Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Sara Braun

Muskets in hand, re-enactors ready to refight revolutionary war 250 years on

men in Revolutionary War era military attire stand in a line outside
Joe Ryan, far right, with members of the 5th NY Regiment at the town of Cortlandt’s semiquincentennial celebration on 25 June 2026. Photograph: Nicole Procko

In 1972, a young man named Joe Ryan was teaching his middle school class in northern Westchester about the American revolutionary war when one of his students posed a question.

“Mr Ryan, were our ancestors stupid?” he asked.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.