Soldiers on a march to pick up her tallers and follow the drum / [graphic]

"Below the title: " To pack up her tatters and follow the Drum. Soldiers and their wives walk in single file across a stream under trees. All except for the only officer are good-looking. The procession moves irregularly from right to left, receding in perspective. In the stream (left) are two soldiers carrying their wives on their shoulders; the second carries also kettle, frying-pan, and saucepan slung from his musket; the woman has two infants tied to her shoulders. They are followed by a young woman carrying three children on her back, her petticoats raised almost to the waist. On the brink of the stream (right) is a drummer bent under a big drum and with a sword under his arm. A soldier follows, heavily burdened with musket, knapsack, inscribed Old Buffs, rolled cloak, bottle, &c., and a pouch from which hangs the head of a goose. He looks behind him at a buxom woman carrying two lusty children, and with petticoats kilted high above bare legs and tattered shoes. Last walks a woman carrying on her shoulders an ugly officer wearing plumed bicorne and gorget. The soldiers wear plumed shakos and long gaiters."--British Museum online catalogue