Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Military life & institutions > Regiments
|
Not currently available
From Slaves to Soldiers - The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R478
Discovery Miles 4 780
You Save: R158
(25%)
|
|
From Slaves to Soldiers - The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution (Hardcover)
(sign in to rate)
List price R636
Loot Price R478
Discovery Miles 4 780
You Save R158 (25%)
Supplier out of stock. If you add this item to your wish list we will let you know when it becomes available.
|
In December 1777, the Continental army was encamped at Valley Forge
and faced weeks of cold and hunger, as well as the prospect of many
troops leaving as their terms expired in the coming months. If the
winter were especially cruel, large numbers of soldiers would face
death or contemplate desertion. Plans were made to enlist more men,
but as the states struggled to fill quotas for enlistment, Rhode
Island general James Mitchell Varnum proposed the historic plan
that a regiment of slaves might be recruited from his own state,
the smallest in the union, but holding the largest population of
slaves in New England. The commander in chief 's approval of the
plan would set in motion the forming of the 1st Rhode Island
Regiment. The "black regiment," as it came to be known, was
composed of indentured servants, Narragansett Indians, and former
slaves. This was not without controversy.While some in the Rhode
Island Assembly and in other states railed that enlisting slaves
would give the enemy the impression that not enough white men could
be raised to fight the British, owners of large estates gladly
offered their slaves and servants, both black and white, in lieu of
a son or family member enlisting. The regiment fought with
distinction at the battle of Rhode Island, and once joined with the
2nd Rhode Island before the siege of Yorktown in 1781, it became
the first integrated battalion in the nation's history. In From
Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American
Revolution, historian Robert A. Geake tells the important story of
the "black regiment" from the causes that led to its formation, its
acts of heroism and misfortune, as well as the legacy left by those
men who enlisted to earn their freedom.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
|
|
Email address subscribed successfully.
A activation email has been sent to you.
Please click the link in that email to activate your subscription.