Month: April 2010

American/European Training Manuals in the Era of the American Revolution Part II

By Gustav Person, 1st Virginia Regiment “…I am no advocate for blindly following the maxims of European policy.” Part I of this article examined the British and Ameri- can training manuals in use and available for study by American leaders during the War of Independence. This part will examine those French and German (mainly Prussian)…

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American/European Training Manuals in the Era of the American Revolution. Part I

by Gustav Person1st Virginia Regiment “…I am no advocate for blindly following the maxims of European policy.” In December 1777, General Nathaniel Greene sum- marized his attitude to a council of war about using European training/drill manuals, rather than relying on practical experience.1 Yet, before and during the War of Independence, Americans largely relied on…

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