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Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month January 1780
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
1779 is over, devolving for the most part not as a war of battles but as a war of logistics and attrition. General George Washington is bedeviled by both, British General Sir Henry Clinton only by attrition of his forces by deployment to other theaters of war. There have been major battles but no decisive victories for either side. To the casual observer the war seems almost at a stalemate. Each side has problems, Clinton’s main problem being the draining off of troops for Britain’s role in a worldwide conflict. The Revolutionary Army lacking almost everything, including capable generals, will at Charleston, South Carolina establish a record for men surrendered that will not be matched by the United States Armed Forces for another 175 years.
There have been plots and counter plots within the patriot Congress but to a lesser degree in the military. The advent of General Nathanael Greene on the scene will be both discouraging and encouraging. Discouraging because he seems continually to be beaten in battle. Encouraging because he emerges with his army loyal and whole with new Continentals and militia constantly rising up to join in the fray. Guerilla warfare by Morgan, Marion, Pickens, Sumter, and others were effective in harassing and on occasion, severely beating some portion of British General Cornwallis' army. War in Europe had reached such a state that battles were fought with great formality where an army was either victorious or destroyed in a one day battle. Americans could neither afford such a gamble nor were they sufficiently sophisticated to even engage in such a one day gamble. Their only thought is best expressed by George Washington who said "we must win or become serfs of Britain." With such an understanding, for the patriots it was a fight with no holds barred to win in any way that they could.
Every British commander in the Revolutionary War strived to effect a confrontation that would destroy an army that could not be reborn or replaced. With the exception of some battles like the second Battle of Charleston, no British General was able to destroy a main army in the field. The American army was like the will-o'-the-wisp who disappears into the night and, like the Phoenix, rises again from the ashes of defeat. General Nathaniel Greene probably expressed it best as "we fight, get beat, rise and fight again." General Lord Cornwallis must have wondered if he was consistently winning, why was he unable to destroy the enemy? In fact, after Guilford Court House it was said that one more such victory and Cornwallis' army would cease to exist.
While weather stopped almost any conflict in the north, the south was alive with small actions. Schlesinger notes as of January 1st, 1780 that American Patriots were involved in guerilla actions in the vicinity of Augusta, Georgia. I find no documentation to expand upon his brief statement. However, war in the south was productive due to guerilla tactics employed by local patriots throughout the area. While in no way engaging in any major battles, such tactics kept the Southern British army on edge and occupied chasing shadows.
With no capability to find the hidden guerillas to punish, the British turned even more to their Indian allies for help against the Americans and the Spanish in the Gulf and Florida regions. They courted the Cherokee who existed from Pennsylvania to what in time would become Alabama. The Cherokee (one of the five so-called civilized tribes) were not easily recruited as they had become Europeanized, living in European style houses and copying the European culture. They were dependent on trade with Britain to maintain this life style. While they previously traded with the French and now the British, they had become less warlike. In other years they had felt the sting of the settlers wrath in earlier clashes, and were aware that if Britain did not win they would suffer disastrous consequences if they participated in the war.
The Cherokee had also seen the fickleness of the British in their dealing with the Choctaw. In the fall of 1779 General John Campbell at Mobile had called on Choctaw Indians to defend that city against a probable attack by Admiral Galvez. The attack was not forthcoming; the Indians were poorly treated to the point that when Galvez did appear, only 18 Choctaws were present. Campbell hurriedly called for Indian support but by the time they appeared Mobile had fallen. The Indians realized that they were caught in a "no win" situation.
Meanwhile Washington and his army at Morristown are buried in four to six feet of snow, with drifts as high as 12 feet. Some men are still in tents, which must have been more like living in igloos than tents. Supplies were still limited and camp fever raged. The army was dwindling away due to death, disease and desertion. The smaller garrisons were not as much impacted. It was easier to provision and care for a smaller number of men in a concentrated area. Life was also healthier in small encampments.
Major Patten of the Delaware Regiment wrote home on January 17th of the desperate situation at Morristown stating that "a soldier's rations for five days amounted to one half pound of salt beef and a half pint of rice". Previously against a live off the land policy, Washington found that he could no longer afford such generosity. The supplies were there and could be had for hard currency but not Continental dollars. Unable to make purchases with Continental dollars and in view of the failure by the states to supply sufficient foodstuffs to supply his troops, Washington was faced with total disaster. On January 9th he issued an order dividing New Jersey into 11 districts, allotting each a fixed amount of foodstuffs to be supplied for the men and forage for the horses. An officer was appointed to receive each district's contribution; if it were not given voluntarily Continentals would take the allotment by force as necessary. The army was saved because the system worked without alienating the people of New Jersey. In fact, the people of New Jersey over-subscribed to their allotment showing their faith in the Revolution and eventual victory.
Considering the bitter cold and accumulation of snow, it is difficult to understand the launching of a military sortie against the British on Staten Island in the month of January, 1780. But that is exactly what happened. It seems almost an impossible task, imagine obtaining 500 sleighs and the horses to pull them, not to mention the stress on the lead horses to thrash through four to six feet of snow creating a track for the remainder to follow. Having grown up in snow country and driven both horse drawn sleighs and work sleds in deep snow, it is difficult for me to understand how this was accomplished. However, it is a historical fact that General Lord Stirling (see note) managed to transport 2,500 men in one hundred sleighs through the snow and across the ice to attack the British on Staten Island. Failing to surprise the enemy the expedition became more of an annoyance than a threat to the British. No record appears of British losses, but Stirling lost six men killed.
Stirling retraced his steps at a cost of 500 men "slightly frozen." It is surprising that such an action would even be considered due to the hardships involved. It shows the esprit de corps of Continentals that they would prosecute such an endeavor especially under such adverse conditions.
Congress during this time is considering and acting upon steps necessary for establishment of a functioning political body. On January 15th a Court of Appeals was established. Congress also dealt with protection of the settlements beyond the Appalachian Mountains by authorizing and founding Fort Nashborough on the Cumberland River. Present day Nashville, Tennessee, grew from the completion and garrisoning of Fort Nashborough on January 28th, 1780.
Paul Jones having returned to Lorient left his ship and proceeded to Paris where he went about things in his usual dashing and romantic manner. Undefeated in battle, his glory will fade due to petty jealousies, lies about his activities by Captain Landais and intrigues by him under Charles Lee’s tutelage as well as the machinations of Commodore Gillan of the South Carolina Navy, but more of Paul Jones in its time.
NOTE: General Lord Stirling claimed the title of Earl by right of survival after the death of the previous Earl of Stirling. American born and a patriot he was denied the title by the King, but insisted on using the title as a form of protest. He should not be confused with the British Colonel Sterling mentioned elsewhere.
References: Christopher Ward’s "The War of the American Revolution"; Samuel Elliott Morison’s "John Paul Jones"; Arthur Meier Schlesinger’s "The Almanac of American History"; Bruce Lancaster’s "The American Revolution"; Colin C. Calloway's "The American Revolution in Indian Country"; Robert M. Utley's and Wilcomb E. Washburn's "Indian Wars" .
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