine what the living conditions must have been like? It wouldn’t have been quite as bad as a slave ship, but it would certainly not have been a very pleasant voyage even under the best of circumstances.
I have been trying to find a diary from a soldier who made that arduous trip… but so far my google-fu has failed me.
I’m assuming the original billeting of soldiers in private dwellings, one of the grievances leading up to the war, was due to the cost and logistics issues. That does not give me confidence in the British army’s ability to organize things leading up to the Revolution.
Thanks for your help.
I can guess that it was pretty bad but you would want your soldiers to arrive and be able to wage a war.
I just wonder how bad it was. It seems they would have to try to get the soldiers to America in some kinda decent shape.
They,also, used a lot of German Mercenary’s.
They had to ship them to America somehow.
Conditions for American troops crossing the Atlantic in WWII was often horrible–hot, overcrowded, latrine system overwhelmed. Now imagine you’re a British soldier in a wooden ship filled with rats and bilgewater with no toilets and rotten food.
Still, expectations were different then. Maybe it seemed better than living in London.