Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence

by Jack Kelly

Band of Giants brings to life the founders who fought for our independence in the Revolutionary War. Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin are known to all; men like Morgan, Greene, and Wayne are less familiar. Yet the dreams of the politicians and theorists only became real because fighting men were willing to take on the grim, risky, brutal work of war. We know Fort Knox, but what about Henry Knox, the burly Boston bookseller who took over the American artillery at the age of 25? Eighteen counties in the United States commemorate Richard Montgomery, but do we know that this revered martyr launched a full-scale invasion of Canada? The soldiers of the American Revolution were a diverse merchants and mechanics, farmers and fishermen, paragons and drunkards. Most were ardent amateurs. Even George Washington, assigned to take over the army around Boston in 1775, consulted books on military tactics. Here, Jack Kelly vividly captures the fraught condition of the war―the bitterly divided populace, the lack of supplies, the repeated setbacks on the battlefield, and the appalling physical hardships. That these inexperienced warriors could take on and defeat the superpower of the day was one of the remarkable feats in world history.

Genres: History, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American Revolutionary War, Military History, American History, War

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Jack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian. He has published works of narrative nonfiction focusing on the Revolutionary War and early America.

Jack lives with the acclaimed artist Joy Taylor and a lovely, nondescript cat named Allis Chalmers, in New York's Hudson Valley. He writes mainly about the American Revolution and the early history of the nation. He’s always happy to hear from readers via his website JackKellyBooks.com.

Perhaps because of a background as the author of five crime novels, Jack writes nonfiction with the compulsive energy of thrillers. He has covered a range of fascinating historical personalities in his books GOD SAVE BENEDICT ARNOLD, VALCOUR, and BAND OF GIANTS. In honor of the 2025 bicentennial of the Erie Canal, his history HEAVEN’S DITCH gives an intriguing look at the excitement surrounding that major achievement.

In January 2026, Jack will publish TOM PAINE’S WAR. The book offers a compelling portrait of the man who was the voice of the American Revolution and who remains our most relevant founder. Paine’s Common Sense convinced Americans to declare independence. He went on to march with Washington’s army during the desperate struggle of 1776.

Jack has received the DAR History Medal and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature.

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and found it to be clear, informative, and not overloaded in details. Kelly did an outstanding job at explaining events, people, and historical context. The narrative was excellent at explaining the French and Indian War, increased tensions and taxation, escalation to violence, the outbreak of war and its proceeding violence, and ending with the defeat and surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He injected the important figures, explained their background, and how they fit into the war of independence.

George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, Richard Montgomery, Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and Daniel Morgan were given their civilian lives before the war and their contributions to the cause. One of the neat things I learned was how Daniel Morgan recruited and led his own unit similar to the Swamp Fox Francis Marion in South Carolina who launched guerrilla warfare tactics against the British.

These men possessed the instincts of hunters: deep patience, hair-trigger awareness of their surroundings, and the ability to withstand rain, cold, and hunger. Each was fitted with a rifle and a tomahawk. Each carried a scalping knife, a nine-inch blade suitable for eating, whittling, or slicing human flesh. Instead of a uniform, the men wore their traditional dun-colored hunting shirts fashioned from heavy fringed linen, along with leather leggings and moccasins. This gear was practical and set them apart as the first of America's special forces. pg. 40

Minus the notes, bibliography, and index the narrative is only 248 pages. This was a great overview narrative about America's war of independence with the important figures who led the way. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the American Revolution as a whole. Thanks!

[Anna C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Kelly has accomplished two laudable feats. First, he has written a book about the Revolutionary War (actually one of my least favorite time periods in all history) and made it readable. Second, he has condensed the entire conflict, from the first shots of the French and Indian War to the Treaty of Paris, into one 250 page volume.

From the subtitle ("The Amateur Soldiers who Won America's Independence") and the blurb on the back, I expected this to be about the common man, the normal farmers and shopkeepers who were pulled into war. A few chapters in, I realized that Kelly was focusing not on the faceless infantrymen, but on the lesser-known officers. Once I had re-evaluated my perceptions, I found this a refreshing book. Kelly leaves Washington to tell the almost forgotten stories of Knox, Marion, Morgan and Greene. And though I'm glad to see these brilliant amateur officers finally get their due from history, I also would have appreciated an effort to focus more on the common soldier.

The most important thing I learned from "Band of Giants" was not the life story or war contributions of someone like Henry Knox, but the difficulties faced by the rag-tag army. I was already aware of the shoeless, starving army that never got its wages, but I was stunned to learn that American officers frequently shot enlisted men for such offenses as quaking before fire or bad-mouthing the command. Although Kelly does not weigh in on this brutal discipline, I found it horrifying.

Reading "Band of Giants," you might very well wonder how America even beat the British in the first place. In elementary school, you are indoctrinated into thinking that the loyal Patriot army repulsed the best army in the world through sheer willpower. Yet Kelly shows us a mutinous and near-starved pack of men who are carried up and down the East Coast for eight years. How did these untrained brigands beat the British army? The answer, of course, is simple. The French. This is my biggest complaint about "Band of Giants." Kelly seems to have willfully overlooked the European contributions to the American war effort. Lafayette's main purpose is to serve as a clever device in the epilogue, Rochambeau is mentioned only in passing, and Steuben's contributions are downplayed, while Steuben himself is belittled. I found this a very unusual omission.

Aside from the snubbing of the French, my biggest complaint with "Band of Giants" was the pacing. Obviously, if you condense the entire Revolutionary War into 250 pages, with lengthy detours into the backstories of officers who history has forgotten, there are going to be some gaps. However, it was very hard for a non-history buff to keep hold of the story. For example, Kelly has a strange habit to set up a battle, describe the combatants, explore the strategy, examine how the soldiers must have felt, and then mention the name of the battle as an afterthought at the end of the chapter (for example, Kelly spends many pages on the battle of Saratoga, but doesn't tell you it's the battle of Saratoga until the aftermath, when he casually drops it in the middle of a paragraph. I'm sure Revolutionary aficionados recognized it immediately, but I didn't know what I was reading until the battle was done).

Though there were a few missteps, this was still an interesting and very readable volume on the Revolutionary War. I learned a lot!

I received a free ARC through First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. The critics who have panned the book did not understand the purpose of the book. The book is a short, very readable history of the Revolutionary War. The approach is to tell the history of war through the actions of its key participants. Nearly all of the major battles are covered as well as the major personages. This was not meant to be a scholarly research book nor was it intended to break new ground. As an avid reader of Revolutionary War history I did find tidbits of information in this book that I had not seen before. The battle and campaign summaries were both concise and inciteful. It was also nice to see that he did not skip over the campaigns in Canada and Lake Champlain which other authors are guilty of.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a good readable history of the American Revolution.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting book! A look at The Revolutionary War and the men who fought in a completely different light. I’d never thought about the fact that they were basically a bunch of young men who were just book smart. I’ve never thought of George Washington as a 21 year old. There are so many other things that Jack Kelly talks about in hear that I’d never heard about. Again. A very exciting book. Well worth the read!

[Steve Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book greatly exceeded my expectations. I thought it might be a narrow, possibly dry, exposition on the role of the militia in the Revolutionary War. Not at all dry, it is a very well-written history of the military events of the war. The engagement of the various militia is woven into a compelling account of the leaders and their triumphs and failures throughout the six-year campaign for independence. The book gives fascinating portrayals of figures I knew (Washington, Arnold, Greene, Gates, Knox, Steuben and Layfayette) and some I didn't. Particularly interesting among the latter is Daniel Morgan. Morgan was a rough backwoodsman from Virginia who was tactically brilliant and an aggressive leader of citizen soldiers.

Antecedents to the war are told, starting with Washington's experience in the French & Indian War. The history follows the Revolutionary War campaigns from 1775 to Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown in 1781. There is not much about the political circumstances during the war other than reminders of how poorly the armies were supported by the Continental Congress and the states.

Kelly's writing is exceptionally good; the vividness and pace of the narrative make the read very enjoyable. As a one-volume overview of the war I would highly recommend this book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books about the American Revolutionary War and have learned something new from each. Example: Hessians that Gen. Washington's army encountered in Trenton after crossing the Delaware were not drunk (contrary to myth) but alert. Book's title is misleading; patriot generals were not giants. They were a motley bunch; they dithered, they doubted, they lacked tact. Indeed it's a wonder that the American cause prevailed. Official university historians (Kelly is not one) deign to discount divine providence favoring the American cause, but some unseen hand certainly seems to have favored the often bedraggled Continental army and militia. In the end, flawed though they were, Americans prevailed (with help from a German military mastermind, a Polish engineering genius, French tacticians and, yes, perhaps the final mystery of all things).

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the American Revolution is retold strictly from a military perspective. The goal of the author here is to highlight the roles of many of the lesser know commanders to show just how very important they were to complete the American victory. The book is not just all fighting as the author recounts the personal lives of these men when warranted. I think the sacrifices shown give ammo to the thought that this was indeed the "greatest generation". A must read for anyone who enjoys accurate historical writing

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lively, action-oriented account of the personalities involved in the Revolution and how they affected its outcome. Kelly does a great job of sketching the characters of the major participants and describing the harrowing battles, campaigns and privations the soldiers endured. Excellent companion piece to Almost a Miracle by Ferling. Fast paced, illuminating and well-told history.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the subtitle and book description, I had expected the author to tell us about the military education (or lack of it) of several key Revolutionary War military leaders and explain their learning process and military tactics. But the book only briefly described the backgrounds of a multitude of officers--about half a page of information each time a new officer "came on the scene." Tactics and the learning process was only described in passing as part of the battle descriptions.

The book was more a novel-like description of some of the worst battles in the war. It seemed like successful battles were summarized briefly if mentioned at all. Since he jumped from battle to picked battle, I sometimes lost my sense of how these events fit in the overall scheme of things (from my previous knowledge). I suppose the idea was to keep the suspense up by making it sound as if we hit rock bottom at the first battle and then it (somehow) only got worse until suddenly, at the end, we started winning.

The novel-like re-telling of the battles did make them more exciting to read and, I assume, were based on details found in journals and letters from the time period. He did frequently quote bits from letters and soldier journals. I was disappointed by the judgmental language he used, though. If everyone was so "unwise," "indecisive," "bungling," "inept" and so on, we wouldn't have won. The whole situation was very complex, and the author only told a very small part of what was going on. Yes, things were bad and it's good to describe that. But we were developing a whole new way to run a country and a military, and it's not surprising that things didn't go smoothly.

To quote from the book description of "Knife Fights" by John A. Nagl, "When it comes to war, there are only bad choices; the question is only which ones are better and which worse." If you like authors who criticize how people handled difficult and confusing situations, you might enjoy this book. I'm sure others will, too, but I just got so tired of judgmental language by the end of the book.

I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

[Esoteric Grimoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Kelly's "Band of Giants" is the updated popular military history treatment of the American Revolution that we history junkies have been waiting for. Kelly does an excellent job keeping his narrative rolling, and that includes highlighting the lives of the famous generals and commanders of both sides of the war in addition to detailed descriptions of major engagements and troop organization and equipment. What I found myself appreciating the most about Kelly's treatment of the American Revolution was in inclusion of short bios on Hessian (German) officers such as Colonel Johann Rall, who would opposed Washington during the Battle of Trenton and various unique troops under their command. In addition to the Hessians on the American side Kelly gives the reader a great view into the world of the rough frontier units that fought in the Southern Theater of the Revolution, namely the "Over-the-Mountain Men" Scotch-Irish clansman who lived in democratized loosely agglomerated settlements on the Western side of the Appalachian mountains, who came over those mountains to fight the British Empire in the Carolinas. I am also happy with the books treatment of General George Washington as a human figure, with his own foibles and character flaws, something that in the American education system can sometimes get lost. Kelly also provides a empathetic and historically balanced take on the life of the infamous figure of the arch-traitor, Benedict Arnold, who was originally integral in the formation of the American Army up until his defection to the British. All in all I would recommend this book to almost anyone, for its readability and balanced treatment of the subject matter.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is a slim volume compared with works like 1776 or Washington: A Life. However, it adequately covers in detail the on-the-ground reality of the magnitude of this war, both in terms of the battlefields' vastness (from Canada to the American South) and the might of the British Empire vs. the upstart colonists. Some things that stood out to me:
- Once again, the very many ways this could have gone so differently. We could have had Canada. Or we could have been British. The war might have ended in the first year or dragged on for longer than it did.
- The sheer hell it must have been in terms of weaponry noise. Kelly says something in the book about the world of the 18th century being a quiet one. I hadn't really thought about that, but how true it would be - no cars, no planes, no "noise" per se other than what occurred in the natural world and what some rowdy citizens might get up to from time to time. So imagine that kind of world being inundated with cannon fire, exploding shells, muskets, rifles, etc. I hate this word now, but that truly would have been "unprecedented."

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was going to be a series of biographies or profiles of various American officers. Instead, it is basically just a one-volume history of the military battles in the American Revolution. There is an emphasis on the personal roles of the American officers but the "profile" of each one before the war began is maybe a page long.

This book is very readable and obviously moves quickly from battle to battle to cover the whole war in such a short book. While the author does indulge in "busting" a few traditional views, this book has none of the history professor's need to affect an unimpressed erudition by indulging in revisionist and iconoclastic history. Rather, Jack Kelly openly admires the character and actions of many or these historic figures and is proud to inherit their legacy as an American. However, it is not an apotheosis of these officers either. The great heroes of the Revolution are presented in a realistic light that admits their foibles and mistakes but leaves their heroism and iconic status intact. This is what got this book the fourth star despite the fact that there is little that particularly distinguishes the content of this book from the huge body of Revolutionary War histories.

[S2 Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Nathaniel Philbrick's trilogy on the American Revolution is still my favorite for encapsulating the war effort, personalities, strategies and battles, THIS book is a favorite one-volume recommendation for understanding and appreciating the Revolutionary War. Larger, more comprehensive books have never mentioned George Roger's Clark's brief Western campaign, nor the travails of the farming communities ravaged by the British-compelled Indians in Western New York or Pennsylvania, and the campaign to try to deter their continuance, much less the ordeals in trying to drive the British out of Quebec (city), or the credentials (or not) of Baron von Steuben or the presence of de Kalb. A very good, very easy, and illuminating read on the war, the men (and women) who waged it, the citizens who rose, or sat on their hands, while it went on for 7 long years. Well done, Mr. Kelly.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dust jacket blurb would lead you to believe this book is about the common man soldier. In some ways it is, but it's more about lesser known leaders under Washington. More importantly it portrays how rag tag, underfunded and ill-prepared the revolutionary militias were.

This is very condensed and suffers here and there for it. However, If you're not a history wonk and want a different perspective than what you learned in grade school about the revolutionary war, it's fine. I think Shaara's trilogy is better, but that's a little bit of an unfair comparison.

Overall, Kelley did a good job, but if I were only going to read one author about this war, this probably would miss the cut. As an adjunct to other works, it's quite good.

[Debra Jeakins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title states, BAND OF GIANTS:THE AMATEUR SOLDIERS WHO WON AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE BY JACK KELLY is about some of the unsung heroes of our nations fight for independence. These men were not all wealthy soldiers. These men were farmers,merchants, woodsmen and just plain people who,when the call to arms came,they fought and died for our cause.
They endured everything from dysentery to small pox, freezing cold to famine but they continued to fight.

Jack Kelly puts the reader into the battles . This is a no holds barred look at the fight for independence. Frankly, I'm not really sure how we won but we did and Jack Kelly spells it out in BAND OF GIANTS:THE AMATEUR SOLDIERS WHO WON AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE. When the 4th of July comes along I will definately be remembering this book.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It featured some of my favorite players of the American Revolution, and it serves as a good overview of the American Revolution for anyone who wants to start learning about it. The main reason I am docking this book a star is because the Southern Campaigns were pretty much reduced to a single chapter, and Francis Marion (a personal favorite of mine after reading "Swamp Fox" last year) was given a paragraph. The writing in this book is very easy to follow, but it also didn't leave me wanting to seek out more information on my own as some of my favorite history books tend to do.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a deeper appreciation for the amazing fortitude and dedication of so many who fought to form our country and the great leadership of Washington in holding it all together despite lack of every basic need and through many devastating losses. I think we all could benefit by hearing more about the nobility and self-sacrifice that formed our country and that I know I take for granted.

[Jennifer M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We tend to be taught the American Revolution as if the people involved knew what they were doing the whole time. This book brings home the fact that a lot of this was actually by the seat of their pants. The battle description gets a bit dry but I really loved seeing the human side of the Revolution.

[Douglas Boren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough account of the eight years of war, politics, glory and loss during the Revolutionary War. This reads like a novel. Easy to follow, the story keeps you engaged, chapter to chapter. There were lots of things I learned, and lots of illusions dashed.

In short, I recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in this period of our nation's history.

Very well done!

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's me, not the author. I've read a lot of revolutionary era books, histories, bios, even historical fiction. So, there was very little that was new to me in this book. It's a series of vignettes focusing on a notable or two for each chapter. Kind of a Reader's Digest version of the Revolutionary War. If that's what you are looking for this is an easy read.

[Paul Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct and interesting history of the Revolutionary War. Discusses aspects of the fight normally overlooked, including the campaigns in the South and the West. If you want a brief introduction to the war, this is a good place to start.

[Frank Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay, did not Ike writing style

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on the Revolutionary War I have read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Amateur soldiers” might be too nice of a phrase to describe the Continental Army and militias that fought in the American Revolution. Some had fought in the French and Indian War, yes. But they were still farmers, merchants, and tradesmen who had no business on a battlefield. So I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the focus it places on those who history tends to forget: Henry Knox, Ethan Allen, Richard Montgomery, John Stark, Anthony Wayne, Daniel Morgan, Francis Marion, George Rogers Clark. The Green Mountain Boys. The scary-as-hell Over-Mountain Men. (Don’t provoke a backwoodsman if you wish to remain breathing.) Even the traitor Benedict Arnold (hisssssssss) did some darn amazing things near the start of the war that had the intended effect: they kept the war going. I really enjoyed this book because it made apparent the fact that our war for independence was fought and won by those to whom independence mattered.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction into the American Revolution and those who fought in it.

[Thomas Batch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The expanded stories of the well known battles during the American Revolution

[Laurie Sytsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about the Revolutionary War and the men that brought about the birth of our country.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into some of the key officers of the revolution. I liked how the book followed the war past 1778 into the southern conflict as well.

[Bob Ruffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely worth the read

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Band of Giants
Jack Kelly. Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America's Independence. New York, NY: Saint Martin’s Press, September 9th, 2014. 288 pp.
This book focuses on the military leaders during the American War of Independence. I appreciate the author’s look at the military leaders that are not as well known today. Previously I read a book on General Benedict Arnold so I was looking forward to reading this book to get a better idea of what the other leaders were like. Author Jack Kelly paints a portrait of American military men with their admirable qualities but also their quirks. It’s amazing to consider how amateur the American side were. This was contrasted with the British Red Coats who were professional. I love how the book gave an account towards the end of the book of how an American solider asked a British soldier what his occupation was outside of the military; this was a concept that was foreign to their British professional counterpart and one that the Brits chided the Americans. In fact throughout the book it was clear that the Brits didn’t think too favorably of the American military leaders either. British officers saw themselves as gentlemen and aristocrats. It is no surprised then that the British looked down upon American military officers as craftsmen and merchants mimicking aristocratic officers. Despite the American vast inexperience it is incredible to consider that the Americans would have won the war. But as you read the book you also see how the leaders and generals matured. At the same time war is beyond anyone’s control—and the hands of victory is ultimately determined by God more than generals.
The book was informative without being dry. I had several favorite portions of the book. I enjoyed it whenever the book discussed about how battles turned and its strategic or tactical contribution. My favorite battle in the book was the Battle of Kings Mountain which previously I knew very little about and I think the last time I remembered hearing about it was in elementary school (which were decades ago!). This battle in South Carolina was very different than the other battles before it in that it wasn’t a battle by the Continental Army but really an ad hoc force of Patriots who were largely Scottish dissenters living in the mountains who didn’t take too kindly to the British military threat and insults against them as a way of trying to strike fear for South Carolina to be under the British. This force of Patriots managed to soundly defeat the British reinforced with loyalists in a short but fierce battle. The book’s description of these tough and independent men was truly something to be admired. Equally interesting to me (though not to all readers) was the book’s description of the Continental Army’s logistics, which fought an uphill battle to keep men clothed, armed and fed. I found it surprising that George Washington was able to field an army for that long during the War especially with threat of mutiny, lack of salary of pay for the troops, and politics. I have a new profound respect for the Quartermaster General of the Army of reading this book. In addition I also enjoyed reading about the various men from Europe who helped trained American forces; in particular I’m thinking about Baron von Steuben and Marquis de Lafayette. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older as a veteran but I loved how the book ended with the post-war years and description of an older General Lafayette’s visit to the US which sparked the memory of a nation and old warriors telling tales. The technology might be different but old veterans thinking back of what they have done as young men—that seems to be a constant human experience. I enjoyed the book.