Quote:
Originally Posted by August
Actually they had been defeated by Continental armies many times before that. For example at the battles of Saratoga, Cowpens, Trenton and Boston, (where btw they still celebrate British Evacuation Day).
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true, although the British regular Army managed to keep the edge in skill, tactics and discipline throughout much of the war.
Unlike the popular myth, the regular British Army in the Revolutionary War was quite a flexible organization. After the intial fumbles at Lexington and Bunker Hill, they adopted new lightweight uniforms more suitable to a light infantry role and the North American climate. They changed their tactics adopting a 2 line formation instead of 3, widening the distance between each man to make it easier to maneuver on rough terrain and used much more skirmish line/light infantry tactics where small group of men would use the terrain as cover while firing at the enemy.
This was different from the Hessian Regiments which stayed with their heavy European uniforms and inflexible tactics and were less effective.
A good example of British tactical prowess was at the battle of Camden, 1780, where a British Army force of 2,100, including 1,500 regulars routed a Rebel Army of 3,700, including 1,500 Continental Army regulars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Camden