This Week on Dispatches: Colin Zimmerman on the Battle of Crosswicks
byOn this week’s Dispatches, host Brady Crytzer interviews museum curator and JAR contributor Colin Zimmerman about the Battle of Crosswicks, New Jersey, a small but…
Battle of Monmouth
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The Battle of Crosswicks: Prelude to Monmouth
bySir Henry Clinton inherited an unmitigated strategic disaster when he assumed command of the Crown Forces in North America during the spring of 1778….
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Did George Washington Swear at Charles Lee During the Battle of Monmouth?
byThe scene is one of the most famous in the annals of the American Revolutionary War. The commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, Gen. George…
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Joseph McCracken: New York’s Wounded Revolutionary Warrior
byFollowing the failed assault on Quebec City, the Continental Congress resolved on January 8, 1776 to provide additional regiments for the defense of Canada….
2
Morale Manipulation as the Central Strategic Imperative in the American Revolutionary War
byMost people think of wartime propaganda as atrocity stories about the enemy. But commanders also disseminate false and true information in hopes of boosting…
6
A Fatal Dispute Among the Guards
byThe British evacuation of Philadelphia had been under way for several days. Given the honor to be among the last units to leave, the…
The Revolutionary War Service of James Noble
byWhen old Revolutionary War soldiers applied for their military pensions in the first and second quarter of the nineteenth century, they generally reported the…
8
Sir Henry Clinton’s Generalship
by“My fate is hard,” Sir Henry Clinton remarked after learning that he had been named commander of the British army in May 1778, adding…
9
Colonel Henry Jackson Accused by His Junior Officers of Misconduct at the Battle of Monmouth Court House
byIn my study of Major General Charles Lee, who commanded Continental Army troops at the fascinating Battle of Monmouth Court House, I argue that…
1
William Dickens, John Rose, and William Turnbull: Soldiers of the 2nd New York Regiment
byIt is often believed or reported that the 2nd New York Regiment of 1775, commanded by Col. Goose Van Schaick, morphed into the 1st…
7
Washington’s Councils of War: A Selective Assessment
byA.H. Ritchie’s 1856 engraving entitled “Washington and His Generals” is a creative, imaginary scene, as the dozens of generals shown assembled never congregated in…
Memorial Day: Recovering the Service of William Tiller, American Soldier
byEvery now and then, one comes across a pension application of an old soldier that includes extraordinary detail. Occasionally the application includes a journal…
2
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George Washington’s Nemesis
byGeorge Washington’s Nemesis: The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the Revolutionary War by Christian McBurney (El Dorado Hills, CA: …
21
Top Ten Quotes of Major General Charles Lee
byCharles Lee served as second-in-command of the Continental Army, subordinate only to George Washington. Born in England, Lee was the best-educated and most widely-read…
1
Contributor Question: What Scene Do You Wish Had been Depicted Accurately by an Artist?
byWe asked our contributors what seemed like a simple question: What scene from the American Revolution or the Founding Era (1765–1805, approximately) do you…
1
Alexander Milliner, Age Ten, Enlisted September 1780
byTo create an organized and effective force the Continental Army required more than just soldiers and officers. Camp followers helped to maintain and even…
9
Valley Forge
byValley Forge by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018) Americans refer to many of their nation’s most iconic events…
10
The Glorious Career and Unfortunate Death of John Laurens
byGeorge Washington surrounded himself with the best and the brightest young men involved in the revolutionary cause. Alexander Hamilton, Tench Tilghman, Robert Harrison, the…
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The 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, June 16-17, 2018
byIn addition to museums and historical sites, a way to learn about Revolutionary War history is to attend a reenactment. There are many, large…
12
Jedediah Huntington of Connecticut
byBrigadier General Jedediah Huntington is an overlooked yet very interesting patriot leader from Connecticut who grew up with Benedict Arnold, fought in several battles,…
3
Forgotten Warrior: The Brave and Meritorious Robert Kirkwood
by“Solid obedience is always the fruit of the confidence, respect, and affection, which a corps has for its chief.”[1] For the armies of the…
7
The 25 Deadliest Battles of the Revolutionary War
byName calling, fearing mongering and demonizing the enemy were all on the propaganda menu during the American Revolution. Once hostilities commenced, another game played…
10
Peter Francisco: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction
byDear Mr. History: I’ve heard that no private soldier did more to enable the rebel victory in the American Revolution than Peter Francisco. Do…
2
The Forgotten First Battle of Monmouth
byFought on June 28, 1778, the Battle of Monmouth is correctly remembered as one of the largest battles of the American Revolution, and the…
8
Mary Hays McCauley’s Claim to Fame
byMYTH: “American women also won fame for their bravery during the war. Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley earned the name Molly Pitcher by carrying fresh…
7
Molly Pitcher and Captain Molly
byMyth: “While Captain Molly was serving some water for the refreshment of the men, her husband received a shot in the head, and fell…