Along with the musket, a waistbelt with a 9-round cartridge box, a bayonet and sword would be worn during guard duties or military ceremonies in the fort or within the town. When in the field, a soldier would replace the sword with a machete. This was useful for hacking through the high thick brush. In addition, he wore thick canvas leggings called "gaitors" to protect his legs.

   He would also carry a backpack, canteen, haversack (canvas bag) and blanket. This would create an extra burden for the soldier while in the back country away from St. Augustine.

   A St. Augustine soldier's uniform at this time consisted of a black three-cornered hat (tricorn) with a red cockade (hat bow) to symbolize Spain, and was edged with yellow lace trim. He wore a large blue wool coat with red cuffs, a long- sleeved red wool waistcoat, blue wool breeches (short pants), red wool stockings with garters, and black leather shoes with brass buckles.

   His long-sleeved white shirt with a short collar, worn under the waistcoat, doubled as his night shirt. He would wear a poncho made from a wool blanket when it was raining.

   A Spanish infantryman could become a member of the artillery crew in times of need. The soldiers of St. Augustine crossed-trained in both infantry and artillery tactics. This was essential due to the large distances between Spanish provinces (cities or towns) and the time it would take for reinforcements to arrive.

   A soldier's diet consisted of one pot meals. The main ingredient in these meals was rice. They would pour rice in a pot, add water, vegetables, beans and meat, and simmer over an open file for hours. They also would have bread or hardtack (hard bread. like a cracker) for dipping into their food. Oranges, lemons, figs, peaches, pears, grapes, guavas and melons were locally and were part of the local diet. Other foodstuffs were flour, corn, salt and olive oil.

   Many soldiers had other jobs in addition to being in the military. They would be carpenters, bakers, shoemakers, leatherworkers, etc. These men had to find a secondary source of income because their pay was often delayed for a long period of time. Trading for goods became common in St. Augustine.