tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post7543809841310611866..comments2024-03-28T17:30:42.500+00:00Comments on Seeking a Little Truth: CyberKittenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post-45392071436761217062017-08-14T20:52:39.143+01:002017-08-14T20:52:39.143+01:00I too am confounded at how many people are deeply ...I too am confounded at how many people are deeply ignorant of their own countries history. I've made a serious effort to make up for my short comings in this area and I'm managed to learn a lot over the years (still huge gaps to fill) but people look at me weirdly when I know stuff about the 15th or 16th century saying: How do you know this stuff - to which I reply - How do you not know this stuff?<br /><br />The British were very unprepared for a fight and although they improved greatly as the war progressed never really had the will or the direction to spend the blood and gold needed for victory - and, of course, by the time Lexington kicked off it was probably already too late for the British to win without a *serious* commitment. CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post-1275196304397364142017-08-14T02:06:57.104+01:002017-08-14T02:06:57.104+01:00I can attest that a great many US college students...I can attest that a great many US college students know almost nothing about their own colonial American history. It's shameful. I know the basics, but it's an area I would like to learn more about. That said, the British soldiers' initials mistakes as a military, might also be because of a lack of persoanl investment in the war. The American colonists knew what they were fighting for, and wanted to fight. This is very similar in the US Civil War. The North initially had a less than serious attitude toward fighting the Southern armies. They thought they'd march in, teach them a lesson, and be done with it. They lost the first few battles because the Southern military knew what they were fighting for, and were ferocious. Lesson learned, if you're going to fight someone, come prepared, because they sure as hell will be.VVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08751403913379728345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post-3169881279602738452017-08-11T17:37:09.401+01:002017-08-11T17:37:09.401+01:00@ Stephen: I think you'd like this for lots of...@ Stephen: I think you'd like this for lots of reasons. Although some of the comments about the less than savoury activities of the Continental Army might annoy you a bit.... possibly.<br /><br />Oh, the Prussians loved a parade and looked very swish in formation in their thousands marching in time etc... The British thought to emulate them but quickly realised that a more agile foe would tear them to pieces - exactly what the French did a few decades later!<br /><br />@ Brian: If this era is of particular interest to you then this is a must read! I imagine many of the French officers were Royalists - indeed from the Aristocracy itself - so paid in their own blood after 1789.CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post-22269772900701453812017-08-11T10:15:53.233+01:002017-08-11T10:15:53.233+01:00There are a lot of Americans who do not know much ...There are a lot of Americans who do not know much about American The Revolution.<br /><br />It is an area of particular interest to me and it is the subject that I have done the most reading in. I think that long wars, at least those that do not completely destroy a country, tend to make their militaries better. <br /><br />In addition to sharpening the British army, many of The British officers who served in The Revolution did go on to fight in conflicts with the French. Interestingly and tragically many of The French officers who were involved in aiding the colonists ended up being the subject of persecution during The French Revolution. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17922979.post-26033329744188248282017-08-10T23:38:59.659+01:002017-08-10T23:38:59.659+01:00Thanks for this. It makes it far easier to appreci...Thanks for this. It makes it far easier to appreciate what Cornwell was doing with his Sharpe character. I'm intrigued by the consideration of the Prussian army..Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.com