*** All JAR Articles ***

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The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on

Allegheny Burning: George Washington, Daniel Brodhead, and the Battle of Thompson’s Island

Following the Battle of Monmouth in late 1778, the traditional narrative of the American Revolution becomes lost for many non-specialists. With the existing dichotomy of “American Patriot” versus “British Redcoat” in popular culture, newcomers are often bewildered by the terrible brand of violent politics that so typifies the war on the frontiers of New York […]

by Brady J. Crytzer
12
The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on

Fanning’s Bloody Sabbath as Traced by Alexander Gray

On March 10, 1782, Colonel David Fanning led a band of vengeful Loyalists on a path of slaughter and arson in northern Randolph County, North Carolina, his Bloody Sabbath house-calls. Most of our information about this episode has been from E. W. Caruthers’s 1854 Revolutionary Incidents and Fanning’s own Narrative, first published in 1861, thirty-six […]

by Hershel Parker
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Places Posted on

The Blue Hills Beacons

In 1779 George Washington moved the Continental Army into New Jersey. He wanted to be within striking distance of New York City but at the same time be able to respond to an attack in or around Philadelphia. He chose Morristown at Jockey Hollow in the Watchung Mountains as his camp and headquarters. To protect […]

by Bob Ruppert
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People Posted on

War as a Waiter: Soldier Servants

In August 1779 Continental army surgeon Jabez Campfield wrote, “How hard is the soldier’s lott who’s least danger is in the field of action? Fighting happens seldom, but fatigue, hunger, cold & heat are constantly varying his distress.” In the same vein, eighteenth century common soldiers spent much more time preparing meals, digging fortifications or […]

by John Rees
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News Posted on

10 Facts About Prisoners of War

Co-authored with Don N. Hagist An inevitable facet of warfare is prisoners. During the American Revolution, thousands of soldiers and sailors were captured by each side and the prisoners suffered in many ways. The impact of these captures extended far beyond immediate manpower concerns, compelling each side to confront unwanted, huge logistical considerations concerning their […]

by Gary Shattuck
4
People Posted on

Captain Gustavus Conynham: America’s Successful Naval Captain or Accidental Pirate?

Shortly after the onset of the Revolutionary War, Americans started to harass British commercial shipping close-to-home. One ship captain who engaged in this type of naval warfare was Gustavus Conyngham. He was credited with the most ships apprehended, but received little gratitude, remuneration or recognition in maritime history, and in performing his service, he may […]

by Louis Arthur Norton
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Reviews Posted on

The Royalist Revolution: Monarchy and the American Founding

Book Review: The Royalist Revolution: Monarchy and the American Founding, by Eric Nelson (Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2014) The Royalist Revolution, by Eric Nelson, provides a fresh take on the American Revolution by examining motives behind the rebellion. The book explains that the war distinguishes itself from any other revolution, in that the colonists’ revolted against […]

by William Clift
5
The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on

The Follies of General John Lacey and the Pennsylvania Militia in 1778

I’ve written before about the darker side of the militia, but what hasn’t yet been detailed is the general incompetence of the Pennsylvania militia. Look no further than the year 1778. While the militia might generally have been untrustworthy throughout the war, especially in Pennsylvania, 1778 stands out among the rest. This is partly because […]

by Thomas Verenna
1
Politics During the War (1775-1783) Posted on

Charles Dumas Deals with the Dutch

The Committee of Secret Correspondence was established by the Continental Congress on November 29, 1775.[1] It was responsible for employing secret agents abroad, developing a courier system for dispatches, and disseminating and funding propaganda. The first intelligence agent recruited by the Committee was Arthur Lee, a doctor living in London. He was appointed on November […]

by Bob Ruppert
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The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on

4 Infamous Intelligence Failures

Battles are complicated events where conflicting or unclear information can confuse even good generals.  Here are some examples of when American intelligence systems failed, usually with terribly tragic results. Quebec In late 1775 the Continental Congress planned to neutralize threats from Canada by seizing Montreal. Gen. George Washington, commanding the Continental Army at Boston, decided […]

by Michael Schellhammer
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Arts & Literature Posted on

The Impact of Jonathan Carver’s Journal and Maps

Captain Jonathan Carver’s Reconnaissance Captain Jonathan Carver was hired in August 1766 as a surveyor and draughtsman by Major Robert Rogers, the newly appointed governor-commandant of British Fort Michilimackinac. Rogers instructed Carver to familiarize himself with the northern Mississippi River basin and western Lake Superior region’s geography, prepare a map of the area and then, […]

by Merv O. Ahrens
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People Posted on

10 Disabled British Pensioners

Wars were fought by soldiers, but it is the campaigns and commanders that are remembered and studied. This is a shame because the soldiers had a remarkable range of fascinating experiences, often more exciting than those of the policymakers they served. And yet, the farther back in history one goes, the fewer personal stories of […]

by Don N. Hagist
2
Prewar Conflict (<1775) Posted on

A Posture of Defense: Virginia’s Journey from Nonimportation to Armed Resistance

A month into the historic 1774 meeting of the 1st Continental Congress, delegates John Adams of Massachusetts and Richard Henry Lee of Virginia sparked a heated debate when they proposed that Congress urge each colony to place their militia on a more proper footing.1 Patrick Henry of Virginia forcefully supported these militia proposals, declaring that, […]

by Michael Cecere
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Techniques & Tech Posted on

Invading America: The Flatboats that Landed Thousands of British Troops on American Beaches

Amphibious operations, which involve landing troops and supplies from the sea to the land, are extremely difficult and require special techniques, close coordination between the navy and army, as well as specialized equipment. The British learned the required skills during the Seven Years’ War. After a failed attack on the French port of Rochefort the […]

by Hugh T. Harrington
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Politics During the War (1775-1783) Posted on

The Mecklenburg Declaration In Revolutionary War Pension Applications

In Hershel Parker’s excellent article in the October 2014 Journal of the American Revolution (“Fanning Outfoxes Marion”) he makes reference to an important research tool, namely hundreds of Revolutionary War pension applications that have recently been transcribed by Will Graves and C. Leon Harris, and are in searchable electronic format.[1] This is an important tool […]

by Scott Syfert
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Reviews Posted on

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Book Review: Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island by Christian M. McBurney. History Press, 2014. ISBN 978-1626197244, softcover, 158 pages, illustrated. The last few years have seen a surge of interest in Revolutionary War spying, with several new books and even television shows being produced. Much of this new literature, whether factual or fanciful, is focused […]

by Don N. Hagist