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A Very Fine Regiment

The 47th Foot during the American War of Independence, 1773-1783

Series : From Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 #83

Author : Paul Knight

A Very Fine Regiment : The 47th Foot during the American War of Independence, 1773-1783

Details

General - Pages : 238 | Images : 8 colour plates, 27 b/w ills, 5 maps, 12 tables

Paperback - Date of Publication : 15th February 2022 | Size : 248mm x 180mm | ISBN : 9781914059865 | Helion Book Code : HEL1367

The 47th Regiment of Foot served throughout the whole of the American War of Independence. The regiment experienced the transition from peacetime soldiering in Ireland and New Jersey, through the deteriorating political situation, to open rebellion. The officers and men had to alter their tactics and doctrine from peacetime garrison duties, through conventional warfare around Boston to woodland operations in Canada and upper New York.

Who were the 47th Foot? How well did they overcome the challenges they faced? What became of them? Where they unthinking automatons lead by an officer class incapable of adapting to the reality of warfare in North America?

Paul Knight examines the regiment within the context of a British Army which was neither stuck in the past nor incapable of reform. New uniforms, weapons, and drill manuals reflected the lessons of the previous war within an environment of doctrinally innovative generals. Against this, the regiment had to train in an era of the financial parsimony and where the friction of peacetime soldiering mitigated against training objectives. Nevertheless, the 47th was judged ‘A Very Fine Regiment and Fit for Service’ before it sailed for New Jersey in 1773.

In North America, the 47th served in peaceful New Jersey and New York before joining the Boston Garrison in response to the deteriorating political situation there. After Boston, they were sent to Quebec where they drove American Rebels out of Canada before participating in the ill-fated Saratoga Campaign. Most of the regiment then endured years of captivity as part of the Convention Army. A fortunate part of the regiment avoided this fate and defended Canada’s borders for the remained of the war.

This period saw the 47th, and the British Army in North America, quickly adapting to the rapidly evolving political and military situations they encountered. They successfully evolved their tactics and doctrine from peaceful garrison duties to conventional warfare in response to open rebellion and then to irregular tactics for woodland fighting.

Paul Knight shows how the 47th Foot was able to adapt to the changing threats and operational environment quickly and effectively. These were thinking soldiers led by flexible officers capable of adopting to the prevailing operational environment.

 

"A Very Fine Regiment follows a regiment through the entire war with all that entails…..[this] opens up a whole line of wargaming opportunities from single battles to campaigning with the 47th front and centre." Wargames Illustrated, Issue 407, Nov 2021

"American readers usually approach the Revolutionary War/War of Independence through American eyes. A Very Fine Regiment is an opportunity to read about it from the perspective of a British Regiment.  The 47th Foot that was involved in many of the Revolution’s campaigns and battles.  Author Paul Knight offers insights into organization and operations of the British Army that endeavored to suppress the rebellion as well as fairly in-depth accounts of particular battles in which the 47th was engaged.....I recommend A Very Fine Regiment to World History Network members seeking to delve more deeply into the history of the American War of Independence." WarHistoryNetwork.com

"Paul Knight provides an interesting portrait of the 47th Regiment of Foot, a typical regiment in the American Revolutionary War....I highly recommend A Very Fine Regiment. It is an interesting, well researched, and entertaining book. It should prove of great interest to the expert in the field and the layman. Paul Knight has produced an excellent book on the British Army of the American War of Independence." Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol 101, No 405, 2023

"This carefully researched book presents an important corrective to the popular view of the British Army of the period as unthinking automatons, officered by aristocratic incompetents. Highly recommended." Arthur Harman, Miniature Wargames Issue 473, Sept 2022

"...a must for anyone with an interest in this conflict, whether a passing or a serious one, and would be worthy of a place on their book shelves (and mine)." carryingsonupthedale.com

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