10 Overlooked Revolutionary War Heroes We’re Revisiting 

Henry Knox, a young man from Boston, is often credited as a major part of the patriot’s first victory, forcing Britain out of Boston. Knox transported cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, managing to move the artillery over 300 miles during the winter until they pointed at the British in Dorchester Heights, forcing them out of the city. 

Washington chose Knox over many more experienced veterans as his chief artillery officer, allowing Knox to manage the logistics for Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River along with running the siege at Yorktown which forced the British to surrender. Knox played an absolutely crucial role in the Revolutionary War and yet is one of the most overlooked Revolutionary War heroes. 

Nathanael Green, a Rhode Island native, was an unlikely hero of the Revolutionary War. Greene was denied election as an officer in the Netish Guard militia he helped to form in 1774 because of a limp and asthma. However, Greene taught himself how to be a great soldier by reading books about the military, catching Washington’s attention. 

Greene was appointed as the youngest brigadier general in the Continental Army in 1775 and was promoted to major general under Washington in 1776. Greene served as quartermaster in the successful battles of Trenton, Germantown and Valley Forge and then commander-in-chief of the Southern Army during a campaign that forced British commander Charles Lord Cornwallis to evacuate the Carolinas. 

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When John Stark heard the news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Stark recruited 400 men to march to Boston from New Hampshire. Stark led his men into the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17th, 1775 and they helped fill in the gap in the patriots’ defense, preventing the British from getting around the Americans. 

Later, Stark’s militia stopped the momentum of the British advance from Canada during the Battle of Bennington, making Stark one of the many overlooked Revolutionary War heroes. 

Daniel Morgan, a Virginia native, was a natural fighter and answered the call for volunteers, commanding some of the first troops recruited for a national army by the Continental Congress. Morgan’s men fought in the siege of Boston and answered Washington’s call for recruits after the failed invasion of Canada. 

Morgan was captured in Quebec in December of 1775 and spent a year as a prisoner. After his release, Morgan earned the rank of colonel and fought at the Battle of Saratoga. Three years later, he was promoted to brigadier general and gained command of light infantry corps in the Southern Campaign. 

Morgan’s most important victory was on January 17th, 1781 when he won the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina. This triumph was a critical victory in the Revolutionary War and Daniel Morgan’s role in it is often overlooked. 

Anthony Wayne started his own militia at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In 1777, Wayne led his militia against Britain at Brandywine and Germantown. 

In 1779, Washington ordered Wayne and his men to storm cliffside fortifications held by Britain in Stony Point, New York. The nighttime attack only lasted 30 minutes and was quite effective, earning Wayne the nickname “Mad” Anthony Wayne. 

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Crispus Attucks was an American whaler, sailor and stevedore of African and Native American descent. Attucks is known to be the first person killed in the Boston Massacre and thus the first American killed in the Revolutionary War. 

Known as “the first martyr of the American Revolution,” Attucks became celebrated after Paul Revere memorialized his death in his well-known print, “The Boston Massacre.”

Polly Cooper went to Valley Forge with the Oneidas to aid the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-1778. Cooper helped to bring large amounts of corn to help feed the American troops and then remained there to teach them how to prepare the corn. 

It is because of Polly Cooper’s knowledge and graciousness that the United States soldiers were able to stay fed and sustained, making Polly Cooper one of the most overlooked Revolutionary War heroes.  

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Haym Salomon was a Jewish man born in Poland who lived in England and then moved to New York in 1775. Salomon sided with the Sons of Liberty but his contributions were more subtle than outright combat. 

Salomon was a spy for George Washington, engaging in espionage against the Redcoats. Eventually, he was captured and made to serve as an interpreter for Hessian mercenaries. 

Salomon seized this opportunity and encouraged German troops to desert. He was caught again and escaped to Philadelphia where he became a broker and helped raise funds for the Continental Army, generating the modern-day equivalent of $16 million. Though Haym Salomon did not contribute to the war through direct combat, his vast efforts classify him as a Revolutionary War hero. 

Abraham Whipple, a Rhode Island native, taught himself advanced math and navigational skills. When the war began, Whipple commandeered two ships with the help of other rebels in Rhode Island. He transported much-needed gunpowder from Bermuda to Philadelphia. 

After these helpful contributions, the Continental Congress used Whipple’s ships in the Continental Navy and appointed Whipple as the Navy’s first captain. With this leadership role, Whipple commanded many successful vessels for the U.S. military. Abraham Whipple’s expertise helped lead the United States to much success yet he is one of the most overlooked Revolutionary War heroes.

Daniel Bissell, a soldier from Connecticut, was a spy recruited by George Washington. Bissell was set to pose as a deserter to gain access to the British lines. Bissell joined Benedict Arnold’s regiment in the British army and observed all of their activities, committing everything to memory to bring back to Washington and the American troops. 

Bissell returned to the Americans a year after the British surrender at Yorktown, sharing valuable information with Washington about the British defenses, along with revealing that the British had no intention of leaving their positions. This information was incredibly useful in the United States’ victory in the war yet often not acknowledged, making Daniel Bissell one of the most overlooked Revolutionary War heroes.