Armies of Early Colonial North America 1607–1713: History, Organization and Uniforms

by Gabriele Esposito

Gabriele Esposito presents a detailed overview of the military history of Colonial North America during its earliest period, from the first colonial settlement in Jamestown to the end of the first continental war fought in the Americas. He follows the development of organization and uniforms not only for the British Colonies of North America but also for the French ones of Canada. Every colonial unit formed by the Europeans in the New World, as well as the regular troops sent to America by Britain and France, is covered in from the early militias of the Thirteen Colonies to the expeditionary forces formed during the War of the Spanish Succession. Great military events, like King Philip’s War or Bacon’s Rebellion, are analyzed and the evolution of tactics employed in this theater are discussed, showing how much warfare was influenced by the terrain and conditions in North America. Dozens of illustrations, including color art works, show the first military uniforms ever worn in North America, as well as interesting details of weaponry and equipment used.

Genres: History

192 pages, Hardcover

Published May 18, 2018

About the author

The author of numerous books on armies and uniforms, Gabriele Esposito is a contract professor of Medieval, Modern and Contemporary History at the "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania.

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

With over twenty books and counting that cover the backgrounds of numerous armies, uniforms, and periods throughout history, military historian Gabriele Esposito turns to the Early Colonial era of North America for a breakdown of both soldiers and monumental events. Working with the aid of The Company of Military Historians who have graciously allowed access for the use of countless color plates and illustrations found throughout the text, Esposito begins by laying out the reasoning behind the span of years covered, as well as why Spanish territories will require their own separate study. In keeping his research strictly to French and British colonization, the opening chapter follows a concise overview of the lost Roanoke colony and the subsequent settlement of Jamestown.

Between the lines of such pivotal moments as the marriage of Pocahontas to John Rolfe, Esposito adds specific detail to the social history of the time—noting the equipment of the day including armor, muskets, and halberds, the size and specs of forts, amount of artillery and ammunition provided to a given unit, and the difference between the likes of a musketeer and a ‘targeteer.’ The colonies of New France are featured with equal treatment—where Esposito traces the various foundations and weaponry, and follows both Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain’s discovery of what would become modern Canada. Clashes between multiple religious sects (along with conflicting Native American tribes) are chronicled appropriately and in full detail, as well as the organization and types of militia that were unique to each colony.

Esposito keeps to a clear and agreeable format throughout each chapter, not bogging the reader down constantly with statistics and reports on the number of arms tied to a given regiment, but rather subtly including the latter while giving a thorough military history of Colonial North America. As mentioned previously, bright and colorful paintings and illustrations are displayed on every other page of the text—quite an astounding and welcome amount—which are highly useful when looking at either the maps on display or the outfits and gear specific to a given soldier. The histories of the short-lived Dutch and Swedish colonies (coined New Netherland and New Sweden respectively) are given their share of the spotlight, alongside with an accurate account of King Philip’s War:

Under the tutelage of their Indian teachers, Church’s militiamen became the first ranger company in the military history of colonial America. This was a special full-time unit mixing white colonists selected for their frontier skills with friendly Indians; their main task was launching offensive strikes against hostile Indians and terrains where normal militia units proved to be ineffective. Of the 200 men under Church’s command, only sixty were English: the rest were allied Indians. During the conflict, Church’s men were the most successful in rating the Indians’ camps located in difficult terrains such as forests or swamps. Church was also the first colonial officer allowed to recruit Indians into the militia units, using them not only as explorers but also as fighters. He persuaded many neutral or formerly hostile natives to join his company as irregulars; some of these even converted to Christianity.

Bacon’s Rebellion—aptly deemed North America’s first revolt by dissenting colonists—is given a brief yet comprehensible breakdown, as well as the expansion of New France and the creation of the Canadian militia by order of King Louis XIV. Native American alliances are formed and broken throughout the years on both sides, with the Iroquois raiding vital French cities during King William’s War, only to remain neutral five years later in Queen Anne’s War. Indeed, both of these decade-long conflicts are concisely delivered and given the familiar well-researched treatment as seen in previous chapters.

While some of the vibrant images displayed edge along the lines of those that can be found in a children’s storybook, the careful consideration of these—as well as the simple yet meaningful facts chosen—help to guide the reading experience from beginning to end. Gabriele Esposito has written exactly the type of book that researchers and eager students of the seventeenth century can come back to time and again for reference: whether looking for troop or artillery strength in a certain conflict, or the type of arms and attire specific to a soldier in a given year. The book concludes with one appendix that touches on colonial warfare and tactics, and a second that provides details to a given warrior’s uniform along with corresponding illustrations.

[Arminius · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Armies of Early Colonial North America 1607 -1713” is a book about the various Wars and skirmishes that went on in North America before American Independence. Four Countries battled over who would be the big player on the North American Continent. The English, the French, the Spanish and Dutch. The English settled in Pennsylvania down to Virginia plus New England. The French were in areas past the Mississippi River and Canada. The Spanish were in Florida and Georgia. The Dutch had settled in New York.

There had been numerous battles buy these European Powerful countries to establish control over the continent.
This all began in 1584 when Queen Elizabeth of England dispatched Sir Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake to explore the coast of Virginia in search of riches. Then in 1606 King James, also of England, granted two public companies to administer over the colony of Virginia. They were called the Plymouth Company and the London Company. Afterwards the other Countries started landing in America and proclaiming territory. A number of Wars and battles ensued. There was the Pequot War, the King Phillip’s War, The Queen William’s War and the Queen Anne’s War. Plus there was also Bacon’s rebellion and many more skirmishes. It finally ended with England winning most of the land.

Anyway the book is not a good read in that it’s not a consistent story. So I am not rating it high.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good review of military affairs in North America prior to the French and Indian ( seven years) war.

Early colonial conflicts prior to 1720 are few and far between. This is a nice addition to early North American history. The illustrations are a bonus.