Fully illustrated, this book assesses the origins, equipment, and
fighting styles of the irregular warfare specialists fighting on both
sides during the American Revolutionary War.
Amid North America's often forested, broken, or rugged terrain,
18th-century armies came to rely on soldiers capable of fighting
individually or in small groups. During the American Revolutionary War,
rifle-armed companies were incorporated into the newly created
Continental Army, while Patriot militiamen and partisans also made use
of rifled weapons. Facing them were the British Army's light
infantrymen; among the most experienced regular soldiers fighting for
the Crown, they were joined by Loyalist units able to operate in
dispersed formations and German hired troops skilled in open-order
fighting, including the rifle-armed Jäger.
The strengths and limitations of both sides' open-order specialists are
evaluated in this book, with particular focus upon three revealing
battles: Harlem Heights (September 16, 1776), where the Patriots took
heart from being able to hold their own in an escalating clash with
Crown light forces; Freeman's Farm (September 19, 1777), where British
light infantry engaged Patriot riflemen in notably rough terrain; and
Hanging Rock (August 6, 1780), where Patriot riflemen and partisans
attacked a Loyalist encampment, including Provincial Corps light
infantry. Specially commissioned artwork, archive illustrations, and
newly drawn mapping complement the authoritative text.
