The Revolutionary War is one of the most well-documented conflicts in history, but people are still making new discoveries about this war. From prison ships that claimed more lives than battle to a teenage girl’s daring midnight ride, these are nine Revolutionary War facts we just learned that changed how we see history!
1. Prison Ships
The British took in so many prisoners during their occupation of New York that they ran out of places to put them. They were transferred onto overcrowded ships in Wallabout Bay with terrible conditions. They didn’t have enough food or water for all the prisoners, and diseases were spreading among the prisoners. In the end, more prisoners died under these conditions than the number of people who died in battles.
2. The First Submarine Attack
David Bushnell invented an egg-shaped vessel made of wood known as the “Turtle.” On September 7, 1776, American soldiers sent the vessel toward British ships with a timed bomb on board. Though this didn’t cause any significant damage, it was the first submarine attack ever recorded.
3. Conrad Heyer
Conrad Heyer was born in Maine in 1746. He was a farmer and joined the Continental Army in 1775. He lived to be 106 years old and passed away in 1856. It is believed that he was the earliest-born human who has ever been photographed. His photo was taken when he was 103 years old.
4. George Washington
During the Battle of Germantown in October 1777, George Washington led an attack against British General William Howe, but the Colonists lost with around 1,000 casualties. During the battle, a dog was found wandering the field. When American troops checked its collar, they discovered it belonged to General Howe. Instead of keeping it, Washington had Alexander Hamilton write a note and had the dog returned to its owner.
5. Sybil Ludington
On April 26, 1777, sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington got on her horse and traveled between 20 and 40 miles in the rain overnight to warn members of the militia that the British had arrived. As soon as she gave the warning, hundreds of troops were on their way to take on the British. Unlike Paul Revere, she avoided getting caught.
6. Deborah Sampson
Deborah Sampson was a woman who disguised herself as a man to fight in the war. She told everyone her name was Robert Shurtleff, and she served in the Continental Army for nearly two years. She was honorably discharged after she lost consciousness from a fever, and a doctor discovered her secret.
7. Isle Phelipeaux
The Revolutionary War officially ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which defined the US-British border. The treaty referenced Isle Phelipeaux as a landmark. However, Isle Phelipeaux never actually existed. It wasn’t until 1820 that surveyors confirmed the island was a cartographic error rather than a real landmass.
8. Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin’s son, William, was the governor of New Jersey when the war broke out. However, he was a long-time supporter of the British Crown and spent time in prison for his support of King George III. This ruined his relationship with his father. Franklin couldn’t handle the fact that his son supported the British and never forgave him, writing, “Nothing… has ever hurt me so much… as to find myself deserted in my old age by my only son.”
9. Coffee
During the Revolutionary period, coffee became the drink of choice. Tea, which was associated with the English Crown, became synonymous with “the enemy.” In 1774, John Adams asked an innkeeper if he had tea, to which he responded, “We have renounced all tea in this place. I can’t make tea… but [can] make you coffee.”
Sources:
12 Facts About The Revolutionary War We Just Found Out That Made Us Say ‘Whoa’
American Revolution Facts
10 Facts about Washington and the Revolutionary War
