Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: Love in '76: An Incident of the Revolution

In Short

Set in New York during the Revolution, this brisk two-act play follows Rose Elsworth, a staunch Whig who must navigate the presence of a houseful of Tory officers—including one determined to capture her beloved, Captain Walter Armstrong. When the British Major Cleveland occupies her home, Rose deploys a series of daring ruses to outsmart the enemy and secure her future. It has lasted as a fine example of nineteenth-century "parlour comedy," favored for its sprightliness and its clever subversion of the overly earnest, heavy-handed patriotism common to the era's stage.

The Story

The action unfolds in the drawing-room of Edward Elsworth, a loyalist homeowner whose residence has become a strategic hub for King George’s officers. His daughter Rose, however, is a secret patriot who believes in the cause of liberty, while her sister Kate is primarily interested in the social excitement an army presence might provide. The household is thrown into a state of alarm when Walter Armstrong, a Captain in the Continental Army and Rose’s betrothed, arrives under threat of capture. Major Cleveland, a sophisticated and predatory officer, is hot on his trail, having placed a bounty on the rebel’s head.

Rose recognizes that she must shield Walter, and she successfully smuggles him into a hiding place, despite the presence of her brother Harry, who serves the King. The tension mounts as Cleveland arrives to turn the house into a makeshift prison. He is immediately smitten with Rose’s wit, though he remains suspicious of her political allegiances. Rose, displaying an iron will, manages to strike a bargain with the Major, extracting a promise that he will protect her "betrothed" in exchange for her favor.

The Major, however, is not easily duped. He eventually realizes he has been played and discovers that the man Rose is protecting is none other than the Captain he intends to hang. In a final, desperate attempt to humiliate Rose and destroy the match, Cleveland hatches a scheme: he will trick the rebel into marrying a servant disguised as Rose, believing it to be a secret, genuine ceremony performed by a sham priest.

Rose learns of the plot and chooses to step into the role herself. She disguises herself as the servant, Bridget, and meets the Major. Through a mix of rapid-fire dialogue and manipulation, she leads the Major to believe he is tricking the rebels, when in fact she is engineering her own legitimate wedding to Walter. When the ruse is revealed, the Major is left holding the bag. Rose triumphantly proves that she has secured her husband’s safety, successfully used the Major’s own signet to bypass his guards, and forced him to concede defeat. In the final scene, her father, impressed by her sheer audacity, accepts the marriage, and even the skeptical brother is left to reconsider his loyalties. The play ends with a direct address to the audience, reminding them that the boldness of love remains constant across the centuries.

How It Unfolds

The domestic conflict The play opens on the divided loyalties within the Elsworth home, where Rose defends her Whig sympathies against her father’s rigid Toryism. The arrival of Captain Walter Armstrong, now a Continental officer, creates immediate danger and sets the stakes for the drama.

The game of cat and mouse Major Cleveland arrives and immediately begins his pursuit of the rebel captain, forcing Rose to hide Walter within the house. Rose uses her charm to distract the officers, buying time while playing a dangerous game of duplicity under the Major’s nose.

The battle of wits Rose maneuvers the Major into making a promise of protection, which she later turns into a weapon against him. As the Major becomes increasingly aware that he is being outsmarted, the dialogue accelerates into a series of sharp verbal volleys.

The masquerade The plot reaches its peak when the Major attempts to orchestrate a "fake" wedding to humiliate the rebels. Rose assumes the disguise, effectively using the Major’s own plan to ensure she actually marries Walter, turning the trap into an escape.

The final checkmate The play concludes as Rose reveals her identity, having secured Walter’s freedom through the Major’s own signet. The Major is forced to yield, and the household reconciles under the weight of Rose’s undeniable victory.

The People

Rose Elsworth is the heart of the play, defined by her sharp tongue and tactical brilliance. She seeks to protect her love, Walter, while navigating the dangerous politics of her father’s house. She transforms from a constrained daughter into a master strategist who dictates the terms of her own future.

Major Cleveland is the antagonist, an intelligent and cocksure British officer who values his reputation and his "sport." He represents the old order and the arrogance of power. Despite his cunning, he is undone by his inability to account for the depth of Rose’s resolve.

Captain Walter Armstrong is the heroic, if slightly beleaguered, Continental officer. He is brave but finds himself consistently reliant on Rose’s quick thinking to survive. He ends the play as a husband and a symbol of the revolution’s tenacity.

Edward Elsworth is the traditional father, torn between his love for his family and his unwavering loyalty to the King. He serves as a barometer for the household’s changing mood, eventually finding himself begrudgingly admiring his daughter’s spirit.

Apollo Metcalf provides comedic relief and functions as an accidental agent for the rebels. His bumbling efforts to help often mirror the broader chaos of the war, though he manages to play a crucial role in the final revelation.

In Its Own Voice

Describing her belief in the necessity of a cause greater than the whims of a monarch, Rose challenges her father's narrow view of loyalty:

"A king is a creature of to-day--your country a thing of immortality."

After successfully outmaneuvering the Major’s attempt to entrap her, Rose celebrates her victory, reminding him who truly holds the power:

"You see, sir, that I have the game."

What It's Really About

The play is an argument for the supremacy of individual agency over the rigid, heavy-handed structures of authority—whether those structures are the British Crown or the social expectations of the eighteenth century. It poses the question of how one maintains personal integrity when one's home and family are fractured by a civil war. Rose’s "Whiggism" is not just about the revolution; it is about the right to self-determination. The play suggests that the same wit and courage required to survive a war are the very traits that define a free person. It is a story about the intersection of private romance and public history, asserting that the "heart of love" is inherently rebellious.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the sharp, rhythmic banter of Restoration-style comedies will find much to admire in this play. Its tone is remarkably light, steering clear of the "patriotic fustian"—or flowery, pompous displays of nationalism—that burdened many other dramas of the nineteenth century. The reading experience is like watching a tightly choreographed fencing match, where the weapons are words rather than blades.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the specific conventions of the era. The dialogue is highly stylized, and the plot relies on "comedietta" tropes—such as secret rooms, sudden disguises, and eavesdropping—that require a suspension of disbelief. The gender dynamics of the 1850s are also clearly embedded in the script, though Rose is written as an unusually formidable and independent figure for the period. Those who appreciate the "old-time" theatrical tradition, which prizes grace and artifice over modern, gritty realism, will find it particularly satisfying. It leaves you with a distinct sense of the charm and vigor of mid-nineteenth-century American stage writing, offering a window into how that generation chose to look back at their own history: not with solemnity, but with a clever, defiant wink.