III. MEDICAL

In the Swedish Army Surgeons and barbers were permanently appointed to each regiment and a tenth of all the booty taken was set aside for the maintenance of military hospitals. In addition each regiment had permanently assigned chaplains, and attendance of services was mandatory.

In the Imperialist Army no plan existed to regulate or specify medical care.

IV. PAY AND ADMINISTRATION

The Swedish Army was paid at regular intervals according to fixed and posted pay scales. All men of the same rank received the same pay with additional bonuses going to long term veterans. True, the pay was low, but it was regular and reliable.

Military justice was based on Gustavus's 45 articles of War. Each regiment had a provost marshal and master at arms. There were two kinds of courts-martial corresponding to present day neneral and special courts-martial. Accused men had the right to trial and an appeal to the monarch. Theft, looting, cowardice, and violation of women were hanging offenses. Despising divine services, offering violence to a superior, and sentry sleeping on post were also hanging offenses. A soldier was allowed to demand bed, salt, vinegar, and the right to cook at the host's fire from the populace, but all other exactions were treated as looting, and punished as such.

In the Swedish Army a man's wife and family were allowed to follow the regiment, and regimental schools were provided for the education of the children. A special soldier's prayer book was issued to all ranks. Gustavus himself often led the reqular morning and evening prayer services, and to this day many of the hymns which he wrote are still in use in Sweden. Only approved sutlers were licensed to set up small booths and sell luxuries to the troops. All other camp followers were forbidden and marched out of camp.

The Imperialist Army in contrast depended on looting for supply and pay. Discipline was weak to non-existant, and military justice was not written down as a series of laws, but was left to the whim of the mercenary commanders. Montross mentions one Imperialist Army of 30,000 fighting men having 140,000 camp followers consisting of women, children, cripples, and harlots.

V. SUPPLY

The Swedish Army was provisioned from magazines established at strategic points, and from supply dumps along the route of advance. Uar materials were primarily imported form Sweden while food stuff was gathered locally from allies, open purchase, and requisition. Gustavus had a commissary general on his staff, and each regiment had commissary officers permanently attached to its staff to see to its needs. Montross lists calculated infantry regiment ammunition consumption as 3,000 pounds gunpowder, 2,400 pounds of lead, and 3,400 pounds of match a month.

More Swedish National Army of Gustavus Adolphus

Introduction
Recruitment and Engineering
Medical, Pay, Administration, and Supply
Organization and Tactics