The first several years of the war, America struggled to gain any victories. Their possibilities for victory seemed dim.
News from America, or the Patriots in the Dumps - Anon., Nov. 1776, The John Carter Brown Library: Image Collections
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Miss America is featured at the bottom of this engraving called Patriots in the Dumps. She is distraught over the news of the defeat of the American troops at Long Island while Lord North is holding the dispatch from General Howe describing the capture of New York. Lords Sandwich and Germain in the right foreground and Lord Mansfield behind Lord North are elated. To the far right, is King George III with his crony, Lord Bute, who is almost too smug and looking rather pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, to the left are those who are sympathetic to the colonist cause. Lord Fox described it as terrible news to Lord Rockingham and the opposition tried to dismiss it as a temporary, if not a completely fabricated, victory. |
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In this satirical print, the lady is sporting an outlandish Georgian hairstyle. After the Battle of Trenton, Great Britain realized that they were no longer dealing with a ragtag group of bandits and they became increasingly serious--no longer doubting the ability of their foe.
This is an anti-recruiting poster with reference to the battle at the top of the signpost. The signpost itself is in the form of a hanging gallows where a small noose can be seen hanging from the hand pointing the way to Trenton. On the post of the gibbet is a poster asking for intrepid volunteers. However, to further drive home the fearsome point, there is a figure hanging from the gallows to the far right background of the engraving. Behind the British Grenadier soldier, the building is labeled as "Head Quarters" but the guard near the door is having the morning's waste dumped on his head just as an additional drummer is exiting the building. A supporter of the mischief is cheering on the escapade through an open window in seeming reference to the intolerable way the colonists behave towards the soldiers. Meanwhile, the grenadier is sheepishly beating the morning revelry drum which is precariously perched on the cushions of the lady's dress and the imagined, highly inaccurate scene of the Battle of Trenton, is displayed in her coif. |
Head Quarters Anti-Recruiting Poster - Anon., 1777, The British Museum
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A View in America in 1778 - Anon., Valley Forge, The John Carter Brown Library: Image Collections
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The American soldiers had to spend a disastrous winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the winter of 1777 - 1778. Thousands of soldiers were without proper clothing, food, housing or care. Nearly two thousand men died that winter at the encampment. A camp surgeon reported: Poor food--hard lodging--Cold Weather--fatigue--Nasty Cloathes--nasty Cookery--Vomit half my time. . . There comes a soldier, his bare feet are seen thro' his worn-out Shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tatter'd remains of an only pair of stockings, his Breeches not sufficient to cover his nakedness, his Shirt hanging in Strings, his hair dishevel'd, his face meager, his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged." (Taylor, 185) |
This image likely hits a little too close to reality with a plump member of Congress pictured on the left in a warm fur coat--snugly smoking his pipe. Two officers in the middle are glorifying the poor state of their soldiers and the slave in hopes of impressing the congressman. The officers often were able to spend time in warm homes with plenty of food, while their soldiers lived in squalor. However, because of their social class superiority, it was not only fully acceptable, but it was fully expected.
For soldiers, Valley Forge was a place of deprivation--of shoddy shoes, meager food, and sparse clothing. But at headquarters some elegant meals were being served, and at the officers' quarters ladies and gentlemen gathered in the evenings over a dish of tea or coffee to raise their voices in song" (Loane, 20).