--Information

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Patriots

The Patriots, Rebels or Revolutionaries lead the rebellion against British rule over the thirteen American colonies. They represent all people who want freedom; anyone from any social, racial and ethnic background.

The military is not particularly unified throughout the colonies and, in some cases, the soldiers are merely young rebels who want to fight. However, a stronger army is developing. In some states, small navies are starting to form as well. It won't be long before the Patriots will be able to match the British Imperial Militia.


Alliances:
-France
-The Netherlands
-Spain
-African-American Slaves
-Some Native Americans

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Loyalists

The Loyalists, or Tories, are a collection of American colonists who still remain loyal to the British monarchy and empire, for whatever reason.

Originally they had hoped to remain as a near-neutral party, and were generally passive as they waited for British to crush the rebellion. However, they have recently been forced to declare their opposition against the Patriots. When the British arrived in America, some of the Loyalists offered aid to the troops, or joined uniformed Loyalist army regiments. Others keep remotely quiet.

British

The British taxations were the first things to stir the revolution. Over the course of the British rule of the thirteen American colonies, taxes became higher and applied to more and more things, without giving the Colonists any representation in the matters.

When the British Army reinforcements first arrived in America to stamp out the rebellions, they believed it would be a short-lived fling. However, when it turned into a fully fledged war, the British soon sought back up from Hessian German forces and Loyalists.

For now, they have the upperhand with their strong navy and army, however time will tell if they can sustain control over the rebels.

Alliances:
-Some Native Americans (particularly Iroquois tribes)
-German "Hessian" Soldiers
-African-American Slaves
-Canadians

French

The French joined the war with the intentions of contesting British power, and continue to provide the rebelling Patriots their aid and troops. The Patriots may not have stood a chance against the British without the help of France, so now it looks like the tables may just be turning...

Alliances:
-America

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Others

The Spanish and Dutch have also joined in the war on Colonial America's side by providing finances and weapons, and the Hessian Army - a well-trained German military force - have joined the British and formed an alliance. Their infamous and revered soldiers add to the number of British soldiers fighting in America.

British Canada also helps the British and Loyalists, but tries to remain neutral in the war.

Tribes of Native Americans are also getting involved with the war, as well as Black Americans. Slaves are offered freedom by both sides providing they serve in the army for a specific amount of time. For some, it's worth running away for.

((This section is currently a WIP. Any information or corrections you wish to provide would be greatly welcomed.))

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Military Ranks

Most likely not 100% correct, feel free to just use it as a rough guideline

The British Army


Non-Commissioned/Standard Soldiers

- Private*
-Lance-Corporal/Bombardier
-Corporal/Bombardier
-Lance-Sergeant
-Sergeant
-Sergeant Major

*The Private rank also includes ranks such as Drummers - and other such military musicians - Signalmen, Fusiliers, Gunners and Guardsmen, or any other specialist for that matter.

Commissioned
-Ensign or Cornet (Cavalry)
-3rd Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant
-Lieutenant (in the British military it is common for this to be pronounced 'Leftenant')
-Captain-Lieutenant
-Captain
-Major/Commandant
-Lieutenant Colonel
-Colonel
-Brigadier
-Colonel-Commandant
-Major General
-Lieutenant General
-Captain General
-Field Marshal

The British Navy

Non-Commissioned/Standard sailors
-Ordinary Seaman
-Able Seaman
-Leading Seaman
-Leading Rate
-Petty Officer
-Chief Petty Officer
-Fleet Chief Petty Officer

Commissioned
-Mate
-Midshipman
-Sub-Lieutenant
-Lieutenant
-Lieutenant-Commander
-Commander
-Captain
-Commodore
-Rear Admiral
-Vice Admiral
-Admiral
-Admiral of the Fleet

The American Army

Non-Commissioned
-Minuteman
-Private
-Corporal
-Sergeant

Commissioned/Officers
-Subaltern
-Captain
-Aide-de-Camp
-Major
-Brigade-Major
-Colonel
-Brigadier General
-Major General
-Commander-in-Chief

The French Army

Sub-Officers

-Soldat de première/deuxième classe*
-Caporal
-Caporal-chef
-Élève sous-officier
-Sergent
-Sergent-chef
-Adjudant
-Adjudant-chef
-Major

*Soldats de première/deuxième classe (or in English, first or second class soldiers) held different names depending on what they specialised in;
Fantassin (infantry)
Légionnaire (Légion étrangère)
Artilleur (artillery)
Chasseur ("Hunter": light troops used for reconnaissance and harassment)
Chasseurs à pied (Light Infantry)
Chasseurs à cheval (Light Mounted Infantry)
Dragon (Dragoon: Mounted Infantry unit)
Cuirassier (Cuirassier: Heavy Cavalry unit)
Hussard (Hussar: Light Cavalry unit)
Transmetteur (signals corps)


Officers
-Aspirant
-Sous-lieutenant
-Lieutenant
-Capitaine
-Commandant
-Lieutenant Colonel
-Colonel
-Général de brigade
-Général de division
-Général de corps d'armée
-Général d'armée
-Maréchal de France

The French Cavalry

-Brigadier
-Brigadier-chef
-Élève sous-officier
-Maréchal des logis
-Maréchal des logis-chef
-Adjudant
-Adjudant-chef
-Major
-Aspirant
-Sous-lieutenant
-Lieutenant
-Capitaine
-Commandant
-Lieutenant Colonel
-Colonel
-Général de brigade
-Général de division
-Général de corps d'armée
-Général d'armée

The Hessian Cavalry

-Leutnant
-Oberleutnant
-Hauptmann
-Stabshauptmann
-Major
-Oberstleutnant
-Oberst
-Brigadegeneral
-Generalmajor
-Generalleutnant
-General





British Regiments Participating in the War

1st Regiment of Foot Guards | 3rd Foot Guards | 3rd Rgt | 4th, or Kings Own Rgt. | 5th Rgt. | 6th Rgt. | 7th or Royal Fusiliers | 8th Rgt. | 9th Rgt. | 10th Rgt. | 14th Rgt. | 15th Rgt. | 16th Rgt. or the Queen's Own Light Dragoons. | 17th Light Dragoons | 18th or Royal Irish Rgt. | 19th Rgt. | 20th Rgt. | 21st or Royal North Fusiliers | 22nd Rgt. | 23rd or Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 24th Rgt. | 26th Rgt. | 27th or Inniskilling Rgt. | 28th Rgt. | 29th Rgt. | 30th Rgt. | 31st Rgt. | 33rd Rgt. | 34th Rgt. | 35th Rgt. | 37th Rgt. | 38th Rgt. | 40th Rgt. | 42nd or Royal Highlanders | 43rd Rgt. | 44th Rgt. | 45th Rgt. | 46th Rgt. | 47th Rgt. | 49th Rgt. | 50th Rgt. | 52nd Rgt. | 53rd Rgt. | 54th Rgt. | 55th Rgt. | 56th Rgt. | 59th Rgt. | 60th or Royal American Rgt. | 62nd Rgt. | 63rd Rgt. | 64th Rgt. | 65th Rgt. | 70th Rgt. | 71st or Highland Rgt. | 74th Rgt. | 76th Highland Rgt. | 80th or Royal Edinburgh Volunteers | 82nd Rgt. | 84th or Royal Highland Emigrants Rgt. | 1st Bn. Royal Artillery 1st Co. | 3rd Bn. Royal Artillery 1st and 6th Co. | 4th Bn. Royal Artillery, 1st - 5th and 8th Cos.

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Prisoners

You can find some rough guidelines on how prisoners are treated on the site, who is a prisoner, etc.

British Prisoners
It goes without saying that conditions for prisoners of both the American and British sides are placed into horrific conditions. In particular, the British give their prisoners a hard time - they do not see captured Patriots as prisoners of war, but instead as traitors and criminals.
Imprisoned soldiers are often cramped into small cells in jails, but are also stuffed into churches, warehouses and unused ships. For the most part, they are left to rot unless they agree to join up to the British army and serve in the war.

British permit family and town citizens to provide food and blankets to the prisoners - those unfortunate enough to not recieve any help undoubtedly die.

If you are an officer in the military and are captured, things are a different matter. Imprisoned officers are allowed to stay at boardinghouses, and are allowed a fair bit of freedom - certainly compared to their non-comissioned allies. Providing the officers don't attempt to escape, they are treated with somewhat respect by the British, who for the most part believe that officers have gentleman status, and thus agree to be treated as such.

Any food that is provided by the British is not going to benefit prisoners in any way, shape or form; it is mainly raw meat, rice and peas, all with considerable amounts of maggots infesting them. Sometimes food brought in by outsiders or the soldiers' governments and militia will be in a better state, though the prison guards have been known to pinch the best stuff for themselves.

It is a common thing to find jail-mates dead from disease and starvation in the prisons, and most who are captured do not survive.

American Prisoners
Unlike the British, the Patriots recognised captured soldiers as Prisoners of War. British prisoners are allowed out on parole, just like American officers, though a lot of the time they are released to work as labourers on plantations for American farmers.

Americans treat British captives somewhat better than their own men are treated by the Brits.

Both Sides
Both with British and American POWs, letters were permitted and even encouraged in some cases. Particularly with British forces, they recommend that families contact and supply their captured relatives, as they certainly aren't going to.
The use of 'Parole' by both sides is also a military tactic - British treat American officers relatively well, in the hope that their own commissioned men will be treated accordingly, too. Parole allows prisoners some freedom - they are allowed to walk around the city, pay for their own boarding houses whilst under imprisonment, and also work. However, both sides state that parole will only be granted as long as the prisoners do not try to escape, retaliate or stir trouble.
Prisoners are also frequently encouraged to enlist in the opposing army - British will set American soldiers free providing they fight for them, and vice versa.
Both sides also initiate prisoner exchanges; depending on the worth of the individual soldiers and officers involved, whole units can exchanged hands to be returned to their original military party. High ranking officers are sometimes exchanged for specifically named people, and although some militia and non-officer soldiers are exchanged from time to time, both sides tend to focus on getting back their officers more than anything. Prisoner exchanges usually take place in fields and meadows, or at specific buildings such as military barracks.