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On the Wing of Speed: George Washington And the Battle of Yorktown

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The early days of 1781 cast a cold shadow over the downtrodden American Continental army. Mutiny, the recent disastrous losses in South Carolina at Camden and Charleston, and Benedict Arnold s betrayal called General George Washington s leadership into question.

Faced with the possibility of either a crushing defeat or a brilliant victory, Washington s loyalty to the fledgling United States compelled him to make a bold, offensive stroke in the late summer of 1781. In less than a month, he marched the combined American and French armies to Yorktown, Virginia nearly 450 miles south of their encampment at New York to face the might of the British army.

Through a riveting mixture of fact and dialogue, noted author Donald T. Phillips chronicles the remarkable events of the Siege of Yorktown. From dramatic artillery assaults to the celebrated American and French attacks and, finally, to the incredible British surrender, On the Wing of Speed delivers a thrilling tale of courage, strength, and devotion.

Extraordinary. Brilliant. Don Phillips does more than take the reader to the scene; he renders us participants in the experience. On the Wing of Speed is a compelling read for all Americans who want to understand how the United States was born.
Admiral James M. Loy, Deputy Secretary, Homeland Security (Ret.), Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

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About the author

Donald T. Phillips

43 books30 followers
Donald T. Phillips is a nonfiction writer. He has written or coauthored 20 books, including a trilogy on American leadership (Lincoln on Leadership, The Founding Fathers on Leadership, and Martin Luther King Jr. on Leadership).
Phillips has also collaborated on books with several celebrities, including: Norman Brinker, Mike Krzyzewski, Phil Mickelson, Rudy Ruettiger, Greg Norman, Cal Ripken Jr., and Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez.

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498 reviews308 followers
July 3, 2007
I've ready many books on Washington and the Revolutionary War but never any detail on the conclusion of the war. Sure there is a bit of historical fiction to it but this book puts you right there as it all plays out like a chess game. I live near Yorktown and can't wait to go see the area after reading all about it here.
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