THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, 177583 Right The 2nd South Carolina Regiment holds Fort Moultrie i

1
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE,
1775-83(Right) The 2nd South Carolina Regiment
holds Fort Moultrie in the face of a British
naval attack on Charleston, South Carolina, June
28, 1776.
2
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE THE THEATER OF
WAR
3
A BRITISH SHOW OF FORCE, 1774-75In 1774, the
British attempted to intimidate malcontents in
Massachusetts by placing the colony under martial
law and stationing 4,000 Redcoats in Boston. The
British garrison included these light infantry
officers from the 4th Regiment of Foot (left)
and the 10th Regiment of Foot (right).
4
A TAX PROTEST TURNS TO REBELLIONMassachusetts
militia and British light infantry exchange shots
on Lexington Green at dawn, April 19, 1775.
5
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE THE THEATER OF
WAR
6
A REBELLION TURNS INTO A WAR FOR
INDEPENDENCEIn July 1776, the Second
Continental Congress (below) adopted a
declaration that proclaimed the Thirteen Colonies
were now free and independent states. (Right)
The Declaration of Independence is read to an
enthusiastic crowd in a colonial city.
7
BRITISH ADVANTAGE THE ROYAL NAVYThe British
Navy began the Revolutionary War with 270
warships, including many ships of the line (18th
century battleships), like the 104-gun HMS
Victory.
8
BRITISH ADVANTAGE THE ROYAL NAVY (Below) The
gun deck on the HMS Victory.(Right) A British
gun crew in action.
Nothing that the Patriots could put to sea could
match the firepower of a British ship of the
line. Consequently, the Continental Navy had to
resort to commerce raiding rather than challenge
the Royal Navy for control of the seas.
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BRITISH ADVANTAGE THE ROYAL NAVYNaval
supremacy allowed the British to land their
troops anywhere along the American coast at will,
while the Patriots, forced to rely on Americas
inadequate road network, could not move
Continental forces fast enough to check these
invasions.
10
BRITISH ADVANTAGE THE ROYAL NAVYThe long
American coastline was vulnerable to British
amphibious operations.
11
BRITISH HANDICAPA DIVIDED POPULACE

• The unpopularity of the War of Independence at
  home inhibited the British Armys recruiting
  efforts.
• Consequently, the British hired 30,000 troops
  from various German princes to serve in North
  America.
• The Patriots labeled these Hessians as
  barbarous mercenaries, and their use turned many
  colonists against the British cause.
• The soldier at right is a private from the Hesse
  Hanau Regiment Erbprinz, circa 1777.

12
BRITISH ERROR MISHANDLING THE LOYALISTSTwo
British officers who overcame their anti-American
prejudices and formed two highly efficient
Loyalist military units were Lieutenant Colonel
John Graves Simcoe of the Queens Rangers (left)
and Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton of the
British Legion (right).
13
BRITISH ERROR MISHANDLING THE
LOYALISTSContemporary views of personnel from
the Queens Rangers. Under John Graves Simcoe,
these green-garbed troops delighted in setting
ambushes for their Rebel foes. The British Army
erred in not raising as many Loyalist units as it
could when the Revolution started.
14
BRITISH ERRORMISHANDLING THE LOYALISTS

• A rifleman of the Queens Rangers. The Patriots
  were not the only ones to employ these long-range
  weapons to harass their enemies.
• The Queens Rangers was one of the few Loyalist
  units that the British Army allowed to engage in
  extensive combat.
• Most other Loyalist units were consigned to
  garrison duty, which made them feel mistrusted
  and sapped their morale.

15
BRITISH HANDICAPGEOGRAPHY -- AMERICAS SIZE AND
DEMOGRAPHICSThis map of the Thirteen Colonies
shows the distribution of Americas population in
1775. A rural people, the colonists were able to
continue resistance even after the British seized
some of their most important cities.
16
BRITISH HANDICAP FRENCH INTERVENTIONYearning
for revenge for previous defeats, France funneled
military aid to the Patriots beginning early in
the Revolution. With the Patriot victory at
Saratoga, the ministers of King Louis XVI (left)
decided France should enter the war as an ally of
the young United States and send French regulars
(right) to fight in North America.
17
BRITISH ERROR DIVIDED COMMANDIn 1777, General
William Howe (left) decided to capture
Philadelphia, rather than cooperate with General
John Burgoyne (right), who was leading a British
army south from Canada along the Hudson River.
Consequently, the Patriots were able to trap
Burgoyne at Saratoga and compel his surrender.
18
BRITISH ERROR DIVIDED COMMANDGeneral Sir Henry
Clinton (left) tried to micro-manage the
campaigns that Lord Charles Cornwallis (right)
conducted in Virginia in 1781. Eventually,
Clinton ordered Cornwallis, who was conducting
effective mobile operations, to take refuge at
Yorktown, where the latter was trapped by a
French fleet and Franco-American army.
19
BRITISH ADVANTAGE A STANDING ARMYThe British
started the Revolution with a small but
well-trained regular army. British Redcoats were
the fastest musketmen in Europe, able to fire
three to four shots in a minute.
20
BRITISH ADVANTAGE A STANDING ARMY

• From the start of the Revolution to the end,
  Great Britains superbly disciplined infantry
  took pride in its willingness to close with the
  enemy with the bayonet.
• Washingtons Continentals did not master the
  bayonet until they came under the tutelage of
  Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben at Valley
  Forge in the winter of 1777-78.

21

• WASHINGTONS CONTINETALS, 1781 AN IDEALIZED
  VIEW
• A recent U.S. Army print showing General George
  Washingtons 1779 uniform regulations. A
  lieutenant from New York or New Jersey
  (foreground) strides past an artilleryman.
  Infantry from New England stand in the left
  background, and infantry from Pennsylvania,
  Maryland, or Virginia stand to the right.

22

• WASHINGTONS CONTINENTALS, 1783 AN IDEALIZED
  VIEW
• General George Washington bestows the newly
  created Badge of Merit on a New England
  infantryman. A light dragoon from New England (at
  right) proudly wears the same award.
• In the background are musicians from a regiment
  from New York or New Jersey.

23
WASHINGTONS CONTINENTALS THE REALITY
As seen in this view of the Battle of Monmouth,
New Jersey, June 28, 1778, Washingtons regulars
often wore fringed hunting shirts and civilian
garments in place of European-style uniforms.
24
WASHINGTONS CONTINENTALS THE REALITYAn
eyewitness sketch by a French officer who fought
at Yorktown shows (left to right) a black private
of the Rhode Island Regiment, a white soldier
from an unidentified regiment, a rifleman in his
fringed hunting shirt, and an artilleryman.
25
CONTINENTAL UNIFORMS, 1777-80(Left to right)
Private, 2nd South Carolina Regiment, 1777-80
Private, 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, 1780
Sergeant, 2nd Connecticut Regiment, 1777
Private, George Rogers Clarks Illinois Regiment,
1780
26
CONTINENTAL ELITES RIFLEMEN AND LIGHT
INFANTRY(Left to right) Private, Morgans Rifle
Corps, 1777 Private, Light Infantry Company, 2nd
Virginia Regiment, 1779 Sergeant, Corps of Light
Infantry (Lafayettes Light Division), 1781
27
A RESPECTABLE ARMY AT LASTContinental light
infantry and pioneers storm a British redoubt at
Yorktown, October 14, 1781.
After the Valley Forge encampment, 1777-78,
Washingtons Continentals took pride in their
ability to successfully engage their foes with
the bayonet.
28
PATRIOT MILITIA IN ACTIONLEXINGTON GREEN, APRIL
19, 1775Contrary to this National Guard print,
the Lexington militia broke and fled at the first
British volley.
29
PATRIOT MILITIA IN ACTION BREEDS HILL, JUNE
17, 1775Fighting from behind stout field works,
New England militiamen stood their ground and
held off two British assaults, retreating before
a third only after their ammunition gave out.
30
PATRIOT MILITIA IN ACTION BREEDS HILLPoorly
trained and often unequipped with bayonets,
militiamen could rarely hold their own against
British regulars at close quarters.
31
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON THE CONTINENTAL
ARMYS INDISPENSABLE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
1775-83Washington is seen here in his customary
blue and buff uniform shortly after taking
command of the Continental Army outside of Boston
in July 1775. To the left stands an aid in a
brown coat and to the right stands Major General
Artemas Ward, former commander of the New England
Army.
32
GEORGE WASHINGTON A PORTRAIT FROM LIFEThis
1780 portrait by John Trumbull shows Washington
in his prime as commander-in-chief of the
Continental Army. The African American at right
is William Lee, Washingtons slave, who served as
his servant faithful companion throughout the war.
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A BRITISH HOST DESCENDS ON NEW YORKSome of the
officers and men of the huge army of 32,000
Redcoats and Hessians that General William Howe
assembled to take New York in the summer of 1776.
35
DISASTER ON LONG ISLAND, AUGUST 27, 1776The
Delaware Regiment, one of the few Continental
units to give a good account of itself in the New
York Campaign, attempts to delay the advancing
Redcoats and Hessians in the battle that began
four months of defeat and retreat for George
Washingtons Main Army.
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A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN STRATEGYThwarted in his
efforts to save New York City from the British,
Washington adopted a strategy of harassment that
would make it impossible for his opponents to
disperse their troops sufficiently to control the
American countryside.
38
WASHINGTONS TARGETS AT TRENTON(Left) A
soldiers of the Grenadier Regiment Rall and a
fusilier from the Regiment von Lossberg. (Below)
Feld Jaegers, elite Hessian riflemen.
39
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, DECEMBER 26, 1776Captain
Alexander Hamiltons Company of New York
Artillery fires down a street crowded with
confused Hessians during General George
Washingtons surprise attack.
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TRENTON, DECEMBER 26, 1776General George
Washington and his ragged Continentals overrun a
Hessian gun.
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WASHINGTON CROSSES THE DELAWARE, DECEMBER 25-26,
1776Emanuel Leutzes 19th century painting is
not very accurate, but it certainly captures the
indomitable spirit that George Washington
displayed during the campaign.
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PATRIOT MILITIA IN ACTIONBENNINGTON, AUGUST 17,
1777With stealth, deceit, and raw courage, 2,000
New England militia overran a foraging expedition
of 800 Hessians, Redcoats, Loyalists, and Indians
in a battle that helped turn the tide in the
decisive Saratoga Campaign.
47
VICTORY AT SARATOGAContinental infantry and
riflemen maul the British at the Battle of
Freemans Farm, October 7, 1777. The
Continentals succeeded in this campaign because
of the support they received from Patriot
militia.
48
MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE PATRIOT MILITIATHREE
BATTLES IN THE SOUTH, 1780-81
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THE OPPOSING COMMANDERS AT CAMDEN(Left)
Lieutenant General Lord Charles
Cornwallis.(Right) Major General Horatio Gates.
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BRITISH LIGHT INFANTRYMAN, 1777-81By 1777,
British troops in America had discarded the spit
and polish fashions of the European parade ground
and adapted both their clothing and their tactics
to conditions in North America.
54
BRITISH ARMY COMBAT DRESS, 1776-83

• A contemporary portrait of Lieutenant Thomas
  Dowdeswell, 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, who
  served in the Thirteen Colonies from the summer
  of 1776 until July 1777.
• Dowdeswells coat is stripped of the extravagant
  gold lace prescribed for officers of his
  regiment, and he trusts to a fusil (musket) to
  protect himself in North Americas wooded terrain
  rather than the British line officers
  traditional spontoon (short pike) and sword.

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• MAJOR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE
• Washingtons most trusted lieutenant.
• Took command of the Southern Department following
  the Camden disaster.
• A poor tactician, but a brilliant and resilient
  strategist

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THE OPPOSING COMMANDERS AT COWPENS(Left)
Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, young,
aggressive, and impulsive.(Below) Brigadier
General Daniel Morgan in the frontier uniform he
wore commanding Continental riflemen earlier in
the war.
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COWPENS, JANUARY 17, 1781 (Left) A map of the
battlefield. (Below) A company officer from a
British fusilier regiment, like Tarletons 7th
Regiment of Foot.
60
TARLETON PREPARES FOR THE KILLTarletons troops
reached the Cowpens battlefield hungry and
exhausted, but they were confident of victory.
(Below) Highlanders of the 71st Regiment of Foot
deployed for battle.
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COWPENS, JANUARY 17, 1781The 3rd Continental
Light Dragoons and militia cavalrymen rout the
British 17th Light Dragoons and Loyalist troopers
of the British Legion.
63
COWPENS, JANUARY 17, 1781Morgans
counterattacking militia overrun the 71st
Frasers Highlanders on Tarletons left flank.
Last-minute militia reinforcements probably
raised Morgans numbers closer to 2,000, a fact
he concealed for propaganda purposes to increase
the impact of his victory.
64
COWPENS, JANUARY 17, 1781Colonel John Eager
Howards Maryland Continentals overrun Lieutenant
Colonel Banastre Tarletons 7th Regiment of Foot.
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GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, MARCH 15, 1781Major General
Nathanael Greene deploys the North Carolina
militia in the first of his three lines.
67
GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, MARCH 15, 1781Lieutenant
General Lord Charles Cornwallis commits his
outnumbered army against Greenes first line.
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GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, MARCH 15, 1781
Maryland Continentals in Greenes third line
check advancing British infantry while the 3rd
Continental Light Dragoons counterattack.
70
BAYONET TO BAYONET AT GUILFORD COURTHOUSE, MARCH
15, 1781Maryland Continentals and a crack
battalion of British Foot Guards engage in a
savage hand-to-hand melee that marked the climax
in the fight along Greenes third line. Although
the Redcoats were beaten back, Greene withdrew
his troops from the field, leaving Cornwallis to
claim an empty victory.
71
BAYONET TO BAYONET
British Foot Guards and Maryland Continentals
melee in the final phase of the Battle of
Guilford Court House.
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VICTORY AT YORKTOWNThis 1784 Charles Willson
Peale portrait captures Washington at the scene
of his greatest triumph the siege that broke
the British will to continue the war against
American independence. In the background,
soldiers of the combined Franco-American army
parade with their colors the Stars and Stripes
of the young United States and the white banner
with golden fleur-de-lis of Bourbon France.
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THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF FRENCH AIDIt took the
assistance of a French army under the Comte de
Rochambeau (left) and a French fleet to allow
George Washington to trap Lord Cornwallis at
Yorktown.