Within the context of the use of small arms in linear warfare, the American Revolutionary War was a conflict dominated by the musket. Smoothbore muzzleloaders were the predominate long guns of the period. The British employed the Long Land Pattern “Brown Bess,” one of the most prolific muskets of the eighteenth-century. The Continental Army, meanwhile, relied upon French firepower in the form of the Charleville flintlock—although many colonists managed to get their hands on the Brown Bess as we

In all, over a dozen sieges took place during the Revolutionary War, with a majority of the action occurring in North America. Belligerents on both sides of the conflict either conducted or attempted to resist these siege actions. A vast majority of the operations were led by British or American commanders who possessed varying amounts of relative experience in siegecraft. One figure, however, stands out from the rest for a unique reason. That man was Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish combat engineer who fought alongside American Patriots during the Revolutionary War and was commissioned as a colonel in the Continental Army.

Mainstream history and conventional accounts of the Revolutionary War recall America’s battle for independence as a conflict predicated upon a popular uprising in North America. The founding fathers, unhappy with a faraway and oppressive power that unfairly repressed and taxed their fellow colonists, banded the North American colonies together against Great Britain. The war lasted for several years, from 1775 to 1783, concluding with America formally breaking ties with the Crown. In broad strokes, the above account is generally an accurate description of the Revolutionary War. Parliament, after all, did levy several tax and land acts against its colonies that many Americans found particularly punitive and oppressive. Thousands of colonists, from New England to Georgia, grouped together to face what they collectively viewed as a threat to their autonomy and sovereignty. Patriot resistance and colonial sentiment, however, were not as consistent as sometimes described in textbooks; particularly in the South, where a fair number of colonists remained divided over the conflict.

The overall intention of this series is to provide readers a thematic representation of the past by recalling events conveniently collated into accessible snippets tied to months of the year. Some stories will be familiar. Others might be new. Either way, I hope to entertain and inform those interested in the harsh reality and true history of the Revolutionary War.

History is painted red with the blood of countless battles. Ancient tribes and loose bands of warriors ruthlessly slaughtered one another while fighting over spirits or scarce resource. As time progressed, the ranks of monarchical and national armies swelled with soldiers who, willingly or otherwise, marched off to more “civilized” wars...

Next month will mark the 236th anniversary of an event which heralded the end of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). On October 19, 1781, a besieged Charles Cornwallis—Marquess, Earl, Lord, General and favorite son of Great Britain—was forced to surrender at Yorktown. So embarrassed was his lordship, he lacked the strength to face the victorious Continentals and French forces in person. Instead, the deflated commander sent a fellow general, with sword in hand, to meet Washington...

The founding and development of the United States of America certainly didn’t happen overnight, nor did it occur without bloodshed and sacrifice. From the earliest settlers struggling in virgin forests, to the audacious pioneers that relentlessly marched westward across the Great Plains, dangers lurked around every corner. As time went on, most Americans increasingly settled for the relative safety of eastern towns and cities. For a bold few, however, the call of the unknown was irresistible...

American special operations forces, such as the U.S. Army Rangers, were formally commissioned during the last century. Established in 1952, the United States Special Operations Command officially traces its roots back to the Office of Strategic Services. The true history of American clandestine operations goes back much further...

Emigrants, settlers, and soldiers faced an uncertain and dangerous future in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Bitter postbellum rivalries continued to divide the North and South, while people from literally all walks of life flocked west. Some genuinely sought a fresh start beyond the banks of the Mississippi River, but the untamed plains were full of dangers...

World War II still holds the ominous distinction of being the deadliest conflict in human history, with official estimates placing the overall death toll anywhere from 60-80 million losses worldwide. Most of these fatalities stemmed from technological advancements in the tools that men used to wage war. Mid-century small arms could deliver sustained and accurate fire over great distances, explosives were portable and lethal, and new twists on old ideas gave rise to...

In the history of the United States Navy, few ships can match the remarkable reputation and achievements of the USS Texas (BB-35). Commissioned in 1914, she is one of a few surviving battleships to surpass the century mark. Only a handful of naval vessels can boast similar claims, including Japan’s Mikasa and England’s HMS Victory. Unlike that pair of vessels, however, the USS Texas remained on active service through the Second World War. What follows is...

Mess Attendant Doris Miller eyeballed the Japanese aircraft barreling down the sights of his antiaircraft gun. He paused for a second, desperately trying to retrace his steps. The day started like any other. Up at 0600, serving chow by 0700, then down to the ship’s laundry until lunch. All hell broke loose somewhere along the way...

James Swett’s battered face smashed into the cracked altimeter he had been glancing at only seconds before the crash. The young Lieutenant just shot down seven Japanese planes, and had been turning to engage an eighth, when an enemy tail gunner suddenly riddled his F4F Grumman Wildcat with hot lead. Rivulets of pain racked his body as he hit the water...