Two things frustrate me about large military reenactments.  The first is the number of puffed-up officers, most of which have no military experience or bearing.  The second is the lack of understanding that the public seems to have of the vital role soldiers of the rank of Private had, and continue to have, in fighting our wars and securing our peace.  Without enlisted soldiers, sailors, and airmen we have no military and the during American Revolution this was doubly true.  Officers tend to inflate their own importance and role but in battle, it is the Privates and their non-commissioned officers (NCO) who carry the field.

During the Middle Ages, as warfare became less reliant on individual combat, kings increasingly relied on professional soldiers to fill the ranks.  Early armies were largely raised fyrd or mustered militia of local peasants who rallied to support a feudal lord.  With the adoption of the longbow and later the crossbow, armies needed professional soldiers who were trained to wield these weapons.  Instead fyrds of militiamen, men would sign a private contract with the company commander, offering his services in return for pay. Yeomen – peasants with a small land holding – now had the option of offering either an annual 40-day militia service or could pay a tax that funded these professional soldiers.  Because these soldiers were free men who willingly contracted for military service, they were called “Private Soldiers” as they were only responsible for themselves, and had no responsibility for other soldiers (as do officers).

The American military adapted most of its rank insignia from the British. Before the Revolutionary War, Americans drilled with militia outfits based on the British tradition. When the Continental Army took the field they had privates, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, colonels, generals, and several now-obsolete ranks like the coronet, subaltern, and ensign. One thing the Army didn’t have was enough money to buy uniforms and hence the symbols of rank.

To solve this, Gen. George Washington wrote:

“As the Continental Army has, unfortunately, no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green.”

– General Orders, August 20th, 1776

The British structure rank (in the Army) begins with bands of soldiers or raised by a vassal lord on behalf of his lord The vassal lord in command of the company was a commissioned officer with the rank of captain – “captain” was derived from the Latin word capitaneus meaning “head man” or chief. Commissioned officers above the rank of captain held their authority through a royal commission and army commissions were only given to the aristocracy without regard to ability or military knowledge (in that regard most of our “officers” at reenactments are authentic! 😊).  Assisting the captain was the lieutenant – “lieutenant” was derived from the French word lieu meaning “place” as in a position; and tenant meaning “holding” as in “holding a position;” thus a “lieutenant” is somebody who holds a position in the absence of their superior. The officer carrying the company’s flag is the ensign – from the Latin word insignium meaning sign or symbol; their role is to keep the soldiers together. 

Not all officers received a commission from the king. Warrant officers were granted a warrant, certifying their expertise as craftsmen. They received their authority from superior officers rather than the king. Highly skilled and experienced Private Soldiers were assigned to command, organize and train soldiers and militia units.  Corporals were assigned to command a squad or small group of private soldiers — corporal was derived from the Italian caporal de squadra meaning head of the squad. After years of commanding a squad, a soldier could be promoted to sergeant, the highest non-commissioned rank. The sergeant – sergeant is derived from the Latin word servientum meaning servant and the original role of the sergeant was to care for the arms and livery of a knight.  The sergeant is a jack of all trades, concerning himself with all aspects of administration to maintain the enlisted men serving under his command.

So next time you are at a reenactment, ask yourself if there are enough “real” soldiers to support the officers you see and do these “officers” have a real role or are they just self-important? Then before you dismiss the private soldiers you see, LISTEN to why they are there, LEARN what they are doing to make the army successful and WATCH who carries the field when the battle commences.  Its not the pretty boys in silk…   

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