Starting Over: The Transformation of European Warfare in Colonial New England

Guy Chet 

The military adventures of the English settlers in New England exposed the tensions between American conditions and European training and conventions. On a number of occasions, English military commanders adopted what is sometimes referred to as “American tactics.” A close examination, however, indicates that more often than not, the colonists—as expected—were conservative and conventional. The interplay between firepower and mobility usually rendered the settlers ineffective offensively, as shock troops. Nevertheless, their reliance on a defensive strategy—in both offensive and defensive operations—often enabled them to overcome and overwhelm their opponents. On a few occasions, however, colonial forces were unwilling or unable to execute this strategy. Objective conditions in New England, as well as the Indians’ guerrilla tactics, frustrated English commanders and challenged the effectiveness of European military conventions. These episodes offer a glimpse into the strategic and tactical vulnerability of European communities and military forces in New England. [WP# 98023]