A Day in the Life: the 4th Infantry Regiment at Pittsburgh during the Summer of 1811.

In May 1811, the War Department ordered the bulk of the 4th United States Regiment of Infantry, a regular army regiment established in New England in 1808, to assemble at the Lazeretto, a large quarantine hospital or barracks outside of Philadelphia. The individual companies, raised mainly from out of work sailors, had been stationed at different seacoast forts and garrisons throughout the Northeast. Their orders were to march overland along Forbes Road across the Allegheny Mountains to Pittsburgh. From there, the common soldiers were not told the ultimate destination. Rumor abounded that the regiment was headed for the swamps of Louisiana, an area notorious for malaria and yellow fever. Desertions increased before Lt. Col. James Miller, a trusted officer, promised the men they were not headed to the deep South. Instead, the regiment was destined for the Indiana frontier at Vincennes, where it would march under Governor William Henry Harrison in the Tippecanoe campaign. 

Along the way, the 4th Regiment spent about a month at Pittsburgh. The original Fort Pitt had been torn down in the years since the American Revolution, and a new fort named Fort Lafayette, usually refered to as Fayette, was established. This post never saw a shot fired in anger but from 1795 to 1814 was the main transit point for supplies, equipment and men travelling from the eastern seaboard to any point west along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. 

As Infantry Regiments go, the 4th was still a fairly young unit, but with the expansion of the regular Army during 1812, 1813 and 1814 it can be considered an "old" Army outfit. The Orderly Book of Colonel John Parker Boyd survived in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library, and was published in 1917. Reading through it gives some insight into the day to day operations of a pre- War of 1812 infantry regiment, as well as its long travels through the frontiers of the United States. 

 

Fort Fayette, Pittsburgh

Fort Fayette, June 27th 1811

D. Garrison Order

One or more commissioned Officers will inspect their Companies on their respective parade, and receive their morning report from the orderly Sergeant in which all extraordinaries that have occurred for the last Twenty four hours are to be inserted, signed by the officer, and handed by the Sergeant to the Adjutant at orderly hours.

One Commissioned Officer of each Company to visit the Rooms of the Barracks immediately after tattoo, and report all irregularities. 

Non commissioned officers of squads are to be responsible that their men have arms, accoutrements and clothing always ready for duty, and to allow no one to take his Gun to pieces without permission of his commanding officer and then only under their direction, nor to apply for a pass unless they are satisfied as to their fitness for duty. From two to four Privates may be absent from a Company at a time; their passes to be written on clean and vizable paper, to be handed to the orderly Sergeant by the non commissioned officer of the Squad, who will present it to the Commanding Officer of the Company for his signature, and then to the Adjutant at orderly hours, for the approbation of the Commanding Officer. It will then be handed to the officer of the day by the Soldier who is authorized to take it from him if he is not cleanly dressed; and in complete uniform. Non commissioned officers will apply immediately to the officer of their company and report to the Commanding Officer; and all applications must be made the evening before.

Officers waiters must have passes, and be in decent dress and not to blend the soldier with the citizen.

A typical barracks of the 1812 era. This is the recreated Fort Wayne, in Fort Wayne Indiana.

 

The Commanding Officers of Companies will be particular in the weekly inspection of the clothing, arms and accoutrements of their men and if any improper use, loss, waste or deficiency appear, it shall be reported, and a stoppage of pay made agreeable to regulation.

Fifteen minutes after Reveille the Drums and Fifes will play Yankee Doodle in front of the Barracks, when the morning drill will commence, and continue until half past six o’clock then be dismissed for breakfast, and to prepare for the Parade at half past seven. The Commissioned Officers will be particularly attentive that their men turn out at Reveille.

It is expected that the officer will attend every drill, half of the waiters will be on drills and parades; the drills for the afternoon will be ordered at the morning parade.

The Sutler will be allowed to sell (of Liquors) to each soldier one gill of whiskey and two pints of Beer at three different periods in the day.

A strict and close attention will be paid to the conduct of the Soldiers towards the citizens of this Town. Should any one be found guilty of detracting from the good character of the Regiment he will be severely punished. 

A commissioned officer from each company will attend to the issuing of the rations for their men (at which time the Drum will play roast beef) and see that they are such as the contract allows; and for preserving order and cleanliness in the Garrison, and regularity in messing they will be particularly governed by Steubens. 

One hour before morning parade the Drum and fife will play peas upon the trenches for Breakfast, at Twelve o’clock A. M., likewise for dinner, and one hour before retreat beating for supper, at which several beats of the drum, the rations will be cooked.

In addition to the Rolls now called there will be one at Twelve o’clock A. M. and at 4 P. M. which a Commanding Officer will attend, and the men will only be detailed to answer to their names.

Signed Jno. P. Boyd

Col. 4th Regt. Infy. C.D.