Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "revolutionary-war"

American Privateers of the Revolutionary War by Angus Konstam

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Any examination of the colonies’ war for independence usually focuses on the land battles. Although the naval war, at least as regards the Continental Navy, is negligible, it is an important aspect of the conflict that should not be overlooked. Konstam attempts to examine this aspect of the war since both sides were dependent on the sea for supplies and reinforcements, as well as maritime commerce. This vulnerability gave rise to privateers, privately armed ships that preyed on enemy shipping.

Since the Continental Congress lacked sufficient funds and vessels to create a full-fledged navy, especially one that could match the manpower and armament of the Royal Navy, individual colonies and the Congress relied on private citizens willing to risk their lives and fortunes to acquire, man, and arm a maritime fleet to strike at the enemy. In exchange for this private funding, both colonial governments and the Congress granted these vessels licenses called “letters of marque” to go out on legal “pirating” ventures. In return, the governments asked for a portion of the proceeds garnered from whatever prizes were brought back and declared legitimate. Nor was this solely an American practice. Loyalists in the colonies and Canada, as well as England itself, participated in such cruises.

The word “privateer” can refer to a ship, her captain, or her crew. In the case of this book, it is the first definition that is the principal concern here. This isn’t necessarily evident from the table of contents: Design and Development (design and shipbuilding, vessel types and rigs, and purpose-built privateer); Business of Privateering (owners and captains; letters of marque and instructions); Life on Board; and Privateers in Action. Only in reading the narrative and viewing the illustrations is this fact made abundantly clear.

In combination with an introduction, a background summary, a bibliography, and an index, volume #279 of Osprey’s New Vanguard series serves as an introduction to privateering ships of this period. The majority of illustrations pertain to the vessels and the original artwork depicts side views of a number of privateers: Tyrannicide, Hope, Rhodes, King George, Fair American, Washington, Mohawk, Berbice, and General Pickering. There is also a two-page spread showing a cutaway view of Rattlesnake, as well as one of Saucy Jack in action against HMS Observer. The artwork is a vital part of this work and, when combined with the captions, provides glimpses into the compelling world of privateering.

The narrative itself is a somewhat dry recitation of facts and figures that merely skim the surface of the Revolution’s privateering history. Individuals are mentioned, but the text doesn’t go into any great detail on the daring escapades of the more legendary men. One such example mentions Captain Jonathan Haraden who captures the Golden Eagle after threatening to deliver a broadside at night if she doesn’t surrender. There is more to the story than these simple facts, but rather than treat readers to the whole story, only a few facts are shared. Although some attempt is made to explain nautical vocabulary, readers with more than a rudimentary knowledge of ships and sailing will better comprehend what is discussed. For those seeking the adventure and dangers associated with privateering, you might want to look elsewhere. For readers seeking knowledge about privateering ships, this serves as a good introduction to the topic.




View all my reviews

Revolutionary War Law and Lawyers: Issues, Cases, and Characters by Thomas J. Shaw Esq.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In school we learn that in the late 1700s American colonists rebelled against the injustices England imposed on them. Representatives from the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, after much debate, declared independence and established the United States of America. An army was formed, George Washington became its commander, and battles were fought. Sounds fairly simple until you read Thomas Shaw’s Revolutionary War Law and Lawyers. He takes you behind the scenes to show us, from a legal perspective, that our founding fathers did far more than just declare themselves no longer subject to British rule. They did not just snap their fingers and we became a new nation. Many different matters were taken into account and weighed in order for them to risk all that they held dear to make this new country viable enough to succeed.

Chapter 1 is concerned with legal issues that prompted the rebellion and led to independence. These are divided into three categories: how funds were raised, what rights individuals had, and what steps were taken to give this new nation a voice. Some of the laws and issues discussed here concern the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, taxation without representation, forcing civilians to allow troops to live in their homes, smuggling, freedom of speech, seizing individuals against their wills, the Intolerable Acts, the Continental Congress, and declaring independence. Some of the cases and documents that illustrate and define these legal issues are John Hancock’s smuggling, the Boston Massacre, the Gaspee Affair, the Boston Tea Party, pressing American sailors to serve aboard British ships, Common Sense, Letters of Marque, and the Declaration of Independence.

The new nation also had to show it was a legitimate entity and define what powers it had versus what rights the states had. Since the states were no longer colonies, each had to create a new political framework in which to operate. The break with England necessitated new allies had to be forged. Money was essential to wage war, yet the newly-formed United States had no national treasury and no national currency. These key concepts are discussed in chapter two. Clarification of these legal issues is demonstrated through studies on Virginia, Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, the Howe Peace Initiative, the Carlisle Peace Commission, taxation, protests, and loans.

Chapter three focuses on traitors, espionage, and supplying the army with what it needed. Not all the colonists sided with the rebels. Some remained loyal to England, which created problems for the new government. It also had to address concerns regarding the logistics and administration of military supplies. Among the legal issues represented in this chapter are: war profiteering, military stores, oversight, proving loyalty, defections, sedition in both the United States and Great Britain, capturing spies, abetting a spy, and sabotage. Cases that illustrate these issues include regulating the quartermaster and ordnance departments, bills of attainder, treason in Virginia and Pennsylvania, banishing Quakers, John André, John the Painter, and Bathsheba Spooner.

Americans and Britons weren’t the only ones who participated in the Revolutionary War. Frenchmen, Spaniards, Germans, Canadians, and Native Americans also played significant roles. Chapter four pertains to the land war: armies and militias, military regulation, and conduct of the war. The legal issues involve raising militias, building an army from scratch, impressment, rules of military conduct, courts martial, oversight, and prisoners of war. Among the cases examined are African American and Native American recruits, conscientious objectors, caring for the wounded, articles of war, treatment of prisoners, martial law, trials at Valley Forge, mutinies, theft, and murder.

While the majority of battles took place on land, naval forces also played significant roles. This is the focus of chapter five. At the time, the United States had no navy and had to build one from scratch to fight a veteran enemy with warships that globally protected British interests. The states had some vessels to protect their waters, privateers played a significant role in waging war at sea. Legal issues discussed include fitting out ships, rules of engagement, mutiny, corruption in naval administration, commissions, articles of enlistment, deciding the legality of captures, courts of admiralty, owners suing captains, Crown rights versus Admiralty rights, surrender, and claims against the government. The cases and documents studied here include navy rules, privateering rules, the Battle of Block Island, Dudley Saltonstall, the Warren, Admiral Augustus Keppler’s and Vice-Admiral Hugh Palliser’s courts marital, the Gloucester, the Resolution, the Hibernia, Fort Washington, Saratoga, Charleston, and Yorktown.

Scattered throughout the book are short profiles of prominent lawyers and judges who were involved with the cases discussed within each chapter. Some are well-known, others aren’t. A short sampling of these men is Patrick Henry, William Blackstone, John Dickinson, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Josiah Bartlett, Silas Deane, Charles Carroll, William Cathcart, Caesar Rodney, Timothy Pickering, Samuel Chase, Stephen Hopkins, Nicholas Biddle, William Paca, James Marriott, James Madison, John Jay, John Marshall, James Monroe, and Alexander Hamilton. An inclusive list of these men can be found in the appendix as well. The book also has footnotes and an index.

This is Shaw’s third book in a trilogy that examines 200 legal issues pertaining to global conflicts in which the United States participated. He brings together major legal issues, cases, and people who were involved in them in a single volume, but not with the intent of being either a history book or a legal monograph. Rather it is a book that gives readers a unique perspective on the war and the statutes and cases surrounding it. He also demonstrates that there are two sides to every issue with his inclusion of British laws and cases in addition to those of the United States. In his introduction, Shaw writes, “My intent with this book . . . is to entertain, educate and inform readers . . . .” (xvi) In this endeavor he succeeds. He deftly shows the complexity of war and the founding of a new nation while doing so in a manner that engages the reader.




View all my reviews