The British Army in the American War of Independence

Introduction

Organization of the Army

Size of the British Army

This section is the strength of the Army and is essentially a summary of the organizations that comprise what we think of as the "British Army".

In reality, there was not just one British Army. By this we are not referring to the forces under the command of a particular general as an army, but all of the forces, whereever deployed, who fell under a common administration (and also a single commander-in-chief). Each of these British Armies was also referred to as an Establishment. In 1775 there were the English and the Irish Establishments. During the course of the war, there developed an American Establishment for certain Provincial, or Loyalist, corps.

Establishment (Table of Organization) of a Regiment of Foot

The size of a regiment and its organization are generally referred to by the term:
Establishment. This was set in broad terms by the Mutiny Act and given more
details from time to time by Royal Warrants and directives from the Secretary at
War or Adjutant General.

Administration of the Army

Articles of War of 1762

The Articles of War were the basis of military law.

Royal Clothing Warrants of 1768

The uniforms of the army were regulated by Royal Warrants which were issued
from time to time. The Royal Clothing Warrant of 1768 regulated uniforms of the
regiments of foot and was in force during the American War of Independence.

Paying the Army

Suffice it to say that the process and bookkeeping behind the pay system were positively Byzantine and that a private in a regiment of foot receive almost no money at all. To quote Samuel Johnson, "A soldier is paid as little as a man can get."

Training and Tactical Use of the Army

Excerpt from General Howe's Maneuvres for the Light Infantry

Major General Sir William Howe introduced new maneuvres for the Light Infantry in 1774. This new method was taught to several regiments in a training camp and then disseminated through the rest of the army by the regiments that had attended the camp.

The War in America

Images from the War in America
The Journal of Richard Williams, a lieutenant of the 23rd Foot, covers many of the events in Boston in 1775.
British accounts of the actions at Lexington and Concord
British accounts of the battle of Guilford Court House, which was a crippling victory for the British Army
The siege of Yorktown may have ended in surrender, but not for lack of ability on the part of British soldiers.

Military Life

The Songs and Music section contains the lyrics to about twenty songs.
Major Robert Donkin compiled Military Collections and Remarks, which gives one man's perspective on military life.

Recreating the War

Disclaimer about material presented on this site

This Crown Forces in America 1775-1783 site is owned by Ray Cassell.

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