Banner

The Age of George III

I am happy that you are using this web site and hope that you found it useful. Unfortunately, the cost of making this material freely available is increasing, so if you have found the site useful and would like to contribute towards its continuation, I would greatly appreciate it. Click the button to go to Paypal and make a donation.


The American Army

The men in Washington's army were irregulars who were fighting for a cause and a cause is worth more than men. They did not wear uniforms, mainly because they did not have them in the early stages of the war. This meant that they were able to merge into the landscape. The "backwoodsmen" wore buckskins and were used to stalking to catch their food. The British army, in bright uniforms, posed few difficulties for these men. The Americans used guerrilla tactics of strike and run. They had no battle tactics and did not "fight fair" so far as the British were concerned because the Americans avoided pitched battles wherever possible. They were familiar with the terrain and could (and did) just 'disappear'. Also, they had accurate rifles with a 100 yard range.

However, the American army worked on short enlistments (about six months) and the men went home to their farms whenever they could, particularly at harvest and sowing time. There were many desertions. Congress was reluctant to give money to the army and traders refused to give credit in case the colonists lost the war. Men starved and were ill-clothed, poorly paid (in arrears) and suffered from exposure. The colonial army was held together only by the personality of George Washington.


Meet the web creator

These materials may be freely used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with applicable statutory allowances and distribution to students.
Re-publication in any form is subject to written permission.

Last modified 12 January, 2016

The Age of George III Home Page

Ministerial Instability 1760-70

Lord North's Ministry 1770-82

American Affairs 1760-83

The period of peace 1783-92

The Age of the French Wars 1792-1815 Irish Affairs 1760-89

Peel Web Home Page

Tory Governments 1812-30

Political Organisations in the Age of Peel

Economic Affairs in the Age of Peel

Popular Movements in the Age of Peel

Irish Affairs
1789-1850
 
Primary sources index British Political Personalities British Foreign policy 1815-65 European history
index sitemap advanced
search engine by freefind