American Military History

A Documentary Reader

Brad D. Lookingbill

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781119336006
• Edition: 2

A collection of primary documents that explore the many facets of the American military from the colonial period to the present

The second edition of American Military History offers an exceptional collection of primary documents relating to history of the military of the United States from 1607 through the present. The writings offer insight into the armed forces in relation to the social, cultural, economic, political, and territorial development of the United States. Several documents comment on strategic initiatives, combat operations, force structure, public policy, and home fronts. The writings also present firsthand testimony of extraordinary men and women in uniform and most of the documents explore the connections between combatants and the societies that produced them.

From the beginnings of the war against the natives through the tragedy of the Civil War and up to the current Global War on Terror, American Military History offers a chronological account of the evolution of the United States military. This vital text:

• Includes writings that explore the diversity of the armed forces
• Explores leadership in America's military affairs
• Traces America's ways of war beginning in 1607 through the present
• Examines the patterns of design and purpose of the American military over time
• Reveals the vitality of civil-military relations in the United States

Written for academics and students of military history, American Military History is an important text that draws on primary sources to explore the many facets of America's military history.

1
An Uncommon Defense

Chronology

1492	Europeans invade the Americas
1565	The Spanish establish Saint Augustine
1607	The English establish Jamestown
1608	The French found Quebec
1609–1613	First Anglo‐Powhatan War in Virginia
1614	The Dutch erect Fort Nassau
1620	The Pilgrims settle Plymouth
1636–1637	The Pequot War in New England
1644–1646	Second Anglo‐Powhatan War in Virginia
1675–1676	King Philip’s War in New England
	Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia
1698	King William’s War
1702–1712	Queen Anne’s War
1715–1716	Yamasee War in South Carolina
1739–1748	King George’s War (War of Jenkins’ Ear)
1754–1763	Great War for Empire (French and Indian War)
1770	Boston Massacre
1774	Parliament Adopts the Coercive Acts

1.1 Powhatan Describes War among the Natives (1607)

As the seventeenth century dawned in North America, European empires staked their claims to the continent. They established outposts in distant corners of North America: the Spanish at Saint Augustine and Santa Fe, the French at Quebec, the Dutch at Fort Nassau, and, most significantly for the future United States, the English at Jamestown. Arriving in 1607, the English colonists of Virginia included a few military veterans such as Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith. They encountered a powerful chieftain named Powhatan, who governed the Native people along the James River through tribute, diplomacy, and trade. Called a Werowance, or great ruler, he asserted supremacy over a host of Algonquian‐speaking tribes. They were loosely affiliated in what rather grandly came to be known as Powhatan’s Confederacy. Their warriors practiced a mode of combat that accentuated “skulking” tactics such as the ambush. Powhatan initially considered the strangers from England as potential allies in a struggle to extend his power around the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to their loyalty, he desired to acquire their technologically advanced swords, guns, and powder. However, relations between the Natives and the newcomers in Virginia grew increasingly violent over the years, especially once the starving English colonists began raiding indigenous food supplies.

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Yet Captaine Smith, sayth the King, some doubt I have of your comming hither, that makes me not so kindly seeke to relieve you as I would: for many doe informe me, your comming hither is not for trade, but to invade my people, and possesse my Country, who dare not come to bring you corne, seeing you thus armed with your men. To free us of this feare, leave aboord your weapons, for here they are needlesse, we being all friends, and for ever Powhatans […]

Captaine Smith, you may understand that I having seene the death of all my people thrice, and not any one living of these three generations but my selfe; I know the difference of peace and warre better then any in my Country. But now I am old and ere long must die, my brethren, namely Opitchapam, Opechancanough, and Kekataugh, my two sisters, and their two daughters, are distinctly each others successors. I wish their experience no lesse then mine, and your love to them no lesse then mine to you. But this bruit from Nandsamund, that you are come to destroy my Country, so much affrighteth all my people as they dare not visit you.

What will it availe you to take that by force you may quickly have by love, or to destroy them that provide you food? What can you get by warre, when we can hide our provisions and fly to the woods? Whereby you must famish by wronging us your friends. And why are you thus jealous of our loves seeing us unarmed, and both doe, and are willing still to feede you, with that you cannot get but by our labours?

Thinke you I am so simple, not to know it is better to eate good meate, lye well, and sleepe quietly with my women and children, laugh and be merry with you, have copper, hatchets, or what I want being your friend: then be forced to flie from all, to lie cold in the woods, feede upon acornes, rootes, and such trash, and be so hunted by you, that I can neither rest, eate, nor sleepe; but my tyred men must watch, and if a twig but breake, every one cryeth there commeth Captaine Smith: then must I fly I know not whether: and thus with miserable feare, end my miserable life, leaving my pleasures to such youths as you, which through your rash unadvisednesse may quickly as miserably end, for want of that, you never know where to finde. Let this therefore assure you of our loves, and every yeare our friendly trade shall furnish you with corne; and now also, if you would come in friendly manner to see us, and not thus with your guns and swords as to invade your foes […]

Captaine Smith, I never use any Werowance so kindely as your selfe, yet from you I receive the least kindnesse of any. Captaine Newport gave me swords, copper, cloathes, a bed, towels, or what I desired; ever taking what I offered him, and would send away his gunnes when I intreated him: none doth deny to lye at my feet, or refuse to doe what I desire, but onely you; of whom I can have nothing but what you regard not, and yet you will have whatsoever you demand. Captaine Newport you call father, and so you call me; but I see for all us both you will doe what you list, and we must both seeke to content you. But if you intend so friendly as you say, send hence your armes, that I may beleeve you; for you see the love I beare you, doth cause me thus nakedly to forget my selfe […]

I gladly accept your salute of love and peace, which while I live, I shall exactly keepe, his pledges thereof I receive with no lesse thanks, although they are not so ample as formerly he had received; but for my daughter, I have sold her within this few daies to a great Werowance, for two bushels of Rawrenoke, three daies journie from me […] I desire no former assurance of his friendship, than the promise hee hath made, from me he hath a pledge, one of my daughters, which so long as she lives shall be sufficient, when she dies, he shall have another: I hold it not a brotherly part to desire to bereave me of my two children at once. Farther, tell him though he had no pledge at all, hee need not distrust any injurie from me or my people; there have beene too many of his men and mine slaine, and by my occasion there shall never be more, I which have power to performe it, have said it, although I should have just cause, for I am now old, & would gladly end my daies in peace; if you offer me injurie, my countrie is large enough to goe from you: Thus much I hope will satisfie my brother.

Now because you are wearie, and I sleepie, wee will thus end.

Source: John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, Volume 1 (London, 1624; rpt. New York: Macmillan, 1907), 157–161, 225–226.

Questions for Consideration

1. What, according to Powhatan, were the essential differences between “peace and warre” under his rule?
2. Why did he dread fighting against the English in particular?
3. How did he propose to prevent more fighting in the future?

1.2 John Mason Campaigns against the Pequot (1637)

The colonists of New England established a militia system to defend new settlements, to act as a police force, and to secure the backcountry. In contrast to the stylized and ritualistic combat common to Native Americans, the English governments sanctioned wars of extirpation. From 1636 to 1637, tensions over trade relations exploded into New England’s first major Anglo‐Indian war. The Pequot Indians constituted a polity whose location at the mouth of the Connecticut River enabled them to deal with Dutch traders from Manhattan and English colonists in the Massachusetts Bay. The death of two traders sparked fears among the English that the Pequot planned an uprising. Militia companies from New England towns and allied warriors from the Mohegan and the Narragansett tribes assailed the Pequot along the Mystic River. On May 26, 1637, Captain John Mason urged the English militiamen and their Indian allies to torch Fort Mystic and to kill those gathered behind the palisades. They burned wigwams, shot fleeing warriors, captured women and children, and divided the spoils. They killed as many as 700 at Fort Mystic. Some survivors were forced into “praying towns” for religious conversion. Others were sold to Caribbean slave traders. The Pequot name was outlawed in New England thereafter.

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In Matters of War, those who are both able and faithful should be improved; and then bind them not up into too narrow a Compass: For it is not possible for the wisest and ablest Senator to foresee all Accidents and Occurrents that fall out in the Management and Pursuit of a War: Nay although possibly he might be trained up in Military Affairs; and truly much less can he have any great Knowledge who hath had but little Experience therein. What shall I say? GOD l...