“An Exceedingly Dirty and Nasty People”: Exploring the Patriot Forces of 1775
Department or Program American Cultural Studies Abstract In popular revolutionary iconography, New England colonists are praised for their dramatic rush to arms during the first few months of the American Revolution. While this enthusiasm led thousands of colonists to take up arms, it faded by 1776 resulting in a dramatically diminished force. What happened? Why did the forces of 1776 differ so much from those of 1775? My research focuses on how the changing military organization of New England forces in 1775, from a collection of local militias to an army, impacted colonists’ enlistment and enthusiasm. To understand the development of New England forces, this thesis explores the connections between the local militia system, the creation of the Continental Army, the appointment of George Washington, and the changes in revolutionary rhetoric during 1775. Level of Access Open Access Date of Graduation Spring 5-2012 Degree Name Bachelor of Arts Recommended Citation Maxwell, Katharine A., "“An Exceedingly Dirty and Nasty People”: Exploring the Patriot Forces of 1775" (2012). Honors Theses. 53. https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/53
Desertion in the American Army During the Revolutionary War.
This is a study of desertion, in the American army during the Revolutionary War. Emphasis is placed on the following facets of the subject: laws, regulations, and policies enacted by governing bodies to combat desertion; reasons men deserted; extent of illegal departures; capture of deserters; action by authorities to prevent desertion; punishment of deserters; and effect of desertion on the operation of the army. The states passed numerous laws to regulate the activities of militia forces and state lines serving with the Continental army. These laws provided punishment for men who refused to report when ordered and for those who left the service prior to the termination of their legal tour of duty without proper authorization. Additional state laws prohibited civilians from assisting known army runaways. The Continental Congress enacted the Articles of War (17751776) to govern the army. Several provisions in the Articles of War gave the army authority to apprehend deserters, bring them to trial, and, if convicted, impose punishment ranging from reprimands and whippings (not to exceed one hundred lashes) to the death penalty. Soldiers deserted the service for a variety of reasons. Physical hardship was a principal qause, as were inadequate food, clothing, and shelter. Sickness and the lack of medical attention prompted others to seek solace away from the army. Delays or the failure to be paid angered some soldiers to the point that some gave up serving. Rigid discipline, poor officers, disgust with recruiting methods, ix Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. and long periods of Idleness soured minds against the army and Induced many to flee. Homesickness and personal business concerns lured others away. A considerable number of men deserted to receive additional bounties offered to recruits. Fear of death or wounding in combat or capture spurred a few to abandon their army duty. The exact number of men who deserted the American army is difficult to ascertain, in no small part, because of incomplete and often inaccurate records. This study indicates that from 20 to 25 per cent of the men who served in the army during the Revolutionary period deserted. Recruiting officers played an important role in capturing deserters. Civilians occasionally recovered shirkers. To prevent desertion the army punished some of the guilty, sometimes severely, while at the same time it tried to correct glaring abuses. No amount of punishment dissuaded men from leaving the army. Even the death penalty — awarded to hundreds of convicted deserters and actually carried out in a few dozen cases — was no deterrent to men determined to run away. As disagreeable as harsh punishment was, commanders were reluctant to abandon its use, even though they knew from experience that it brought little good in stopping defections. Desertion in combat occurred frequently, especially during marches and retreats, or at other times when men found themselves separated from the main body of troops. However, there is little evidence to suggest that desertion materially altered the outcome of any engagement. The most damaging results of desertion came in the Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. form of discouraging recruiting, harming morale, frustrating commanders planning battles, and reducing the army's effectiveness. Even so, it is doubtful that desertion prolonged the war. It is quite possible that the Commander in Chief at times exaggerated the magnitude of the problem. Various sources of information were highly important in this study. George Washington's writings edited by John C. Fitzpatrick was the primary reference used, supplemented by the Washington Papers in the Library of Congress. The Papers of the Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War Records in the National Archives were invaluable sources. Published papers of general officers were used extensively, along with numerous diaries and journals of individual soldiers. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Yun Ch’i-ho’s Alienation by Way of Inclusion: A Korean International Student and Christian Reform in the “New” South, 1888–1893
This article explores Yun Ch’i-ho’s studies and social life at Vanderbilt University and Emory College between 1888 and 1893, and the expectations surrounding white Methodists’ investment in his mission to bring Christian and national reform to Korea. Yun’s diary entries document the tensions that existed between late nineteenth-century articulations of white supremacy and, conversely, missionaries’ idealized framing of Christianity as a universally accessible means for uplift, which any race or nation could pursue equally. Yun offers a unique perspective on the era’s global politics of racial identification and on what the alliances and institutional relationships that missionary work necessitated meant personally.