British Forces
(These images were taken at a reenactment and reflect period equipment and attire. The interviews were conducted with re-enactors and express their viewpoints while in character. )Interview with a British Commander
Jason and Kris: So, what is it that you do here?
Commander in Chief: I'm the commander in chief of this regiment of His Majesty's forces. It is my mind that decides whatever our army will do.
JK: What have been the major engagements lately?
CC: Well, there was one here on September 19th, that we won. The rebels will probably tell you that they won the Battles of Saratoga, have you heard that rumor?
JK: Yes, we have.
CC: Well, in actuality, the British won the first battle of Saratoga. In 18th century terms, the army that controlled the field of battle at the end of day, was the victor. As you can see, we're camped on the field. The battle raged back and forth across these fields from about 12:30 in the afternoon on September 19th until dark, and we stayed here so obviously we are the victors, correct?
JK: How do you feel about this war?
CC: Well, it's so hot today I don't understand what we're doing here. But, what we are here to do is allow the majority of the people in the provinces to live under the type of government that they want. Now, there's a small minority, about 1/3 of the people who live in the provinces, who are fostering this conflict. Another 1/3 of the people are loyal to his majesty and his majesty's government and another 1/3 of the people, such as the Quakers who live in this area, want to live quiet and peaceful and we're here to try and bring the government back for the other 2/3's of the people who really do not support the conflict that is taking place or this concept of indepence from His Majesty's government.
JK: What about the compaints of taxation without representation?
CC: But we do have a representative in the British parliament, there is a member of parliament who's riding is in the midlands that is also the member of parliament for the provinces of North America. And this idea that everyone should have a legal right to vote for parliament is absurd.
JK: Why is that?
CC: Well, the only people that can vote are the people who own property, even in Great Britain. I as a property owner would have the right to vote, my Sergeant Major would not have the right to vote, and of course this idea to give women the right to vote...
Sergeant Major: Uuuugggghhhh...
CC: Who ever heard of such a concept? What woman could ever come up, in her own mind, to make a decision on what man is to lead the country in parliament.
JK: That doesn't really diversify the types of voters does it? You have only land owners looking out for their own interests.
CC: They're looking out for the interests of the people in their provinces.
JK: What about the people that don't own property?
SM: Well, I had a rented farm before I joined the army, and the landowner took care of me quite well. I gave him part of my bounty and I had a place to stay and a place to farm for my family.
JK: What kind of formal training did you receive?
CC: Well, as an officer in His Majesty's army, the only way you become an officer is you purchase your commission. The commission of an Ensign, a lad of about 13-16, is 450 pounds, that would have probably been purchased by his father. He probably would have been his 2nd, 3rd or 4th born son; The first born son of course, inherits the manor. So you purchase your commission: As an ensign you would be put under the care and the tutelage of the sergeant major of the regiment and the sergeants in your company and they would be the ones to teach you how to become a solder. An officer has to be as good a soldier as a private soldier, he has to know the same manual exercise as a solder in the line. How can I give commands to soldiers if I don't know what they are doing. There is no formal training or military academy. I happen to be a lieutenant colonel, that's my regular army rank, I purchased my commission for 3,500 pounds [250,000 dollars], that's alot of money, but that's also my retirement program: When I decide to leave the army in 10 or 15 years, I will be able to sell my commission and live comfortably for the rest of my life. Every commission up to lieutenant colonel has a set price which His Majesty has established.
JK: What do you like best about your work?
CC: I'm a father to 700 men. You have to realize that a British regiment is a family. The entire British army, at the beginning of this crazy conflict, numbered less that 50,000 men and that was all around the world. So every regiment was like a small village or family. We took care of the soldiers under us, as a lieutenant colonel and as the leader of this family I have a responsibilty to every officer, non commissioned officer and soldier. They're my responsibility and I take that very seriously as any commanding officer would. John Burgoyne, have you ever heard him called 'Gentleman Johnny' as a nickname? He was named that not as an insult, but by his soldiers because he took care of his soldiers, and I take care of my soldiers. We flog them periodically when they lose their sense of what is right and wrong, but they quickly gain it back. So that's what I enjoy most.
JK: What's the worst part of your job?
CC: Writing letters home to dear beloved family members for those who have died from being killed in battle or disease. That's the most difficult part.
JK: Is there any doubt at all that you will be victorious in this conflict?
CC: Well, officially, I would have to tell you that we are absolutely 100 percent convinced that the army will reach Albany. Privately I and some of my fellow senior officers are beginning to wonder what is going to happen. I must say I never expected to see the rebels and the provincials stand up and fight as desperately as they did on the 19th. Quite frankly, I admired them, as much as I admired every soldier wearing the King's uniform. They stood up and fought like a man should and gave us as much as we gave them and I admire them for that.
JK: Do you think that would ever make you change your mind about fighting these people?
CC: Absolutely not, I took an oath to His Majesty. I swore an oath the last time I spoke to His Majesty several years ago at court. I could never go against an oath.
JK: So you would never tell him that fighting the Americans is a bad idea?
CC: Absolutely not. Are you telling me that I am wrong to be here to defend the rights of 2/3's of the citizens of the 13 provinces? Is that wrong? Is it right of 1/3 of the people to tell 2/3's of the people what to do?
JK:: What about this other 1/3 of the people like Quakers, do they really care who governs them?
CC: It's not necessarily just Quakers. I used them as an example in this area. There is a Quaker meeting just a few miles from here, there are two Quaker meetings just across the river in Washington county. But there are many other people, not just Quakers who want nothing to do with this revolution. They may not be ardently supporting His Majesty in the field, this farm we are standing on, John Freeman's Farm; John Freeman is a loyalist and he led us here. His neighbor to the south, Mr. Neilson, is not. But not all the people in the country are military inclined. A 1/3 are militarily inclined to become loyalists and provincial soldiers in His Majesty's army, the other 1/3 are fighting us and the other 1/3 are not militarily inclined but they think this revolution is damaging to them, they're losing their property and their crops. When someone comes into our camp with cattle, we pay them in gold and silver. The enemy pay them in worthless paper money.
JK: How are you paid for your work?
CC: I get paid 100 pounds a month. The privates get 6 pence a day.
JK: And this is unlike the American pay, correct?
CC: I don't think the American soldiers get paid, I don't even know why they do it.
JK: What have been your biggest problems in America?
CC: Getting supplies for the men. We have been able to purchase some livestock that have been butchered so the men have some fresh meat. But by in large, everything the soldiers eat has to come from Great Britain. So the meat, beef and pork has to be preserved in a salt brine. So that's what presents us with the most problems, the men getting the food they need.