The Proud and the Free
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The Fast and the Free is a historical novel by Howard Fast
that was published in 1950. It tells the story of the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny
from the enlisted men
's point of view.
began January 1, 1781, and ended with negotiated settlement on January 8, 1781. The mutiny was the most successful and consequential insurrection by Continental Army
soldiers during the American Revolutionary War
. When negotiations with the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
promised satisfactory resolution, many of the soldiers returned to arms for the Continental Army and participated in future campaigns.
s from York, Pennsylvania
. He was a member of the Foreign Brigade of Pennsylvania which consisted of mostly immigrants but also has some native-born
Americans
in its ranks.
The enlisted men live in slum-like housing near Morristown, New Jersey
. They have very little food, clothing or money. The officers, led by the Continental Army's General Anthony Wayne
, aka Mad Anthony Wayne, in contrast live in comfortable housing, have gourmet
-quality food, fine wine
, and well-tailored clothes.
The novel describes how a wide range of men, not just the dominant Protestants but also Jews
, Blacks
, Irish
, atheists
, and Romans, i.e., Roman Catholics, who normally would be at each others throats have formed into a cohesive unit with their officers, the gentry
, and especially the British
as their common enemy.
The novel depicts most officers as excessively strict and uncaring. One incident too many triggers the soldier
s' decision to revolt. One man cites the Declaration of Independence
's guidance, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends (Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government."
Led by a Committee of Sergeants the brigades, via surprise and organization, present a fait accompli to their officers who are powerless to stop them. The men follow military procedures to form as a new, free fighting force. On the way to Princeton, New Jersey
, folks along the countryside feed and cheer the men on.
The soldiers agree to return to General Wayne's army as long as (1) there is no direct reprisal against any soldier, (2) that those due a bounty be paid, and (3) those whose three-year terms of enlistment had expired are discharged but may reenlist.
Stuart, who enlisted when he was 17, departs for Philadelphia and then York, Pa. to return to the girl he left behind, Molly Bracken. Restless, Stuart rejoins the brigade which is headed to Virginia
to participate in one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War.
Howard Fast
Howard Melvin Fast was an American novelist and television writer. Fast also wrote under the pen names E. V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson.-Early life:Fast was born in New York City...
that was published in 1950. It tells the story of the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny
Pennsylvania Line Mutiny
The Pennsylvania Line Mutiny began January 1, 1781, and ended with negotiated settlement on January 8, 1781. The negotiated terms were concluded by January 29, 1781. The mutiny was the most successful and consequential insurrection by Continental Army soldiers during the American Revolutionary War...
from the enlisted men
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
's point of view.
Pennsylvania Line Mutiny
The so-called Pennsylvania Line MutinyPennsylvania Line Mutiny
The Pennsylvania Line Mutiny began January 1, 1781, and ended with negotiated settlement on January 8, 1781. The negotiated terms were concluded by January 29, 1781. The mutiny was the most successful and consequential insurrection by Continental Army soldiers during the American Revolutionary War...
began January 1, 1781, and ended with negotiated settlement on January 8, 1781. The mutiny was the most successful and consequential insurrection by Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
soldiers during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. When negotiations with the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania comprised the executive branch of the Pennsylvania State government between 1777 and 1790...
promised satisfactory resolution, many of the soldiers returned to arms for the Continental Army and participated in future campaigns.
Novel
The narrative is told by Jamie Stuart, an elderly man who, at that time, was a 22-year old orphaned son of indentured servantIndentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
s from York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
. He was a member of the Foreign Brigade of Pennsylvania which consisted of mostly immigrants but also has some native-born
Native-born citizen
In general, a native-born citizen of a country is a person who was born within the country's territory and has been legally recognized as a citizen of that country since birth...
Americans
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
in its ranks.
The enlisted men live in slum-like housing near Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
. They have very little food, clothing or money. The officers, led by the Continental Army's General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, aka Mad Anthony Wayne, in contrast live in comfortable housing, have gourmet
Gourmet
Gourmet is a cultural ideal associated with the culinary arts of fine food and drink, or haute cuisine, which is characterised by elaborate preparations and presentations of large meals of small, often quite rich courses...
-quality food, fine wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and well-tailored clothes.
The novel describes how a wide range of men, not just the dominant Protestants but also Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, Blacks
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
, Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, atheists
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, and Romans, i.e., Roman Catholics, who normally would be at each others throats have formed into a cohesive unit with their officers, the gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
, and especially the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as their common enemy.
The novel depicts most officers as excessively strict and uncaring. One incident too many triggers the soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s' decision to revolt. One man cites the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
's guidance, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends (Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government."
Led by a Committee of Sergeants the brigades, via surprise and organization, present a fait accompli to their officers who are powerless to stop them. The men follow military procedures to form as a new, free fighting force. On the way to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, folks along the countryside feed and cheer the men on.
The soldiers agree to return to General Wayne's army as long as (1) there is no direct reprisal against any soldier, (2) that those due a bounty be paid, and (3) those whose three-year terms of enlistment had expired are discharged but may reenlist.
Stuart, who enlisted when he was 17, departs for Philadelphia and then York, Pa. to return to the girl he left behind, Molly Bracken. Restless, Stuart rejoins the brigade which is headed to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to participate in one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War.