*** All JAR Articles ***

Arts & Literature Posted on June 13, 2013August 28, 2016

My Adventure Finding a Lost Newspaper

While curating the collection of American Revolution newspapers featured in Reporting the Revolutionary War, I stumbled upon a rare 18th century American newspaper loaded with mystery and intrigue. Most newspapers of the era are well documented and catalogued by academic research institutions, but this one seemed to have slipped through the cracks for more than […]

by Todd Andrlik

People Posted on June 12, 2013August 28, 2016

General Gold Silliman: Snatched from Home

Sometime around midnight on May 1, 1779, British soldiers smashed through the wooden door of General Gold Selleck Silliman’s Fairfield, Connecticut home. They snatched him and his eldest son, William, from their beds. The soldiers, accompanied by eight armed Tories, confiscated the general’s fusee, a pair of his pistols, his sword, and three hats (one […]

by Cathryn J. Prince

The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on June 11, 2013August 28, 2016

Bennington Fatally Delays Burgoyne

A bit of time in the summer of 1777 nearly turned the conception of a United States into a stillborn notion. It is commonly accepted that the alliances with other European powers gave the American colonies the impetus to see their struggle through and those alliances resulted, in large part, from the surrender of General […]

by Michael Barbieri

Reviews Posted on June 10, 2013January 2, 2015

Benson Lossing: Historical Tourist

When studying the American Revolution, there are several books that provide an overview of the events and people of that epic period in American history. A reader can choose from a popular history such as Bruce Lancaster’s “From Lexington to Liberty” or a deep study that provides an abundance of facts and background information such […]

by Jeff Dacus

Interviews Posted on June 7, 2013February 3, 2014

Rapid-fire Q&A with Gordon S. Wood

Google Gordon S. Wood and you’ll find dozens of well-earned introductions: One of the foremost scholars on the American Revolution… One of the most esteemed historians… One of the most important authors… One of the most distinguished, celebrated, prominent… “Gordon S. Wood is more than an American historian. He is almost an American institution,” wrote […]

by Todd Andrlik

People Posted on June 6, 2013August 28, 2016

Mrs. Middleton Takes Prisoners

Questions about the validity of the Molly Pitcher legend bring up a broader gap in our understanding of military affairs during the era of the American Revolution: we have anecdotal evidence that soldiers’ wives were sometimes on the battlefield, but we don’t really know if this was common or rare, accepted or anomalous, sanctioned or […]

by Don N. Hagist

Critical Thinking Posted on June 5, 2013August 28, 2016

Alexander Hamilton, Dangerous Man

Dear Mr. History: Everyone knows Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury, and let’s be honest, this nation is more of his vision than any other Founder’s. But beyond the financial stuff– wasn’t he a pretty brave soldier, too? Didn’t he figure at White Plains and Yorktown? Sincerely, a reader from Warren, Pennsylvania. […]

by Michael Schellhammer

The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on June 4, 2013August 28, 2016

Francis Marion at the Battle of Eutaw Springs

September 8, 1781 Francis Marion is best known for his leadership in the partisan war of 1780-1781, during which he and his volunteer militia harassed British troops and the Loyalist militia in South Carolina, first disrupting the British occupation of the state and later helping to clear royal forces from a considerable area. Once this […]

by Jim Piecuch

People Posted on June 3, 2013August 28, 2016

Mrs. Byrd’s “Affair at Westover”

In traveling upriver on his raid to Richmond in early January 1781, General Benedict Arnold disembarked his army at Westover on the James River where they confiscated enough horses for the advance party and set up camp. Westover was actually a large plantation owned by Mary Willing Byrd. She was the widow of William Byrd […]

by Wayne Lynch

News Posted on May 31, 2013August 28, 2016

A Fashionably Sweet Dinner

Over the course of time, many fashions change. The hem lines on women’s skirts rise and fall, folks give up hula-hooping for jogging, and emus replace llamas as the trendy exotic livestock to raise. So it is with food fashions, as well. Reading “receipt books” – cookbooks – of the Revolutionary era, one is struck […]

by Lars D. H. Hedbor

Critical Thinking Posted on May 29, 2013May 27, 2013

The Federalist #10 and #51

Myth: The Federalist Nos. 10 and 51, written by James Madison, provided the closing case in the ratification debates. Opponents of the proposed federal Constitution argued that republican governments invariably failed if attempted over too large an area, but Madison contended a republic would work better in a large country than in a small one […]

by Ray Raphael

The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on May 28, 2013August 28, 2016

The Forgotten First Battle of Monmouth

Fought on June 28, 1778, the Battle of Monmouth is correctly remembered as one of the largest battles of the American Revolution, and the last major engagement fought in the North. But almost no one remembers that a smaller clash took place on roughly the same ground eighteen months earlier. Although a much smaller and […]

by Michael Adelberg

Contests Posted on May 24, 2013June 19, 2013

Reporting the Revolutionary War – Autographed Book Giveaway

To celebrate Memorial Day weekend and the 100-article anniversary of Journal of the American Revolution, we are giving away three signed copies of Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News (Sourcebooks, 2012) by Todd Andrlik. Plus, each winner will also receive a faux leather writing journal. To enter, simply leave a […]

by Editors

Critical Thinking Posted on May 23, 2013August 28, 2016

The Impact of General von Steuben

Dear Mr. History: Does General von Steuben deserve the fantastic amount of fame he gets for training the Continental Army at Valley Forge? The Continentals had been fighting for over two years by the time he showed up, so why did they need training? What was Steuben’s true impact? Sincerely, Stumped About Steuben Dear Stumped: […]

by Michael Schellhammer

Critical Thinking Posted on May 22, 2013August 28, 2016

“No Taxation without Representation” (Part 2)

In 1765 Parliament instituted a Stamp Act for the North American colonies, which proved wildly unpopular from Savannah to Halifax, and ultimately unworkable. The following year, there was a change of government in London. The new ministers repealed the Stamp Act, and across the ocean there was great rejoicing. However, those ministers also proposed a […]

by J. L. Bell

Critical Thinking Posted on May 21, 2013August 28, 2016

“No Taxation without Representation” (Part 1)

The primary dispute between Britain and her North American mainland colonies in the 1760s and early 1770s has often been summed up in four words: “no taxation without representation.” American Whigs declared they were loyal to the British king and constitution, but that part of that unwritten constitution was that subjects (or at least wealthy […]

by J. L. Bell

The War Years (1775-1783) Posted on May 20, 2013August 28, 2016

Repercussions of the Battle of Camden

One of the most striking aspects of the Battle of Camden is the vast amount of material that was written about it. Officers and soldiers who fought in Revolutionary War battles always wrote something about their experiences, but in regard to the Battle of Camden, they wrote much more than they did about other battles: […]

by Jim Piecuch

Food & Lifestyle Posted on May 17, 2013October 24, 2014

Family Dinner: Soup, Molasses Bread & Jefferson’s Meringues

One of the best ways to get a visceral sense of what life in the Revolutionary Era was like is to eat the foods that they ate. Of course, there are challenges in this endeavor, not the least of which are changes in ingredient availability, cooking technology, labor availability and the overall culture of food. […]

by Lars D. H. Hedbor

Techniques & Tech Posted on May 16, 2013August 28, 2016

Battle Wounds: Never Pull an Arrow Out of a Body

Often in western films there is a scene where an arrow is yanked from the body of a fallen comrade. As dramatic as that may be it is definitely not the recommended method for removing an arrow. Battle wounds in the American Revolutionary War were of a wide variety, none of which were easy to […]

by Hugh T. Harrington

Critical Thinking Posted on May 15, 2013August 27, 2013

Mary Hays McCauley’s Claim to Fame

MYTH: “American women also won fame for their bravery during the war. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley earned the name Molly Pitcher by carrying fresh water to American troops during the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey in 1778. When her husband was wounded, she took his place in battle, loading cannons.” — United States: Making […]

by Ray Raphael

Techniques & Tech Posted on May 14, 2013August 28, 2016

How to Treat a Scalped Head

When one thinks of injuries received in battle during the Revolutionary War wounds from gunshots, bayonets and swords come to mind. A far less common wound was that of a scalping victim. In most cases the scalping victim was already dead or soon would be dead when the scalping took place. There were however instances […]

by Hugh T. Harrington

Places Posted on May 13, 2013August 17, 2018

Tory Stories from the Simsbury Copper Mine

To be a Tory in the northern colonies was to understand and fear the consequences of confinement at the infamous copper mine of Simsbury, Connecticut. Although already in use as a Loyalist prison, the mine gained official approval for use by the Assembly early in 1776. It quickly gained a reputation as a dismal environment […]

by Wayne Lynch

Interviews Posted on May 10, 2013May 10, 2013

13 Questions with J. L. Bell (Part 2)

Today we pick up where we left off yesterday with our J. L. Bell interview. 8 // As someone who knows the start of the Revolution better than most, what books do you recommend most to fellow history buffs who are eager to learn more about the 1763-1776 period? If you ask me again tomorrow, […]

by Todd Andrlik

Interviews Posted on May 9, 2013May 9, 2013

13 Questions with J. L. Bell (Part 1)

When we think of prolific writers of American Revolution history, the names Bailyn, Ellis, Fleming, Morgan, Raphael, Wood and Young may come to mind. Another name that easily rivals those in quantity of words authored about the subject is Bell. John L. (J. L.) Bell is the author of one of, if not the, most […]

by Todd Andrlik

Critical Thinking Posted on May 8, 2013August 27, 2013

Molly Pitcher and Captain Molly

Myth: “While Captain Molly was serving some water for the refreshment of the men, her husband received a shot in the head, and fell lifeless under the wheels of the piece. The heroine threw down the pail of water, and crying to her dead consort, ‘lie there my darling while I avenge ye,’ grasped the […]

by Ray Raphael

People Posted on May 7, 2013August 28, 2016

William Cocke at the Battle of Long Island Flats, 1776

Throughout time men have cringed at the notion of being thought a coward. A reputation for lack of courage can be and always has been devastating to a young man. This was never more true than on the American frontier in the 18th century when a man’s ability to defend his family and his value […]

by Wayne Lynch

Critical Thinking Posted on May 3, 2013August 28, 2016

The Nicknaming of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne

Dear Mr. History: How did General “Mad” Anthony Wayne get his nickname? Was he some kind of lunatic in battle? I’ve also heard that Wayne’s ghost haunts Pennsylvania because the general died sort of a gruesome death. What’s the story? Sincerely, Mad Man. Dear Mad Man: Glad you asked about Anthony Wayne! He was born […]

by Michael Schellhammer

Arts & Literature Posted on May 2, 2013August 28, 2016

Dogs of War Gone Astray

The article “Unleashing the Dogs of War” gave just a few examples of the canine presence that was quite widespread in the armies of the American Revolution. Newspaper advertisements reveal that dogs were common companions of British officers while also making it clear that these pets often found themselves unleashed. The ads tell us much […]

by Don N. Hagist

News Posted on May 1, 2013August 28, 2016

9 Questions with Author Nathaniel Philbrick

Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution, a compelling, dramatic and extraordinarily well written narrative of Boston 1773-1775. The book caused a major media stir recently with news that Ben Affleck and Warner Bros. purchased the film rights. We asked the New York Times bestselling author a few […]

by Hugh T. Harrington

Reviews Posted on April 29, 2013January 2, 2015

Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick

Nathaniel Philbrick’s Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution is an extraordinarily well written narrative of Boston and the beginning of the American Revolution. Philbrick presents history in a compelling and dramatic manner that will engage even the hardest to reach non-history reader. Despite a title that suggests a narrow focus on a single […]

by Hugh T. Harrington

People Posted on April 25, 2013August 28, 2016

Young People at War

In 1775, almost all Americans could read. This enabled young people to follow the political argument that preceded the shooting war. They were enthusiastic independence men and women even though they were too young to vote or fight. Few young men were a better example of this enthusiasm than fourteen year old Joseph Plumb Martin […]

by Thomas Fleming

Critical Thinking Posted on April 24, 2013April 22, 2013

The Federalist (Papers): Then and Now

Myth: During the ratification debates The Federalist Papers, with their reasoned arguments, convinced people to vote in favor of the Constitution. Busted: Numbers suggest a different story. The newspaper essays we now celebrate were less widely circulated than many other Federalist and Anti-Federalist tracts, book sales were miniscule, and references to them during the extensive […]

by Ray Raphael

Interviews Posted on April 23, 2013January 2, 2015

Dreaming of Revolution

It’s tough to bring history alive, particularly when all of the participants have been reduced to dust and bones by the inexorable flow of time. It’s even harder to make historical events interesting and vital to teenagers, as most any high school teacher of history can probably tell you. With her popular webcomic The Dreamer […]

by Lars D. H. Hedbor

People Posted on April 22, 2013August 28, 2016

Captain McCall & Alexander Cameron in the Cherokee War

Named as the British Indian Agent to the Cherokee after the First Cherokee War, Alexander Cameron cultivated a very close relationship with the tribe. He married a prominent Cherokee woman and purchased plantations near Long Cane just outside the Cherokee lands in South Carolina. The couple raised 3 children and furnished their home in the […]

by Wayne Lynch

Beyond the Classroom Posted on April 18, 2013April 17, 2013

Society of the Cincinnati TV

Let’s face it. New, high-quality video content about the American Revolution is in short supply. More institutions and individuals are realizing the importance of video in education and marketing (thank you Yale and Joanne Freeman, and the American Revolution Center), but fear of the camera and perceived high costs still scare many away. One organization […]

by Todd Andrlik

Interviews Posted on April 17, 2013April 27, 2015

12 Questions with Boston’s
No. 1 Private Tour Guide

Ben Edwards is a lot of things–a children’s book author, Boston historian, collector of historic documents, relative of Paul Revere, and the No. 1 private tour guide in Boston with 100+ five-star reviews on TripAdvisor. Given his proximity to history and insider knowledge of Revolutionary tourism, I asked Ben to participate in an interview so […]

by Todd Andrlik

People Posted on April 16, 2013August 28, 2016

Warriors for the Republic

In mid-May of 1778, startling news swept through the Continental Army at Valley Forge. There were Indians in the camp! But they were not killing or capturing Americans as they had often done in battles elsewhere. These Indians had come to fight on the American side. Soldiers who were off duty rushed to get a […]

by Thomas Fleming

My Adventure Finding a Lost Newspaper

General Gold Silliman: Snatched from Home

Bennington Fatally Delays Burgoyne

Benson Lossing: Historical Tourist

Rapid-fire Q&A with Gordon S. Wood

Mrs. Middleton Takes Prisoners

Alexander Hamilton, Dangerous Man

Francis Marion at the Battle of Eutaw Springs

Mrs. Byrd’s “Affair at Westover”

Top 10 Most Popular Articles in May 2013

A Fashionably Sweet Dinner

The Federalist #10 and #51

The Forgotten First Battle of Monmouth

Reporting the Revolutionary War – Autographed Book Giveaway

The Impact of General von Steuben

“No Taxation without Representation” (Part 2)

“No Taxation without Representation” (Part 1)

Repercussions of the Battle of Camden

Family Dinner: Soup, Molasses Bread & Jefferson’s Meringues

Battle Wounds: Never Pull an Arrow Out of a Body

Mary Hays McCauley’s Claim to Fame

How to Treat a Scalped Head

Tory Stories from the Simsbury Copper Mine

13 Questions with J. L. Bell (Part 2)

13 Questions with J. L. Bell (Part 1)

Molly Pitcher and Captain Molly

William Cocke at the Battle of Long Island Flats, 1776

The Nicknaming of General “Mad” Anthony Wayne

Dogs of War Gone Astray

Top 10 Most Popular Articles in April 2013

9 Questions with Author Nathaniel Philbrick

Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick

Young People at War

The Federalist (Papers): Then and Now

Dreaming of Revolution

Captain McCall & Alexander Cameron in the Cherokee War

Society of the Cincinnati TV

12 Questions with Boston’s
No. 1 Private Tour Guide

Warriors for the Republic