The army and navy at Halifax in peace-time, 1783-1793

Abstract

At the end of the American Revolutionary War the Army and Navy forces based at Halifax were reduced to peace-time levels. Although they remained at these levels until war broke out again with France in 1793, all their activities did not cease nor did their influence on Halifax disappear. To understand bettor the history of Halifax and its military and naval background, therefore, the composition and roles of these forces are topics worthy of study.

In this thesis, starting with the transition to peace-time conditions, the Army and Navy are each examined in detail with emphasis on the actual forces that were present, the manner in which they were organized, the facilities at their disposal, and the operations on which they were employed. For the Navy the main task is shown to have been the enforcement of trade policies and the fisheries, while for the Army it was one of garrison service and maintaining a readiness for war. The administrative support for these forces, i.e. communications, stores, manning and recruitment, housing and quartering, discipline, religion, health, and morale, is then described with particular reference to the problems that were experienced. Finally, the relative powers of the Governor and the Service commanders are discussed, along with the areas of contact, both friendly and otherwise, that existed between the forces and the civil population. In the conclusion, an assessment of the role of the forces at Halifax indicates that, although this role was a diminishing one, it still remained a significant factor in the town's development.