HISTORY

Early Casualties

Combat casualties in the War of 1812 were mostly light compared to other wars . . . even the Revolution, but non-combat deaths remain extraordinarily high. Most troops were raised at some distance from where they actually engaged in combat. That means that troops had to be marched from where they were raised to the area of the front where they would serve. Poor food and terrible sanitary conditions meant that only 9 out of 10 men raised for a unit actually arrived at the front, the rest dying from disease.

Newly raised troops also had to be trained. Accidents and sickness during the harsh training of American troops also took their toll. Some regiments reported a 44% loss rate due to sickness and poor diet during transport and training . . . before any troops in their unit saw combat.

Additional troops would then have to be raised in the original location to replace those staggering losses. In one case, upon inspection of a new group of recruits sent to his regiment, the inspecting officer found them in such poor condition from their march that he sent them all home.