January/February, 2012 NWTA Courier PUBLICATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY ALLIANCE Results of the 2011 Survey INSIDE THIS By Elizabeth Simpson ISSUE: Results of 2011 Survey Over the last few years, Extra Duty and Literacy 1 the attendance of current among the 18th Regi- membership at NTWA ment of foot events has declined, while recruitment has not Letters from the Editor 2 been keeping pace to fill NWTA Schedule, 2012 the ranks. In an effort to better understand the Letter from the Editor nature of this change 3 School of the Soldier, over the 2011 event sea- 2012 son the NWTA conducted a general survey of mem- Extra Duty and Literacy 4 among the 18th Regi- bers. ment of foot , Continued The survey was ultimately designed to create a forum for two issues, both well within the control of the NWTA. The first was gather ideas for how to increase attendance at events, Glimpse of the Past: To the Jolly Ringers, 1781 and the second and related issue was for how to boost membership. The survey was 5 designed to allow individuals to weigh in on these important issues in a private, reflec- Results of NWTA Survey, continued tive, and democratic method. The intention was that this would allow all of us to better understand what needs to be done for the future of the NWTA. Continued on page 5 Poor Richard’s Almanac and its portrayal of 8 Extra Duty and Literacy among the women 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot By Steve Baule Thoughts on Recruit- 9 ment The general inclination is to believe that the mental sample, the extra duty pay list for average British redcoat was not only blindly Lieutenant Colonel Wilkins’s Company of the Glimpse of the Past: obedient to orders from his foppish officers, 18th Foot from January 1 to June 30th, 1774 Account of the Late 10 Disturbances of the but that he was not too bright. Few sources does give some insight into the literacy rate Pennsylvania Line have ever been able to give an insight into among the troops stationed in Illinois. The the literacy rate among the red coated pri- pay list includes the names of twenty-seven vate. Though not intended to be an experi- enlisted soldiers. Continued on pg 4 P a g e 2 NWTA Courier Jan/Feb 2012 Letter from the Editor Plans for the Courier Hello all! Second, you will begin and other information With the New Year to see the NWTA arrive that we all love to see. comes some exciting in your inbox! Don’t And, I hope, love to changes to the Courier. worry—the print courier submit—with more First and foremost, wel- is not going away. How- space available in the come to Elizabeth Simp- ever, we are going to Courier for your arti- son, who will be serving branch out into email cles, we want to see the organization assist- communication as a more of you in the ing with the publica- supplement to print. Courier! If you have an tions. I know I am very This will allow us to dis- idea, a question, or excited to be working seminate time-sensitive just aren’t sure where with Elizabeth, who information in a more to start, please contact brings a whole host of efficient way, as well as Elizabeth or me. interests, talents, and freeing up Courier Happy New Year, Rowenna Hamper great ideas to the Couri- space for the articles, Rowenna Hamper NWTA Publications Editor er. photographs, recipes, NWTA Publications NWTA Schedule of Events: 2012 February 3-5 Military History Fest June 23-24 Rebels and Redcoats Pheasant Run Resort and Silver Lake, WI Convention Center August 11-12 Fort St. Joe Militia Muster St. Charles, IL (Non NWTA) Niles, MI February 25-26 Echoes of the Past, Tradeshow August 25-26 Battle on the Ridge Oshkosh, WI (Non NWTA) Highland, IN March 3 NWTA Board Meeting September 1-2 Pioneer Village 9:00 AM, CST Saukville, WI CABELLA’s, Highland, IN September 8-9 Cantigny March 31-April 1 Sewing Seminar Wheaton, IL UW Parkside, Racine WI September 22 Feast of the Hunter’s Moon April 14 School of the Soldier -23 West Lafayette, IN Cooksville, WI October 27-28 Market Days at Locust Grove May 26-27 Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous Louisville, KY Vincennes, IN November 3 NWTA Board Meeting June 9-10 Klash on the Kankakee 9:00 AM, CST Bourbonnais, IL CABELLA’S, Highland, IN Letter from the Editor P a g e 3 Plans for the Courier Hello everyone, We can accommodate articles from 250 words in length to a few thousand. So if you have an excellent research question, I want to start out by saying how but do not think you can stretch it out to 1,000 words this is thrilled I am to start working with still the place for you! you as an editor of the NWTA Cou- rier. My role is to help fill the Cou- Please keep these ground-rules in mind: rier with articles to showcase your 1. Plagiarism in any form will not be accepted. Use quota- research, keep everyone abreast tions, and cite any sources you use. of the decisions of the board, and 2. I reserve the right to edit submissions to correct errors to share the exciting occurrences and revise style. at events. 3. Submissions must be digital, sent as an e-mail attach- This can only work if the NWTA as ment as a Microsoft Word document. a whole participates. We need a 4. If you use images, remember to track down the ownership steady stream of articles all year and rights, and have permission to use them. If you in- long, so don’t wait for the event clude photos with people, you need their permission. Elizabeth Simpson Publications Editor season! 5. Please e-mail submission to: [email protected] Print Edition If you have an idea but need someone to help you channel I look forward to working with you! your thoughts, feel free to use me as a resource. I love help- Elizabeth Simpson ing other people organize their ideas. School of the Soldier April 14, 2012 Cooksville, WI Meet on the Village Green, 9:00 am The schedule of events will include: 2012 site, Cooksville WI 9:00 - Gathering & Morning Roll Call The event address is: 10:00 - Morning Troop and Guard Mounting 11203 Wisconsin 138 10:30 - Manual of arms –based upon the 1764 Manual of Arms & Basic Maneuver Evansville, WI 53536 12:00 – Draw Rations and posting sentries 1:00 – Necessaries inspection 2:00 - 2nd Guard Mount Participant cost will be $10 to 2:30 - Manual of arms –based upon the cover the cost of rations for the 1764 Manual of Arms & Basic day. Maneuver (1st Guard detail) 4:00 – Pay Call (All) Registration deadline is March 4:45 - Fire and maneuver 26. Register with Jane White- 6:00 - Evening Parade side: School of the Soldier 7:00 – After Action Review Jane Whiteside 8417 Adbeth Woodridge, IL 60517 P a g e 4 NWTA Courier Jan/Feb 2012 Extra Duty and Literacy among the 18 th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot Continued from Cover. Walter Elliot, listed on the pay You must wonder why soldiers would volunteer for extra sheet as overseer, prepared the pay list and was a ser- duty? geant in the Royal Irish. He was paid for his additional The duties performed during this period most work at a rate of 1/6 per day; being one shilling, six likely included upkeep on the palisade, repair of the pence. Two of the soldiers are listed as artificers and bateau kept at the post, and work on the building’s were paid at the rate of 1/3 per day. Walker, first name roofs. All of the former repair work or need for such was illegible, was listed as waggoner [sic] and paid at the listed in letters between Captain Hugh Lord, command- rate of 1/ per day. He is the only soldier who had not ing in Illinois for the 18th Regiment and General Thom- signed or made his mark on the pay list. The other as Gage. Though Gage’s original correspondence made twenty-three soldiers are all listed as laborers and it clear no work should be done, Lord is later told “if paid /10 per day. All the above were there is anything that needs to be done either for the paid in New York Currency. The civilian This would convenience of the troops or the security of your post, artificers hired by Captain Lord were lead to a you will have it executed without delay. (Lord to Gage, paid at the rate of one dollar a day plus literacy rate June 10, 1772, Gage to Lord Aug. 30, 1772, and Gage provisions. He wrote to Gage that he of nearly to Lord, Feb. 20, 1773). fifty percent. would have otherwise have had to pay While extra duty for “the King’s Work at Fort This appears them at the rate of one and a half dol- Gage” was not uncommon, the amount of signatures to be a higher lars a day (Lord to Gage Nov. 13, on the pay list is. Only thirteen of the soldiers acknowl- rate ...than 1772). This pay rate was equivalent to edged their pay with a mark. The other twelve signed normally 8 New York shillings a day. their own names. This would lead to a literacy rate suspected Only the waggoner worked the among the company of nearly fifty percent.