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From "the finest historian of the American Revolution" comes the definitive account of the battle and unlikely triumph that led to American independence (Douglas Brinkley)
In 1780, George Washington's army lay idle for want of supplies, food, and money. All hope seemed lost until a powerful French force landed at Newport in July. Then, under Washington's directives, Nathanael Greene began a series of hit-and-run operations against the British. The damage the guerrilla fighters inflicted would help drive the enemy to Yorktown, where Greene and Lafayette would trap them before Washington and Rochambeau, supported by the French fleet, arrived to deliver the coup de grâce.
Richard M. Ketchum illuminates, for the first time, the strategies and heroic personalities-American and French-that led to the surprise victory, only the second major battle the Americans would win in almost seven horrific years. Relying on good fortune, daring, and sheer determination never to give up, American and French fighters-many of whom walked from Newport and New York to Virginia-brought about that rarest of military operations: a race against time and distance, on land and at sea. Ketchum brings to life the gripping and inspirational story of how the rebels defeated the world's finest army against all odds.
Mr. Ketchum gives an excellent account of the campaigns in the southern states and then he carries through with the events leading to the Battle at Yorktown and the succeeding two years after Cornwallis's surrender. Ketchum, also gives the reader an analysis of why events developed as they did. The author's writing style is terrific. The battles and the events flow very well from one chapter to the next. I was able to follow the story, and it kept my interest throughout the book. The one fault I did find was that the book could have used a few more descriptive maps. I found myself doing numerous rereads just so I could figure out where I was located in any one particular state.
Overall, the book gave me an excellent well-rounded education on the campaign to and including Yorktown.
Anonymous
Posted October 22, 2004
I have enjoyed Richard Ketchum's books for a long time and was eagerly looking forward to this one--a kind of companion to his relatively recent one on the battle of Saratoga (and even his earlier works on Bunker Hill and the campaign of 1776). However, this book is far below what I was hoping for. Instead of his usual verve and talent for clear exposition, this one is a bit muddled, with some odd rearranging of the chronology in describing events that leaves the reader wondering what exactly happened when. It is also more an attempt at the history of the whole revolution from 1779 to the final end of the war, but while some episodes are given full treatment, others which may be just as important are covered quickly and incompletely. In general, while useful to someone who has no background in the subject, the book may prove useful. But anyone looking for a deeper and richer understanding of the last years of the American Revolution will be disappointed.
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Overview
From "the finest historian of the American Revolution" comes the definitive account of the battle and unlikely triumph that led to American independence (Douglas Brinkley)
In 1780, George Washington's army lay idle for want of supplies, food, and money. All hope seemed lost until a powerful French force landed at Newport in July. Then, under Washington's directives, Nathanael Greene began a series of hit-and-run operations against the British. The damage the guerrilla fighters ...