The Realities of Infantry in Battle During the American Revolution

Drawing from his new book, Infantry in Battle, 1733-1783, historian Alex Burns, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Franciscan University of Steubenville, places the common enlisted man during the American Revolution at center stage by discussing their experiences during the war. Drawing from his archival research on the American, British and Prussian armies, Dr. Burns shows how the infantryman throughout the eighteenth century played an important role by asserting tactical reforms from below and placing the tactical experiences of the Continental Army in a European context.

About the Speaker

Alexander Burns, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of history at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Dr. Burns studies North America and military Europe in the eighteenth century. In 2021, he earned his Ph.D. under the supervision of Katherine B. Aaslestead at West Virginia University through his doctoral dissertation, “The Entire Army Says Hello: Common Soldiers’ Experiences, Localism, and Army Reform in Britain and Prussia, 1739-1789.” Recently, he edited a volume in honor of the late Christopher Duffy, The Changing Face of Old Regime Warfare: Essays in Honour of Christopher Duffy (Helion Press, 2022); contributed to an anthology, Waging War in America: Operational Challenges of Five Armies During the American Revolution, 1775-1783 (Helion Press, 2023), edited by Don Hagist; and has authored Infantry in Battle 1733-1783 (Helion Press, 2024). In 2024, Dr. Burns was the recipient of the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati Fellowship in honor of Ellen McCallister Clark to conduct research in our library for his current book project, Firm Battalions and American Fire: The Continental Army and Military Europe. In 2025, Dr. Burns co-launched the "Prime and Load" podcast, that focuses on various components of eighteenth century warfare.

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