I came across an interesting book full of American Revolutionary War battle maps. Each map is accompanied by a one-page description of the battle. These descriptions have a reference list at the bottom (see blue box in figure 1), made up of school histories. However, the list simply states the author’s surname and the paragraph and page number. There is no key that contains the full information about the reference, and, as I learned, many of the authors had written several school history books. After a little elbow grease, I determine which book is the correct reference. I’ve compiled that list here, in case you’re interested.

Page showing description of Burgoyne's Saratoga Campaign
Figure 1. Page showing description of Burgoyne’s Saratoga Campaign

The full reference list below serves two purposes. First, it identifies all the sources that were referenced in Battle Maps and Charts of the American Revolution with Explanatory Notes by Henry B. Carrington (1881; Internet Archive). Second, these references provide a fuller explanation of the battles (in addition to other elements of the Revolution and US history in general), which may be helpful for adding context to your genealogy research. All of the references were written prior to 1881, so the perspective may be a little different than you remember from your own school days. Each book is available for free online (a link follows the reference).

Anderson, John J[acob]. A Grammar School History of the United States. Clark and Maynard, 1874. Internet Archive

Barnes, A. S. A Brief History of the United States. A. S. Barnes, 1880. Internet Archive

Bush, C. E. Berard’s History of the United States. Cowperthwait, 1878. Internet Archives

Carrington, Henry B. Battles of the American Revolution, 1775-1781. A. S. Barnes, 1876. Internet Archive

Goodrich, Charles A. History of the United States of America; for the Use of Schools. Rev. ed. By William H. Seavey. Brewer and Tileston, 1867. Internet Archive

Goodrich, S[amuel]. G[riswold]. A Pictorial History of the United States. E. H. Butler, 1867. Internet Archive

Hassard, John R. G. A History of the United States of America. Catholic Publication Society, 1878. Internet Archive

Holmes, George F. A School History of the United States of America: From the Earliest Discoveries to the Year 1870. University Publishing, 1870. Internet Archive

Lossing, Benson J. A Common-School History of the United States: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. Mason Bros., 1865. Internet Archive

Quackenbos, G[eorge] P. Illustrated School History of the United States and the Adjacent Parts of America: From the Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time. D. Appleton, 1865. Internet Archive

Ridpath, John Clark. History of the United States: Prepared Especially for Schools. Jones Bros., 1879. Internet Archive

Sadlier’s Excelsior Studies in the History of the United States for Schools. William H. Sadlier, 1879. Internet Archive

Stephens, Alexander H. A Compendium of the History of the United States from the Earliest Settlements to 1872. E. J. Hale, 1872. Internet Archive

Swinton, William. A Condensed School History of the United States. Ivison et al., 1871. Internet Archive

Scott, David B. A School History of the United States: From the Discovery of America to the Year 1877. Harper, 1879. Internet Archive

Thalheimer, M[ary] E[lsie]. The Eclectic History of the United States. Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., 1880. Internet Archive

Venable, W. H. A School History of the United States. Wilson, Hinkle & Co., 1872. HathiTrust

Map of Burgoyne's Saratoga Campaign
Figure 2. Page showing the map of Burgoyne’s Saratoga Campaign.