Soldier's Pay and Rations

Congress printed Continental currency, backed only by expectations, to supply all of the army's needs, including pay. As war expenses mounted and more and more currency was issued, it depreciated rapidly. Congress was never able to pay the army regularly or in cash.  Only the threat of mutiny won cash payments of salaries to the soldiers.

Predominantly agrarian, the colonies could produce sufficient food to support an army, but lack of adequate transportation hindered the delivery and distribution of provisions so the troops were frequently without rations.

The Continental Army didn't have field kitchens or troops enlisted specifically to prepare food. Preparation of the ration was left strictly to the individual soldier. The only utensil issued to the troops appears to have been a camp kettle. It had a capacity of 9 quarts and weighed from 2 to 3 pounds. Customarily a kettle, along with a lid, was issued to every 6 men. The cooking was usually done by one soldier in each company.