SPONSORED BY BARCLAYS BANK, THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. From April-October 1976 The 1776 Exhibition is one of Britain's major contributions to the celebrations marking the bicentenary of the American War of Independence. 1776 tells the story of twenty of the most momentous and turbulent years of the 18th century when Britain's war with her rebel colonies led to a world war and ultimately to the birth of a great new nation. The story is told through many famous portraits from the age of great portrait painting as well as a marvellous collection of uniforms, weapons, unique documents and memorabilia. All these are set against a background of reconstructions, models and audio visual effects. The visitor will walk past the Boston tea party, through an 18th century coffee house, and by the great Admiral Lord Howe' cabin. He will meet the rebel army in a Philadelphia tavern and be present at famous battles such as those at New York and Yorktown. 1776 contains one of the finest and most valuable groups of portraits by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Copley, Benjamin West, Romney, Zoffany and Charles Wilson Peale ever brought togethei Exhibits have come from many collections and parts of the world. The Queen has graciously lent items from the Royal collections. Many historic items come from individuals and institutions in the United States, a generous gesture at a time when so many exhibitions are being mounted in that country to record aspects of the bicentenary. It seems that in London in 1976 even the American visitor will find the fullest record of the event; of two hundred years ago. The exhibition contains something for almost every interest and age group." There is a section on the Red Indian loyalists, the story of Benedict Arnold and the spy Andre, the romantic passage of Lady Harriet Acland down the Hudson river to join her wounded husband, even fascinating needlework by Prudence Punderson, a loyalist forced to flee to New York because of her sympathies but who subsequently married a rebel soldier. MODELS OF REDCOAT SOLDIERS: In this set piece display a sergeant and a private from a Redcoat regiment face the rebels. COVER PICTURE: A Rebel regular soldier and a district militiaman face an onslaught from Redcoat soldiers. Figures by Ray Scott. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 173 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1976 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com