During the American Revolution George Washington didn’t have any Tier-1 Spec Ops, but he made the most of what he had.Posted on 11/13/2017 6:23:27 AM PST by w1n1
During the American Revolution George Washington didn’t have any Tier-1 Spec Ops, but he made the most of what he had.
When we think of modern day Special Forces, we think of Seal Team 6, Delta Force and the Green Berets. Back in the day of the American Revolution era, what did George Washington have? In a time where warfare was all about marching to fife and drum then lined up in rows to blast away with muskets at fifty paces. What did they know about unconventional warfare?
According to retired U.S. Army colonel Robert Tonsetic explains that unconventional warfare was a major part of the War of Independence. He states traditionally special operations has a long historic roots dating back to King Philip’s War of 1675, when the Plymouth Colony formed “an experimental group of men who would train and operate using Native American tactics to attack Indian war parties, and raid their camps in the dense forests and swamps.” However, if you were to ask other researchers, special operations existed back into the B.C. era.
Roger’s Rangers were famous in the French and Indian War, where Indian and French troops ambushed British regulars and American militia. By the time when the American Revolution was underway, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys—a band of Vermont irregulars—used small boats to cross Lake Champlain and seize Fort Ticonderoga in a coup de main in 1775.
Getting back to Washington’s spec ops soldiers, he created “Knowlton’s Rangers”, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Knowlton. They were an elite unit designed for reconnaissance, espionage missions and outfitted as a regiment of light infantry. Read the rest of George Washington Commandos story here.
“I’ve read more than once that the tactic of attacking from the side brush, as depicted in “The Patriot”, is a real re-enactment.”
We’ve had LRRPS since day one...still do!
Was the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the commandeering of their cannons a guerilla operation?
-PJ
That photo is so fake.
No way that Washington would have been standing up in the small boat.
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Actually - I had just read some article by some liberal about that - something to do with the portrayal of a white man under false pretenses to elevate their position above the black man. Seriously.
Although it did make me think - I bet George was smart enough to be sitting! (IIRC it was really foggy during the crossing - and at night too. Although I guess with the FLIR optics George might have stood up to get a better view!)
...s, ping....
Thanks for posting, w1n1.
LOL I have painted the Return of the Messiah and used Russian helos hovering around Jerusalem. Didn’t finish Jerusalem because I hate the thing that’s in place of the Temple today and haven’t decided what to do yet.
I also grew up about 1/2 an hour from Washington’s Crossing Park so am very familiar with the “good ground” along the Delaware. It’s awesome walking where they walked. Looking at the trees that are still there, etc.
Interesting links...
http://professorbuzzkill.com/30844-2/
https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm
The park is really worth the visit. Walking sections of the Battle Road will give you chills.
You’re thinking of Gen. Burgoyne, which was a major operation 1777, or Carleton 1776, trying to pursue Arnold & co. after Quebec’s failure. That included stalling tactics by Ben. Arnold such as at Valcour Island on the Hudson, and Burgoyne’s ended at so-called Saratoga.
It’s in the excerpt.
Marion was 1 of several partisans in the south.
Along with Sumter (yes, that one) and Pickens.
We were taught that’s why we won.
Doubt public schools teach any American history these days. Too busy teaching Muslim culture.
My kids went to public school but I homeschooled them after school on American History.
-PJ
What was the name of the intrigue/espionage series that came out a few years ago about spies for the Revolution? I don’t recall the name, but it was very good.
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