Introduction

This chapter examines the loyalism shown by professional solders in the early nineteenth century. Over the past 25 years there has been extensive debate on the role of the armed forces in generating early nineteenth-century political loyalism. Attention has been given, particularly in the context of the French Wars, to the role of soldiers in building a popular sense of politically stable nationhood. This chapter explores the attitudes of rank-and-file soldiers to these issues. The main contributor to the debate has been Linda Colley. Whilst arguing convincingly that working-class soldiers were part of this process, she shows how they could often display ‘multiple identities’:

In a later work she emphasised how the same dual attitudes existed in Empire:

Colley's views have been criticised, especially by those undertaking new research on the political impact of the volunteer movement from 1793 to 1809. Whilst the volunteers are not discussed in detail in this book, the work of John Cookson is relevant. He argues that wartime soldiers’ narratives emphasised pride in service and regiment rather than class or the British state. Recently, Joe Cozens has also challenged both Colley's and Cookson’s work by arguing that such ‘nation in arms’ theories ignore ‘history from below’. He emphasises the indifference or hostility of working-class soldiers to authority and their loyalty to an overarching contract culture, which can be explored through recruitment and courts martial records of the regular army and militia.