Category: Articles

Book Review: Saratoga

By David McKissack — 7thVirginia, Continental Line Saratoga, by Richard M. Ketchum. Hardback. Henry Holt and Company, New York. 1997, 545 pp. $30.00. ISBN 0-8050-4681-X. On June 20, 1777, a body of 7,000 of the 18th century’s most disciplined and experienced troops began a campaign in northern New York which was designed to end the…

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“… sufficient … to strip a soldier to the skin.” Sutlers in the Continental Army, 1777-1782

By John U. Rees — 2ndNJ, Helm’s Company This collection of miscellaneous accounts was prompted by the discovery of a sutler’s license issued in 1782. While hardly exhaustive, the information shows the uneasy, but necessary, relationship which commanders had with these little-known followers of the army. For an in-depth discussion of sutlers and their role…

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The Method of Forming and Relieving Several Guards in and about the Encampment of a Battalion

By Eric Chetwynd — 2ndMass. Regt. The following article is based primarily on Baron v. Steuben’s Blue Book, but also references similar instructions in both Cuthbertson’s A System for the Complete Interior Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of Infantryand Sime’s The Military Medley. As original guards were on duty for 24 hours, I would suggest a…

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‘Some in rags and some in jags,’ but none ‘in velvet gowns.’ Insights on Clothing Worn by Female Followers of the Armies During the American War for Independence

By John U. Rees Though women were commonly seen with armies in the 18th century, there are few descriptions of how they looked. No matter what country they came from, the wives, children, and consorts of common soldiers can be grouped together as being of the poorer classes of society. The following documents illustrate some…

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The “Click Rule”

By Frank Chamberlain — 10thMass. Light Infantry Here’s a suggestion for solving the problem of deciding who becomes a “casualty” in the sham battles we perform for the public. To the best of my knowledge, this idea was originally broached by Norm Fuss of the 2nd NY and was published a couple of years ago…

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Bordentown, New Jersey

By Drew Smith – Kings Rangers The First Occupation:By December of 1776, British Forces pushed General Washington across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. A chain of British posts were spread across New Jersey, Bordentown being one of them. One thousand German and British troops under Count Carl Von Donop were assigned to occupy Bordentown. Immediately after…

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