The Organization of the British Army in the American Revolution,

by Edward E. Curtis and Edward E. Curtis IV

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0854099069
• ISBN13: 9780854099061
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: E.P. Publishing
• Length: 223 Pages

Customer Reviews

THE Best Study for British Colonial Military Nuts and Bolts

Although this small book was written as part of a Yale doctoral dissertation in 1925, it has long survived the test of time as probably the definitve word on British military organization in North America during the Revolutionary War. This book is a "must have" for scholars, students and armchair historians of the American Revolution. Its many poignant and interesting observations written in a scholarly yet engaging and highly digestable style is still a delight to read. Author and eminent American historian, Dr. Edward Curtis characterizes the failure of British arms from 1777-1781 partly due to inept generalship, partly to natural difficulties and partly to maladministration. The study points out in interesting detail the divided authority, interdepartmental friction, clumsy business practices and just plain bad judgement that plagued the home government and its veteran professional military since the French and Indian War. The book is intelligently divided into five thematic subtexts: a general survey of the situtaion that the British Army found itself in 1777; administrative machinery; a fascinating chapter on recruiting the army, an equally eye opening chapter on provisioning it and finally, the problem of transportation. Interesting revelations await the Rev War reader on nearly every page: Who knew the British Army in America was provisioned mainly from Cork,Ireland and not from the fields of New England or the Middle Colonies or that the British Army field medicine and organization was light years ahead of its Continental Army counterpart? This book certainly demonstrates that well written history is truly timeless.