Esposito, Gabriele The Army of George Washington, 1775–1783

History, Organization and Uniforms

The American War of Independence was one of the most significant wars of the early modern period and certainly one of the greatest military surprises when George Washington's rebel army humiliated the power of the British Empire. When the uprising broke out, the thirteen colonies had to rely on a motley crew of local militias. These initially achieved some success in smaller skirmishes with their lightning attacks, but it soon became clear that a regular army was needed that could stand up to the British forces in conventional battles. This led to the creation of the Continental Army, which learned from its many defeats and, with the help of its allies, finally marched and fought its way to victory. Gabriele Esposito examines all the forces employed by the American rebels and describes in detail their organization, uniforms, and the tactics they used to defend themselves against the power of the British Empire. This is the army that fought in such famous battles as Lexington, Princeton, Bunker Hill, Guildford Courthouse, and Yorktown. The uniforms of the period are illustrated by dozens of color plates.