| Whirlwind | 06 Nov 2011 12:35 p.m. PST |
Are there any online articles detailing the rates of pay of the various troops in the armies of the Napoleonic Wars? Regards |
| Connard Sage | 06 Nov 2011 12:47 p.m. PST |
|
Old Glory  | 06 Nov 2011 1:12 p.m. PST |
Also, did they actually get their pay?
regards
Russ Dunaway |
| Mike the Analyst | 06 Nov 2011 1:18 p.m. PST |
Usually months in arrears according to more than a few memoires. |
| Whirlwind | 06 Nov 2011 1:40 p.m. PST |
Thanks CS – interesting pay for infantry sergeants, being less than for their brothers in the militia! I take it from this that Household cavalrymen were paid the same as line cavalrymen? Regards |
14Bore  | 06 Nov 2011 2:15 p.m. PST |
Oliver Schmidt has the Prussian pay break down,in his Osprey Prussian Infantryman. A sample Guard Captain 108, Captain 100, Garrison Captain 50 Reichstaler. Second Lt same order 20, 17, 17, and Gefreiter 3, and 2 |
| vtsaogames | 06 Nov 2011 2:22 p.m. PST |
So a British private got ~ 1 pound 10 shillings a month. This does not compare favorably to the $13 Union privates got 60 years later (or the $11 that Confederate privates got), though I don't know what the Queen was paying by then. Also interesting that Fencibles and militia tended to paid more – and stay home, well clear of flying lead. |
| Connard Sage | 06 Nov 2011 3:25 p.m. PST |
1860s exchange rates give ~$5 to the pound. Your Union private was making about £2 12s a month, and his Confederate counterpart a little over £2 a month. And, as you say, that's 60 years later. That's a long time – consider 1951 to 2011. You might be better comparing pay rates in the War of 1812 TBH *sigh* Disclaimer: All rates referred to are of course gross pay, before any deductions. I thought most (working) people would realise that, but just in case… |
| Rubber Suit Theatre | 06 Nov 2011 3:35 p.m. PST |
Those pay rates omit the deductions for uniforms and rations. Actual received cash was somewhat less. |
| Who asked this joker | 06 Nov 2011 6:01 p.m. PST |
40 shillings for a a member of the British rifles. It says so in the song.  |
| andygamer | 06 Nov 2011 6:34 p.m. PST |
|
| 21eRegt | 06 Nov 2011 6:59 p.m. PST |
I don't have it online, but I could send you a listing for French wages in 1807 in a PDF. E-mail me and I'll send it to you.
memathews@att.net |
| arthur1815 | 07 Nov 2011 3:11 a.m. PST |
Tho' up late or early, our pay comes but rarely,
The Devil a farthing have we got to spare!
They say some disaster befell the paymaster –
Myself, I think the money's not there… from Mickey Free's Song, Charles O'Malley the Irish Dragoon |
| Femeng2 | 07 Nov 2011 4:40 a.m. PST |
British Guards got a higher rate of pay. Wouldn't do to have them turned out sloppier than the line! Remember they ranked as the next highest pay in the line. Cavalry also got got paid higher than the infantry, as it took extra work to maintain the horses. |
| Trajanus | 07 Nov 2011 8:29 a.m. PST |
Whatever it was, it wasn't enough! |
| Connard Sage | 07 Nov 2011 2:19 p.m. PST |
At the start of the war privates were paid $5 a month In 1812 $1 = 0.2765 British Pound** So a US private in the War of 1812 received less than £1 10s a month at the beginning of the war, rising to ~£2 4s later. ** from this site link Quite a bit of interesting info there if one digs. |
| French Wargame Holidays | 09 Nov 2011 3:02 p.m. PST |
Also interesting that Fencibles and militia tended to paid more – and stay home, well clear of flying lead. From my understanding the Fencibles had to supply their own horse and horse furniture and replace any uniforms after the initial one. Militia only were paid when parading, on the Grand camp or when they were called out. I will check Lawson……. |
