Armies in the 18th century carried practically no food with them but took it from the people in the country they passed through.

For this reason warfare was to a large extent seasonal. Battles took place in the summer months because in the winter there was little food to be had and in addition the roads were impassable. There was a continual battle within a battle where the local people tried to hide their essential stores of food from the soldiers.

This caused a great deal of hardship amongst local populations, the soldiers and the women and children who followed them. Soldiers through the ages have had to march long distances and fight battles, going for days without food .