Standing guard was one of the most important duties of the ordinary soldier in the eighteenth century. During the twenty-four hours that a soldier was part of the guard detail, his quarters were the guardhouse (corps de garde) to which he was assigned. Unless he was sent on an errand by the sergeant or officer of the guard, a soldier was not permitted to leave the guardhouse while awaiting his turn at sentry duty. Beds were provided, along with a table, benches and a fireplace for keeping warm and preparing meals. Though sergeants and corporals shared the soldiers' quarters, the officer of the guard occupied a separate, more comfortably furnished guardroom. A sentry was posted in front of each guardhouse to keep watch over the loaded muskets deposited on the arms rack by off-duty soldiers at the end of each tour of duty.
Courtesy: Parks Canada, National Film Board of Canada
