The History of the American Revolution, Chapter X

What it is

This is a chapter from a history of the American Revolution written by David Ramsay, published in 1805. The chapter discusses military developments of the war, including the promotion of Baron von Steuben to the rank of inspector general.

Why it matters

Ramsay wrote close to the events he described, drawing on his own experience of the Revolutionary era. His account shows how Steuben's role as a military reformer and trainer of the Continental Army was recognized by contemporaries soon after the war ended.

Look closer

• Why might Steuben's promotion to inspector general have been important for the army's effectiveness?
• How does a history written only a couple of decades after the war differ from one written a century later?
• What does Ramsay choose to focus on, and what might he be leaving out?