A Soldier

A prospective soldier usually enlisted at about the age 18 as a private. In that rank he performed a variety of tasks with guard duty at the Castillo or Matanzas Inlet predominating. Whenever a naval vessel went to Habanna or Mexico, a contingent of soldiers was taken along for added protection. At St. Augustine a soldier could often be detailed to an outlying provincial post to support the missionary work among the indians: he would help protect the christianized Indians from the unconverted help arbitrate disputes between chiefs, and make sure the Indians obeyed the missionaries. And he fought to defend Florida from enemy attack.

Hope for advancement through the ranks was extremely limited. It was possible to become a corporal and many did. But to go higher, a man had to be able to read and write and to have important social connections. For the vast majority, though, life consisted of observing the routines of the garrison and going about their lives as ordinary citizens when off duty.

For his work, the infantry private received the lowest pay in the garrison, $75. annually and a daily ration of 53 cents. By comparison a gunner early $112. and a seaman, $140. All got the same daily ration.

The private saw little of his pay, for deductions were taken from it for the monthly issues of corn, beef, salt port, salt, uniforms, weapons, repair, and medical and hospital care. He was also expected to make a charitable contribution to a religious brotherhood. Of the total deductions exceed actual pay, in which case the excess was deducted from a previous years" pay that was still in arrears. Unable to get back or current pay, the private was ever in debt to the crown.

For married soldier's family and community life filled their time and provided an outside interest. For the private military life was hard and the pay was meager. Boredom and isolation alternated with the dangers inherent in soldiering.

Submitted by Jo Ann Scott