FREE ESSAY ON REVOLUTIONARY WAR

REVOLUTIONARY WAR

In the American Revolution two totally different armies from two totally different
countries and cultures collided in a war to settle the freedom of a nation in the making.
This setting made for some sloppy warfare, but more importantly it showcased the
advantages and disadvantages for each side.
The British army's main weakness was its leadership, not a lack of leadership or even a
lack of leaders, just the wrong guys in the wrong place. Advancement in the military was
based on connections, money, and seniority. This allowed people of no experience or skill
to buy their way into positions of great power. This is evident with leaders such as
Germain, and Montagu, who were either incompetent and inexperienced or corrupt and
unmotivated. Contrary to popular belief George III was able to command and lead his
country but had very little decision making power. This impotency did not stop at the
high-ranking decision-makers. Many of the generals in the colonies were weak and poorly
suited to do battle. Several experienced and respected generals, like Gage and Howe, were
unsuccessful due poor decision making and an admitted lack of imagination and extreme
cautiousness. Then there were other generals who were very able but due to their enormous
egos ended up failing in important situations. The only very effective general on a
constant basis was Cornwallis, and even he couldn't deliver when it counted.
On the other hand as you go down the ranks of the British military the ability of the
soldiers got better. The infantry and cavalry was the best trained and finely tuned
organizations of military in the world at that time. This was a terrific advantage when
they actually got into traditional battles with the American's poorly trained and
inexperienced fighters.
On the American side of the fighting things weren't much better. American leadership was
mostly self-taught generals who were desperately inexperienced and un-skilled, but knew
how to motivate their soldiers to fight for their freedom and their country. This type of
inspirational leadership allowed generals like "Mad" Anthony Wayne to impact the war in
such a manner that won it for the Americans. Although out numbered and out skilled the
Americans had the environment on their side. They profited from having the advantage of
being the host of the war on the defensive. They could have faster and more abundant
supplies and resources from the surrounding land. They were more familiar with the
territory, and more effective in a guerilla type of strike and retreat warfare. These
types of tactics, combined with the surroundings and intense magnetic leadership of
Generals George Washington, Anthony Wayne, and Benedict Arnold, and foreign assistance
from the skilled and knowledgeable French, Poles and Prussian leaders, eventually won the
war for the Americans.