soldiers in homes
Posted by Janette K on August 07, 1998 at 00:25:55:
In response to Barracks, written by Captain Everett on August 04, 1998 at 22:43:53
] ] I read somewhere that the army was not housed in barracks until somewhere around the mid-19th century and that up til then the men of lower rank lived among the inns and brothels...[snip]
]
] This was indeed a problem up into the middle of the 19th Century. It can be traced back to the Mutiny Act of 1689 which permitted billeting in Inns, Livery Stables, Alehouses, and other places where alcohol was sold. The Act did, however, expressly forbid housing them in private homes (except in times of emergency). This was not, however, popular either with the troops, nor with the hosts. The landlord was responsible only for providing dry lodging, fire, water, and basic cooking utensils.
I'm not sure about this, but wasn't quartering the soldiers in private homes one of the factors in the American Revolution? That is, that the people resented having to host soldiers in their homes, especially since they were perceived as having been sent to oppress the citizens.
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