About the book
The Revolutionary War is often celebrated as marking the birth of American republicanism, liberty, and representative democracy. Yet for the tens of thousands of British and Hessian troops sent 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to wage war under alien skies, such a progressive picture, as Vaughn Scribner reveals, could not have been further from the truth. In Under Alien Skies, Scribner illustrates how foreign soldiers' negative perceptions of the American environment merged with harsh wartime realities to elicit considerable physical, mental, and emotional anguish.
Whether trudging through alligator-infested swamps, nursing a comrade back to health in a rain-sodden tent, or digging trenches in a burned-out port city, most who fought in America under the British army’s flag ultimately deemed themselves strangers fighting in a strange land. For them, Revolutionary America looked nothing like the “happy land . . . blessed with every climate” that Revolutionary republicans so successfully promoted. Instead, the War of Independence descended into a quagmire of anxiety, destruction, and distress at the hands of the American environment—a “Diabolical Country,” as one British soldier opined, “which no Earthly Compensation can put me in Charity with.”
Editions of Under Alien Skies
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469680767
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469680774
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469680781
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469680804
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469680811
- PDF
- ISBN 9781469680798
Read an Excerpt
The Revolutionary War is often celebrated as marking the birth of American republicanism, liberty, and representative democracy. Yet for the tens of thousands of British and Hessian troops sent 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to wage war under alien skies, such a progressive picture, as Vaughn Scribner reveals, could not have been further from the truth. In Under Alien Skies, Scribner illustrates how foreign soldiers' negative perceptions of the American environment merged with harsh wartime realities to elicit considerable physical, mental, and emotional anguish.
Whether trudging through alligator-infested swamps, nursing a comrade back to health in a rain-sodden tent, or digging trenches in a burned-out port city, most who fought in America under the British army’s flag ultimately deemed themselves strangers fighting in a strange land. For them, Revolutionary America looked nothing like the “happy land . . . blessed with every climate” that Revolutionary republicans so successfully promoted. Instead, the War of Independence descended into a quagmire of anxiety, destruction, and distress at the hands of the American environment—a “Diabolical Country,” as one British soldier opined, “which no Earthly Compensation can put me in Charity with.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Under Alien Skies about?
The Revolutionary War is often celebrated as marking the birth of American republicanism, liberty, and representative democracy. Yet for the tens of thousands of British and Hessian troops sent 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to wage war under alien skies, such a progressive picture, as Vaughn Scribner reveals, could not have been further from the truth. In Under Alien Skies, Scribner illustrates how foreign soldiers' negative perceptions of the American environment merged with harsh wartime realities to elicit considerable physical, mental, and emotional anguish.
Whether trudging through alligator-infested swamps, nursing a comrade back to health in a rain-sodden tent, or digging trenches in a burned-out port city, most who fought in America under the British army’s flag ultimately deemed themselves strangers fighting in a strange land. For them, Revolutionary America looked nothing like the “happy land . . . blessed with every climate” that Revolutionary republicans so successfully promoted. Instead, the War of Independence descended into a quagmire of anxiety, destruction, and distress at the hands of the American environment—a “Diabolical Country,” as one British soldier opined, “which no Earthly Compensation can put me in Charity with.”
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Under Alien Skies?
History and Archaeology > History > Military history
Where can I read a sample of Under Alien Skies?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469680767
How long is Under Alien Skies and how many pages does it have?
Under Alien Skies has 250 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Under Alien Skies?
Vaughn Scribner
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Under Alien Skies is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469680767) and paperback(ISBN 9781469680774) and ebook(ISBN 9781469680781) and ebook(ISBN 9781469680804) and pdf(ISBN 9781469680811) and pdf(ISBN 9781469680798)
Where can I buy Under Alien Skies online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Under Alien Skies from below
Where can I buy Under Alien Skies?