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British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution
Nine Rare and Fascinating First-Person Profiles of Soldiers Who Fought for the British Crown
Much has been written about the colonists who took up arms during the American Revolution and the army they created. Far less literature, however, has been devoted to their adversaries. The professional soldiers that composed the British army are seldom considered on a personal level, instead being either overlooked or inaccurately characterized as conscripts and criminals. Most of the British Redcoats sent to America in defense of their government’s policies were career soldiers who enlisted voluntarily in their late teens or early twenties. They came from all walks of British life, including those with nowhere else to turn, those aspiring to improve their social standing, and all others in between. Statistics show that most were simply hardworking men with various amounts of education who had chosen the military in preference to other occupations. Very few of these soldiers left writings from which we can learn their private motives and experiences.
British Soldiers, American Voices of the American Revolution is the first collection of personal narratives by British common soldiers ever assembled and published. Author Don N. Hagist has located first-hand accounts of nine soldiers who served in America in the 1770s and 1780s. In their own words we learn of the diverse population―among them a former weaver, a boy who quarelled with his family, and a man with wanderlust―who joined the army and served tirelessly and dutifully, sometimes faithfully and sometimes irresolutely, in the uniform of their nation. To accompany each narrative, the author provides a contextualizing essay based on archival research giving background on the soldier and his military service. Taken as a whole these true stories reveal much about the individuals who composed what was, at the time, the most formidable fighting force in the world.
Much has been written about the colonists who took up arms during the American Revolution and the army they created. Far less literature, however, has been devoted to their adversaries. The professional soldiers that composed the British army are seldom considered on a personal level, instead being either overlooked or inaccurately characterized as conscripts and criminals. Most of the British Redcoats sent to America in defense of their government’s policies were career soldiers who enlisted voluntarily in their late teens or early twenties. They came from all walks of British life, including those with nowhere else to turn, those aspiring to improve their social standing, and all others in between. Statistics show that most were simply hardworking men with various amounts of education who had chosen the military in preference to other occupations. Very few of these soldiers left writings from which we can learn their private motives and experiences.
British Soldiers, American Voices of the American Revolution is the first collection of personal narratives by British common soldiers ever assembled and published. Author Don N. Hagist has located first-hand accounts of nine soldiers who served in America in the 1770s and 1780s. In their own words we learn of the diverse population―among them a former weaver, a boy who quarelled with his family, and a man with wanderlust―who joined the army and served tirelessly and dutifully, sometimes faithfully and sometimes irresolutely, in the uniform of their nation. To accompany each narrative, the author provides a contextualizing essay based on archival research giving background on the soldier and his military service. Taken as a whole these true stories reveal much about the individuals who composed what was, at the time, the most formidable fighting force in the world.
- GenresHistory
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 31, 2014
In the United States we learn a lot about what life was like in the Continental Army: disorderly (at first), diseased (until small pox inoculation), starved, but ultimately successful (thank you French ships, soldiers, and money).
In British Soldiers, American War Don N. Hagist asks a different question. He wants to know how soldiers from Great Britain experienced army life and service during the American War for Independence. Hagist explores these questions by presenting nine first-hand accounts from regular soldiers.
In the introduction, Hagist notes the scarcity of written narratives by regular soldiers. In fact, he points out that only nine somewhat extensive accounts exist. Well-educated officers penned many of the narratives that historians rely upon to discuss the British point-of-view. Historians' heavy reliance on these officers' accounts overshadows the work and experience of regular soldiers, who lived a different kind of Army life than their officers.
Hagist presents the nine, known regular soldier accounts in this single volume. He has edited the narratives for readability and he provides a contextual introduction before each narrative. These introductions let readers know what the narrative will tell them about army life and how typical, or atypical, the soldier-author's experience was. At the end of each narrative, Hagist provides an epilogue that divulges any other known details about the rest of the soldier's story.
British Soldiers, American War is a highly readable book. It is a book of military history, but a non-traditional one. You may read about a soldier who served at the Battle of Saratoga, but you will not learn about the tactics or command of the battle in this book. Often, the soldiers did not write about what it was like to fight in battle. The topic seems either too difficult or too mundane to talk about. Their narratives show that they had other concerns.
In British Soldiers, American War Don N. Hagist asks a different question. He wants to know how soldiers from Great Britain experienced army life and service during the American War for Independence. Hagist explores these questions by presenting nine first-hand accounts from regular soldiers.
In the introduction, Hagist notes the scarcity of written narratives by regular soldiers. In fact, he points out that only nine somewhat extensive accounts exist. Well-educated officers penned many of the narratives that historians rely upon to discuss the British point-of-view. Historians' heavy reliance on these officers' accounts overshadows the work and experience of regular soldiers, who lived a different kind of Army life than their officers.
Hagist presents the nine, known regular soldier accounts in this single volume. He has edited the narratives for readability and he provides a contextual introduction before each narrative. These introductions let readers know what the narrative will tell them about army life and how typical, or atypical, the soldier-author's experience was. At the end of each narrative, Hagist provides an epilogue that divulges any other known details about the rest of the soldier's story.
British Soldiers, American War is a highly readable book. It is a book of military history, but a non-traditional one. You may read about a soldier who served at the Battle of Saratoga, but you will not learn about the tactics or command of the battle in this book. Often, the soldiers did not write about what it was like to fight in battle. The topic seems either too difficult or too mundane to talk about. Their narratives show that they had other concerns.
October 16, 2021
Author Don Hagist does a decent job of examining the Revolutionary War from the perspective of 9 different British soldiers from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. The reader will find some appreciation for the war from another perspective, however do not expect any real understanding of any of the 9 soldier's experiences. Hagist tries, but the lack of representative source material seriously limits the ability of any modern author to truly accomplish this. Overall a good read with knowledge to be gained.
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December 27, 2015Fascinating reading about the British soldiers in American before and ruing the Revolutionary War. It wasn't always easy to distinguish who was a Revolutionary and who wasn't.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews