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War Without Mercy: Liberty or Death in the American Revolution
Drawing on vivid contemporary accounts, this is a fascinating exploration of how and why the Revolutionary War descended into a brutal existential struggle.
This engrossing history of the Revolutionary War conclusively shows that those caught up in it believed they had nothing to lose by fighting without regard for the rules of so-called “civilized warfare.” The clarion call to arms “Liberty or Death” was far more than just rhetoric. At its grimmest level, it was a conflict in which military restraint was more the exception than the rule, a struggle in which combatants believed their very existence was in question. This led to an acceptance of violence against persons and property as preferable to a defeat equated with political, cultural, and even physical extinction. It was war with an expectation and acceptance of ferocity and brutality – anything to avoid defeat.
A number of historians have previously concluded that United States' founding struggle reached a level of ferocity few Americans now associate with the movement for independence. However, these studies have described what happened, without looking in detail at why the conflict took such a violent a turn. Written by two esteemed Revolutionary War historians, War Without Mercy does exactly that. Based on years of research and enlivened by little known primary sources, this is an intriguing and fresh look at a period of history we thought we knew.
This engrossing history of the Revolutionary War conclusively shows that those caught up in it believed they had nothing to lose by fighting without regard for the rules of so-called “civilized warfare.” The clarion call to arms “Liberty or Death” was far more than just rhetoric. At its grimmest level, it was a conflict in which military restraint was more the exception than the rule, a struggle in which combatants believed their very existence was in question. This led to an acceptance of violence against persons and property as preferable to a defeat equated with political, cultural, and even physical extinction. It was war with an expectation and acceptance of ferocity and brutality – anything to avoid defeat.
A number of historians have previously concluded that United States' founding struggle reached a level of ferocity few Americans now associate with the movement for independence. However, these studies have described what happened, without looking in detail at why the conflict took such a violent a turn. Written by two esteemed Revolutionary War historians, War Without Mercy does exactly that. Based on years of research and enlivened by little known primary sources, this is an intriguing and fresh look at a period of history we thought we knew.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 1, 2025
I am not fully objective on this one. The co-author of War Without Mercy is the late James Kirby Martin, who passed in 2024. He was a repeat guest on History Nerds United and a true scholar of the American Revolution. More importantly, he was truly wonderful man who was extremely generous with his time in working with the total neophyte that I was when I started the blog and podcast. I think I am able to be objective on the book, but I have given fair warning as I am still bummed.
All that said, War Without Mercy is a hell of a book. Put simply, Martin and Mark Edward Lender want to put a simple idea into the minds of readers. The American Revolution was not just a battle for independence by a bunch of scrappy and heroic rebels. It was partly that, but it was also a vicious war of reprisals and local warfare which didn't always have to do with independence. War was hell well before the Civil War, and the authors do an excellent job of showing the gory details.
It's probably important to note that this book does skew a bit academic. I wouldn't necessarily suggest it to someone who is just wading into the history of the American Revolution. This narrative is more ideal for someone who some background on the major players and battles so that they can understand the truly visceral nature of the small battles.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Osprey Publishing.)
All that said, War Without Mercy is a hell of a book. Put simply, Martin and Mark Edward Lender want to put a simple idea into the minds of readers. The American Revolution was not just a battle for independence by a bunch of scrappy and heroic rebels. It was partly that, but it was also a vicious war of reprisals and local warfare which didn't always have to do with independence. War was hell well before the Civil War, and the authors do an excellent job of showing the gory details.
It's probably important to note that this book does skew a bit academic. I wouldn't necessarily suggest it to someone who is just wading into the history of the American Revolution. This narrative is more ideal for someone who some background on the major players and battles so that they can understand the truly visceral nature of the small battles.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Osprey Publishing.)
November 13, 2025
In War Without Mercy: Liberty or Death in the American Revolution, historians Mark Edward Lender and James Kirby Martin confront America’s national mythology that the American Revolution was a war of ideas, somehow less brutal and more humane than other conflicts in our nation’s history. As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, discussions of the war’s legacy are appearing in the public discourse. The traditional narrative that the revolution was a war based on Enlightenment ideals, however imperfectly implemented, is reflected in the anticipated documentary TV series “The American Revolution”, directed by Ken Burns. The director emphasizes that America’s founding fathers transformed the inhabitants of the American colonies from “subjects” to “citizens”. Lender and Martin challenge this interpretation and argue that the conflict was marked by pervasive and increasingly unrestrained violence, and that the struggle for liberty was a struggle for survival throughout many of the war’s theaters.
Lender and Martin organize their argument using the same format from the 2023 anthology Theaters of the American Revolution, to which both authors contributed. The book’s chapters are organized by theater, discussing the reality of the war using examples from the middle colonies such as New Jersey; the western frontier, the wilds of New York; Arnold’s raid on New London Connecticut, and from the Southern Campaign. This methodology allows Lender and Martin to demonstrate that the conflict allowed neighbors to settle old scores through reprisals, featured widespread destruction of property, and saw violence directed against civilians in all theaters. Such activity was not consigned to the dark corners of the frontier or partisan actions in backcountry clashes but was pervasive throughout the war and in all locations.
The authors provide more than catalog of horrors sprinkled throughout the American colonies. They go to great lengths to establish and use an analytical framework, providing the reader with their rationale for the use of terms such as “existential warfare” and “civilized warfare”. They illustrate the 18th century standards for a just conflict, codified by Enlightenment ideals, and then document how, over time, these ideals fell by the wayside as the war became a conflict for survival across all theaters. Lender and Martin illustrate (and repeatedly refer to) Patrick Henry’s famous slogan, “Liberty or Death” was not mere rhetoric for those caught up in the conflict. Combatants (Patriot and Loyalist both) fought for their vision of Liberty, convinced that defeat meant the loss of all they held to be important in life, and therefore were willing to fight to the death to prevail. This sense that defeat meant the loss of a way of life paved the way for a conflict of survival.
The authors make excellent use of primary sources to illustrate their argument. The fact that they could find a broad commonality of experiences throughout all regions of the conflict gives credence to their thesis. In addition to allowing the conflict’s participants to speak for themselves, they do an excellent job of synthesizing the various personal narratives into a coherent argument, supported by their interpretations of the philosophies of existential warfare and civilized warfare.
War Without Mercy provides readers with much to think about. While the notion that the American Revolution was a darker, more brutal conflict than commonly understood is not entirely unheard of, Lender and Martin have done a tremendous job illustrating just how pervasive existential conflict was throughout the war. Readers looking for a more traditional, patriotic narrative that celebrates the birth of the republic may be discomfited by the material presented in the book, which is arguably the reason why the authors wrote it in the first place. This is a powerful work that blends academic rigor with accessible writing more commonly found in popular histories. War Without Mercy provides a necessary revisionist perspective that reminds 21st century Americans that the War for Independence was first and foremost a war, both violent and miserable.
Lender and Martin effectively challenge the narrative that the American Revolution was fought as a “civilized war”, based in Enlightenment ideals. They use the words of actual participants to illustrate the brutal character of the conflict, highlighting instances of terror, massacre and revenge to reveal it was a war for survival. For both serious students of the American Revolution and more general readers, War Without Mercy is powerful revisionist history that helps to question long-held assumptions and a timely reminder of the cost of Liberty.
Lender and Martin organize their argument using the same format from the 2023 anthology Theaters of the American Revolution, to which both authors contributed. The book’s chapters are organized by theater, discussing the reality of the war using examples from the middle colonies such as New Jersey; the western frontier, the wilds of New York; Arnold’s raid on New London Connecticut, and from the Southern Campaign. This methodology allows Lender and Martin to demonstrate that the conflict allowed neighbors to settle old scores through reprisals, featured widespread destruction of property, and saw violence directed against civilians in all theaters. Such activity was not consigned to the dark corners of the frontier or partisan actions in backcountry clashes but was pervasive throughout the war and in all locations.
The authors provide more than catalog of horrors sprinkled throughout the American colonies. They go to great lengths to establish and use an analytical framework, providing the reader with their rationale for the use of terms such as “existential warfare” and “civilized warfare”. They illustrate the 18th century standards for a just conflict, codified by Enlightenment ideals, and then document how, over time, these ideals fell by the wayside as the war became a conflict for survival across all theaters. Lender and Martin illustrate (and repeatedly refer to) Patrick Henry’s famous slogan, “Liberty or Death” was not mere rhetoric for those caught up in the conflict. Combatants (Patriot and Loyalist both) fought for their vision of Liberty, convinced that defeat meant the loss of all they held to be important in life, and therefore were willing to fight to the death to prevail. This sense that defeat meant the loss of a way of life paved the way for a conflict of survival.
The authors make excellent use of primary sources to illustrate their argument. The fact that they could find a broad commonality of experiences throughout all regions of the conflict gives credence to their thesis. In addition to allowing the conflict’s participants to speak for themselves, they do an excellent job of synthesizing the various personal narratives into a coherent argument, supported by their interpretations of the philosophies of existential warfare and civilized warfare.
War Without Mercy provides readers with much to think about. While the notion that the American Revolution was a darker, more brutal conflict than commonly understood is not entirely unheard of, Lender and Martin have done a tremendous job illustrating just how pervasive existential conflict was throughout the war. Readers looking for a more traditional, patriotic narrative that celebrates the birth of the republic may be discomfited by the material presented in the book, which is arguably the reason why the authors wrote it in the first place. This is a powerful work that blends academic rigor with accessible writing more commonly found in popular histories. War Without Mercy provides a necessary revisionist perspective that reminds 21st century Americans that the War for Independence was first and foremost a war, both violent and miserable.
Lender and Martin effectively challenge the narrative that the American Revolution was fought as a “civilized war”, based in Enlightenment ideals. They use the words of actual participants to illustrate the brutal character of the conflict, highlighting instances of terror, massacre and revenge to reveal it was a war for survival. For both serious students of the American Revolution and more general readers, War Without Mercy is powerful revisionist history that helps to question long-held assumptions and a timely reminder of the cost of Liberty.
November 10, 2025
The myth of the American Revolution as an honourably conducted war has been under attack by some military historians for a while now. What was once seen as a war fought under a shared set of rules and standards of behaviour, with a few isolated exceptions, is no longer tenable. Yet the myth still exists, particularly in the political arena, and particularly on the Patriot side. In War Without Mercy, Mark Edward Lender and James Kirby Martin explode that perception and dig into the root causes of what was often a vicious existential war especially on the margins: ‘Liberty or Death’ was not so much a mere slogan but a statement of intent.
In this analysis of the Revolution’s military conduct away from the major armies, Lender and Martin highlight the local nature of the vast majority of military action with no constraining power to regulate engagements. In such circumstances, grievances and retaliations went unchecked, resulting in extreme violence. Such violence, the authors note, was nothing new on the frontiers against and between the Indians or internally against enslaved Black people. Acts of rebellion in the colonial period were also dealt with harshly, and that attitude continued into the revolutionary era. Lender and Martin add the impact of political ideology into the mix, which often led to terrorist actions, chiefly against Loyalists with the attendant retaliations that followed. The authors also consider the shock and then fury amongst Loyalists in their reactions to what was a profoundly shocking revolution. Once such a melting pot of preconditions for violence spilled over into a myriad of violent actions in the early stages of the Revolution, the momentum for further violence became self-justifying. And the authors detect this across all the colonies and communities involved in the Revolution from New Jersey down through the Carolinas and westward into the frontier regions and out to sea, noting that the further away from the main armies or centres of power, the more unrestrained the violence became. They conclude that this was indeed an existential war and fought without mercy.
War Without Mercy is an excellent study of the extreme violence that consumed the American Revolution. Lender and Martin set out their stall admirably and support their arguments with a plethora of grim and gruesome examples drawn from all across the colonies; some of which might be expected, such as the vicious frontier fighting, but others perhaps less so, especially in the northern colonies. Readers of military history, particularly those that study the subject at ground level, might be less surprised at the conclusions drawn by Lender and Martin, and those that already accept the Revolution as predominantly a civil war will expect the atrocities that so often accompany internal strife. For others, still labouring under the delusion of a clean overthrow of British rule, Lender and Martin’s findings might come as a profound shock. Whatever the case, in this fascinating analysis, Ender and Martin have demonstrated that any understanding of the American Revolution must take into account the existential nature of the conflict.
In this analysis of the Revolution’s military conduct away from the major armies, Lender and Martin highlight the local nature of the vast majority of military action with no constraining power to regulate engagements. In such circumstances, grievances and retaliations went unchecked, resulting in extreme violence. Such violence, the authors note, was nothing new on the frontiers against and between the Indians or internally against enslaved Black people. Acts of rebellion in the colonial period were also dealt with harshly, and that attitude continued into the revolutionary era. Lender and Martin add the impact of political ideology into the mix, which often led to terrorist actions, chiefly against Loyalists with the attendant retaliations that followed. The authors also consider the shock and then fury amongst Loyalists in their reactions to what was a profoundly shocking revolution. Once such a melting pot of preconditions for violence spilled over into a myriad of violent actions in the early stages of the Revolution, the momentum for further violence became self-justifying. And the authors detect this across all the colonies and communities involved in the Revolution from New Jersey down through the Carolinas and westward into the frontier regions and out to sea, noting that the further away from the main armies or centres of power, the more unrestrained the violence became. They conclude that this was indeed an existential war and fought without mercy.
War Without Mercy is an excellent study of the extreme violence that consumed the American Revolution. Lender and Martin set out their stall admirably and support their arguments with a plethora of grim and gruesome examples drawn from all across the colonies; some of which might be expected, such as the vicious frontier fighting, but others perhaps less so, especially in the northern colonies. Readers of military history, particularly those that study the subject at ground level, might be less surprised at the conclusions drawn by Lender and Martin, and those that already accept the Revolution as predominantly a civil war will expect the atrocities that so often accompany internal strife. For others, still labouring under the delusion of a clean overthrow of British rule, Lender and Martin’s findings might come as a profound shock. Whatever the case, in this fascinating analysis, Ender and Martin have demonstrated that any understanding of the American Revolution must take into account the existential nature of the conflict.
October 16, 2025
This is an excellent, Keeganesque read from Mark Edward Lender and the late James Kirby Martin. Their central argument is that the Revolutionary War is one that, more often than not, was a conflict that thwarted the principles of jus in bello or "just conduct in war" as defined by Vattel in The Law of Nations. Looking beyond the major engagements that involved the more high-profile figures of the war (Washington, Greene, Cornwallis, etc.), many of the participants - whether whig or tory - were ignorant of these principles and understood their war as one of existential survival (e.g. extermination). Essentially, much of the violence in the war played out in local communities that were beyond the purview of government authorities - and were ravaged not unlike those of The Thirty Years' War, which Vattel was responding to with his treatise.
I appreciate how Lender and Martin break this down by doing case studies of New Jersey (the state that saw the most violence), the western frontier, the Mohawk Valley, New London, and the South. Especially in regards to New London, they make a convincing argument that the burning of the city was a military decision that was more akin to the ones that RAF command had to make when bombing German cities during WWII: New London was a necessary military target that blurred the boundaries between combatants and non-combatants.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to delve a bit deeper into the Revolutionary War after reading Rick Atkinson's recent books.
I appreciate how Lender and Martin break this down by doing case studies of New Jersey (the state that saw the most violence), the western frontier, the Mohawk Valley, New London, and the South. Especially in regards to New London, they make a convincing argument that the burning of the city was a military decision that was more akin to the ones that RAF command had to make when bombing German cities during WWII: New London was a necessary military target that blurred the boundaries between combatants and non-combatants.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to delve a bit deeper into the Revolutionary War after reading Rick Atkinson's recent books.
November 1, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The book is out now.
This is a deeply researched and scholarly exploration of the devastation wrought by the American Revolution. The authors’ central argument—that the conflict was far more brutal and indiscriminate than the familiar narratives suggest—is both compelling and well-supported, offering vivid and often unsettling examples of brutality on all sides of the war. The book effectively illustrates how violence between neighbors, armies, and Native peoples often strayed far from the ideals of “just war” as understood at the time.
That said, as someone who has read extensively on the Revolution, I found much of the ground covered to be somewhat familiar—perhaps unsurprisingly, since the violence and moral ambiguity of war are well-documented themes. At times, the presentation leaned more academic than narrative (which I suspect was intentional, though it may not be marketed that way). It reads like a meticulous, extended essay—thoughtful and impressively sourced, but likely best suited for serious students of history rather than the casual reader.
Overall, this is an admirable work of scholarship and a valuable contribution to Revolutionary War studies. Readers seeking a deeply analytical and sobering look at the war’s darker realities will find much to appreciate here. For me personally, it was a 4 in terms of research and depth, but closer to a 3 in terms of sheer reading enjoyment.
This is a deeply researched and scholarly exploration of the devastation wrought by the American Revolution. The authors’ central argument—that the conflict was far more brutal and indiscriminate than the familiar narratives suggest—is both compelling and well-supported, offering vivid and often unsettling examples of brutality on all sides of the war. The book effectively illustrates how violence between neighbors, armies, and Native peoples often strayed far from the ideals of “just war” as understood at the time.
That said, as someone who has read extensively on the Revolution, I found much of the ground covered to be somewhat familiar—perhaps unsurprisingly, since the violence and moral ambiguity of war are well-documented themes. At times, the presentation leaned more academic than narrative (which I suspect was intentional, though it may not be marketed that way). It reads like a meticulous, extended essay—thoughtful and impressively sourced, but likely best suited for serious students of history rather than the casual reader.
Overall, this is an admirable work of scholarship and a valuable contribution to Revolutionary War studies. Readers seeking a deeply analytical and sobering look at the war’s darker realities will find much to appreciate here. For me personally, it was a 4 in terms of research and depth, but closer to a 3 in terms of sheer reading enjoyment.
December 15, 2025
This fascinating history of the American Revolution explores the rules of civilized warfare and the increasing disregard for this code of conduct as the war progressed. Breaking down the iconic phrase “Liberty or Death,” this book explores how rare military restraint was and the acceptance of violence against people and their property as the war progressed because it was a war for the survival of the colonists and of the British empire’s holdings in North America. Written by two eminent historians of the American Revolution, this book explores why the Revolutionary War became so violent and challenged the rules of war and engagement. Packed with details and incredible primary sources, readers will love the depth of detail and information Lender and Martin bring to the book, as their expertise in the Revolutionary War really shines through on every page. Despite its denseness, the book is readable, and American history buffs will love the depth of information and unique argument this new release offers. The analysis is strong and the prose is approachable, while its reevaluation of key events from the Revolution really pulls readers into the book. Brilliantly written and packed with detail, history buffs will love this fascinating and thought-provoking title from Mark Lender and James Martin.
Thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Osprey Books for the advance copy.
August 21, 2025
As the 250th anniversary of our country looms, the authors want to remind us that it was not a one sided conflict. They have plenty of ammunition to show that all parties here - American soldiers, militia members, Redcoats and Indians fought in ways that crossed far over the line of civilized warfare. By the middle of the conflict, all sides were convinced that they were in an existential war, believing that if they lost, there would be nothing left to live for. All of nothing.
Vattel's The Law of Nations had been published a century before, and it prescribed the limits of conflict. Leaders on both sides were well read in this and other influential pieces, but the authors point out that war takes on a gravity of its own. Furthermore, the great majority of battles here were fought by militias whose leaders did not have the intellectual background to rise above battle rage. A thoughtful and well-reasoned title to be read after you have perused Rick Atkinson's titles.
Vattel's The Law of Nations had been published a century before, and it prescribed the limits of conflict. Leaders on both sides were well read in this and other influential pieces, but the authors point out that war takes on a gravity of its own. Furthermore, the great majority of battles here were fought by militias whose leaders did not have the intellectual background to rise above battle rage. A thoughtful and well-reasoned title to be read after you have perused Rick Atkinson's titles.
October 5, 2025
This scholarly book argues that the American Revolution was a fight for survival, leading to unprecedented violence and a disregard for traditional warfare. Based on extensive research, this history offers a fresh look at the Revolution by exploring the reasons behind its shocking brutality. The tone is formal and intellectual, but the book is intriguing nonetheless.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 14, 2025
A succinct account of the American Revolution that will create immediate connections with the politics of present day.
This was an ARC
This was an ARC
December 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
January 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. Great perspective of the war away from the major battlefields. Does a great job of explaining tension and violence between whigs and tories.
November 14, 2025
Take a look at the Revolutionary War through a different lens. Often, we have a very romantic view of the American Revolution. However, the truth was anything but.
Here, the author takes us through the events of the war, but discusses in depth the "all or nothing" viewpoint, which was very prevalent. The colonists knew that if they were not successful, then they would suffer horrifically for their rebellion.
This book is not for the beginner in history. But it is a fabulous book. Take a deep dive into the tactics, the warfare, and gain a new look at the American Revolution. I highly recommend reading this, as it will make you rethink what you know about the war, and look at the participants in a new light.
One of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read in a very long time, and I truly appreciate the time and care the author put into gathering this information.
Here, the author takes us through the events of the war, but discusses in depth the "all or nothing" viewpoint, which was very prevalent. The colonists knew that if they were not successful, then they would suffer horrifically for their rebellion.
This book is not for the beginner in history. But it is a fabulous book. Take a deep dive into the tactics, the warfare, and gain a new look at the American Revolution. I highly recommend reading this, as it will make you rethink what you know about the war, and look at the participants in a new light.
One of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read in a very long time, and I truly appreciate the time and care the author put into gathering this information.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews