THE REVOLUTIONARY DAILY NEWS
Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
On and off the battle field
Written By Caroline Empey
The Revolutionary News
On and off the Battle field
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Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
THE REVOLUTIONARY DAILY NEWS Revolutionary War Timeline March,1766: The Declaratory Act June, 1767: The Townshend Revenue Act March, 1770: The Boston Massacre April, 1775: The Battle at Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the Revolutionary War November, 1775: British alliance with patriot slaves June, 1775: The Battle of Bunker Hill
ragtag band of men in tattered white shirts and bare feet, all throughout the colonies trudged through frozen forests and slushy grounds, hoping to win victory over the British army. The sound of cannons and the smell of gunpowder hung in the air, reminding the soldiers of their everlasting fight for freedom. The Revolutionary War was seen as not only an important and victorious part of American history, but also a time of hardship, hunger, and harsh conditions for the Patriotic soldiers of the war due to insuďŹƒcient amount of supplies, unjust, and haunting memories and revisitations of the past.
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Disease in the Revolutionary War
February 1776: Battle of Moores Creek July, 1776: America declares independence December 1776: Washington crosses the Delaware October 1777: The Battle of Saratoga November 1778: France enters the war October 1781: British surrender at Yorktown
During the Revolutionary War, many men starved, died of disease, or died of frostbite before they even engaged in the war. According to Smithsonian.com, forty percent of the men that enlisted into the Continental Army died from disease or starvation. Many men spent their time in the army eating fire cake, cooked flour mixed with water, which lead to malnutrition and scurvy. Homes, churches, and shops were raided for lead for the use of bullets and cannonballs. However, once these resources were eliminated, there were no more supplies for the Continental Army and they started to decline. George
January 1782: Loyalists leave America September 1783: Treaty of Paris officials ends the state of war
The Revolutionary News
On and off the Battle field
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Caroline Empey
War by the numbers •The war lasted for about 8 years and 2 months •80,000 militia and Continental Army soldiers served at the height of the war •56,000 British soldiers fought at the height of the war •30,000 German mercenaries known as Hessians fought for Britain during the war •55,000 Americans served as privateers during the war •25,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died during the war •8,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died from infected cuts during battle •17,000 Revolutionary Soldiers died from disease during the war •25,000 Revolutionary Soldiers were estimated to have been wounded
June 2, 2017
Washington's army was usually the only army to receive proper supplies and food rations, as how he was the general of the Continental Army. Along with lack of food and ammunition, clothing, blankets, and housing were also constantly left unattended. Many of the soldiers fighting for the Continental Army did not have shoes, shirts, jackets, blankets, or tents all through the freezing winter of 1777. The lack of clothing led to many cases of frostbite, which caused the army to lose many men, as well as close living conditions, which were the perfect breeding grounds for smallpox and pneumonia. According to PBS, “By the winter of 1777-78, the Continental Army had dwindled to only 18,000 out of the original 26,000 soldiers from disease and desertion. Although the British army also lost many men to disease, only 24,000 men died over the entire eight year period of the war”, which left the Continental army at a disadvantage due to a smaller army. Constant starvation and illness among the soldiers led to conflict among themselves, within the troops of the Continental Army, particularly between the black and white soldiers.
The slave movement
•20% of colonists were loyal to Britain
Many slaves ran from their masters and joined both the Continental and British armies seeking freedom and protection from their masters. Many slaves or former slaves joined the continental army, to the point that more black or Hispanic people enlisted of their own will than white soldiers. However, the non-white soldiers were not treated with respect and kindness from the white soldiers in the army. Because of their color, they were teased, ridiculed, and did not receive as much food nor did they receive as much ammunition or clothing. The black soldiers were sometimes forced to be on the front line, which made them more subjectable to death, and were usually fed last, meaning that they received the remains of what ever food was left, which lead to higher mortality rates for black soldiers. Although many African slaves preferred fighting in the war to being overworked and beaten by their masters, fighting for the army was not much better. Although the Continental army was
The Revolutionary News
On and off the Battle field
•1 in 20 able bodied free white men living in America died during the war •24,000 British Soldiers were killed during the war •100,000 Loyalist fled to Canada, the Bahamas and England during the war •45% of colonists fully supported the war
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Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
fighting for their freedom from the British, they did not fight for the freedom of their slaves. Many men in the army did not believe they were fighting for freedom for all, but for freedom of their race. The majority of the slaves in the army were runaways, and were not free men as they claimed to be, which sometimes came back to bite them, as they had to lie frequently to protect them selfs and their identity.
This drawing shows slaves in the Revolutionary War. The man on the horse was probably a higher up white soldier in charge of the African soldier. The other man in the coat is holding a whip, which was likely used to hit the African soldiers if they acted up. Notice, the slaves are not supplied with shirts like the two white soldiers are.
the After math of war, and living on Although some slaves managed to escape their masters during the chaos of the war, many were re-found and recaptured. When most slaves were found by their masters, their living conditions dropped from how they had been before they ran away. Because the slave ran away, their masters trusted them even less than they originally had. Some slaves were branded, others were tied up to either a post of their masters, and some were even killed. Following the end of the war, post traumatic stress disorder, (PTSD) was common. Many soldiers coming out of the war had experienced thousands of deaths of close friends, family, and other members of their troop. Other men had nowhere to go after the war, as their homes and towns had been destroyed from warfare. Many slaves who ran away from their masters during the war were recaptured or had nowhere to go and were taken by other people and forced to work against their will. During the time period following the Revolutionary war, PTSD was called nostalgia. According to history of American wars, “Approximately 60% of the soldiers coming out of the Revolutionary War had a serious case of PTSDâ€?, which aected their relationships and interactions with people around them, and caused them to have trouble doing certain things. Many men coming out of the Revolutionary War had to deal with lifelong struggles which were hard to overcome and controlled many aspects of their daily life.
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On and off the Battle field
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Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
the other side of the war While people came to the colonies seeking freedom from England’s rule, some people were sent over to keep the colonists in control and to keep them from reeling against the Parliament. These people, also known as Loyalists sometimes pretended to side with the Patriotic army to gain information. They collected info about when the Continentals were planing to attack, and sent back reports to England. It is rumored that some Loyalists even tried to carry out a plot to kill George Washington, but failed. When the Continentals started gaining victories over the British army, many Loyalists became worried. In most areas of colonized America, Loyalists were being hung and killed for siding with the King and England. patriots started raiding the homes of loyalist Americans in search of metal, jem's, gold, and most importantly, anything that resembled contact with the King, such as letters or maps. Because of this, many Loyalists fled to Canada, the Bahamas, and even went back to England. Many loyalists owned slaves. Like any other slave owner at the time, they would talk openly in front of their slaves even about top secret information, as the did not think that slaves could understand what they were saying. From this, many slaves gained knowledge from their owners.. Some sources even believe that slaves of loyalists joined the Continental army and shared what they had herd from their masters with their troop. This many have been one reason that the Continental army pulled out victory after victory over the British army.
Valley Forge It was the middle of winter, the year of 1777 about to come to an end. Washington and the continental army had little hope of ever defeating the Redcoats. They had successfully gained control over Philadelphia, the state where congress resided. The Continental arm was ready to give up all hope of being a free nation. According to history.com, George Washington wrote to congress, “If Congress could find someone better suited to lead the army that he would be more than happy to resign and return to private life at his Mount Vernon estate.” Valley Forge has been said the be the worst rime in the war. Hundreds of American troops starved to death, and died of disease during the winter of 1777-78. Washington ordered his troops to build 2,000 some huts to live in fro the winter. The huts were made of mud and timbers from Mt. Joy, and were equipped with only a door and a fireplace. Bunks were built to accommodate only six soldiers. They dug trenches around their camps, and nearly cut down a whole forest for firewood. Indeed, Valley Forge was one of the worst times of the war, dotted with disease, The bunks did not offer much space hunger, frostbite, and death. for being comfortable. The soldiers did not have mattresses or blankets. The Revolutionary News
On and off the Battle field
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Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
The fight for what’s right The Revolutionary War was a very hard time for the soldiers on both sides, as well as for their families and friends. Many men lost their lives fighting, as well as women working in the field as cooks, nurses, and washwomen. The soldiers in the Continental army had to face extreme hunger, hardship, and had to deal with haunting memories from the past for the rest of their lives. Thousands of men, no matter their age, race, or background, fought for this country even if their country didn't fight for them.
This drawing portrays what a battle between the Continental and British army might have been like. The African soldiers are closer to the British army, as they are supposed to be like walls, or human shields to the white soldiers. There are many black soldiers on the ground in relation to the few/no white soldiers on the ground or in pain.
Glossary Loyalist: a supporter of the British army, living in America Ex: Many loyalists fled to Canada during the Revolutionary war. Branded: a mark burned into your skin by a hot metal rod, usually to keep track of slaves or animals Ex: Some slaves were branded, others were tied up to either a post of their masters, and some were even killed. Continental Army: The American Army. Before America was free, they called themselves the Revolutionaries, or the Continentals. Ex: Constant starvation and illness among the soldiers led to conflict among themselves, within the troops of the Continental Army, particularly between the black and white soldiers.
The Revolutionary News
This image shows the battles between the British and American armies. The blue spots show American Victories, and the Red spots show British victories.
On and off the Battle field
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Caroline Empey
June 2, 2017
Work Cited
"Africans during the Revolutionary War." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, Oct. 2015. Web. 31 May 2017.\ Ferling, John. "Myths of the American Revolution." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 31 May 2017. Kraft, Tamera. "PTSD Throughout American History." Word Sharpeners. N.p., 11 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 June 2017. Westerfield, Alex. "Washington Leads Troops into Winter Quarters at Valley Forge." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 03 June 2017. Williams, Carl. "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." History of American Wars. N.p., 2012. Web. 02 June 2017. Images https://www.google.com/search?q=slaves+in+the+revolutionary +war&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis07fSxp_UAhWK7IMKHdo WD8oQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=559#imgrc=OSf3Snz8Qu3xfM: https://www.google.com/search?q=slaves+in+the+revolutionary +war&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis07fSxp_UAhWK7IMKHdo WD8oQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=559#imgrc=gx3_55LaNyrYCM: file:///Users/cempey2022/Desktop/download-2.jpg https://www.google.com/search?q=map+of+the+revolutionary +war&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj72rCQhaDUAhXKCcAKHX9 CDosQ_AUICigB&biw=983&bih=535#imgrc=J0yjkhgcy4BWQM: https://www.google.com/search?q=battle+of+valley +forge&safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjExcSXsaLUAhUs5IMKHUp 5DGQQ_AUICigB&biw=1300&bih=561#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=battle+of+valley+forge +huts&imgrc=MjLM51lRR0jhzM: The Revolutionary News
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