Redcoats and Rebels
Encyclopedia
Redcoats and Rebels is a history of the American Revolutionary War
from the British perspective by historian Christopher Hibbert
first published in 1990.
Chapter 2: First Blood
Chapter 3: Bunker Hill
Chapter 4: Washington Takes Command
Chapter 5: ‘An Ugly Job’
Chapter 6: The War In Canada
Chapter 7: Disasters in Virginia
In December of 1775 Captain Charles Fordyce led a group of loyalists
and black slaves on an attack of approximately 900 colonists under the command of Colonel William Woodford
. The battle took place 20 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia
. Fordyce and many of his men died. The colonists suffered few casualties, and they allowed the British troops to retreat out of pity without continuing to fire.
A similar force was raised in North Carolina
, however, even after a small victory over some colonists this force was not seen as a great benefit to the British Military. General Henry Clinton
began to realize that the loyalists would not be able to continue the fight against the rebels on their own, nor would they be able to defend themselves once the British troops were gone.
General Henry Clinton decided to take his force North to attack and capture Charleston
as well as the Fort on Sullivan’s Island. The American Commander on Sullivan’s Island was General William Moultrie
who built a fort out of rudimentary supplies to defend Charleston. In the attempt to take the island the British lost approximately 200 men and the Colonists lost only a dozen.
Chapter 8: The Declaration of Independence
Chapter 9: The Battle for New York
Chapter 10: Generals at Loggerheads
Chapter 11: Winter on the Delaware
Chapter 12: The Fall of Philadelphia
Chapter 13: The Army of the North
Chapter 14: Surrender at Saratoga
Chapter 15: The English Debate
Chapter 16: Intrigues at Valley Forge
Chapter 17: Fighting at Monmouth Court House
Chapter 18: Enemies of the French
Following editions include:
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
from the British perspective by historian Christopher Hibbert
Christopher Hibbert
Christopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS was an English writer, historian and biographer. He has been called "a pearl of biographers" and "probably the most widely-read popular historian of our time and undoubtedly one of the most prolific"...
first published in 1990.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 1: Sons of Liberty
“One Single act of Parliament has set people a-thinking in six months more than they had ever done in their whole lives before.” – James Otis, Jr.James Otis, Jr.James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution. The phrase "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny" is usually attributed to him...
Chapter 2: First Blood
“The die is cast, and more mischief will follow.” – William Knox
Chapter 3: Bunker Hill
“I wish we could sell them another hill at the same price.” – Nathaniel GreeneNathanael GreeneNathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
Chapter 4: Washington Takes Command
“Everyone is made to know his place and keep in it” – William Emerson (minister)William Emerson (minister)The Rev. William Emerson was one of Boston's leading citizens, a liberal-minded Unitarian minister, pastor to Boston's First Church and founder of its Philosophical Society, Anthology Club, and Boston Athenaeum, and father to Ralph Waldo Emerson.-Biography:Emerson was born in Concord,...
Chapter 5: ‘An Ugly Job’
“The ardour of this nation in this cause has not arisen to the pitch on could wish” – Lord North
Chapter 6: The War In Canada
“One or two dogs were killed which the soldiers ate with good appetite, even the feet and skins.” – Major R. J. Meigs
Chapter 7: Disasters in Virginia
“I never was uneasy on not having a retreat, because I never imagined the enemy could force me to that necessity” – William MoultrieWilliam MoultrieWilliam Moultrie was a general from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.He was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of the American Revolution....
In December of 1775 Captain Charles Fordyce led a group of loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
and black slaves on an attack of approximately 900 colonists under the command of Colonel William Woodford
William Woodford
William Woodford was an American Revolutionary War general from Virginia.He was born in Caroline County, Virginia, in a town now known as Woodford. He served in the French and Indian War as an ensign in Colonel George Washington's Virginia Regiment, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1761...
. The battle took place 20 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Fordyce and many of his men died. The colonists suffered few casualties, and they allowed the British troops to retreat out of pity without continuing to fire.
A similar force was raised in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, however, even after a small victory over some colonists this force was not seen as a great benefit to the British Military. General Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
began to realize that the loyalists would not be able to continue the fight against the rebels on their own, nor would they be able to defend themselves once the British troops were gone.
General Henry Clinton decided to take his force North to attack and capture Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
as well as the Fort on Sullivan’s Island. The American Commander on Sullivan’s Island was General William Moultrie
William Moultrie
William Moultrie was a general from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.He was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of the American Revolution....
who built a fort out of rudimentary supplies to defend Charleston. In the attempt to take the island the British lost approximately 200 men and the Colonists lost only a dozen.
Chapter 8: The Declaration of Independence
“How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” – Samuel JohnsonSamuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
Chapter 9: The Battle for New York
“There is something exceedingly mysterious in the conduct of the enemy” – George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
Chapter 10: Generals at Loggerheads
“We never had agreed upon any single question” – Sir William Howe
Chapter 11: Winter on the Delaware
“Many of our soldiers had not a shoe to their feet and their clothes were ragged as those of a beggar” – John Greenwood (dentist)John Greenwood (dentist)Dr. John Greenwood was George Washington's personal dentist and was responsible for designing Washington's famous dentures, which were not wood but carved from hippopotamus tusk. He invented the first known "dental foot engine" in 1790....
Chapter 12: The Fall of Philadelphia
“They decamped with the utmost precipitation, and in the greatest confusion” – Robert Morton
Chapter 13: The Army of the North
“I little foresaw that I was to be left to pursue my way through such a tract of country, and hosts of foes, without any co-operation from New York.” – John BurgoyneJohn BurgoyneGeneral John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
Chapter 14: Surrender at Saratoga
“This day General Burguine Sined the Articles of Capitilation … and the whole army Capilated and the general officers came out in the fore Noon & in the afternoon the rest of the Armey came out and they wair two hours a marching out.” – Solomon Dwinnell
Chapter 15: The English Debate
“Not one of the Ministers knew what to say, and so said nothing” – Horace Walpole
Chapter 16: Intrigues at Valley Forge
“They worry one another like Mastiffs.” – John AdamsJohn AdamsJohn Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
Chapter 17: Fighting at Monmouth Court House
“Sir, these troops are not able to meet British grenadiers” – Charles Lee (general)Charles Lee (general)Charles Lee was a British soldier who later served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee served in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II...
Chapter 18: Enemies of the French
“There are not ships enough in readiness to form a squadron fit to meet the Toulon fleet” – John Montagu, 4th Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of SandwichJohn Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, PC, FRS was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu, 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as the Earl of Sandwich in 1729, at the age of ten...
Editions
First published:- 1990: Grafton Books as a Hardcover, 375-page publication.
Following editions include:
- April 2002: Norton paperback, 375-page publication.
- 2006: Folio Society Hardcover, 400-page publication.
- February 2008: Pen and Sword paperback, 384-page publication.