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Aaron Burr’s Other Famous Adversary
The name Aaron Burr immediately brings to mind his rival, Alexander Hamilton. But Hamilton wasn’t the only prominent person with a dislike for Burr….
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5 Great Intelligence Successes
Good Revolutionary War commanders understood the value of intelligence on their adversaries. The great eighteenth century military theorist Marshal de Saxe, who was on…
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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,…
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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…
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Duels of Honor
Dear Mr. History: I’ve read about some duels of honor involving senior Continental Army officers and something doesn’t make sense to me; why were…
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Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War
Book Review: Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War, Kenneth A. Daigler, Georgetown University Press, 2014, ISBN-10: 1626160503, ISBN-13: 978-1626160507, 9.1”…
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Abraham Woodhull: The Spy Named Samuel Culper
Abraham Woodhull, spy for General George Washington, nearly got himself hanged on one of his first missions. It was in October 1778, when Woodhull…
AMC’s “Turn”: Everything Historians Need To Know
Danger, secrets, intrigue and revenge were all part of the Culper spy ring, and the new AMC series “Turn,” premiering April 6 (Sundays 9/8…
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Mutiny of the New Jersey Line
Dear Readers: This month we address a comment from fellow contributor Ray Raphael. In January, after a discussion of the 1781 mutiny by the…
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10 Questions with Hal Stalmaster
(Johnny Tremain)
Hal Stalmaster is a natural actor, and Walt Disney knew it. In 1956, when Hal was 16 years old, he auditioned for the film…
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Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line
Dear Mr. History: What happened with the famous mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line that occurred January, 1781? Did the soldiers have legitimate grievances? What…
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The Daring Departure of Lafayette
Dear Mr. History: I’ve read that before he became a hero in the Continental Army, Lafayette departed France in defiance of orders from King…
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Hyping the Boston Massacre
Dear Readers: For this month’s Mr. History, I offer a recent e-mail exchange between a friend and me. Maybe this is why not a…
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10 Fateful Hits and Misses
Military leaders since Alexander the Great have often preferred to command their battle formations from the most forward ranks. “Leading from the front,” as…
Von Steuben’s Continentals
The DVD, “Von Steuben’s Continentals: The First American Army,” is a great introduction to the life of the American soldier during the Revolutionary War….
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Peter Francisco: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction
Dear Mr. History: I’ve heard that no private soldier did more to enable the rebel victory in the American Revolution than Peter Francisco. Do…
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Overlooked Hero: General John Glover
Dear Mr. History: I’m familiar with General John Glover and believe he is an unsung hero (except for Billias’s book over 50 years ago). …
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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…
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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…
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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…
The 10 Commandments of American Victory
While recently watching “The Ten Commandments,” starring Charlton Heston, I pondered a few thoughts. First, they don’t make flicks like that anymore. Secondly, wouldn’t…
Nathan Hale: A Hero’s Fiasco
Dear Mr. History: What’s the story on Nathan Hale? Like countless American schoolchildren, I was taught that he was executed for spying and said…
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The Legacy of Ethan Allen
Dear Mr. History: What is the true impact and legacy of the “Green Mountain Boys” and their commander, Colonel Ethan Allen? Some say they…
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Academy Award Casting of the American Revolution
Dear Mr. History: The recent article on this site by Hugh Harrington about the 10 best Revolutionary War films got me thinking – if…
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John Adams’s Rule of Thirds
Dear Mr. History: I often hear that John Adams estimated that one-third of Americans supported the Revolution, one-third opposed it, and one-third was neutral. …
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Tarleton: Before He Became “Bloody Ban”
Before he became “Bloody Ban,” Banastre Tarleton fought in New York and learned the difficulties of cornering seasoned Continental cavalry. “Surrender you damned rebel,…
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Wondering About Washington
Dear Mr. History: Some say that George Washington lost more battles than he won and was a lousy general. What’s your take? Sincerely, Wondering…