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NEW RELEASES FOR MAY 2026
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
AMERICAN ARTILLERY
The Continental Army’s growing pains through the first years of the war caused Washington considerable irritation. Professional armies cannot be developed overnight, and the fits and starts of the Continental Army’s creation is illustrated most clearly in the establishment of the artillery. The United States had to build its artillery from scratch, but impressively by 1778 this branch of service was well regulated and effective.
Although the Continental Army’s artillery units were not affected by the uniform regulations as much as the infantry had been, there were still several different uniforms pre the 1778 regulations.
The change imposed on the artillery by the regulations was to make all four of the Continental regiments uniform in appearance as a branch of service and do away with distinctions between the regiments. This happened in October 1779.
Prior to this, the artillery arm of the Continental army had been noted as mainly wearing dark blue coats, usually faced red.
AWIART-02
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 1775-1783,
THE AMERICAN ARTILLERY,
CONTINENTAL ARTILLERY.
OFFICER
BRITISH MOUNTED OFFICERS
Even though the British army had campaigned in Europe and North America in previous recent conflicts, its staff organization at the time was still in the rudimentary stages of development. A commanding general would be able to organize his staff to suit himself, and his inner circle was not a planning staff in the modern sense, but a small organization dedicated to keeping the army supplied in the field and to carrying and supervising the general’s orders in combat.
The English leadership during this period was adequate, many times competent, but seldom brilliant.
The first commander in North America, Sir Thomas Gage was relieved after Bunker Hill. His successor, Sir William Howe had a string of battlefield successes to his credit, was respected by his men, but did not have the killer instinct of the true independent commander.
The Senior British commanders often failed to support each other when necessary. Howe failed Burgoyne in 1777, which led to Burgoyne’s defeat and surrender at Saratoga.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIMON FRASER
Brigadier General Simon Fraser (1729 – 7th October 1777) was a British Army officer who served in the American War of Independence. He was killed at the Battle of Bemis Heights of the Battles of Saratoga.
SBRIT-01
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 1775-1783,
THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA 1777,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIMON FRASER
In 1776 Fraser’s regiment was transferred to Quebec in response to the American invasion and Governor Guy Carleton promoted him to Brigadier General.
When John Burgoyne organized his Saratoga campaign in 1777, Fraser was chosen to command the advance unit.
At the start of the campaign, the advance corps had about 1,000 men. Besides Fraser’s own 24th Regiment of foot, he had a Grenadier battalion, a light infantry battalion and a company of marksmen, along with some Canadian militia and first Nations auxiliaries.
Fraser’s command was in the vanguard during the taking od Fort Ticonderoga, and Fraser heled dislodge the retreating Americans.
On 7th July 1777, Fraser’s corps caught up with the American rear guard at the town of Hubbardton in the newly formed Republic of Vermont. At the Battle of Hubbardton in a sharp skirmish he drove off the enemy but with the loss of many men.
At the Freeman’s Farm on 19th September he commanded the right wing and led four companies in a successful attack on Daniel Morgan’s riflemen.
Early in the Battle of Bemis Heights on 7th October 1777, Fraser fell to rifle fire from Daniel Morgan’s rifle brigade. Legend has it that a rifleman named Timothy Murphy was specifically ordered by Benedict Arnold to target Fraser, as he was vigorously directing and supporting his troops.
He was carried to a nearby house and placed in the care of Baroness Riedesel, where he died that evening.
Also killed during the action was Francis Clerke (1748-1777) the aide-de-camp to General Burgoyne. Clerke was also shot and killed by Morgan’s riflemen as he rode upon the field to deliver orders to Fraser from Burgoyne to fall back, orders that never reached him.
Please Contact your Dealer to pre-order!
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
AMERICAN ARTILLERY
The Continental Army’s growing pains through the first years of the war caused Washington considerable irritation. Professional armies cannot be developed overnight, and the fits and starts of the Continental Army’s creation is illustrated most clearly in the establishment of the artillery. The United States had to build its artillery from scratch, but impressively by 1778 this branch of service was well regulated and effective.
Although the Continental Army’s artillery units were not affected by the uniform regulations as much as the infantry had been, there were still several different uniforms pre the 1778 regulations.
The change imposed on the artillery by the regulations was to make all four of the Continental regiments uniform in appearance as a branch of service and do away with distinctions between the regiments. This happened in October 1779.
Prior to this, the artillery arm of the Continental army had been noted as mainly wearing dark blue coats, usually faced red.
AWIART-02
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 1775-1783,
THE AMERICAN ARTILLERY,
CONTINENTAL ARTILLERY.
OFFICER
BRITISH MOUNTED OFFICERS
Even though the British army had campaigned in Europe and North America in previous recent conflicts, its staff organization at the time was still in the rudimentary stages of development. A commanding general would be able to organize his staff to suit himself, and his inner circle was not a planning staff in the modern sense, but a small organization dedicated to keeping the army supplied in the field and to carrying and supervising the general’s orders in combat.
The English leadership during this period was adequate, many times competent, but seldom brilliant.
The first commander in North America, Sir Thomas Gage was relieved after Bunker Hill. His successor, Sir William Howe had a string of battlefield successes to his credit, was respected by his men, but did not have the killer instinct of the true independent commander.
The Senior British commanders often failed to support each other when necessary. Howe failed Burgoyne in 1777, which led to Burgoyne’s defeat and surrender at Saratoga.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIMON FRASER
Brigadier General Simon Fraser (1729 – 7th October 1777) was a British Army officer who served in the American War of Independence. He was killed at the Battle of Bemis Heights of the Battles of Saratoga.
SBRIT-01
THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 1775-1783,
THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA 1777,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIMON FRASER
In 1776 Fraser’s regiment was transferred to Quebec in response to the American invasion and Governor Guy Carleton promoted him to Brigadier General.
When John Burgoyne organized his Saratoga campaign in 1777, Fraser was chosen to command the advance unit.
At the start of the campaign, the advance corps had about 1,000 men. Besides Fraser’s own 24th Regiment of foot, he had a Grenadier battalion, a light infantry battalion and a company of marksmen, along with some Canadian militia and first Nations auxiliaries.
Fraser’s command was in the vanguard during the taking od Fort Ticonderoga, and Fraser heled dislodge the retreating Americans.
On 7th July 1777, Fraser’s corps caught up with the American rear guard at the town of Hubbardton in the newly formed Republic of Vermont. At the Battle of Hubbardton in a sharp skirmish he drove off the enemy but with the loss of many men.
At the Freeman’s Farm on 19th September he commanded the right wing and led four companies in a successful attack on Daniel Morgan’s riflemen.
Early in the Battle of Bemis Heights on 7th October 1777, Fraser fell to rifle fire from Daniel Morgan’s rifle brigade. Legend has it that a rifleman named Timothy Murphy was specifically ordered by Benedict Arnold to target Fraser, as he was vigorously directing and supporting his troops.
He was carried to a nearby house and placed in the care of Baroness Riedesel, where he died that evening.
Also killed during the action was Francis Clerke (1748-1777) the aide-de-camp to General Burgoyne. Clerke was also shot and killed by Morgan’s riflemen as he rode upon the field to deliver orders to Fraser from Burgoyne to fall back, orders that never reached him.
Please Contact your Dealer to pre-order!
