Kabienttskriege: A Year in Review

The author as a member of the Volunteers of Edinburgh

Dear Readers,

It has been a long year (and decade), and I wanted to leave 2019 with a few thoughts. The blog covered some new territory in 2019, beginning the year in January with a post on an American soldier in Prussia, and a Prussian soldier in America. My lecture at the Seven Years War Association Convention was recorded in to a podcast in April, and in June, in one of my favorite posts this year, we explored some surviving gaiter cloth in the British National Archives.

This summer, I traveled to Europe in order to research for my dissertation, and I found time to visit some museums as well. That made for a number of posts, regarding  holdings at the Austrian Military History Museum, Burg Forchtenstein, and the art of Hyacinth de La Pegna. We were honored to have guest authors such as Ben Olex and James Taub, who reviewed books and began work on a series on the French Army.

In the summer, I made an impassioned plea for the relevance of the military history of Frederick the Great and George Washington, and followed it in August with two of our most popular posts from this year, covering facial hair in Kabinettskriege-era armies, and the service of black soldiers.

In the fall, Kabinettskriege reported on a newly acquired uniform book at the Society of the Cincinnati, reviewed HBO's Catherine the Great, and discussed the politics of reenacting the European Seven Years War in North America.

A Saxon artillery piece, drawn just after the Seven Years War (find more here)

The autumn also saw the launch of Patreon-only content, check it out and give us your support!

In the tail of the year, I wrote a piece on the sexuality of Friedrich Wilhelm, Freiherr de Steuben, and evaluated art from two modern artists, with pointers on judging art from a historical perspective. These two posts were by far the most controversial of the year, leading to a number of personal insults, which I bore with the measured patience of an evil liberal academic elite. All in all, a successful year.

Where should we go in 2020? What about this era interests you? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, or any of our other posts, please consider liking us on facebook, or following us on twitter. Consider checking out our exclusive content on Patreon. Finally, we are dedicated to keeping Kabinettskriege ad-free. In order to assist with this, please consider supporting us via the donate button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. As always:

Thanks for Reading, 

Alex Burns

Why, from a Historical Perspective, this isn't Good Art

Dear Reader,

I'm glad the clickbait title has drawn you in. Today, we are going to examine two pieces of historical art. Ambush!, by Dan Nance, shows a Native American warrior about to attack a senior British officer during the American War of Independence. The other, below, shows a specific incident from the Battle of Savannah during the American War of Independence. At the outset, I should say that both images are artistically appealing. Mr. Nance is a fine painter, who has painted many other historical pieces which I like.

So, why isn't the painting of the Native American warrior attacking a British officer, below, a helpful image from a historical perspective? First, this image trades on common stereotypes regarding both Native Americans and the British Army during the War of Independence. The Native Warrior is shown jumping (presumably from a tree?) with club raised and screaming. The British officer, presumably from the 7th (Royal Fuziliers) or 8th (King's) Regiment of Foot, given his uniform. His sword is drawn, and is he looking rather obliviously in the opposite direction. Even his horse has noticed the oncoming warrior.





















































Both of these ideas (that the Native Americans were masters of the ambush, and that the British were remarkably ill-suited for wilderness warfare) are stock images from American mythology, and give little information regarding the actual reality of the past. Native American warriors were impressive soldiers in certain conditions, but certainly fell prey to ambush by Euro-American warriors. A famous example of this is during the Siege of Fort Sackville by George Rogers Clark, when Clark's forces took a Native war party by surprise.[1] Likewise, British forces had learned much regarding wilderness warfare since the early days of the French and Indian War, and were capable of fighting in wilderness conditions.


Second, the above image deliberately obscures historical reality. Much more often than not, the specific regiment which is depicted above fought alongside native warriors. The King's Regiment fought alongside native Americans at engagements such as the Cedars, Fort Stanwix, Fort Laurens, Hannastown, Bird's Invasion of Kentucky, and perhaps most famously, at the Battle of Newtown in 1779.[2] By and large, for good or ill, the King's Regiment fought alongside Native Americans throughout the War of Independence, not against them. If the 7th Regiment was depicted, the image is also somewhat less egregious, but the 7th Regiment of Foot spent much of the war fighting in larger coastal armies, and to my knowledge, was never ambushed by the Catawba or any other Native group.

Third, there are liberties taken with the material culture of the image. The enlisted men and drummer wear gaitered trousers, which is possible for the 8th Regiment, but not confirmed by documentary evidence. Finally, it is perhaps unlikely that a drummer would have accompanied raids deep into the upper country, and certainly would not have been beating a march step during this type of movement. The British officer appears to be wearing a hat purchased from GG Godwin, Sutler. His uniform is immaculate, if a bit large for him. Speaking frankly, I am not qualified to evaluate the accuracy of the dress of the Native Warrior (it is possible that it is of a very high standard).

Fourth, and finally, the image does not depict a specific historical event. No senior officers of the Royal Fuziliers or King's Regiment were killed in ambush by Native American warriors during the years of the American War of Independence. Many of them died, often from illness or being drowned while on transport ships on the Great Lakes. A shipwreck on the Lakes, would be an incredibly interesting artistic project for the various excellent artists currently exploring the revolution.

So, in short, whatever the artistic value of the above image, it possesses a questionable historical value.

Artist Graham Turner's image of the Battle of Savannah, painted for Osprey

The above image, depicting Archibald Campbell at the capture of Savannah by artist Graham Turner, may not be equal artistic appeal, but possesses much more historical value than the ambush of the Native Warrior above. 

First of all, the image depicts a specific historical event, described by a primary source.[3] When preparing to attack the rebel held city of Savannah, Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell climbed a tree in order to better observe the rebel defensive positions. He also spoke with an enslaved man regarding a flanking route for his army's march, which is perhaps a missed opportunity in the painting.

Second, in choosing a specific historical event, the image destroys mythology regarding the British Army in the War of Independence. The popular view of British officers in the United States is that they were hide-bound traditionalist fops with little real experience in the arena of war. By showing a British officer who was willing to think outside the box and get is hands dirty a bit, Graham Turner displays a class of generally competent senior officers such as Howe, Cornwallis, and Campbell who were not afraid to innovate in order to gain victory in America.

Third, the uniforms are generally accurate. Turner's artwork shows the 71st Regiment of Foot in short coats and linen gaiter trousers with highland bonnets, all fairly responsible choices for this era of war. Woolen donation-cloth trousers might have been a better choice for this time of year (although I am not familiar with the primary source documentation for this particular regiment, so I cannot say) but this is a relatively minor quibble. Likewise, the tree may not have been defoliated at this time of year in Savannah. It is difficult to tell whether Campbell is wearing his own hair or a wig, which pleased me greatly.

So, in closing, both images are very enjoyable and artistically sound. With that said, images which depict specific events from primary sources, coupled with a theme which explores the reality, rather than the mythology of historical eras, are an asset to historians, and to the public. Accurate, well-presented uniforms are icing on the cake.

If you enjoyed this post, or any of our other posts, please consider liking us on facebook, or following us on twitter. Consider checking out our exclusive content on Patreon. Finally, we are dedicated to keeping Kabinettskriege ad-free. In order to assist with this, please consider supporting us via the donate button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. As always:

Thanks for Reading, 

Alex Burns

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[1] Journal of Joseph Bowman, February 24th, 1779 https://www.in.gov/history/2964.htm
[2] Journal of Thomas Blake, 1st NH Regiment, August 29th, 1779, http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/1picts/sullivan/nhjournals.html#norris
[3] See Matthew H. Spring, With Zeal and With Bayonets Only, 66 and Archibald Campbell, Journal of an Expedition, 25-26.

Rediscovering Lost Art: The Painting of the Surrender at Breslau on 21st December, 1757

A photograph of the original painting

In his book, Unter dem Preußen- Adler (Under the Prussian Eagles) Hans Bleckwenn suggests the first image above has been lost to time. This oil painting by an unknown artist depicts an important event in the history of the Seven Years War: the recapture of Breslau by Prussian forces after the Battle of Leuthen, and the surrender of the large Austrian garrison.

This image is important for the detailed pictures of Prussian soldiers, and as you may have noticed from a previous Kabinettskriege post, is one of the few period images to depict an African soldier serving as a musician in the Prussian Army.  While searching through the Catalogue at the Society of the Cincinnati, I was amazed to discover an entry which read, "Der Aufmarsch der zu Kriegesgefangen gemachten Osterreichiscehn Besatzung aus Breslau am 21. December, 1757".  (The Marching out of Austrian Prisoners taken at Breslau on December 21st, 1757).

I eagerly ordered the item, and waited for the archival staff to bring it from the vault.  For the rest of the story, and images of the rediscovered print, see: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32471624

If you enjoyed this post, or any of our other posts, please consider liking us on facebook, or following us on twitter. Consider checking out our exclusive content on Patreon. Finally, we are dedicated to keeping Kabinettskriege ad-free. In order to assist with this, please consider supporting us via the donate button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. As always:

Thanks for Reading, 

Alex Burns

Book Review: Prussian Army Soldiers and the Seven Years War

Cover Art 

Dear Reader,

Today, I am writing a review of Katrin and Sascha Möbius' new book: Prussian Army Soldiers and the Seven Years War: The Pyschology of Honour. This brief book, published by Bloomsbury Academic, provides the first major analysis of Prussian common soldiers in the era of the Seven Years War available in English. The married authors have brought their considerable linguistic and academic talents to the study of the army of Frederick II ("the Great"). By examining the considerable body of writings that Prussian soldiers left behind, in addition to those of elites such as Feldprediger Karl Daniel Küster, the authors manage to provide a much needed overhaul of the image of the Prussian common soldier. In doing so, they follow the path begun by Michael Sikora, Ilya Berkovich, Erika Kuijpers and Cornelis van der Haven, in their own research. 

Treading little of the same ground as Sascha's 2007 book Mehr Angst vor dem Offizier als vor dem Feind, (highly recommended for German readers) Prussian Army Soldiers explores the concept of honor, and its psychological underpinnings in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years War. The authors correctly assert, ""This book is the first in-depth investigation of the long-dismissed idea of a characteristic sense of honour held and shared by common... Prussian soldiers and their families, based upon their own accounts."[1] Their exploration is highly rewarding and successful for students of old-regime armies. 

The 220-odd pages of main text are broken down into three main chapters and two useful appendices. The first chapter addresses the origins and structure of the Prussian Army, the second explores common soldiers emotional responses to combat, and the third examines the various factors, when which taken together, constituted Prussian soldiers' sense of honor. The various contemporary  reglements and military treatises are outlined in appendix I, while English language translations of twelve Prussian soldiers' letters are included in appendix II. The second appendix makes this book a vital source for popular enthusiasts (such as wargamers and reenactors) who are interested in this era but do not have German language skills. 

As a specialist in this field, reading this book was a true delight, and I am in the debt of Katrin and Sascha for producing such a fine manuscript. Two minor criticisms: 1) the order of the chapters is not intuitive,  it might have made more sense to place the chapter explaining the constituent parts of honor before the chapter examining that honor on the battlefield. 2) The book uses non-period images of fine artistic value, but perhaps questionable historic value. These minor complaints in no-way detract of from an admirable and enjoyable study of soldiers in the Seven Years War era.

Katrin and Sascha have forcefully demonstrated that the Prussian soldier of the eighteenth century was not a "clockwork soldier" or "automaton... but a human being[.]"[2] Instead, the authors provide a persuasive case that "we must refute the image of the machine-soldiers beaten into battle by their officers. Instead, we encounter men of flesh and blood with human emotions, who wanted to defend their honour, serve their God and stay alive for their families."[3] This book will become required reading for specialists of eighteenth-century Prussia, and vital reading for historical enthusiasts who desire a more realistic picture of the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great. Highly Recommended. 

If you enjoyed this post, or any of our other posts, please consider liking us on facebook, or following us on twitter. Consider checking out our exclusive content on Patreon. Finally, we are dedicated to keeping Kabinettskriege ad-free. In order to assist with this, please consider supporting us via the donate button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. As always: 

Thanks for Reading, 

Alex Burns

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[1] Möbius and Möbius, Prussian Army Soldiers, 2.

[2]Ibid, 169.

[3]Ibid, 172.     

Launch of Patreon-Only Content

Dear Reader, 

Over the past 7 years, Kabinettskriege has created approximately 446,000 words of content, or the equivalent of 3 400-page books. If you have enjoyed or benefited from that content, I would respectfully ask that you consider supporting your favorite blog on Patreon, or giving to us via the donate button on the blog's main page. Your generous donation will allow Kabinettskriege to continue posting free content for historical enthusiasts across the world. 

Our first patron-only content is a look at the diary of British Officer Christopher Darby, in the 33rd Regiment of Foot, which was recently uncovered in a copy of the Prussian Infantry Regulations at the Norwich University Archives. You can find it, and how to donate, here: 

https://www.patreon.com/Kabinettskriege

Thanks for Reading, 

Alex Burns

"Plan for the Cloathing of the [Continental] Infantry" by Freiherr de Steuben

Dear Reader,

Today, I am sharing a primary source regarding clothing in the American Continental Army. This is a proposed plan created by Friedrich Wilhelm, Freiherr de Steuben, for clothing the infantrymen of the Continental Army.  Obviously, this plan was never fully adopted by the United States, and shortages continued throughout the war. This plan, however, gives a clear vision for the type of clothing which Continental troops could expect to receive, and also Steuben's view of what the ideal clothing of a soldier consisted of.

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Newburgh, August 14th, 1779

Gentlemen,

...The distribution of cloathing should be made with more regularity. As long as [one] regiment receives shirts, whilst another receives shoes and their stockings, or what is still worse, when a regiment receives 20 hats, another 200, and another none at all, we must not think of having our Army cloathed.

The distribution of cloathing should be made at certain fixed periods in the year.

Whatever the soldier is to receive should be determined. Every article of the cloathing should be valued at a certain rate, he who receives more than his allowed should refund the price of the surplus and he who receives less should have an adequate compensation made to him.

The annexed plan of such an arrangement will make it clear and more sensible to you, and although at first sight it may appear so much an expenditure, yet I dare assert it will prove advantageous and oeconomical to the United States.

Plan

for the Cloathing of the Infantry

Whatever Cloathing the soldiers receive from the states may be reduced to these Heads:

1st. The Necessaries

2nd. The Uniform

3rd. The Small Mounting 

The necessaries of a soldier consist of:

A haversack of calf or goat skin

A Knapsack of Grey linen

A Blanket

A Pair of shoe buckles

A Pair of Knee Ditto

A Stock Ditto

A Clothes Brush

A Pair of Shoe Brushes

A Large Comb                   I  

A Small Tooth Ditto            I

Six needles                        I    [These] Enclosed

Two Oz Blue thread           I > in a leather case

Two Oz White Ditto            I

A Pocket Knife                   I

A Tin Spoon                       I

The Uniform of a Soldier Consists of: 

A Hat

A Pair of Wool Overalls

A Coat

A Leather Stock

A Waistcoat

A Pair of Garters and Buckles

A Pair of Wooll Breeches

A Pair of Woollen Gloves

The Small Mounting Consists of:

Two Shirts                                      I          Once of each Articles

Two Pair Woollen Stockings          I  >       Every Four Months 

A Pair of Shoes                              I

x A Queue Ribbon and One every six months

A Hunting Shirt                            I

A Pair Wool Overalls                   I> Per Year 

The soldiers should receive their necessaries at their first entering in the Regiment

They should receive their Uniform every New Years Day 

Their small mounting should be made at four different parts of the year:

1st Delivery/ Jan 1st

A  shirt, a pair stockings, a par of shoes, a queue ribbon

2nd Delivery/ April 1st

A shirt, a pair of Lin. Overalls, a pair of shoes

3rd Delivery/ June 1st

A Hunting Shirt, A pair of overalls a Queue Ribbon

4th Delivery/ Sept 1st

A shirt, a pair stockings, a pair of shoes 

The soldiers' necessaries always belong to the states, and when a soldier leaves the service

he must be accountable for them to the Regimental paymaster.

The Uniform belongs to the soldier after sixteen months service and when a soldier dies or quits the Regiment before the expiration of that time his uniform must be must be delivered to the paymaster
who will keep it in his store to distribute its  to the soldiers who will arrive in the course of the year.

The small mounting belong to the soldier after four months service, in case of Death or Discharge, but as long as he remains with the Regiment he must account at each review for the following articles:

3 shirts 3 pair stockings 1 pair of shoes 1 hunting shirt
1 pair linen overalls when a recruit enters a regiment from
January to April, inclusive he receives:
His necessaries
His Uniform new and Compleat
2 shirts
2 pair of stockings
1 pair shoes
1 Queue Ribbons

When a recruit enters his Regt from
May to Aug inclusive he receives
His necessaries
A complete Uniform from those in the paymasters' stores
2 shirts
2 pairs of stockings
1 pair of shoes
1 Queue Ribbon

A recruit who enters from September to Jan inclusive receives

His necessaries
A Complete Uniform from the paymaster's [stores]
2 shirts
2 pairs of stockings
1 Pair of shoes
1 Queue Ribbon

Steuben /////
Maj. General[1]

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If you enjoyed this post, or any of our other posts, please consider liking us on facebook, or following us on twitter. Finally, we are dedicated to keeping Kabinettskriege ad-free. In order to assist with this, please consider supporting us via the donate button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. As always: 

Thanks for Reading,

Alex Burns




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Steuben Papers, 2:10.