Review (PDF) Soldier Of The American Revolution: A Visual Reference
The life of the average soldier at the onset of the American Revolution in words and photographs. In 1775, at the beginning of the American War of Independence, the men who stood up to the British Regulars were men and boys, farmers, laborers, and artisans. Most procured their own weapons and fought without pay against overwhelming odds. Th is book offers modern readers a colorful glimpse into the day-to-day conditions of an average soldier through photographs of actual artifacts and exacting, historically accurate reproductions of soldiers’ clothing, supplies, and equipment. While other books examine the American Revolution from a political, military, or tactical perspective, this book focuses on day-to-day life and the human experience of the Revolutionary War soldier, the everyman who fought and won freedom for us all. 30+ full-color photographs
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Countryman Press (October 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0881509582
ISBN-13: 978-0881509588
Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 0.3 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #146,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in Books > History > Military > Uniforms #72 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Military History #392 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Revolution & Founding
Back in the early days of the 1970s, we reenactors of the American Revolution had something called the "Sketchbook of 1776" which were literally hand drawn sketches of clothing, gear and muskets the bicentennial reenactor would need to participate in the hobby. Bill Payson is a well seasoned reenactor and friend of mine. Probably everything you see in the excellent photographs of "Soldier of the American Revolution: A Visual Reference" for the colonial militiamen is Bill's personal kit. Bill has become an excellent clothing maker, canteen maker, knapsack maker and ect., so he knows this stuff inside and out. His book here is a far cry from the old "Sketchbook" days. For anyone getting into the hobby of reenacting the Revolutionary War, this book should be your reference point.
This is a great book. It is very short but super informative. It definitely leaves you wanting more! You get history and colorful pictures on glossy paper. I have recently rekindled my love of Revolutionary War history and this book has only fueled the fire! It is great for a youngster or an oldster.I would like the authors to write more like this.
'Soldier of the American Revolution: A Visual Reference' is an absolutely fantastic reference for anyone looking for a visual of what the early war American militia would have looked like. The book is chalk full of wonderful photographs and recreations of military equipment from the period, and for a special treat even gives a look at what some of the soldiers food may have looked like. This seems trivial, I know, but I find it fascinating what the troops would have eaten in camp. The book also does a fine job of giving a written description of the majority of the photographs and pictures which would help people not familiar with the Colonial clothing or equipment.Now the bad: the length. The book is way too short for anyone wanting an in depth look at what the American soldier would have looked like throughout the Revolutionary War. The visuals are great; however, they leave you wanting a whole lot more from the book. Like what did the units later on in the war look and dress like? What did the American Army look like after the French sent over thousands of uniforms and equipment? Things like this are what keep the book from being a total five-star review, but for what it gives you, it's absolutely amazing!
This would be a good "Beginner's Guide" to the American MILITIA soldier of the Revolutionary War. The photography was excellent but it was too brief overall. Only a few pages were devoted to the British units and there was NOTHING on the French or German troops. I'd like to see the author EXPAND on the topic and cover the uniformed companies, the Black soldiers and sailors and the role that women played in the conflict. Adding chapters on camp life and skills, living conditions and how a battle was conducted in the 18th century would really improve this book. With the quality of research and the reproduction clothing and patterns available today, this could be an OUTSTANDING volume!
Denis Hambucken and Bill Payson's SOLDIER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a brief but well-done photo guide to the equipment and dress of American and British soldiers of the Revolution. Published in 2011 by The Countryman Press, it offers a compelling, full-color glimpse into the lot of average soldiers at war.After short chapters on causes of the Revolution and the initial clashes at Lexington and Concord, Hambucken and Payson present a 40-page guide to the American soldiers' dress, weapons, tools, rations, money, games, etc. Their redcoat adversaries are covered in a six-page spread.SOLDIER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, which features re-enactors in period garb along with close-up pix of period waistcoats, caps, shirts, shoes, powder horns, musket tools, canteens, mess kits, muskets and other artifacts, really brings the Revolutionary War soldier to life.Though I've never been a big Revolutionary War fan, I found Hambucken and Payson's book to be a wonderfully atmospheric and altogether fascinating introduction to that long-ago conflict. Recommended.
This title is a nice photo essay on the lives of American Revolution militia types (minutemen) with heavy emphasis on Lexington/Concord. Everything is brought together in full color photographs of modern re-enactors participating in the battle. Photos of muskets, haversacks, flint and steel, and countless others help you understand what it was like to live back then with the tools available to you. With glossary, it is only 62 pages long. I surely wish it was much longer. Seeing the Revolution's beginnings in full color photographs really helps you understand life as it was 230 years ago.
The information is good, but very basic; mainly a picture of each piece of clothing or equipment likely to have been used by this individual soldier. However the soldier is a civilian garbed Militia man. The book title could very wll have been "New England Militia Of The American Revolution" or "Minite Man Of The American Revolution". One good picture of a Continental Soldier in full uniform (like the ones of the British regulars) would have added another star to my review.
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