An AI Assessment Of Brown’s Raid - “A Significant Impact On The American Revolutionary War[?]”
In September of 1777, Massachusetts Militia Colonel John Brown led a raid on Fort Ticonderoga in New York, seen below in the distance across Lake Champlain, from Mount Independence, Vermont. Friend and colleague Mike Barbieri has written about what has become known as “Brown’s Raid”, part of a larger operation under the overall command of Major-General Benjamin Lincoln to harass Burgoyne’s army in a manner that “will most annoy, divide, and distract the enemy.”; as well as the importance, or rather the unimportance of Brown’s Raid. [1]
While I agree with his assessment of the impact of the raid on Burgoyne’s logistics, I’ve mentioned to him that I think there is another aspect of the raid which is worthy of consideration. That would be its impact on American (and British) morale at a time when the Northern Army desperately needed more manpower to stop British Lieutenant-General John Burgoyne’s 1777 invasion from Canada.
Thinking about this in light of this year's commemoration of the event at Fort Ticonderoga, while at the same time reading an online article about the impact of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on academic scholarship - or to put it more bluntly, grave concern that AI makes it easy for students to cheat - I decided to ask ChatGPT for its input on the importance of Brown’s Raid. The response I received was on point, well organized, correct on some points but wrong on others (in my opinion at least), but rather vague overall. Here is what I got:
Colonel John Brown's raid on Fort Ticonderoga in September 1777 had a significant impact on the American Revolutionary War, particularly in the context of the Northern Campaign. Here's a breakdown of its effects:
1. Strategic Disruption for the British: Although the raid did not result in a large-scale military victory or capture, it was successful in disrupting British operations. The raid caused confusion and uncertainty among the British forces, who had relied on Fort Ticonderoga as a key supply and communication post. This disruption was especially notable because the British were preparing for their campaign in the Northern Department of the colonies.
2. Boosting American Morale: The raid provided a boost to American morale. The successful operation, even though it did not achieve grand strategic gains, demonstrated the capability and determination of American forces. This was particularly important in the context of the broader struggles the Continental Army faced.
3. Impact on British Plans: The raid delayed British plans and forced them to reallocate resources to address the threat posed by American forces. It also highlighted vulnerabilities in the British supply lines and logistics, which was an ongoing concern for the British throughout the war.
4. Support for the American Cause: Colonel Brown's actions were part of a broader pattern of American resistance and guerilla warfare that contributed to the weakening of British control in the region. The raid, along with other American actions, helped to draw attention to the ongoing resistance and the need for British strategic adjustments.
Overall, while Colonel Brown's raid on Fort Ticonderoga in September 1777 was not a game-changing event on its own, it played a role in the larger tapestry of the Revolutionary War by contributing to British logistical challenges and bolstering American morale. [3]
While ChatGRP begins with the statement that Brown’s Raid “had a significant impact on the American Revolutionary War”, it concludes by saying the raid was not significant on its own, but rather that “it played a role in the larger tapestry of the Revolutionary War.” The answer provided is not only vague, and with regard to the latter statement applicable to most any event in the war, the supporting argument is flawed on several points.
As Mike points out in his article, there is little to support the claim that Brown’s Raid, or even the entire Pawlet Expedition, resulted in “Strategic Disruption for the British” or had any significant “Impact on British Plans”. Some of Burgoyne's army seemed to be unaware of the raid, or unwilling to admit they were after the surrender perhaps.
The Reverend Ezra Stiles noted in his diary for October 22, 1777, that in speaking with a British soldier about the event after the Convention Army arrived in Cambridge: "he said they knew noth'g of it - the Officers concealed it from the Troops..." [4] This seems rather suspect however, given that on September 28th Burgoyne's general orders noted: "The Lieut. General has received intelligence of an attempt made by the Enemy on Ticonderoga... the occasion cannot be overlooked of repeating to Officers in general the necessity of vigilance and unremitting alertness upon their posts, and warning them that no distance of the Enemy or situation of ground is security or excuse, if they are found off their guard." [5] Regardless, at least some of Burgoyne’s troops were not overly distressed, as a German source remarked of the raid: "Meanwhile the enemy had made an expedition under General Lincoln against Carillon, had surprised and captured four companies of the 53d Regiment at the sawmill there, but had been repulsed with heavy loss from Carillon itself, so that they were defeated in optima forma." [6]
ChatGPT claims the raid bolstered “Support for the American Cause”, and was “part of a broader pattern of American resistance and guerilla warfare that contributed to the weakening of British control in the region”. I would argue that the raid was a conventional military operation rather than guerilla warfare, and part of a larger plan to stop Burgoyne’s advance in an area where most people had already made up their mind which side they were on. I would agree to it “Boosting American Morale” (in New England at least, as other American leaders such as George Clinton and George Washington bemoaned a lack support from the militia in New York and Pennsylvania respectfully), and see that as the most significant outcome from the raid, even though it’s likely that the American victory at Bennington did much more in this regard.
What is most striking to me about this response is a complete lack of any references to support the claims that are being made, or allow for follow-up research. News of the raid spread through New England, and likely emboldened militiamen such as Massachusetts Militia Private David How, who would serve as a guard during the march of the Convention Army, who shortly after noted in his diary on September 29, 1777, that: "This Day Between 40 & 50 men were Called [from his town] for to march to Genl Gates in assistance..." [7] Even those who had recently joined the Northern Army welcomed the news, Massachusetts Militia Major Ebenezer Craft noting in his journal that on September 18th he had arrived in Pawlet, Vermont, after Brown had set out, and on the 20th, "this day Recd News that our people entered Mount Defiance & took 293 prisoners." [8] Colonel Ralph Cross, also with the Massachusetts militia, would note on September 27th: "All of our men that went with Coll Johnson to the Mount [Independence] arrived & not one man was wanting. the Preservation was Worthy of Notice." [9]
A second problem I've encountered with ChatGRP is that it can be factually incorrect when asked a specific question. I don’t know, but would love to find out, where Burgoyne stayed on the night of November 4, 1777, after leaving Brookfield, Massachusetts. I do know that the answer(s) I was given by ChatGRP were wrong. How do I know they were wrong? Well, first off I’ve gotten four different answers in response to asking the same question four times. Two put him in Schuylerville (one at the house of Philip Schuyler, which Burgoyne’s troops burned on October 10th, so that’s pretty unlikely); one put him in Stillwater, were he hadn’t been since October 18th at the latest; and the fourth put him in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which he didn’t reach until November 7th.
All things considered, AI is a powerful tool that I’m sure will improve over time, but doesn’t seem quite ready to replace humans for historical research. Most troubling though is that what appears to be sound, rational answers come without any citations or sources; something to keep in mind when you read an article on the internet - regardless of the topic...
[2] Michael Barbieri, "The Unimportance of John Brown's Raid on Ticonderoga", Journal of the American Revolution, March 28, 2023, accessed online August 28, 2024 at: https://allthingsliberty.com/2023/03/the-unimportance-of-john-browns-raid-on-ticonderoga/
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