For most of the war, infantry regiments spent the campaign season ( May to November) in the field, in tents. The rest of the season was spent in their winter cantonment, usually a fortified position with temporary shelters of barracks. Winter campaigns were rare, but several significant events, such as the battle of Frenchtown or the attack of Prescott NY occurred in winter. Raids were also carried out on isolated Indian villages during the winter, such as Missisinewa IN. because it would not easy for the Indians to replace the destroyed food, making them dependent on someone else for food and shelter.
The basic tent in use was called the common tent. William Duane (1810) describes it as "commonly made of canvas and extended upon poles.---The tents of the private men should be 6 1/2 feet square, 6 feet high, and hold 5 soldiers each.---Common Infantry Tent,. Length of the ridge pole is 7 feet; length of standards 6 feet.--- Weight complete 27 pounds. " These tents were also used by other corps except for the dragoons and mounted troops which used a larger horseman's tents to accommodate the saddle and equipment. Duane's specifications are for a British army tent, but are generally the same as the American.
Large numbers of common tents , along with the poles were shipped to the Northwest army early in the war. Other types of tentage mentioned in the shipping receipts include the horseman's tents , flys , and at least one mention of a wall tent. Officer's tents , called marquees , were not shipped by government contract.
The arrangement of the tents in camp was fixed by regulation as set down by Von Steuben in 1779. Camps were set facing the enemy. Regiments were arranged right to left by seniority , with the artillery and dragoons in separate areas because of their horses and equipment. Riflemen were on the flanks as light infantry.
Tents were arranged in lines the same as the order of formation. Company sergents tents were the first tent on the right. Each tent after that held 5 men , the basic unit of the company , the mess. Each mess unit consisted of 4 privates and 1 corporal. This mess unit was assigned 1 tent , set of tools[axe,shovel,pick,etc.] and 1 set of mess equipment[pots,cups,pans]. Each mess was responsible for drawing their own rations , cooking them , and returning the equipment to the quartermaster when not needed. The corporal of each mess was responsible for the men in his unit and the equipment issued to it.
While 5 men per tent may seem crowded , it is probable that there were seldom that many ever occupying one tent. Sick men would go the tents designated for their use by the company doctor or surgeon. Still others may have been detailed for guard duty leaving another absence. 3 or 4 men can sleep comfortably in a common tent by lying parallel to the front of the tent.
Another use for the common tent was for storage. As Duane describes it , the use of a special tent , the bell of arms , was "exploded", i.e. , not practiced. Instead , a common tent was used to lodge the arms of the company. The location of the tent is not specified but would probably be next to the sergant's tent. Arms could be stacked on a rail lashed between two uprights of the tent , similar to a "horse" illustrated on the front of the Rifle Regiment cap plate on which the rifles are stacked and the drums are stored.
The interval between each tent is two feet , and the distance between the lines is 6 paces. When called out , such as for reveille or roll call , the men will form in the line in front of their tents , which is the order in which the company should be formed.
Behind the company , in the rank of file closures , are the tents of the company officers. The captain occupies the right flank , while the lieutenants , or ensign are on the left of their section. Captains are allowed their own tent , as well as a tent for the two soldiers allotted to them as "waiters" , personal servants who received extra pay. Duane gives the size of the captain's marquee as 10 1/2 feet broad , 14 deep and 8 high ; those of the subalterns are a foot less.---------The subalterns lie two in a tent." Lieutenants and ensigns were only allocated one waiter each.
Behind the line of company officers , i.e., major, quartermaster, lt.colonel and colonel. Located at the rear of the camp were the kitchens , the designated area for fires and cooking. No cooking was to be done in the company area. The kitchen consists of a fire pit over which the kettle of each mess was hung to cook the food. Cooking was the responsibility of one member of each mess unit designated for this duty.
To supplement the army ration, there was a licensed sutler located next to the kitchens who sold food or spirits (when allowed by the Quartermaster) at fixed prices. Prepared food was taken to the company area and served when the adjutant gave the appropriate mess call to be beaten to the duty drummer. Rations were issued from the line of baggage wagons parked next to the kitchens for each meal prepared. Only two meals, breakfast and dinner, were cooked. The midday meal was usually cold,(often breakfast leftovers). While one man was cooking, the others in the mess unit would perform fatigue duties such as cutting wood or bringing back water to camp, as ordered to do so by their officer.
This was the daily housekeeping duty of the camp, along with the usual amount of drill, roll calls, drill, guard duty, drill, ect. In addition was the necessary duty of digging and filling the necessaries[or sinks]. The health of the camp depended on this being done regularly.
This has been a description of the activities of the 17th US Regiment and the eqiupment that was supplied to all Regular Regiments of Soldiers in the War of 1812.
Chuck Mulford Pvt.
17th US Regiment
Reenactment Group
Written and Researched by Jeff Sherry
First Sergeant 17th US Infantry
Reenactment Group
Submitted by, Chuck Mulford & Ryan Mulford