2015 - Page 5 of 5 - Journal of the American Revolution

Arts & Literature Posted on February 3, 2015August 28, 2016

How Paul Revere’s Ride was Published and Censored in 1775

Because of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” most people think that Revere was critical to the start of the Revolutionary War. In trying to dispel Longfellow’s myth of a lone hero, modern scholars have portrayed Revere as just one rider among dozens on 18-19 April 1775, and argued that his previous rides […]

by Todd Andrlik

People Posted on February 2, 2015August 28, 2016

Henry Beekman Livingston, Black Sheep of the Livingston Clan

Henry Livingston, or Harry as he was more commonly known, was born on November 9, 1750. He was a son of Judge Robert Livingston and his wife Margaret Beekman Livingston. Harry was the namesake of Margaret’s father Colonel Henry Beekman. As a child Henry was prone to uncontrolled fits of rage. As he matured to […]

by Geoff Benton

Reviews Posted on January 29, 2015January 29, 2015

Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777

Book Review: Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777 by Michael C. Harris (Savas Beatie, 2014). Author Harris was a former Brandywine Battlefield Museum educator and battlefield guide who quickly became frustrated with a lack of ready sources with which to explain this important battle. The […]

by Stephen Gilbert

Prewar Politics (<1775) Posted on January 28, 2015August 28, 2016

Vice-Admiralty Courts and Writs of Assistance

Vice-Admiralty jurisdiction was established in the American colonies in 1697[1]; Vice-Admiralty courts were created in Maryland (1694), New York (which included Connecticut and New Jersey) and South Carolina (1697), Pennsylvania (which included Delaware) and Virginia (1698), Massachusetts (1699), New Hampshire (1704), Rhode Island (1716), North Carolina (1729), and Georgia (1754).[2] They were not effective in […]

by Bob Ruppert

Politics During the War (1775-1783) Posted on January 27, 2015August 28, 2016

Franklin’s Failed Diplomatic Mission

Benjamin Franklin’s Revolutionary War diplomatic successes have been well chronicled. He was instrumental in persuading King Louis XVI to enter into a military alliance with the fledgling United States and for negotiating the Treaty of Paris with the British ending the Revolutionary War. Less remembered is Franklin’s first diplomatic mission after the onset of hostilities. […]

by Gene Procknow

People Posted on January 26, 2015August 28, 2016

The Loyalist Refugee Experience in Canada

In the aftermath of General Burgoyne’s defeat at Saratoga, many Loyalists in the New York and Hampshire Grant regions chose to flee to the safety of Canada rather than face the prospects of poor treatment, forfeiture of property and imprisonment at the hands of local rebels. When loyalists left their communities and traveled north to […]

by Alexander Cain

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Reviews Posted on January 23, 2015June 4, 2015

Discover the Truth Behind History Channel’s Sons of Liberty Series

Thanks to the History Channel, I was granted an early-access screening of the series Sons of Liberty (premiering 25 January at 9 p.m. ET). I binge-watched it for almost 5 hours and also reviewed tons of online content, press releases, and character biographies from the website. Previously, I had only seen and heard about the […]

by Thomas Verenna

People Posted on January 22, 2015August 28, 2016

John Butler’s “Want of Good Generalship”

I plan to write about how the Tory guerrilla David Fanning changed after being made a Loyalist Colonel and given his own red coat, but I keep being lured down Carolina bypaths. For this present detour, on Fanning’s official adversary, Brigadier General John Butler of the North Carolina Militia, I compiled first-hand statements from men […]

by Hershel Parker

Places Posted on January 21, 2015August 28, 2016

10 Quotes from Valley Forge

Being ten unexpected and edifying quotations from the third winter encampment. I – “We live uncommonly well for Camp…We have Milk and sugar in plenty…I have my hair powdered every day.…”Samuel Ward, Jr. to Phebe Ward, Valley Forge, 5 May 1778.[1]The letters of “Sammy” Ward, who had been married only a month when he came […]

by Nancy K. Loane

News Posted on January 20, 2015January 21, 2015

Journal of the American Revolution Announces 2014 Book of the Year Award Winners

Journal of the American Revolution, the popular online magazine and annual book, today announced its 2014 Book of the Year Award winner. The annual honor goes to the non-fiction volume that best mirrors the journal’s mission, which is to deliver passionate, creative and smart content that makes American Revolution history more palatable for a broad […]

by Editors

Critical Thinking Posted on January 19, 2015August 28, 2016

The Real Immortal Words of John Paul Jones

Dear Mr. History: Please tell me if Continental Navy Captain John Paul Jones was as tough as folklore makes out. I’ve read that he did not really shout “I have not yet begun to fight!” during his famous sea battle, and that he probably said something else. What did Jones really say? Sincerely, Pondering JPJ […]

by Michael Schellhammer

Reviews Posted on January 15, 2015January 8, 2015

Renegade Revolutionary:
The Life of Charles Lee

Book Review: Renegade Revolutionary: The Life of Charles Lee by Phillip Pappas (New York University Press, 2014). Prior to 2013, there had not been a major biography of Charles Lee since 1968. Then, within the span of a year, from 2013 to 2014, two major biographies of Lee were released, as well as my book, […]

by Christian McBurney

Arts & Literature Posted on January 14, 2015August 28, 2016

“The Rattlesnake tells the Story”

The image of a rattlesnake was used as a symbol of the American colonies from the beginning of the French and Indian War to the end of the War for Independence. It appeared in printed caricatures, newspapers, and paper money, in addition to other media including flags, buttons and even on a cemetery monument. The […]

by Bob Ruppert

Arts & Literature Posted on January 13, 2015August 28, 2016

An Iconic Artifact Re-examined

Sometimes taking a closer look at an iconic and widely accepted primary source artifact can lead to unanticipated insights. And sometimes those unanticipated insights call for re-examination of long held beliefs. Such is the case of the watercolor of Yorktown viewed from Gloucester Point during the 1781 siege of Yorktown shown above.[1] For almost a […]

by Norman Fuss

The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on January 12, 2015August 28, 2016

It Wasn’t Billy the Ram

I often caution researchers that data tells us what, not why. This is particularly true of material like muster rolls that give us information about individual soldiers moving through their careers – when they enlisted, transfers between companies and regiments, and eventual departure from the army. We see, for example, that a man deserted on […]

by Don N. Hagist

Year: 2015