Podcast appearances and mentions of Don N Hagist

Who were the British soldiers who fought in the American Revolution? What sort of men filled the ranks of the regiments that fought for the King? Far from ruffians or conscripted criminals, the British army of the era was largely a force of career soldiers who had voluntarily enlisted after trying their hands at other trades. This talk will look at the demographics of a typical British regiment serving in America during the war, presenting the nationalities, ages, background and experience of the common soldiers that served in it. It will show the diversity of the army by detailing the careers of several individual soldiers. The real stories of these professional soldiers are sure to be surprising. Don N. Hagist is the managing editor of Journal of the American Revolution (http://allthingsliberty.com) and author of several books focusing on common soldiers during the American War for Independence, including These Distinguished Corps: British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution (Helion: 2021), Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who Fought the American Revolution (Westholme, 2020), and The Revolution's Last Men: the Soldiers Behind the Photographs (Westholme Publishing, 2015).

Military histories often focus on battles campaigns, overlooking the soldiers who fought them. Who were the red-coated soldiers who formed the ranks of the British army in the 1770s? In this talk, recorded April, 7, 2022, Don N. Hagist will investigate where British soldiers were from, what they did before joining the army, what motivated them to enlist, how they were trained, how they lived in America on campaign and in garrison, and what became of them after the war.

Redcoats. For Americans, the word brings to mind the occupying army that attempted to crush the Revolutionary War. There was more to these soldiers than their red uniforms, but the individuals who formed the ranks are seldom described in any detail in historical literature, leaving unanswered questions. Who were these men? Why did they join the army? Where did they go when the war was over? In Noble Volunteers: The British Soldiers Who Fought the American Revolution, Don N. Hagist brings life to these soldiers, describing the training, experiences, and outcomes of British soldiers who fought during the Revolution. Drawing on thousands of military records and other primary sources in British, American, and Canadian archives, and the writings of dozens of officers and soldiers, Noble Volunteers shows how a peacetime army responded to the onset of war, how professional soldiers adapted quickly and effectively to become tactically dominant, and what became of the thousands of career soldiers once the war was over. In this historical tour de force, Hagist dispels long-held myths, revealing how remarkably diverse British soldiers were. He directs his focus on the small picture, illuminating the moments in an individual soldier’s life—those hours spent nursing a fever while standing sentry in the bitter cold, or writing a letter to a wife back home. What emerges from these vignettes is the understanding that while these were “common” soldiers, each soldier was completely unique, for, as Hagist writes, “There was no ‘typical’ British soldier.”

This week our guest is JAR editor and author Don N. Hagist. In his new book “Noble Volunteers” Don Hagist reveals the complex make up of the British Army and highlights the intricacies of daily life during the American Revolution. For more information visit www.allthingsliberty.com.

We talk with Don N. Hagist, the managing editor of the Journal of the American Revolution and the author of many books on the experiences of British soldiers during the war, including British Soldiers, American War and the forthcoming Noble Volunteers: The British Soldiers who Fought the American Revolution. What was it like to serve in the British army during the Revolution? Who were these men?

This week our guest is historian and managing editor of the Journal of the American Revolution, Don N. Hagist. During the 1750’s, pamphleteer Martha Bradley published a series of cooking guides that offer a direct glimpse at Britain’s blossoming culinary scene. For more information visit www.allthingsliberty.com. 

In episode #85, our special guest Don N. Hagist - Managing Editor of The Journal of the American Revolution - discusses a range of themes related to the life and times of the British Redcoats in the 1770s and 1780s. Did British soldiers really get thrashed to within an inch of their lives as punishment? Were they forced to serve in the British Army against their will? Were soldiers often drunk when they committed to serve? Why did they enlist for service overseas? Why were the British Army unable to overcome the American rebels by 1783? What were the options for a soldier as he neared retirement? In this exciting episode, all of these questions are answered by Don N. Hagist. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

What about the British Redcoats? When we discuss the military history of the American War for Independence, we tend to focus on specific battles or details about the men who served in George Washington’s Continental Army. Rarely do we take the opportunity to ask questions about the approximately 50,000 men who served in the British Army that opposed them. Don N. Hagist, independent scholar and author of British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution, leads us on exploration of the “other” men who fought in the American War for Independence, the soldiers in the British Army. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/147   Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture The Octo Doing History: To the Revolution! Series Episode 130: Paul Revere’s Ride Through History Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft “The Adverts 250 Project”  “George Washington’s Bodies,” Nursing Clio   Complementary Episodes Episode 081: Don Glickstein, After Yorktown: The Final Struggle for American Independence Episode 085: Bonnie Huskins, American Loyalists in Canada Episode 122: Andrew O’Shaughnessy, The Men Who Lost America Episode 126: Rebecca Brannon, The Reintegration of American Loyalists     Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.

What about the British Redcoats? When we discuss the military history of the American War for Independence, we tend to focus on specific battles or details about the men who served in George Washington’s Continental Army.  Rarely do we take the opportunity to ask questions about the approximately 50,000 men who served in the British Army that opposed them. Don N. Hagist, independent scholar and author of British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution, leads us on exploration of the “other” men who fought in the American War for Independence, the soldiers in the British Army. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/010   Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App   *Books purchased through this link will help support the production of Ben Franklin's World.