Jim Piecuch's 'Three Peoples, One King'

The American Revolution was a time of great fear and immense turmoil. Today, however, the war is seen by many Americans as honorable revolutionists (Whigs) battling an oppressive British regime while rooting out evil Tories (Loyalists) and befriending Indians. Though not entirely accurate, the accounts often brought forward by researchers tended to exaggerate the events that had transpired. One such exaggeration would be Great Britain’s implementation of the Southern Strategy. Jim Piecuch, author of “Three Peoples, One King”, sought to rectify these inconsistences through careful research and extensive historical sources. Piecuch believed that while the strategy relied heavily on supporters of the crown, the roles of Loyalist and Indians were
Piecuch explains that while the British understood that the Southern Strategy depended on Indian support, many in Parliament were hesitant to use them, “we must not be tender of calling upon the Savages,” (39). These hesitations would be further complicated due to relations between the Indians and Spanish near Florida, “preserved a strong attachment to the Spanish” (28) and severe lack of communication between the two parties. Regardless of the hesitation, animosity, and sympathy towards Spain, Indians still contributed immensely to the war effort. One of their greatest contributions would be defending the Pensacola from Spanish invaders, halting their advancement and forcing the troops to build trenches, “being in the midst of woods surrounded by savages who hid in the forest and insulted us at all hours, this operation was indispensable” (264). Sporadic and abrasive at times, Pro-British Indian supporters also established themselves as a constant threat too large to be ignored by the revolutionist. Despite their importance to the cause, however, they too would also be treated with a multitude of disapproval and resentment by the