The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution: With Sketches of Several Distinguished Black Persons

Harriet Beecher Stowe · William Cooper Nell

Nov 2023 · DigiCat

About this ebook

The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, is an American history book written by William Cooper Nell, with an introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It focuses on African-American soldiers during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. It details "the services of the Colored Patriots of the Revolution". Among other patriots mentioned are Crispus Attucks, the first person killed in the Boston Massacre; Peter Salem, who was instrumental in the victory at Bunker Hill; and Prince Whipple, who participated in George Washington's noted crossing of the Delaware. The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution is considered by some to be the first history book by and about African Americans that is based on written documentation.

About the author

Harriet Beecher Stowe, born on June 14, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut, was an American abolitionist and author, best known for her anti-slavery novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' (1852). Stowe was the seventh of eleven children in the Beecher clan, a prominent religious family with her father Lyman, a famed preacher, and siblings who influenced religious and educational spheres. Harriet's literary prowess was evident from her early career, contributing to periodicals before her marriage to Calvin Ellis Stowe in 1836. Beyond her literary achievements, Harriet's involvement in the abolitionist movement marks her as an important figure in American history. Her written works extend beyond her seminal 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' to include tales, essays, and other novels that often centered on social justice, gender equality, and religious morality. While 'The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution' is occasionally mistakenly attributed to Stowe, it is, in fact, a book by William Cooper Nell and should not be considered in an analysis of Stowe's authorship. Stowe's writing is characterized by a powerful and passionate style, demonstrating her sophisticated narrative ability and empathetic character portrayals, which served as a vehicle for her profound social commentaries. Her literary contributions, encompassing some 30 books, go hand-in-hand with Stowe's socio-political impact, inviting readers to not just engage with stories but to reflect on the fabric of American society. Harriet Beecher Stowe passed away on July 1, 1896, but her literary and civil rights legacies endure.