Stark; The Life and Wars of John Stark, French and Indian War Ranger, Revolutionary War General

by Richard Polhemus, John F. Polhemus

Illustrated biography of the New Hampshire farmer and lumberman who won the Battle of Bennington and helped save the American Revolution. John Stark served as a captain of rangers with Robert Rogers in the French and Indian War and fought in many of the legendary battles along Lake George and Lake Champlain. Stark's ranger experience taught him tactics he would use effectively in the Revolution as he rose through the ranks to brigadier general, fighting at Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, Springfield, Bennington, and Saratoga (Stark's Knob). He crossed the Delaware with Washington, covered the retreat of the army from Canada, defended Fort Ticonderoga, and sat on the Board of General Officers that convicted Major John Andr, Benedict Arnold's British contact. But his greatest achievement was at Hoosick, N.Y., in what became known as the "Battle of Bennington." Stark's achievements are little known, but his words live on: "Live Free or Die."

Genres: History, Biography

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Emily Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - John stark is so cool. My only complaint is that the book spent more time on other people and on broader events and less time on stark himself. I would have liked to know more about him as an individual. The perspective on the revolution as a whole was interesting though.

[Alec Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent history. As a young man, Stark hunted and trapped in the wilderness of northern New Hampshire in the mid-18th century. He was captured by Indians while trapping with his brother and two companions on the Baker River near Plymouth, New Hampshire. He learned woodcraft from his captors while in Canada which helped him as a guerrilla fighter in the French and Indian War (1754-1760). Soon afterward he returned home to the Derryfield area (now, Manchester) where he joined Robert Rogers in that war. He was one of the ranger officers operating out of Fort William Henry on the south shore of Lake George in the 1750s. When the colonies rebelled in 1775, he made a famous stand with his New Hampshire militia during the Battle of Bunker Hill, and in 1777 he and Seth Warner and their New Hampshire and Vermont troops helped turned the tide of the Revolutionary War when they stopped Burgoyne's invasion from Canada. When he coined the phrase, "Live free or die, death is not the worst of evils," it meant more than riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Even in his day, true men were in short supply, but his neighbors recognized Stark as someone they admired and could depend on. Unlike some of the American generals who, like their British counterparts, looked down on the common people, Stark talked and socialized easily with his soldiers and his neighbors and was a farmer and sawyer himself. He lived to be 94 years old, the last surviving general of the American Revolution.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well written non-fiction book centered around the life of General John Stark. It was accurate, well researched, and contained plenty of anecdotes from people involved in the events described in the book. I enjoyed the section on the French and Indian War but it seemed as though the book was much more centered on the exploits of Robert Rogers. Aside from the chapters on the Battle of Bennington, much of the books was a recap of the Revolutionary War where Stark happened be and his involvement was summed up as "Stark was here".

Regardless of the amount of biographical information the book was very well written and packed with information. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the Revolutionary War and highly recommend it to those interested in the Northern Theater of the war.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough telling of the Era but I almost felt like the main character , Stark, was a guest star. long passages involving Robert Rogers (whom Stark served with) as well as detailed tellings of the times and events not always involving Stark. A good rad for those looking into more than just 1776 etc

[Jason Born · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information on one of my favorite Revolutionary War generals. The book seems to imply that he might have been overly fond of drink, but never explicitly states it. Nonetheless, a tough, man's-man. No nonsense. Not in it for glory.

[M C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebook. Great book on French and Indian war

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and thoroughly researched treatment of the life of John Stark who fought alongside Robert Rogers during the French & Indian War and played a decisive role in the northern theater of the Revolutionary War, specifically at Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bennington. The Polhemus brothers book justly elevates Stark's deeds as a soldier and General to their rightful place of honor. One is left with the sense that if Stark had been more adapt at diplomacy history would remember him better.

As a native son of New Hampshire (born in Manchester) and a self-avowed history buff I recommend this book heartily!

[Vickie Backus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting 1/2 way through this and decided not to finish it at this time. It was interesting but not gripping.