Patriots and loyalists both rallied around St. Patrick’s Day during the Revolutionary War

By the Revolutionary War in the late 1770s, those marking the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death on March 17 included Irish immigrants in the Continental Army and those serving the British Redcoats.

By: Cian T. McMahon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 11, 2026

Words: 956

Last Updated: 4 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Cian T. McMahon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The Continental Army’s winter encampment at Valley Forge, between December 1777 and June 1778, is the stuff of legend. Chased out of Philadelphia by the British Army, George Washington and over 12,000 American troops retreated to Valley Forge, where they spent six long months harried by hunger, disease and the bitter cold.

In this context of frayed nerves and short tempers, a scuffle arose when …

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