1st Civil War

[RVING]

Being a California guy and having the opportunity to visit many Rev site this summer, I became hooked on the Rev war.  Since June I have accumulated 15 books which I have read.  Mostly focusing on the years leading up to the Declaration.  It has become more and more evident in my mind that the Rev War was our first Civil War.  We seemed to be just as divided as THE Civil War although probably more so favoring the Patriots.  But it was a war that as was the case of Ben Franklin a family divided.  And how many families lost everything as they fled to England and never recovered.  And how many sided with the Patriots for fear of losing everything. As most people did not want a war against Britain. 

[Pamela Jo]

The divisions of loyalty within the colonies has always fascinated me.  I live in an area that felt the effects of the situation.  There was a family named Doan ( also spelled Doane) who lived in Bucks County PA and were very loyal to England.  The brothers and cousins of the family spied for the British army and took part in several raids throughout the area.

My ancestors settled in this region prior to the Revolutionary War...I'm proud to say they were staunch Patriots.
I grew up hearing about the "terrible Tories" who spread fear everywhere they went.  It's a very interesting history.  If you want to know a bit more about it, visit the following site:

www.peterprints.com/doanes.htm

The Doan family is just one example of what the average colonial resident dealt with regarding their "stand" on the political issues of the day.

Regards,

Pam

[markpeters]

Pam,

That's an interesting link, and puts a name to the loyalist whose message was ignored by the Hessians at Trenton. 

The use of the term 'Whig' in the link, for those supporting the rebellion, is interesting as Banastre Tarleton was considered a 'radical Whig' in this country.  Funny how complex these things can be, and labels don't always seem to fit as they should.

Mark

[jmkell33]

Greetings,

The "civil war" aspect of the American Revolution was nowhere felt more than in New York's Mohawk Valley, where neighbor fought neighbor, literally.  Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, American commander at Oriskany, had brothers and nephews fighting with the Loyalists.  Sir Guy Johnson, born and bred in the Valley, along with John and Walter Butler, led ferocious raids into the Valley by Loyalists and Indians throughout the war until 1782.  One of the best historical novels is "Drums Along the Mohawk", which is a fairly accurate portrayal of the period.  I highly recommend a summer tour of the Valley and surroundings (i.e., Cooperstown, Erie Canal, Oriskany barttlefield, Fort Stanwix, etc); a beautiful area with many well-preserved historic sites.

Regards,

Jack Kelly

[tonyt]

The National Park Service calls the battle of Kings Mountain and the smaller engagements in the Carolina's a Civil War as often no regular British or Continental troops were in involved and if they were it was only in a leadership or what we may call today an "adviser role" .
Tony