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The cadences (or tempo) of the marches in the British army during the Revolutionary
War were 60 beats per minute for the ordinary step and 120 beats per minute for the
quickstep. Using the same British manuals and technique, the Continental army
maintained these same cadences. It was not until after the winter of 1777-78 at
Valley Forge that Baron Friedrich von Steuben increased the cadence of the
ordinary step in the Continental army to 75 beats per minute.

Neither the British nor the Continentals continually marched to a drum beat.
Any "one" of the eight divisions of the Foot March would be played to establish the
cadence and upon its completion, the troops would step off in silence at a route step.
Only, perhaps, in the presence of a dignitary or in the sight of a town, would
the field musick play and the troops march in step. On occasions such as this,
one might have heard any number of popular tunes of the day.

See our Repertoire Page for just some of the possibilities.

We offer the following based on music and drum beatings found in
the Compleat Tutor For The Fife; Thompson & Son: London, 1759 and
the Young Drummers Assistant; Longman & Broderip: London, 1780.


Foot March - 8 Divisions

1st Division      2nd Division      3rd Division      4th Division

5th Division      6th Division      7th Division      8th Division

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