"at a reasonable wagon pace of 8 miles a day, that would take them around 6 days"
This doesn't seem very likely, a rebellion wouldn't be travelling 8 miles a day, they would be steaming it.... If they needed waggons they would nick them at the point they needed them. I would suggest that it would not be unreasonable for the guys doing the damage to be travelling at 30-40 miles a day and not waiting for their Mums to bring a packed lunch for them.
This doesn't seem very likely, a rebellion wouldn't be travelling 8 miles a day, they would be steaming it.... If they needed waggons they would nick them at the point they needed them. I would suggest that it would not be unreasonable for the guys doing the damage to be travelling at 30-40 miles a day and not waiting for their Mums to bring a packed lunch for them.