Between the lines
Subtitle: banditti of the American Revolution
By: Harry M. Ward.
Series: Studies in military history and international affairs,
Publisher: Praeger
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Westport, Conn
Language: eng
Number of pages: 329
Subjects: Brigands and robbers -- United States -- History -- 18th century.; Brigands and robbers -- United States -- Biography.; War and crime -- United States -- History -- 18th century.; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Social aspects.
Genres: Biography.
Description: "The Revolutionary War was not a "polite" conflict between orderly troops and gentlemanly officers. Civilians on the home front suffered considerably. This account depicts the ugly side of the War for independence, where roving bands of robbers, known as banditti, plagued the countryside in areas not fully under the control of either army.".

"Regardless of their political sympathies, American civilians lived in terror of these well-armed gangs of looters, who frequently engaged in torture, arson, and murder. The players in this sordid tale, chiefly motivated by greed, chose their victims indiscriminately and then returned to sanctuary.

Many civilians fled their homes, leaving large sections of New York, Georgia, and the Carolinas a no man's land, where near anarchy and the complete disruption of civilian justice only abetted the success of the marauders.".

"Ward details the activities of the most prominent banditti and looks at the horrors and devastation of their actions. His account challenges readers to look beyond the set-piece battles and even past the guerrilla activities, to examine what life was like for those caught between the lines."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [257]-307) and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: 1 Soldier-Straggler Plunderers 1; title: 2 Cowboys and Skinners 17; title: 3 Long Island Marauders 33; title: 4 New Jersey Refugees 51; title: 5 Highlands Gangs 69; title: 6 James Moody 85; title: 7 Pine Robbers 103; title: 8 Doane Outlaws 117; title: 9 Chesapeake Picaroons 135; title: 10 Josiah Phillips 153; title: 11 Maroons 169; title: 12 Scopholites 187; title: 13 Daniel McGirth 203; title: 14 "A Perfect Desert" 221.