As the American Revolution Institute continues its 250th commemorations, The Officer’s War will examine one of the most consequential years of the Revolution through the experiences of the officers who commanded its armies. American and British officers attempted to wage a larger and more sustained war in 1777, when military strategy, logistics, political authority and international affairs became increasingly intertwined. The changing nature of the war in 1777 demanded leadership, discipline, sacrifice, ingenuity and perseverance. The Officer’s War examines how the decisions, responsibilities and relationships of officers shaped the course of the Revolution in 1777.
The year brought American victories at Princeton and Saratoga, defeats and occupation in Pennsylvania, new experiments in political union, intensifying demands for allegiance, and diplomatic developments that moved the conflict toward global war. The Saratoga and Philadelphia campaigns tested the ability of officers to carry out ambitious plans across difficult terrain and long distances, demonstrating the close relationship between battlefield command, geography, logistics and strategy. At the same time, officers served within political systems that were still being created, revealing how closely the effort to build an effective military was tied to the larger challenge of creating a republican government. The world of the officer was also an international one in 1777, as France and Spain sent covert aid to the revolutionaries, Britain bolstered its ranks with German soldiers, American diplomats sought support abroad, and competing imperial interests pushed the conflict towards global war.
The Officer’s War will explore the choices, burdens and responsibilities of command through more than thirty rare documents, maps, artifacts and artworks drawn largely from the American Revolution Institute’s collections. The exhibition will be enhanced by videos and other digital content highlighting important people and events of 1777. Accessible both in the exhibition gallery and online, this content will feature six short videos from our Year in Revolution series, exploring the people, places, events, ideas and relationships that defined 1777.
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This exhibition is only possible thanks to generous philanthropy. To support this museum exhibition, please click below to make a tax-deductible donation to the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, Inc.
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