World of the Common Soldier

(Articles, Published and Unpublished)

John U. Rees 136 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pa. 18938 Phone: (215) 862-2348 Email: ju_rees@msn.com Military Material Culture (List 11 of 15) Blankets, vol. 1, 77-78 (250 words); Cartridge boxes, pouches, canisters, vol. 1, 173-174 (250 words); Knapsacks and the soldiers burden, vol. 1, 591 (300 words); Entries in, Mark M. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History, Harold E. Selesky, ed. (2nd Edition, Charles Scribners Sons, 2006) `That damned blue Regiment : Continental Army Clothing during the Monmouth Campaign, Appendix M of, "What is this you have been about to day?: The New Jersey Brigade at the Battle of Monmouth, http://revwar75.com/library/rees/monmouth/MonmouthToc.htm "`The great distress of the Army for want of Blankets ...': Supply Shortages, Suffering Soldiers, and a Secret Mission During the Hard Winter of 1780":
"Our condition for want of ... Blankets is quite painful ...": Shortages in the Continental Army, 1776-1779 "Without even a shadow of a blanket ...": Desperate Measures to Procure Covering for the Army, 1780

Military Collector & Historian, vol. 52, no. 3 (Fall 2000), 98-110. http://revwar75.com/library/rees/blanketts.htm "`White Wollen,' 'Striped Indian Blankets,' 'Rugs and Coverlids': The Variety of Continental Army Blankets," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXVI, no. 4 (Winter 2000), 1114. http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/variety.htm Continental Soldiers' Milled Wool Caps, 1778," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXX, no. 2 (Summer 2000), 16-17. "On the Use of Tin Cartridge Boxes in the Continental Army," Military Collector & Historian, vol. XLII, no. 4 (Winter 1990), 150-51. Illustration by Ross Hamel. "The Care and Cleaning of Firelocks in the 18th Century: A Discussion of Period Methods and Their Present Day Applications", published in The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXII, no. 2 (Summer 1991), 2-11, and Muzzleloader, vol. XXI, no. 4, (September/October 1994), 62-66.

"`The Taylors of the Regiment: Insights on Continental Soldiers Making and Mending Clothing, The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXIX, no. 4 (Winter 2001), 4. "The taylors of the regiment: Insights on Soldiers Making and Mending Clothing, and Continental Army Clothing Supply, 1778 to 1783, Military Collector & Historian, vol. 63, no. 4 (Winter 2011), 254-265. "`That the Soldiers may Know... Respect': Military Courtesies Shown to Officers by Enlisted Men in the Continental Army," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXIII, no. 3 (Summer 1992), 11-13, 19. "Shoulder Arms of the Officers of the Continental Army (With some mention of bayonets and the lack thereof)," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXIII, no. 1 (Winter 1992), 12-14. "Firelocks in the Continental Army: Their Supply, Care and Condition," The Continental Soldier, two parts: vol. 4, no. 1 (Winter, 1991), 19-26; vol. 4, no. 2 (Spring 1992), 20-25. `The great Consumption of Cannon Ammunition : Continental Artillery at Monmouth, 28 June 1778, Military Collector & Historian, vol. 60, no. 1 (Spring 2008), 38-39. http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/artillery.pdf `The first object should be to clean your Arms : The Care and Cleaning of Firelocks in the 18th Century (updated article, work in progress) `The Necessaries of a Soldier ...: The Common Soldier's Burden During the War for Independence (work in progress):
Tentative headings/contents:
1. Complement of necessaries for the soldier. 2. The load a soldier generally carries during a campaign Weapons Ammunition and Cartridge Containers Knapsacks, Blanket Rolls, etc. Knapsack contents Food Carriage, and Cooking and Eating Utensils Miscellaneous Gear

`Taking to the field only what is essential for decency and comfort : Officers Food, Mess, and Campaign Equipage during the American War, 1775-1783 (work in progress) Part 1. Those necessaries only which cannot be dispensed with : Revolutionary Officers' Campaign Experience and Equipage
1. Things necessary for a Gentleman to be furnished with : Officers Kit for Regimental Service 2. Divers officers are intitled to two horse wagons : Equipment Carriage 3. The Absurdity of heavy Baggage : American and British Attempts to Reduce Excess Baggage 4."The officers must be satisfied walking : Allotment of Horses 5. British Officers Campaign Equipage and Living Conditions. 6. American Campaign Gear and Conditions

Part 2. "A better repast : Continental Army Field and Company Officers Fare Part 3. The repast was in the English fashion: Revolutionary General Officers Culinary Equipage in Camp and on Campaign
1. Plates, once tin but now Iron : General Washingtons Mess Equipment 2. 40 Dozens Lemons, in a Box: British Generals Provisions and Mess Equipage 3. My poor cook is almost always sick : General Riedesel Goes to America 4. A Major General & family: Nathanael Greenes Food Ware

"`For the purpose of carrying Ammunition: American Cartouche Pouch Quality, Cartridges, and Tin and Iron Ammunition Canisters, 1775-1780 (updated article, work in progress) "The Use of Tumplines or Blanket Slings by Light Troops," The Continental Soldier, vol. VIII, no. 2 (Summer 1995), 27-29.