Correct Answer: the americans devised a new way of fighting the british, more guerrilla and less open field.
the quote by nathaniel greene, "we fight, get beat, rise, and fight again," encapsulates a significant aspect of american military strategy during the revolutionary war. this strategy deviated markedly from traditional european military tactics, which often emphasized well-coordinated, static battlefield formations and direct engagements. instead, greene is referring to a form of warfare that was more adaptive, using hit-and-run tactics that are characteristic of guerrilla warfare.
in this context, the americans, being less equipped and often outnumbered, needed to rely on non-conventional methods of combat. by devising a new way of fighting that was more guerrilla and less open field, american forces could exploit their intimate knowledge of the local terrain, which was unfamiliar to the british troops. this approach allowed them to engage in brief skirmishes, where they could hit british forces unexpectedly and then withdraw quickly before the enemy could mount a significant counterattack.
such tactics were instrumental in disrupting the traditional combat style of the british, who were trained and experienced in european open-field techniques. these techniques typically involved linear formations and direct combat, which required large, well-trained armies to be effective. in contrast, the american tactics focused on mobility, element of surprise, and smaller, more flexible units that could easily adapt to the changing dynamics of the battlefield.
the effectiveness of this guerrilla warfare approach is evident in various encounters during the revolutionary war where american forces, despite being initially defeated or outmaneuvered, managed to regroup, revise their strategies, and return to combat with a renewed advantage. this resilience and adaptability were key to sustaining the american fight for independence, reflecting greene's sentiment of rising again to fight after setbacks.
overall, the shift from traditional european warfare to guerrilla tactics was not merely a choice but a necessity, driven by the asymmetric nature of the conflict where american advantages lay not in manpower or resources but in strategic innovation and superior knowledge of the local environment. this change in tactics proved to be a decisive factor in the eventual american victory.
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