Till the Extinction of This Rebellion: George Rogers Clark, Frontier Warfare, and the Illinois Campaign of 1778–1779

by Eric Sterner

Till the Extinction of This Rebellion examines George Rogers Clark's campaign to wrest the Illinois country from Britain during the American Revolution. With just 150 men, Clark captured Britain's major posts on the Mississippi River and British lieutenant governor Henry Hamilton, achieving one of the most singular victories during the war. The book views the campaign from both American and British perspectives and illustrates the wide geographic impact of the American Revolution west of the Appalachians, particularly on French and Native American communities who had lived in the area for centuries.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2024

Reviews

[Jim Armor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening look at the Illinois Campaign of an American revolutionary leader, George Rogers Clark, whose name we probably all recognize but whose contributions we are probably all equally vague about. In an amazing display of tactical and strategic leadership and with only 150-men, Clark cleared the Western reaches of Revolutionary War America along the lower Ohio River to the Mississippi River of British military control and of British sponsorship of native American attacks on American settlers. Using bluff and guile, threats and show of force, speed and maneuver, as well as negotiated agreements with French communities and Indian nations, and culminating in a dramatic and noisy, but mostly bloodless siege of Fort Sackville/Vincennes on the lower Wabash River (current border of Illinois and Indiana) he coerced the British forces back to their base in Detroit near Canada and helped set the stage for future US westward expansion.
“The Extinction of This Revolution” is written in a compelling style, each chapter a critical turning point in the campaign. The author adds to the suspense by contrasting moves and strategies of Clark and his British counterpart, lieutenant governor Henry Hamilton. It was almost impossible for me to put this book down. I recommend it for anyone interested in the Revolutionary War in the West and the rise of an early American icon. Clark’s Illinois Campaign is a quintessential example of American frontier warfare and recognizable in the DNA of current US military strategy and tactical doctrine.

[Suzy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of a charismatic revolutionary war leader who manages to use his cunning to outwit a stream of worthy adversaries despite his weaker position to move the revolutionary cause forward.

An engaging read even for primarily fiction readers like me.

Would make a great Netflix movie!

[Todd White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A largely unknown and forgotten part of the American Revolution, this book describing the frontier campaign in the Illinois country is engaging and enlightening. The first few chapters are a bit slow with necessary background information, but this is a well written book for anyone wanting to learn about American history of the time.