Fascinating glimpse into a day in the life of a Revolutionary War patriot in NYC

New York has always been revolutionary.The Big Apple was a vital cornerstone in the formation of America, with the five boroughs serving as a backdrop for the tumultuous years that the US severed itself from British rule, partly thanks to its location along the Hudson River.But life was tough for the patriots fighting for their freedom, especially those in Manhattan, which remained under British control until 1783.“Everyone who’s living in today’s New York City, in the wider ring around Manhattan, is basically experiencing a constant low-level civil war,” explained Peter-Christian Aigner, executive director of the Gotham Center for New York City History and co-curator of its exhibit, The Occupied City, referring to the population at the time.“Those conditions are grim, and they’re grim for everybody.” Other than a yearlong period during which the Continental Army had control of the Big Apple, most of America’s patriots were forced to live under British rule as prisoners of war or spies during the revolution.Here’s a glimpse of what daily life looked like for the New York rebels:The patriots did not have a standard militia uniform, with most soldiers wearing their best suits and work clothes to battle.At that time, the style for men was slim-fitting three-piece suits, white stockings, low-heeled shoes with buckles and three-cornered hats.Women wore robes à la française — or long gowns with tight bodices and panniers, or hoops, to give the era’s famously wide silhouette.Because it was wartime, most rebels wore clothes that were spun from wool and stitched together by their wives or children.“They’re not particularly well-outfitted,” Aigner said.Finding places to sleep was a major issue for both sides during the Revolutionary War, with the British Parliament famously passing the Quartering Acts in 1765 and 1774 that required colonists to provide housing, food and supplies to even British soldiers.As many as 20 soldiers could be packed in ...