The Memoirs of Jarvis Hanks The Signing of the Treaty of Ghent   Jarvis Hanks - biography Memoirs Continued Part 1: Early Life and the Decision to Enlist Part 2: The Harsh Reality of Army Punishment Part 3: An American farmer's greed; battle in a Canadian farmer's field Part 4: Drilling in Winfield Scott's camp at Buffalo Part 5: At the Battle of Lundy’s Lane Part 6: The siege of Fort Erie Part 7: Very Close Shaves Drummerboy Jarvis Hanks' account of the Battle of Lundy's Lane Boys at War

Part 8: PEACE! In February, 1815, the news of peace reached us. As I had enlisted for "during the war", of course, my enlistment now expired. All the soldiers rejoiced, but none so heartily as the "during the war's men". An extra gill of whiskey was furnished to all, wherewith to make merry. I drank mine so that I might feel good. Only once, before now, had I drank a gill at one draught, and that was for the purpose to trying my mettle. I drew a ration of whiskey [a gill, or four ounces], every day, but with these two exceptions, never drank it. There was an old soldier by the name of Jemmy Thompson, who had liking for both me and my whiskey. He was naturally a kind and affectionate man, and enjoyed much pleasure in being benevolent. He took me under his charge soon after I entered the service, and always drank my ration of whiskey, for which he remunerated me, in washing my clothes, cooking my victuals with his, furnishing an extra blanket, and hooking anything we wanted that he could get his hands on; besides exercising something like a general supervision over all my affairs. I have often wondered why I did not consume my daily allowance of intoxication liquor and become a drunkard. But I had no love for the "fire water", and never considered it a bad bargain that Jemmy Thompson disposed of it at his pleasure. If I had habitually used it myself, I should have formed an uncontrollable appetite which would, long since, have laid me in the grave. During my term of service, I was preserved from sickness in a remarkable manner, having had only two weeks' illness within the twenty-six months I was in the army, and so slight, that I was able to walk about the whole time. I endured many privations and hardships, at various times sleeping out in the open air in all kinds of weather, in rain, sleet and snow; in the woods and open fields; often weary and exhausted with marches for weeks together; sometimes being so hungry and to be willing, eagerly to devour turnip peelings floating in dirty water of a ferry boat; and on one occasion to eat what was decided to be "horse beef". On the night of the 2nd and 3rd of July 1814, when we crossed over from Black Rock to Fort Erie, I became so tired and sleepy that I slept, while marching and standing still. On the 23rd of May 1815 I was honourably discharged from the army, and returned home in safety to my parents.