10 Strange But True Facts About The Revolutionary War
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death!
War is serious business—until it’s not. Behind the stories of incredible bravery, brutal defeat, and all the uncertainty in between, the Revolutionary War was actually the setting for some of history’s most bizarre moments.
Not Just A Magic Trick
Movie series like James Bond and Mission: Impossible make spycraft look like a game filled with the most inscrutable and interesting gadgets and innovations—but even back in the 18th century, spies took a creative approach to their work.
The Culper Spy Ring
The Culper Spy Ring counted members like General George Washington among its ranks—and to keep their communications private, they used a form of invisible ink to keep their communications hidden from British forces.
A Woman In The Continental Army
When you really believe in a cause, you’ll do anything to fight for it—and no one proved that more than Deborah Sampson, a 21-year-old woman who dressed up as a man, took the name of one of her dead relatives, and signed up for the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army in 1782.
Caught In The Act
Sampson was actually able to fight for more than a year for the cause she believed in—but when she was injured, a doctor discovered her shocking secret. Exposed, she could’ve been subject to a terrible punishment. Instead, she was discharged with honor.
The British Are Coming!
In one of the most iconic moments of the Revolutionary War, Paul Revere rode through the woods in the dark of night to warn the colonial forces that “The British are coming!” It’s a story that’s been retold over and over, and Revere has been lionized for it—but it’s not the full story.
