Month: June 2026

 War at Sea and Waterways (1775–1783) Posted on

The Final Cruise of the Continental Navy frigate Hague

Recently returned from imprisonment in England, respected Capt. John Manley succeeded Samuel Nicholson in command of the Continental Navy frigate formerly known as Deane and recently renamed Hague on September 16, 1782. All of the vessel’s principal officers returned to service under Captain Manley including: 1st Lt. Benjamin Page, 2nd Lt. Arthur Dillaway, Sailing Master […]

by Joseph Ross
Interviews Posted on

This Week on Dispatches: Brooke Barbier on Drinking and the American Revolution

On this week’s Dispatches, host Brady Crytzer interviews JAR contributor and author Brooke Barbier on her new book about the role of social drinking and toasts during the American Revolution. New episodes of Dispatches are available for free every Sunday evening(Eastern United States Time), first on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Amazon Music, and the JAR Dispatches web […]

by Editors
1
Autobiography and Biography Posted on

William “Billy” Flora: Revolutionary Service Beyond Great Bridge

As a free African American Patriot, William “Billy” Flora represented a rather small percentage of Virginia’s population.[1] He served as a sentry at the south end of the Great Bridge, firing eight rounds on the morning of December 9, 1775, slowing the initial British assault.[2] Documents describing this action do not name Flora, but this […]

by Patrick H. Hannum
1
Historic Sites Posted on

The Nation’s First Acre: Fort Billingsport and the Birth of Federal Land Acquisition

On June 25, 1776, nine days before the Continental Congress would adopt the Declaration of Independence, the Pennsylvania Council of Safety passed a resolution authorizing a committee to “purchase the whole or part of a Plantation at Billingsport on which said Fortifications are to be erected at the Expense of Congress.”[1] Ten days later, on […]

by David Salvatore
3
Food & Lifestyle Posted on

Ten Quotations Highlighting Alcohol’s Intoxicating Influence on the American Revolution

The founding generation of the United States, both its leaders and ordinary folks, drank far more alcohol than we do today, tippling diverse offerings including wine, cider, beer, rum, and mixed drinks. This consumption had a profound influence on the American Revolution.[1] These ten quotations highlight the many ways that alcohol impacted the revolutionaries’ society, […]

by Brooke Barbier
Interviews Posted on

This Week of Dispatches: Gary Ecelbarger on Nathaniel Ramsay at the Battle of Monmouth

On this week’s Dispatches, host Brady Crytzer interviews JAR contributor and historian Gary Ecelbarger on Maryland Continental officer Nathaniel Ramsay and his experience at “Point of Woods,” a turning point in the Battle of Monmouth. New episodes of Dispatches are available for free every Sunday evening(Eastern United States Time), first on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, […]

by Editors
Reviews Posted on

Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution

BOOK REVIEW: Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution by Brook Barbier (Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, 2026) “Muddled.” “Buzzey.” “Jolly.” “Cherry Merry.” “Swallow’d a Tavern Token.” “Cat.” These terms are all euphemisms that describe someone who is inebriated. All of these words come to us courtesy of the great Dr. Benjamin […]

by Timothy Symington