How the Irish Won the American Revolution: A New Look at the Forgotten Heroes of America's War of Independence

by Phillip Thomas Tucker

When the Continental Congress decided to declare independence from the British empire in 1776, ten percent of the population of their fledgling country were from Ireland. By 1790, close to 500,000 Irish citizens had immigrated to America. They were was very active in the American Revolution, both on the battlefields and off, and yet their stories are not well known. The important contributions of the Irish on military, political, and economic levels have been long overlooked and ignored by generations of historians. However, new evidence has revealed that Washington’s Continental Army consisted of a far larger percentage of Irish soldiers than previously thought—between 40 and 50 percent—who fought during some of the most important battles of the American Revolution.

Romanticized versions of this historical period tend to focus on the upper class figures that had the biggest roles in America’s struggle for liberty. But these adaptations neglect the impact of European and Irish ideals as well as citizens on the formation of the revolution. Irish contributors such as John Barry, the colonies’ foremost naval officer; Henry Knox, an artillery officer and future Secretary of War; Richard Montgomery, America’s first war hero and martyr; and Charles Thomson, a radical organizer and Secretary to the Continental Congress were all instrumental in carrying out the vision for a free country. Without their timely and disproportionate assistance, America almost certainly would have lost the desperate fight for its existence.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Genres: History, American History, Ireland, Nonfiction, American Revolution, Historical, American Revolutionary War

408 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2015

About the author

Phillip Thomas Tucker, Ph.D. has been recognized today as "the Stephen King of History," and the most groundbreaking historian in America, because of his great productivity of high-quality books (more than 185 books of history) in many field of history, including the American Revolution, Women's History, Civil War History, African American History, etc.
A winner of national and state book awards, Tucker has recently optioned out three books--Cathy Williams, Anne Bonny, and Mia Leimberg--for Hollywood films.
No American historian has authored more history books than Dr. Tucker. America's most prolific and innovative of historians has won international acclaim for breaking much new ground in history by authoring more than 180 history books of unique distinction. In total, he is the author of more than 225 works in history, including both books and scholarly articles.
Significantly, the vast majority of these groundbreaking books have a distinctive "New Look" focus, including five volumes of the Harriet Tubman Series and Haitian Revolutionary Women Series. An award-winning scholar of highly-original and uniquely human history, he has most often explored the remarkable lives of forgotten men and women in powerful historical narratives long ignored by other historians.
Most important, Dr. Tucker has emerged as one of America's leading Revolutionary War historians. He has authored groundbreaking Revolutionary war books, including "How the Irish Won the American Revolution"; "George Washington's Surprise Attack": "Saving Washington's Army"; "Brothers in Liberty"; "Kings Mountain"; "Alexander Hamilton's Revolution"; "Alexander Hamilton and the Battle of Yorktown"; "Captain Alexander Hamilton and His Forgotten Contributions at the Decisive Battle of Trenton"; and others no less distinguished.
The author has also written four books about female Buffalo Soldier Cathy Williams. In addition, he has completed groundbreaking New Look Glory 54th Massachusetts Regimental Series of four volumes. This important series has focused on the heroic story of the first black regiment from the North during the Civil War.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Tucker has revealed some of the most overlooked chapters of America's hidden history to present new insights and fresh perspectives. The author's books have most often broken historical boundaries, while going well beyond traditional history in bold "New Look" narratives.
As America's leading myth-busting historian with three degrees in American history, including a Ph.D. from prestigious St. Louis University where he graduated summa cum laude, America's most prolific author has mined American history's obscure depths to present unique historical narratives long unexplored and forgotten. Tucker has long focused on illuminating the previously untold stories of forgotten women (black and white), who have been long overlooked. By revealing their distinguished hidden history that had been previously lost to the American public, the author has paid long-overdue tributes to these remarkable women of great courage and outstanding character. Ahead of their time, these dynamic women defied the odds in carving out their own unique destines with their hard work, enduring faith, and perseverance.
Dr. Tucker has authored groundbreaking books in many fields of study: African American, Women's, Irish, American Revolutionary War, Buffalo Soldiers, Civil War, Tuskegee Airmen, Little Bighorn, Caribbean, Private, Spanish American War, Second World War, George Armstrong Custer, and Southern history. He has long focused on telling the forgotten stories of lost souls, outcasts, renegades, misfits, rebels, deserters (like Buffalo Soldier David Fagen), iconoclasts, refugees, nonconformists, and outliers, whose unique lives deserve attention at this late day.
The author's award-winning books have often focused on iconic turning point moments in American

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tucker makes it sound like he's discovering something new in his realization of the Irish & Scots Irish contribution to the American Revolution...and he mentions repeatedly that "It's not told in the romanticized version of history at all!". If he means High School history books, maybe he's correct. But I don't think much history is taught in High School anymore at all. So in my opinion, I think what he means, is he isn't very well read in the adult history books covering the American Revolution. I'm a big history buff, and I've been reading adult history books since even before I got out of High School. So this book was a very fast read for me. Maybe it belongs in the Young Adults section?

[Asil Hindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The untold story of the Irish role in the struggle of the American nationhood and birth…The forgotten Irish names that helped Americans to won their independence.

A must read… I wish this book can be taught in schools


Best part…. Britain lost its 13 colonies by the Irish ;)

[Eoghan Rua · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this topic area needs more investigation, this book itself isn't particularly well written. I'd say the biggest problem is it mixes in Ulster-Scots and Irish-Irish together too much. There were probably more Ulster-Scots involved and they really are their own group of people, so their history should be presented elsewhere with all due respect.

The role of the Carroll family of Maryland in the American Revolution is quite well known on both sides of the Atlantic. However, there are some aspects I did not know about....

Especially, General John Sullivan (Governor of New Hampshire) and his brother James Sullivan (Governor of Massachussets). John in particular played a major role in the Continental Army. His family were directly related to Domhnall Cam Ó Súileabháin Bhéara, one of the Gaelic leaders of Tyrone's Rebellion in the 17th century conflict in Ireland. John and James are probably ignored in Irish history, despite their Gaelic race, because their father was clever enough to dump Catholicism, nominally presenting as a Protestant (probably privately atheist) to further his family interests in American society. General James Hogun is also usually overlooked too.

Ultimately, there were more Irish Gaels (and Scottish Gaels for that matter... see Lachlan McIntosh and Alexander McDougall) in the American Revolution than is widely recognised, but the majority were by far Anglo. So this book overcooks the case as well as not being particularly well written. There were also people of Gaelic Irish stock on the British side, most notable Guy Johnson and John Johnson, 2nd Baronet of New York (their grandfather had Anglicised his name from MacShane.... a branch of the O'Neills who once ruled in Tyrone). Michael McNamara was another prominent Loyalist, as mayor of Annapolis, so nothing is simplistic on this topic area.

[Delway Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4 star by virtue of its content, not in the quality of writing. The largest (250-400,000) immigrant group coming to America in the period 1720-1820 were the Irish. Most were protestant, Presbyterians, who a generation or two before had hailed from the borders of Scotland. They traveled on to the frontier (the best lands along the coast already occupied by the Puritans, Germans, Dutch, and the Cavaliers) where they found a freedom unknown to them after centuries of domination by the English. A new peculiarly Celtic-American culture evolved which would come to be the mainstream of the new nation. For elitist reasons this contribution has been ignored. Many other writers have emphasized this fact in books such as Albion's Seed and Born Fightin', and Dr. Tucker offers exhaustive documentation of this fact. Where are you Ken Burns?

[Cheri · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have been a great book, if only someone else had written it. This was so poorly written, I couldn't even finish it. As other reviewers have stated, the author is repetitive. Even worse, sentences in this book are ridiculously long -- one spanned three pages on my Kindle. I will not read anything by this author again.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know many of Irish descent fought during the American Revolution?

The United States of America gained independence from the British Empire when they defeated the British during the American Revolutionary War. The colonists rebelled against Great Britain to try to gain more representation in the British government. The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775.

Read the book entitled, “How the Irish Won the American Revolution: A New Look at the Forgotten Heroes of America's War of Independence” by Phillip Thomas Tucker, Ph.D. to meet the heroes who battled the British for America’s freedom.

Dr. Phillip Tucker is a well-known author and historian. He has won international acclaim for “breaking new ground in history.”

This book reveals supportive historic documentation that gives the Irish credit for fighting in the battles of the American Revolution to help America win the war for their independence.

Dr. Tucker writes, “there is evidence to partly substantiate the fact that “the Irish represented an impressive total of 40 percent of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge”. Major General James Robertson said General Charles Lee, Washington’s top lieutenant after the Battle of Bunker Hill, told him that he believed “half the rebel army were from Ireland.” British Army Lieutenant William Fielding said Washington’s army was “above half Irish & Scotch”.

Join Isaac Shelby, a respected frontier warrior of Celtic and Scotch-Irish descent, in the Battle of Point Pleasant, where “his leadership and tactical contributions proved critical to the survival of Colonel Andrew Lewis’ army. Isaac Shelby was also “one of the principal leaders of the western frontiersmen who attacked a sizeable Loyalist force at Kings Mountain to win a remarkable victory on October 7, 1780”.

Irishman Captain Thomas Kennedy, who was known for his “fighting spirit and deadly aim with the flintlock musket” and Colonel Joseph McDowell, the son of an Irish immigrant, commanded a “masterful preemptive strike launched by hundreds of western frontiersmen armed with Pennsylvania Long Rifles and the Dickert rifles” to claim victory at Kings Mountain.

The hard-fighting Scotch-Irishman, John McCulloch, a veteran Indian fighter, whose father, Lieutenant Thomas McCulloch, was killed in the “sweeping attack up the mountain’s timbered slope” described the triumphant moment when the surging frontiersmen “had driven the enemy and had got on the top of the mountain”.

It took such “thoroughly acclimated soldiers, the ‘over mountain’ men from west of the Appalachians, to achieve the expertise necessary to win such a remarkable victory at Kings Mountain and other pivotal battles of the American Revolution”. “Paddy” the common nickname for an Irishman, Carr, who had “acclimated to Indian ways”, to the enemy, was “quite reckless and brutal”. These enraged Irish and Scotch-Irish frontier warriors were “determined to eliminate any threat that neared their western settlements and families”.

The importance of the Irish role in the American Revolution was minimized by the “upper-class elites” of mostly British descent. The Irish “stubbornly retained their Celtic-Gaelic ways on American soil”. “A pride in heritage and culture, resulting in a preservation of ancient folkways and value systems”.

Take a step back in time and relive this important part of American History.

[Adam E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The American Revolution against the British Empire was a War that took place between 1775 and 1783. It was the foundation of what is now the United States of America. Many traditional history books tell a version of Anglo-Saxon people of English descent leading the charge against British rule, but Tucker has, through extensive research, dispelled this myth. The Irish and Scotch-Irish peoples who had immigrated to America in the early 1770's due to British oppression contributed greatly to the American revolution for freedom which has been forgotten in history. This is largely due to the fact that many of the historians of the American revolution were mostly Protestant and did not think highly of the Irish peoples who were mostly Catholic. Irish and Scotch-Irish people were poor people that were indentured servants in their homeland of Ireland. After immigrating to America to find land and freedom they faced many challenges because they were thought of as lower class citizens by American colonists of English descent. These Irish and Scotch-Irish people had already had clashes with the British armies in Ireland such as the revolt against the Queen of England in 1566 led by Shane O'Neill. This revolt led to four bloody years of terrorism against the Irish people by the British army.
There were many Irish Generals and soldiers that helped fight with General George Washington against British armies. Names of people that are not well known, but who fought and died because of their collective history with British Imperialism. Washington's army was assisted with supplies from Irish born merchants in Philadelphia to help with his campaign.
I learned a lot about the history of the Irish and Scotch-Irish people and the struggles that they endured before coming to America. Tucker has bravely rewritten history that goes against the common beliefs and gives credit to those who were left out. There are some great quotes throughout the book such as Colonel William Campbell a Scotch-Irish leader who inspired his troops before battle to “shout like hell and fight like devils!” I also loved the words of John Sullivan who wrote in 1774 about the importance of America to “defend the Liberties which God and Nature have given to us.” A very enlightening book about the overlooked sacrifices that the Irish, Scotch-Irish and Welsh made to help win the American revolutionary War.

[Joanne Bilodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that the book gives some good historical information. I know very little of the American Revolution, so a book like this one is perfect for someone like me. It tells a lot of the Irish involvement in the Revolution and how they aided the U.S. It also tells of how the Irish were Immigrants that were placed to live in the U.S. to help with the war but they still thought of Ireland as their true home. A lot of the Irish soldiers, the ones that newly arrived, had no land or education so were forced to become indentured servants for rich people, like they were back home in Ireland. The author mentions Scottish people as well but mispronounces them as "Scotch". A mental picture is painted of the Irish soldiers being mercenaries just because they fought for other armies like the British army and during the Napoleon war. The Irish soldiers fought as free men for the first time and for political reasons, not because they were forced to. They fought because they had ideas for a better nation with the United States. The Irish soldiers had, what some people call, the American Dream. To live and die as free men and own land, attain education and make a home, even though they still thought of Ireland as their actual home, they still wanted to own some land and make a home here too, for a better, nicer life for they family and themselves. They were very determined to try and win the war or help win the war, no matter what the cost, even if it cost them their lives they would still fight to the bitter end, but in the end they became victories in their battles with the help of the Irish soldiers and with the help of two great commanders that, without them, things wouldn't have ended up the way they did.
As a side note, I loved this book, and i highly recommend to people interested in the American Revolution.

[William Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find most history books to be a total turn off since they just give a overview of events and keep score of battles won and then declare the winner. Almost like a judge at a tennis match. However, Dr. Phillip Tomas Tucker's books are different. He gives such insight and fascinating information that answer my questions of how this time period affected the people, what life was like for the Irish at this time, what was going on with the soldiers, the people in charge, and the everyday man.

This book is not an overview of a battles giving you a sports commentator version of the American Revolution. This book masterfully darts in and out of the conflict, details and chronicles the accurate and real stories of what was happening, and highlights the impact of the war on the people at that time. But most importantly this book brings such an indepth look at the Irish population at the time and clears up many false notions of what exactly their role was in the American Revolution.

I've have found that all of the works I have read by Phillip Tomas Tucker deliver this form of historical story telling. I really appreciate the style of giving us a complete 360 degree version of a MAJOR turning point in our history from everyone involved and yet also correcting folklore, inaccuracies, and improbabilities.

I also found that he was a master at creating realistic, believable, interesting, well rounded and very well fleshed out characters. He brought to life the heroes and the everyday citizen alike.

The book wasn’t focused on one single battle and one minute fallacy…but rather shows the war and the events leading up to conflict in a artistic, factual, and creative way. I was very impressed with this read. Definitely 5 stars. And I want to read all the books this author has published!

[Jessi Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Ireland's dark Legacy of early subjugation by England and difficult economic times that caused a mass exodus of immigrants to colonial America, the Irish people became not marginal, but the leading players in America's struggle for liberty and creation”

Dr. Phillip Thomas Tucker tackles exactly that, the Irish and Scot Irish impact on how American was able to win the American Revolution in How the Irish Won the American Revolution. This new look at the forgotten heroes of the war and how their previous fights for freedom on their homeland in Ireland and Northern Ireland feed their need for a new start in America and the will to do what was necessary to be released of England's hold on the colony. This Celtic-Gaelic culture lead them from the beginning of the fueling, sustaining and ultimately winning independence. Dr. Tucker looks again at the unknown heroes that are overlooked in this important war for American history and independence.

I found this book to be very insightful and showed me some heroes from the war that I knew their names but yet never had the understanding of who they were prior to the war. Another thing that completely fascinated me was how these little immigrates had everything to loose coming to a new land most were illiterate and were migrant farmers which means they were not even landowners yet they were willing to put their livelihood, families, and lives on the line for the taste of freedom. They had far more to lose than to gain from fighting in the American Revolution. No surprise I adored the book and I found them through research a huge bonus. I would have enjoyed it more if he had added to the book. I am excited to see if he expands on his research and updates the book.

[Dorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a number of Dr. Tucker's books and especially enjoyed this one because of my Irish heritage. Of course, it figures that Britain's long-time enemies would enjoy taking up battle against their nemisis on the side of Gen. Washington and Company. But the detail that Dr. T brings to the story is intriguing. As usual, he digs right in and delivers statistics, personal stories, facts, and brilliant historical analysis to flesh out this examination of how the Irish played such a pivotal role in America's war of independence.

What I enjoyed most were the profiles of several Irish fighters who contributed so much to the cause of independence. Outcasts in many ways, at least among wealthy folks who were born and raised in England, these Irish fighters earned the respect of American soldiers who relied on their help in so many battles and during a time when success for the colonies was not at all assured. Doctor Tucker does his usual in-depth research on the topic and reveals multiple never-before-seen sides to the story of how the Irish "won" the American Revolution.

I'd put this in my top three of the dozen or so Dr. Tucker books I've read. It really gets into the nitty-gritty of battles, personalities, historical research, fascinating facts, and mind-expanding analysis. If you like reading history, and have ever wondered what it was like "on the ground" in the American Revolution, this book will fully satisfy your need for high-quality non-fiction storytelling. I also highly recommend all of Dr. T's other works. They've given me a much better hisotry education than I received in school.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book “How the Irish Won the American Revolution” definitely gave readers a spin on the American Revolution and its key players. The author goes into great detail about Irish and Scot Irish generals and soldiers who he views played a bigger part in fighting and winning the revolutionary war here in America. This fight led to them gaining their freedom and independence that they desperately wanted for themselves and their families. What I thought was surprising but really cool was that these people were fleeing their homeland because they wanted out of England's controlling hands and were more than willing to jump right in and fight for freedom right here on American soil. They were not exactly welcomed when they arrived here but were still willing participants in the war. To me that showed a true testament to their character; they were willing to risk their own lives in a fight that technically wasn't theirs in order to have the freedom to claim their place not only in America but in world history as well. I do remember briefly studying the American Revolution when I was in high school but don't remember learning to much about the Irish and Scot Irish involvement in it. Like I said, this book put a spin on key players involved and how much was at stake for the Irish people. While I did find that this book kind of read like a history book and was quite long, I did find it worth the read. If you want a different perspective on facts and events surrounding the American Revolution, then this book might be for you.

[Ray Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and eye opening!!

How the Irish Won the American Revolution, by Dr. Philip Thomas Tucker is an eye opening historical book that is the contributions of the Gaelic-Celtic people who fought valiantly during the Revolutionary War.


It came as a surprise to me, as in school I had been spoon fed half-truths and outright myths about the Revolutionary War. When I think of the War images of pamphlets being handed out, lengthy speeches given, trying to convince the British subjects of the colonies their need for freedom.


Unknown to me was that there was a large amount of Irish immigrants in the colonies prior to the Potato Famine in the 1800s. It is estimated that somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of Colonial soldiers fighting for the United States' independence were of Gaelic-Celtic ancestry. They had witnessed first hand the dire poverty England had so gleefully imposed on Ireland, making them pay in cash instead of anything that they produced. 


Understandably, many sought a better life in the 13 colonies. They didn't need convincing or long winded speeches to get them to fight against England. They knew the tyranny firsthand in a way a WASP wouldn't. With the promise of 100 acres of land to farm, the Gaelic-Celtic people saw a way for upward mobility in this new world. 


I enjoy Dr. Phillip Thomas' books on history. He has this way of trying to make sure people's contributions how big or small, aren't lost to the sands of time. He truly cares about people having their story told. I highly recommend this book. 

[Dremel22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the Irish Won the American Revolution: A New Look at the Forgotten Heroes of America’s War of Independence Dr. Phillip Thomas Tucker had me wanting to throw my hands up in the air and yell, “FINALLY!” Dr. Tucker once again does a brilliant job at taking a microscope to what we the people know as American history. He breaks down the details to sift through and find the details that people have forgotten over many years. My absolute favorite quote from this book was, “America’s much-embellished creation myth left no revered or permanent place for the lowly immigrant Irish, especially Catholics, who were considered outsiders and foreigners.” Tucker goes on to describe the Irish for what they have been throughout history and what they still are, Celtic-Gaelic warriors. The Irish history in American culture is so often overlooked today that it is embarrassing. Do most high schools and University’s teach about something as important as the Line of Ireland of Washington’s army in Pennsylvania? No, they do not. Instead, the Irish role in American history gets more and more diluted each and every year that goes by in America. Dr. Tucker goes through all of the feats! The Son’s of Erin who were instrumental in the victory at Kings Mountain are hardly ever mentioned anywhere. I would honestly love to see this book turned into a documentary so that these long-forgotten stories and details can reach the masses in America and jog some memories. Great Job once again, Dr. Tucker.

[Michelle H · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book a better rating, because the concept was really fascinating, but man was it a rambling, disorganized slog. It makes me wonder if it was less a book than a series of lectures turned into book form. Because I could see how some of this would come to life, or feel less disconnected, if someone was talking about it.

The premise of the book is that Irish and Scots-Irish made up a major percentage of revolutionary fighters. That they were the backbone of the regular army and that many of the most heroic figures from that time were Irish. We’ve forgotten them because they were considered second class citizens and because many were illiterate. But it’s their history of oppression that made them so effective against the British and kept them from backing down, effectively winning the war.

There’s interesting information in this book. But the style of writing is dense and surprisingly dry for the subject. Stories aren’t really fleshed out, even when there is more information about a certain person (which I occasionally found out because it cropped up in a later chapter). For as much filler as the author used, you’d think he’d be able to make at least certain parts into a better narrative instead of just listing names and moving on.

I really wish this had been better because the subject matter is interesting. I did learn a lot I didn’t know, but it was rough going to get there.

[Al Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author does a great job of making the case for a much larger Irish, Scotch-Irish and Celt participation in the War of Independence than has been typically considered. I find it compelling enough to agree that 40% or more of the Continental Army was made up of Celts, and over 50% at times, and that their fighting spirit and hatred of the English contributed dramatically to the continued existence of the Continental Army and the cause of liberty.

Having said that, this book is ridiculously repetitive. The same information is repeated over and over and over. It needed a good editor and planning. Instead it reads like a series of essays by the same author put together in order to achieve a certain page count. It becomes difficult to read after a while as a result.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was packed with Information on the Irish and Scotch-Irish men and a few women who fought in the American Revolution. I would have given it 5 stars if was written better. The writing was terrible, long, long run-on sentences, with parentheses everywhere that interrupt the flow of the sentence. I would have to read the sentence twice because by the time I got through the part in the parenthesis to the end, I forgot the first part of the sentence.

So, 3 stars.

[Ken Nilsestuen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointingly written, although I agree with Tucker's premise / conclusion. Unfortunately, his writing style is pedantic and repetitive. Once in a while I would stop and count - a 54-word sentence, an 84-word sentence, etc. With a better editor, this would have been a much more readable and interesting book.

[John Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is a bit deceptive. It focuses on the Irish, yes, but also includes the Scotch Irish for a good portion of the work. I believe that this inclusion dilutes the impact of the work. These individuals, descendants of the Ulster Plantation, do not represent thy which most people most likely associate with Ireland. Namely, Irish Catholicism. Still, an interesting work.

[Rahobeth Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book is too long winded to effectively convey the narrative the author is pursuing. The author is fixated on the Battle at King's Mountain. It is brought up repeatedly as if to imply it was the single reason independence was finally achieved.
There are many run on sentences and the writer has a tendency to try to link two separate pieces of information through a common person. However, most times this leads to confusion when reading. Also, some statements are either a missed typo or just wrong. Such as in chapter 6, the author writes "...General Clinton, who considered himself a "sly bitch" in tactical terms..." The actual phrase I know of is "shy bitch" referring to Clinton's social awkwardness.
The book does bring forward a lot of known and unknown names. It does a good job of pointing to the many contributions those Irish born and of Irish descent made for our fledgling nation. It can be a bit difficult to read.

[Peter Drucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended book that tells the full story of how the Irish of America made vital contributions that won a new nation's independence. An important book long overdue. This book tells a great story!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the insight into the history of the Revolutionary War, but much of the book was repetitive. A real eye opener on the prejudices held by the American public through the years and how history has been rewritten by certain segments of the population.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Role Revealed in Full

Deeply-researched look at the forgotten important role played by the
Irish in winning America's struggle for life. Excellent!

[Lydia A. Sivells · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

I tried to power through & finish reading this book. But, between the run-on sentences, the repetition, & the jumping around through various wars I finally gave up. I don't recommend this book to anyone.