Something interesting about the American Revolutionary War is that the popular force raised from the population were not only able to overcome the most powerful international military force at the time, they were able to demonstrate significant martial superiority in battle.
For example, at Lexington and Concord, the outset of the war, the Loyalists suffered 73 combat deaths while the Revolutionaries suffered 49.
At Saratoga, the turning point of the war, the British suffered 440 combat deaths while the Revolutionaries suffered only 90.
At Yorktown, again, ~200 combat deaths for the Loyalists against 88 combat deaths for the Revolutionaries.
This demonstrates something unique to this conflict. Typically, in unconventional wars of this nature, insurgent forces suffer proportionally higher losses than occupying forces. This was not the case in the American Revolutionary War.
I believe that a number of factors contributed to this. For one, mass mobilization due to overwhelming popular support. Lexington and Concord began with only 77 Revolutionaries and escalated to nearly 4,000. It was the escalation of conflict that attracted insurgents from far and wide who were eager for action and an opportunity to join the revolutionary effort. Literally anyone with a rifle, even fowling pieces for bird hunting, could join in and fight the clearly, visually marked occupying forces.
Secondly, a familiarity with the surrounding terrain which provided ample foliage and an advantageous landscape. Namely, forested hills and mountains. As for the swampy terrain mentioned in the article, Brigadier General Francis Marion AKA "the swamp fox" as written here was able to use it to his advantage to conduct guerrilla style operations in the Southern theater.
Thirdly, the pre-war efforts of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben were instrumental in his service to Washington of transforming what was once a ragged band and physically unprepared mass of men into an organized and confident fighting force. These men were strenously trained to a high standard, they were not like Mao's men who were simply handed a rifle (sometimes even a sword) and thrown into battle. They were trained to fight like professionals and carry themselves with confidence in combat.
The American Revolutiory War provides insight into a unique sort of war where it is demonstrated that a popular force raised from everyday people has the potential to not only defeat the most powerful professional military force in the world but to do so with demonstrable martial superiority.
This requires a respect for the sacredness of human life and a recognition of the horribleness of war and conflict. To minimize losses and to minimize the time in which the conflict is resolved.
bdbenton5255•1d ago
For example, at Lexington and Concord, the outset of the war, the Loyalists suffered 73 combat deaths while the Revolutionaries suffered 49.
At Saratoga, the turning point of the war, the British suffered 440 combat deaths while the Revolutionaries suffered only 90.
At Yorktown, again, ~200 combat deaths for the Loyalists against 88 combat deaths for the Revolutionaries.
This demonstrates something unique to this conflict. Typically, in unconventional wars of this nature, insurgent forces suffer proportionally higher losses than occupying forces. This was not the case in the American Revolutionary War.
I believe that a number of factors contributed to this. For one, mass mobilization due to overwhelming popular support. Lexington and Concord began with only 77 Revolutionaries and escalated to nearly 4,000. It was the escalation of conflict that attracted insurgents from far and wide who were eager for action and an opportunity to join the revolutionary effort. Literally anyone with a rifle, even fowling pieces for bird hunting, could join in and fight the clearly, visually marked occupying forces.
Secondly, a familiarity with the surrounding terrain which provided ample foliage and an advantageous landscape. Namely, forested hills and mountains. As for the swampy terrain mentioned in the article, Brigadier General Francis Marion AKA "the swamp fox" as written here was able to use it to his advantage to conduct guerrilla style operations in the Southern theater.
Thirdly, the pre-war efforts of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben were instrumental in his service to Washington of transforming what was once a ragged band and physically unprepared mass of men into an organized and confident fighting force. These men were strenously trained to a high standard, they were not like Mao's men who were simply handed a rifle (sometimes even a sword) and thrown into battle. They were trained to fight like professionals and carry themselves with confidence in combat.
The American Revolutiory War provides insight into a unique sort of war where it is demonstrated that a popular force raised from everyday people has the potential to not only defeat the most powerful professional military force in the world but to do so with demonstrable martial superiority.
This requires a respect for the sacredness of human life and a recognition of the horribleness of war and conflict. To minimize losses and to minimize the time in which the conflict is resolved.