Saturday, 29 August 2026

Life and Death of a French Soldier in the American War of Independence 1778-1781 by Bertrand Jost

 Life and Death of a French Soldier in the American War of Independence 1778-1781 eBook : JOST, BERTRAND: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Through extensive research, the author reconstructed the story of a young French foot soldier from his enlistment in the King’s army in 1778 to his death in November 1781, shortly after the battle of Yorktown. The story of Hans Stiegel serves as a thread to paint a broader picture of the American War of Independence through the eyes of the lower French ranks and helps answer some of the fundamental questions behind the reality of this war. Why did these men enlist? How were they treated by their aristocratic officers? What was military life like in the barracks of France, in the colonies and while on expedition in America? What was it like to cross the Atlantic on an overcrowded transport? Upon arrival, what did these uneducated men think of the Americans they encountered: soldiers, civilians and slaves? What did they think of America itself and what was it like to fight in Yorktown when one had to spend the nights digging trenches under constant enemy shelling and days fighting British sorties or storming enemy positions?To portray the war through the eyes of an enlisted soldier, the author focused on previously overlooked details in a large set of officers’ accounts, incorporated new less known and unpublished sources and studied regiment rolls to gather details and statistics on the war casualties. It took sixteen years to compile this extensive material, translate it and weave it into a chronological account.

Newtown 1779

 


The Battle of Newtown (August 29, 1779) was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by Major General John Sullivan that was ordered by George Washington to end the threat of the Haudenosaunee who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. Opposing Sullivan's four brigades were 250 Loyalist soldiers from Butler's Rangers, commanded by Major John Butler, and 350 Haudenosaunee and Lenape (Delaware). Butler and Mohawk war leader Joseph Brant did not want to make a stand at Newtown, and instead proposed to harass the enemy on the march, but were overruled by Sayenqueraghta and other Indigenous war leaders.

This battle, which was the most significant military engagement of the campaign, took place at the foot of a hill along the Chemung River just outside what is now Elmira, New York.

French army Osprey

 A really fine book. 1992.

The French forces that fought during the American War of Independence (1775-1783) were, to a large extent, a product of the disasters of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). During that war the fleet had been swept off the oceans, and nearly all colonies had been lost. Sweeping reforms were demanded. From the end of 1762 a series of royal orders dictated by common sense and good planning were signed by the king, and a vast reorganisation was started, ensuring that the army that fought in the American War presented a very different, altogether more formidable threat to her foes.

The French Army in the American War of Independence: : Men-at-Arms René Chartrand Osprey Publishing - Osprey

Thursday, 6 August 2026

Oriskany 1777

 An Account at Oriskany |


The Battle of Oriskany (/ɔːrˈɪskən/ or /əˈrɪskən/) was a major engagement of the Saratoga campaign during the American Revolutionary War. On August 6, 1777, an American column of Tryon County militia and Oneidas marching to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix was ambushed by a contingent of Britain's Indigenous allies and Loyalists. It was one of the few battles of the war in which most non-Indigenous participants were settlers born in the Thirteen Colonies. The Americans suffered heavy casualties during the battle.he Battle

Sunday, 26 July 2026

Stomping Freedom


 Film Storyboard

A new historical film titled "Stomping Freedom", produced by Caesar's Ford Theatre, Inc. and directed by Kane Stratton. Jake portrays Weyanpersenwa (Whirlpool/Blue Jacket) in the film. Director @kanestratton stated: "an homage to the dignity and pride of American Indian peoples who resisted the American Revolution, this film will show you a side of history that's not ever been seen before."

There are more photos and information about this film on the American Indian-led arts nonprofit Caesar's Ford Theatre website, cftohio.org/film-storyboard .

Life and Death of a French Soldier in the American War of Independence 1778-1781 by Bertrand Jost

  Life and Death of a French Soldier in the American War of Independence 1778-1781 eBook : JOST, BERTRAND: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store Throug...