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Revolutionary War Maps
Maps were used by generals to plan their campaigns and by the public to understand the war. The Rogue’s Plot contains eight maps, some large scale and some in detail, to show where and how the actions took place. These maps and others are now available for your detailed review on Pixeum, a pixel museum (courtesy of its founder and my friend Tom Paper). Click on these links to explore the geography and topography. You’ll be able to scan in for detail and out for perspective.
Link to exhibit: Marshall’s Atlas to The Life of Washington
Link to exhibit: 250th Anniversary of American Revolution (under construction)
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The Dawn of Abdominal Surgery
Before the introduction of antiseptic techniques and effective anesthesia in the mid 1800s, surgery in the abdomen was rare and was never undertaken for care of battlefield wounds. However, American surgical pioneers reported successful abdominal surgery as early as 1752 when Dr. John Bard of New York removed an infected, intra-abdominal pregnancy from a 28-year-old who made a good recovery. Later cases of successful operations were recorded in 1785 and 1790. During the Revolutionary War, bayonet or gunshot wounds of the abdomen nearly always led to hemorrhage or widespread infection and death. For more about surgery in 18th Century, see Hasselgren, Revolutionary Surgeons, Patriots and Loyalists on the Cutting Edge, Knox Press, 2021 and Gibbs, The Rogue’s Plot, The Untold Story of 1777
(Portrait: Dr. John Bard attributed to J. Sharples, courtesy Wikipedia.)
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Medicine in the American Revolution
Disease was a major part of everyday life in the American colonies, especially during the American Revolution. In my lecture, given at the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, DC on June 16, 2022, you’ll find out what it was like to be a doctor back then, what the treatments were for diseases and injuries, and who were the leading doctors—both great and not so great—of the Continental Army.
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George Washington and Smallpox
Smallpox epidemics occurred regularly in colonial North America with severe outbreaks in 1721, 1752, 1764 and 1775. Typical symptoms included fever, body and headache and the characteristics pustular rash (“small pox”). Inoculation to prevent smallpox had been practiced in North America since the 1720s, but in 1775-6 it remained underutilized because of fear the accompanying disease and its death rate of 1-2%. But this was much lower than the mortality of 15-25% accompanying natural smallpox infection. Also, many living in rural areas thought they did not need inoculation because they did not see smallpox often. Washington himself had life-long immunity after contracting smallpox at age 19. Conditions of military life set the stage for epidemic disease. As Commander in Chief of the Continental Army from his appointment in mid-1775 through 1776, Washington struggled with whether to order inoculation. In February 1777, he finally mandated inoculation, but fulfillment of the mandate was far from complete.
(Portrait: “Washington at Princeton” by C.W. Peale. Courtesy, Princeton Art Museum)
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1777: Decisive Year of The American Revolution
Now read about the critical events of 1777: General Washington’s nearly disastrous defeats in Pennsylvania causing many in Congress and the army to doubt his leadership PLUS the great American victory at Saratoga, NY leading to the decisive alliance with France. This article, entitled “1777: Decisive Year of The American Revolution,” was first published in Calafia, the Journal of the California Map Society in September 2022 and is reproduced by permission. It was written by Ron (President of The California Map Society, CMS) and Tom Paper
(Vice President of CMS, Northern California).
To read the article, click the button.
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Terrain and Tactics, British War Plan of 1776
“Terrain and Tactics, British War Plan of 1776,” new article by Ronald Gibbs, Courtney Spikes and Thomas Paper. British General William Howe’s “War Plan illustrates the dichotomy of…[his]…tactical brilliance and his characteristic delays that thwarted his ultimate success. In contrast, General Washington was able to maintain the integrity of his army and keep the cause of the American independence alive despite his initial defeats” (excerpt from the article). The article was published on-line in Journal of the American Revolution on October 12, 2021.
(Images: top, Alonzo Chappel’s 1858 painting,“The Battle of Long Island", bottom, Detail from Howe's War Plan.)
To read the article, click on the button directly below.
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The Fortunes of War
Read about a dramatic turn of events: General George Washington’s biggest disaster of the American Revolution (the loss of Fort Washington in November 1776) followed just six weeks later by his two daring, surprise victories ( at Trenton, NJ and Princeton, NJ ) that saved the cause of independence! This article, entitled “The Fortunes of War: British Battle Maps of 1776,” was first published in Calafia, the Journal of the California Map Society in September 2021 and is reproduced by permission. It was written by Ron (President of The California Map Society, CMS) and Courtney Spikes and Tom Paper (both Vice Presidents of CMS).
To read the article, click the button.
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George Washington and The American Revolution
Catch Ron’s lecture, “George Washington and The American Revolution, 1775-1776,” which was given on February 22, 2021 to the Washington, California, New York, Boston, and Rocky Mountain Map Societies. See and hear about the iconic paintings and historic maps that chronicle these critical months.
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See the world of The Long Shot firsthand!
Museums have limited hours, but The Digital Gallery is always open for you to explore the maps and iconic images of the exciting world of The Long Shot: The Secret History of 1776.
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Hear about medical and surgical care during The American Revolution!
Released August 26, 2020, a special edition of The American Revolution Podcast, with an informative and entertaining interview with The Long Shot author Ronald Gibbs and host Michael Troy.
(Photo of Surgeon's 18th Century Instruments to left.)
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This week in November 1776: The fall of Fort Washington.
"Paralyzed by indecision, the American command simply ran out of time. [British General] Howe's attack on the isolated fort began early on Friday, November 15th. A British colonel approached the fort and threatened to annihilate its entire garrison unless they surrendered. The American commander boasted, "I'll defend my fort to the last man!"...Howe marched his best units onto the field that day attacking the pentagonal-shaped fort from south, north and east...Through their spyglasses from Fort Lee in New Jersey, [the American] Generals...watched the attack in horrified dismay...Fort Washington indeed did prove to be a trap." (excerpt from The Long Shot, p. 259-60)
(Image: Cpt. Thos Davies, Attack on Fort Washington, 1776, NY Public Library and Wikimedia)
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This week in October 1776:The Battle of White Plains, NY.
"On a brilliant autumn morning...the King's army at last met face to face with the American forces now well-fortified on the steep hills directly above White Plains village. In a show of might, Howe marched his fourteen thousand troops to the plains below the hills. Their drums beat, their colors flapped, and their steel armaments reflected in the bright sunshine. A roughly equal number of American troops looked down at the awesome British and Hessian spectacle..." (excerpt from The Long Shot. p. 249
(Image from angel fire.com)
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This week in October 1776: General Howe
General Howe (below) outflanks Washington by landing at Throg's Neck, Westchester County. "At sunrise...the first to disembark were the 10th Dragoons...With any luck, the dragoon captain thought they'd capture the rebel commander in chief while he was still asleep." (Excerpt from "The Long Shot," p.222-3,
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This week in September 1776: The invasion of Manhattan.
On September 15, the awesome British Army attacked the Americans at Kip's Bay (see map, lower left).Washington tried to rally his "terrified and beaten men, but it was all in vain...At the edge of a wood, two British Light Infantrymen [saw] a rebel officer wearing epaulettes...They aimed at the Continental general officer and squeezed their triggers." In an instant, "Washington slumped forward in his saddle." (Excerpt "The Long Shot," p. 64-5,
(Johnston map, courtesy of Wikepedia and Geographicus)
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This week in August 1776: The Battle of Brooklyn.
"The Battle...was a disastrous rout of the Americans, representing even more than the capture of two Continental generals and the loss of a huge number of men. Morale plummeted among the shocked American troops...Following the defeat ...subsequent developments--startling yet not previously known to history--brought to the forefront two central figures. One was...Dr. Alexander Grant...in whose hands hung the fate of...perhaps the entire American Revolution" (Excerpt , The Long Shot, p.22-23,https://amzn.com/B085K12HD3) (Painting: Battle of Long Island, Wikimedia Commons)
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Excerpt from The Long Shot, Chap 1-Invasion
"In the summer of 1776...the American Revolution came precariously close to a calamitous end. In late July, a British fleet--the largest expedition ever sent to American waters--sailed into New York harbor. The four hundred ships carried thirty-two thousand soldiers...General William Howe, a wily and seasoned veteran...commanded the British Army...The British mission was direct: qwell the American Rebellion by overwhelming force. [Howe] had every reason to think [he] would make quick work of it." (Image from Mariner's Museum, Newport News, VA, printed in McCullough D, "1776." Simon and Schuster, NY, 2005)
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Hear more American Revolution podcasts!
Hosted by Mike Troy (AmRevPodcast.com), about the Campaign of 1776.
101 British Land at Staten Island
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Read a detailed account of the campaign of 1776!
Ronald Gibbs’ article, “On the Brink of Disaster : George Washington and the American Revolution, 1775-1776,” published in Journal of the International Map Collectors’ Society (IMCOS) in 2016 is directly below.