The Revolutionary War is very important in Special Forces history. It is, in fact, a classical insurgency whether you analyze it as a military or political historian, in view of SF seven-stages-of-GW theory, or in Maoist three-phases theory. Weapons were a key component of Colonial Era logistics — the British tried to seize or collect them, and the rebellious colonists tried to manufacture and trade for them. The initial battles around Boston, even before Lexington and Concord, were a series of bloodless raids on militia arms stockpiles. The British expected the same in April, 1775,

On this day in 1776, well before the Declaration of Independence, the Colonial authorities were preparing for the possibility of further war with the British forces. The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted an appropriation for “Fire-arms for this Colony” to arm the militia. The appropriation: £35. A new “stand of arms” (musket, bayonet, and accessories) could cost as much as £3, so they were not buying many, or they were buying used. But of course, most militiamen were responsible for their own arms.

Sources: American Archives, 4th Series, 5:7-8 and 5:16, cited by Clayton E. Cramer, Firearms Ownership & Manufacturing in Early America, v. 5.1 , 2001, page 79. Retrieved from http://www.claytoncramer.com/unpublished/ArmingAmericaLong.pdf

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About Hognose

Former Special Forces 11B2S, later 18B, weapons man. (Also served in intelligence and operations jobs in SF).