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The First American Army: The Untold Story of George Washington and the Men behind America's First Fight for Freedom
This is the first book that offers a you-are-there look at the American Revolution through the eyes of the enlisted men. Through searing portraits of individual soldiers, Bruce Chadwick, author of George Washington's War, brings alive what it was like to serve then in the American army.
With interlocking stories of ordinary Americans, he evokes what it meant to face brutal winters, starvation, terrible homesickness and to go into battle against the much-vaunted British regulars and their deadly Hessian mercenaries.
The reader lives through the experiences of those terrible and heroic times when a fifteen-year-old fifer survived the Battle of Bunker Hill, when Private Josiah Atkins escaped unscathed from the bloody battles in New York and when a doctor and a minister shared the misery of the wounded and dying. These intertwining stories are drawn from their letters and never-before-quoted journals found in the libraries belonging to the camps where Washington quartered his troops during those desperate years.
With interlocking stories of ordinary Americans, he evokes what it meant to face brutal winters, starvation, terrible homesickness and to go into battle against the much-vaunted British regulars and their deadly Hessian mercenaries.
The reader lives through the experiences of those terrible and heroic times when a fifteen-year-old fifer survived the Battle of Bunker Hill, when Private Josiah Atkins escaped unscathed from the bloody battles in New York and when a doctor and a minister shared the misery of the wounded and dying. These intertwining stories are drawn from their letters and never-before-quoted journals found in the libraries belonging to the camps where Washington quartered his troops during those desperate years.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 27, 2014
5 stars for our badass citizen soldiers, minus one star for the authors presentation. Chadwick skips around the timeline so much it detracts from the subject matter. This was a decent overview of the entire war, and gave me some interesting threads to follow for further reading.
April 5, 2023
“It was not only their bravery under intense fire on battlefields at Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown that won the war, but their courage in simply staying together as an army through incredibly severe winters, smallpox epidemics, tattered clothes, and near-starvation that gained independence for America.” - Bruce Chadwick on the soldiers of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, "The First American Army: The Untold Story of George Washington and the Men Behind America’s First Fight for Freedom"
From his time treating soldiers stricken with smallpox while conducing operations against the British in Canada, Doctor Lewis Beebe left behind this account: “The most shocking of all spectacles was to see a large barn crowded full of men with this disorder, many of which could not see, speak, or walk—one, nay two, had large maggots, an inch long, crawl out of their ears. [Pustules] were on almost every part of the body. No mortal will ever believe what these suffered unless they were eyewitnesses. It was almost sufficient to excite the pity of brutes.”
Simon Fobes was one of the many American soldiers afflicted with smallpox during the Revolutionary War. He somehow managed to survive the illness while behind the bars of a prison in Quebec as a prisoner of war. As Fobes described the experience, “When the pock was coming out in seventy to eighty of our number, a fever very high and no water to drink, the men drank their own urine which made the fever rage too violently to be endured. Our flesh seemed a mass of corruption. At the same time, we were covered with vermin. When we were a little recovered, we were moved back to our former prison without any cleansing or changing of our apparel. Our clothing was stiff with corrupted matter.”
The winter of 1777/1778 was one of the most desperate hours of the war for General George Washington and the soldiers of the Continental Army as they struggled for survival at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Their experience was defined by chronic shortages of food, clothing, blankets, and other vital supplies. Aggravating matters even further was the rampant spread of diseases like dysentery, influenza, and pleurisy. Because such a large number of men lacking proper clothing and nutrition were crammed into flimsily constructed huts, many soldiers also contracted pneumonia. “Our troops. How miserable. The skeleton of an army presents itself to our eyes in a naked, starving condition out of health and out of spirits,” recorded Congressional delegate Gouverneur Morris after his arrival at Valley Forge.
As bad as it was at Valley Forge, that experience wasn’t even the worst winter of the war for the soldiers of the Continental Army. In addition to the usual shortages of clothing, food, and other essentials, the army’s stay in Morristown, New Jersey during the winter of 1779/1780 was also affected by one of the most punishing winters in American history. As Bruce Chadwick records, “From November 1779 until the spring of 1780, New Jersey would be pounded by twenty-six snowstorms, six of blizzard proportions. It was so cold in the region that January remained freezing during all but two days.” Joseph Plumb Martin, who had also been with the army at Valley Forge, was one of the suffering soldiers who endured this frigid trial at Morristown. In his words, “We were absolutely, literally starved. I do solemnly declare that I did not put a single morsel of [food] into my mouth for four days and as many nights, except a little black birch bark which I gnawed off a stick of wood, if that can be called [food]. I saw several of the men roast their shoes and eat them.”
“The bravery of good soldiers consists in enduring hardships and fatigue with patience,” observed Doctor Lewis Beebe. That certainly proved to be the case for the soldiers of the Continental Army. It almost defies comprehension to read how much those faithful fighters of liberty suffered and endured over the course of eight years in order to secure victory in the Revolutionary War. As one historian put it, “The fact that so many soldiers stayed and did their duty despite poor or non-existent food, clothing, and pay, reflects the remarkable commitment they had to achieving independence.” The words and personal accounts of those men are eternal reminders of the endless debt of gratitude we owe to the warriors who exhibited so much fortitude, selflessness, and patriotism in the fight that gave life to the United States.
From hospitals packed with smallpox victims outside Quebec to the frozen huts crammed with tattered, shivering soldiers at Valley Forge and beyond, in "The First American Army," historian Bruce Chadwick set out “to tell the story of the Revolution through the eyes of the common soldiers, not the generals.” The personal accounts and experiences of eight different men ranging from standard foot soldiers to an officer, a reverend, and more forms the backbone of the book. Seeing the war through the eyes of men like militia captain Sylvanus Seely of New Jersey and Doctor Lewis Beebe of Massachusetts provides the reader with an intimate look at the Revolutionary War from a ground level. Chadwick’s excellent use of primary sources and his sharp attention to detail really brings the conflict alive, making "The First American Army" a solid addition to the bookshelf of any student of U.S. history.
From his time treating soldiers stricken with smallpox while conducing operations against the British in Canada, Doctor Lewis Beebe left behind this account: “The most shocking of all spectacles was to see a large barn crowded full of men with this disorder, many of which could not see, speak, or walk—one, nay two, had large maggots, an inch long, crawl out of their ears. [Pustules] were on almost every part of the body. No mortal will ever believe what these suffered unless they were eyewitnesses. It was almost sufficient to excite the pity of brutes.”
Simon Fobes was one of the many American soldiers afflicted with smallpox during the Revolutionary War. He somehow managed to survive the illness while behind the bars of a prison in Quebec as a prisoner of war. As Fobes described the experience, “When the pock was coming out in seventy to eighty of our number, a fever very high and no water to drink, the men drank their own urine which made the fever rage too violently to be endured. Our flesh seemed a mass of corruption. At the same time, we were covered with vermin. When we were a little recovered, we were moved back to our former prison without any cleansing or changing of our apparel. Our clothing was stiff with corrupted matter.”
The winter of 1777/1778 was one of the most desperate hours of the war for General George Washington and the soldiers of the Continental Army as they struggled for survival at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Their experience was defined by chronic shortages of food, clothing, blankets, and other vital supplies. Aggravating matters even further was the rampant spread of diseases like dysentery, influenza, and pleurisy. Because such a large number of men lacking proper clothing and nutrition were crammed into flimsily constructed huts, many soldiers also contracted pneumonia. “Our troops. How miserable. The skeleton of an army presents itself to our eyes in a naked, starving condition out of health and out of spirits,” recorded Congressional delegate Gouverneur Morris after his arrival at Valley Forge.
As bad as it was at Valley Forge, that experience wasn’t even the worst winter of the war for the soldiers of the Continental Army. In addition to the usual shortages of clothing, food, and other essentials, the army’s stay in Morristown, New Jersey during the winter of 1779/1780 was also affected by one of the most punishing winters in American history. As Bruce Chadwick records, “From November 1779 until the spring of 1780, New Jersey would be pounded by twenty-six snowstorms, six of blizzard proportions. It was so cold in the region that January remained freezing during all but two days.” Joseph Plumb Martin, who had also been with the army at Valley Forge, was one of the suffering soldiers who endured this frigid trial at Morristown. In his words, “We were absolutely, literally starved. I do solemnly declare that I did not put a single morsel of [food] into my mouth for four days and as many nights, except a little black birch bark which I gnawed off a stick of wood, if that can be called [food]. I saw several of the men roast their shoes and eat them.”
“The bravery of good soldiers consists in enduring hardships and fatigue with patience,” observed Doctor Lewis Beebe. That certainly proved to be the case for the soldiers of the Continental Army. It almost defies comprehension to read how much those faithful fighters of liberty suffered and endured over the course of eight years in order to secure victory in the Revolutionary War. As one historian put it, “The fact that so many soldiers stayed and did their duty despite poor or non-existent food, clothing, and pay, reflects the remarkable commitment they had to achieving independence.” The words and personal accounts of those men are eternal reminders of the endless debt of gratitude we owe to the warriors who exhibited so much fortitude, selflessness, and patriotism in the fight that gave life to the United States.
From hospitals packed with smallpox victims outside Quebec to the frozen huts crammed with tattered, shivering soldiers at Valley Forge and beyond, in "The First American Army," historian Bruce Chadwick set out “to tell the story of the Revolution through the eyes of the common soldiers, not the generals.” The personal accounts and experiences of eight different men ranging from standard foot soldiers to an officer, a reverend, and more forms the backbone of the book. Seeing the war through the eyes of men like militia captain Sylvanus Seely of New Jersey and Doctor Lewis Beebe of Massachusetts provides the reader with an intimate look at the Revolutionary War from a ground level. Chadwick’s excellent use of primary sources and his sharp attention to detail really brings the conflict alive, making "The First American Army" a solid addition to the bookshelf of any student of U.S. history.
May 6, 2017
Would have been five with better editing. I also think that maps would have been very helpful. It does do a good job of explaining what life was like for Revolutionary War foot soldiers; and I really enjoyed the account of using sleds to attack Staten Island, during the only time that New York Harbor froze over.
February 13, 2021
I've read many, many books over the years on the American Revolutionary War, the vast majority of which were focused on the Founding Fathers or military strategy. And while we rightly revere men like Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, it is easy to lose sight of those who actually fought and won the Revolutionary War against Great Britain, the mightiest military empire the world had ever known.
While Washington devised the strategy and directed the generals who in turn directed the armies, it was thousands of farmers, merchants, shopkeepers, and common laborers who were in the trenches, facing the muskets and cannon of the far better armed, far better equipped, and far better trained Redcoats.
It was these men that suffered unimaginably over the course of the war. It was these men who died more often from smallpox and dysentery than from British cannon and muskets. It was these men who spent a brutal winter in Valley Forge, thousands without shoes and shirts, sleeping in flimsy tents or on the frozen ground, going days without food, or packed shoulder-to-shoulder in hospitals so ill-equipped that to be admitted therein was often a death sentence for men who might have otherwise survived.
These same men were at times starving so severely that they ate tree bark or boiled and ate their own shoe leather. Those taken by smallpox first languished in agony from fever and the pain of bodies covered in red, swollen pustules that made rest or sleep impossible, and with no relief. Those that survived the bitter cold and the bout with smallpox suffered the indignity of often going not only without new clothes, but at times, without clothes at all. Their promised wages were routinely delayed for months, or years, an insult added to their many injuries, even as they watched their families suffer without a breadwinner or a protector, and their businesses go under.
Yet fight on they did, bravely and valiantly - out-manned, outgunned, undernourished, underpaid - for years staying one step ahead of complete defeat, until that fateful day when that rag-tag American army, under the direction of General George Washington, with the assistance of French troops and ships, trapped General Lord Cornwallis and his revered and feared Redcoat elite forces, at Yorktown, bombarding them with cannon and musket fire for more than a week until he was forced to surrender. The war would continue for two more years, but the world knew that was the turning point, and it would only be a matter of time before the British surrendered.
General George Washington rightly receives the praise and honor of being America's greatest Founding Father, but he could not have defeated the British without the thousands of men who suffered so much for so long, refusing to give in, despite overwhelming odds, until freedom had been won - for themselves, their wives and children, and for generations of Americans yet to come.
This is their story.
While Washington devised the strategy and directed the generals who in turn directed the armies, it was thousands of farmers, merchants, shopkeepers, and common laborers who were in the trenches, facing the muskets and cannon of the far better armed, far better equipped, and far better trained Redcoats.
It was these men that suffered unimaginably over the course of the war. It was these men who died more often from smallpox and dysentery than from British cannon and muskets. It was these men who spent a brutal winter in Valley Forge, thousands without shoes and shirts, sleeping in flimsy tents or on the frozen ground, going days without food, or packed shoulder-to-shoulder in hospitals so ill-equipped that to be admitted therein was often a death sentence for men who might have otherwise survived.
These same men were at times starving so severely that they ate tree bark or boiled and ate their own shoe leather. Those taken by smallpox first languished in agony from fever and the pain of bodies covered in red, swollen pustules that made rest or sleep impossible, and with no relief. Those that survived the bitter cold and the bout with smallpox suffered the indignity of often going not only without new clothes, but at times, without clothes at all. Their promised wages were routinely delayed for months, or years, an insult added to their many injuries, even as they watched their families suffer without a breadwinner or a protector, and their businesses go under.
Yet fight on they did, bravely and valiantly - out-manned, outgunned, undernourished, underpaid - for years staying one step ahead of complete defeat, until that fateful day when that rag-tag American army, under the direction of General George Washington, with the assistance of French troops and ships, trapped General Lord Cornwallis and his revered and feared Redcoat elite forces, at Yorktown, bombarding them with cannon and musket fire for more than a week until he was forced to surrender. The war would continue for two more years, but the world knew that was the turning point, and it would only be a matter of time before the British surrendered.
General George Washington rightly receives the praise and honor of being America's greatest Founding Father, but he could not have defeated the British without the thousands of men who suffered so much for so long, refusing to give in, despite overwhelming odds, until freedom had been won - for themselves, their wives and children, and for generations of Americans yet to come.
This is their story.
June 21, 2020
It's an okay book about the Revolutionary War through the eyes of everyday soldiers. The writer has great enthusiasm, but what he's done is write a book in a style that would be like the documentary he wants to make of it. It feels Ken Burns-y, but without enough maps and other visuals to assist the reader in the understanding of the story. There is nothing that makes the story or book compelling to people who aren't already fans of the subject. It's fine, but not special.
November 5, 2017
This book tells the story of the Revolutionary War thru the eyes of the common soldier. It follows the battles and the trials faced by the common soldier. The dangers like starvation, smallpox dysentery and other items that affected them.
October 30, 2017
well done!
Read
October 14, 2019Borrowed but didn't read
January 17, 2020
Good info, but to much repetition of events.
March 1, 2020
Great way to tell the revolution as a narrative from the soldiers perspective.
February 2, 2026
Sad to have finished such a great book! Pro tip, read it during the peak of winter season. You’ll appreciate what the soldiers went through at Morristown and Valley Forge.
Read
August 15, 20182009-08 - First American Army: The Untold Story of George Washington and the Men Behind America's First Fight for Freedom. Author: Bruce Chadwick. 416 pages. 2005.
This book had been sitting in a, “To Read” stack for about eight months before I decided to pick it up and read through it.
Primarily this book follows the travails and experiences of enlisted men during the American Revolution. It is not the first book to address the service and conditions of the common soldier. But unlike specialized histories this remains a general history of the conflict through the experiences of the rank and file. This experience is highlighted through the interweaving with a basic narrative of events and the stories of a few soldiers who wrote their memories for posterity. This notion of posterity was a reoccurring theme in commanders exhortations, chaplains sermons and soldiers diaries.
The primary soldiers featured in this text enter and leave the story as their lives and services dictated. Their experience is enhanced by observations from others who were there or who went through similar experiences. When put together these lives give the reader a very good sense of the basics in regard to what it was like to live in those times and be a part of those events from the inside. The narrative elements framing the recollections are important for the reader to understand the context of the remarks. Too often when dealing with combat narratives of a single individual you are reading only that persons experience which has a very narrow field of vision.
The book chooses to focus on the main army under Washington except for two exceptions. The first is the Battle of Saratoga for reasons of historical importance. The second was the invasion and retreat from Canada in 1775-1776. This later tale is one which is largely unfamiliar to the casual reader and too many students of the American Revolution. It is a tale of great daring, courage, and suffering. Much of the focus is on the trek through the wilderness with Arnold and on the horrid conditions during the retreat back to Fort Ticonderoga. The descriptions of the work done by the doctors, the chaplains and the suffering of the common soldier are very sobering indeed. The misery and fortitude to stick it out will surprise many. I also think that it does a very good job of highlighting the state and practice of medicine in that time. Of more interest though is the role of the chaplains in all of this. Their short terms of service can be understood when you read about what they did and how it was received by the troops. The sections which feature the chaplains are a very good pastoral primer even today.
Not all of the story is told from the point of view of the enlisted soldier there are diversions into the role and experiences of Chaplains, Doctors, and militia leaders. These seem warranted as ways to carry the story forward and in reflection on the observations made by these men about the soldiers they were treating and leading.
There are near the end of the book several chapters touching on the plight of prisoners of war, women, home life, blacks, and the war at sea. Some of these are masterfully integrated into the narrative and others seem like stories stuck into to meet an obligation. I do applaud the inclusion though as this is one of the few general histories to include those aspects of the story. Most general histories focus on Washington and his troops ignoring other operations and people.
This is a very good general history for the average reader and an example to the scholar of how to incorporate both social history and the big picture of history in to a readable and approachable text. The use of social history is an excellent way to personalize or create relational ties between subject and reader. The inclusion of the big picture narrative provides the context for the experiences and prevents a narrow myopic view by a subject matter expert which to often renders social history unreadable to the average reader.
This book had been sitting in a, “To Read” stack for about eight months before I decided to pick it up and read through it.
Primarily this book follows the travails and experiences of enlisted men during the American Revolution. It is not the first book to address the service and conditions of the common soldier. But unlike specialized histories this remains a general history of the conflict through the experiences of the rank and file. This experience is highlighted through the interweaving with a basic narrative of events and the stories of a few soldiers who wrote their memories for posterity. This notion of posterity was a reoccurring theme in commanders exhortations, chaplains sermons and soldiers diaries.
The primary soldiers featured in this text enter and leave the story as their lives and services dictated. Their experience is enhanced by observations from others who were there or who went through similar experiences. When put together these lives give the reader a very good sense of the basics in regard to what it was like to live in those times and be a part of those events from the inside. The narrative elements framing the recollections are important for the reader to understand the context of the remarks. Too often when dealing with combat narratives of a single individual you are reading only that persons experience which has a very narrow field of vision.
The book chooses to focus on the main army under Washington except for two exceptions. The first is the Battle of Saratoga for reasons of historical importance. The second was the invasion and retreat from Canada in 1775-1776. This later tale is one which is largely unfamiliar to the casual reader and too many students of the American Revolution. It is a tale of great daring, courage, and suffering. Much of the focus is on the trek through the wilderness with Arnold and on the horrid conditions during the retreat back to Fort Ticonderoga. The descriptions of the work done by the doctors, the chaplains and the suffering of the common soldier are very sobering indeed. The misery and fortitude to stick it out will surprise many. I also think that it does a very good job of highlighting the state and practice of medicine in that time. Of more interest though is the role of the chaplains in all of this. Their short terms of service can be understood when you read about what they did and how it was received by the troops. The sections which feature the chaplains are a very good pastoral primer even today.
Not all of the story is told from the point of view of the enlisted soldier there are diversions into the role and experiences of Chaplains, Doctors, and militia leaders. These seem warranted as ways to carry the story forward and in reflection on the observations made by these men about the soldiers they were treating and leading.
There are near the end of the book several chapters touching on the plight of prisoners of war, women, home life, blacks, and the war at sea. Some of these are masterfully integrated into the narrative and others seem like stories stuck into to meet an obligation. I do applaud the inclusion though as this is one of the few general histories to include those aspects of the story. Most general histories focus on Washington and his troops ignoring other operations and people.
This is a very good general history for the average reader and an example to the scholar of how to incorporate both social history and the big picture of history in to a readable and approachable text. The use of social history is an excellent way to personalize or create relational ties between subject and reader. The inclusion of the big picture narrative provides the context for the experiences and prevents a narrow myopic view by a subject matter expert which to often renders social history unreadable to the average reader.
May 19, 2012
Wow! Chadwick, using the journals of ordinary soldiers in the Revolution, takes us back in time. We see, hear, and feel vividly what went on. It was like alternating between M.A.S.H and Glory. Yes, the African American Regiment from Rhode Island is given its due, with 2 chapters devoted to it and its phenomenal bravery in holding off the superior British forces in Newport, RI.
A Robert Altman wannabe could have a ball making this into a movie. The Americans were a randy bunch. In staid Boston, soldiers bathed nude in the Charles River. many displaying full frontal views to hapless young ladies out for a stroll. Wherever the militia marched, sentries with spyglasses preceded. What they spied first wasn't enemy positions. It was the pulchritude of young women. "Gorgeous!" they'd announce, probably going into greater detail, although Chadwick doesn't dwell on that. Then there was the newlywed who left camp regularly for a few days of marathon sex. His wife must've loved it too as she visited friends in whatever town was near his campsite.
Soldiers wagered on outcomes. The scene of men frantically flourishing their money is lively, and, if they didn't have money, they bet silk stockings and chocolate. I wonder why they had those?
Then there were inept generals who so screwed up marching orders that regiments found themselves facing each other, not the enemy. Some regiments marched away, only to find themselves back to where they started. Complete with fife and drums playing, scenes like this would be hilarious in a film
Ah! Then there were the hangings and whippings. George Washington believed in discipline. He also believed in drama. As the drummers drummed the death rolls, and the hangman put his hand on the lever to send the men to eternity, a courier on a horse would race in shouting, "Stop! By order of His Excellency"
(Of course, some men were hanged or flogged anyways.)
But it wasn't all fun and screwups. The descriptions of the men afflicted with smallpox are not for the squeamish:oozing pustules, maggots feeding on them, horrible pain, and death.
The horrors at Valley Forge as described by the footsoldiers are vivid. That the farmers, blacksmiths, and artisans who made up the Colonial Army stuck it out because they believed in The Rights of Man shows what idealism can endure. What ideals are being fought for in Iraq and Afghanistan?
If this is made into a movie, and it should be, the scene of Cornwallis' defeat at Yorktown is made for cinema. The finest professional army in the world was defeated by ragtag amateurs. There's a lesson in that for us today.
The defeated Brits had to parade to the fifes and drums of their bands as the victors watched. Cannons boomed victory.American soldiers shot their muskets in unison, then shouted slogans. Of course, the American bands also played
War in those days was fought to music . Marchers kept time with their drummers. Even in the heat of battle, bands played to encourage those who were fighting. At night bands entertained, with soldiers singing along. Singing together is a powerful bonding activity.
Chadwick also describes the naval battles and merchant ships. And, I finally found out why George Washington was so great. The soldiers diaries tell why. Without George Washington, there'd be no USA. I think he'd be appalled at what we've become and how freedom has come to mean unbridled greed.
A Robert Altman wannabe could have a ball making this into a movie. The Americans were a randy bunch. In staid Boston, soldiers bathed nude in the Charles River. many displaying full frontal views to hapless young ladies out for a stroll. Wherever the militia marched, sentries with spyglasses preceded. What they spied first wasn't enemy positions. It was the pulchritude of young women. "Gorgeous!" they'd announce, probably going into greater detail, although Chadwick doesn't dwell on that. Then there was the newlywed who left camp regularly for a few days of marathon sex. His wife must've loved it too as she visited friends in whatever town was near his campsite.
Soldiers wagered on outcomes. The scene of men frantically flourishing their money is lively, and, if they didn't have money, they bet silk stockings and chocolate. I wonder why they had those?
Then there were inept generals who so screwed up marching orders that regiments found themselves facing each other, not the enemy. Some regiments marched away, only to find themselves back to where they started. Complete with fife and drums playing, scenes like this would be hilarious in a film
Ah! Then there were the hangings and whippings. George Washington believed in discipline. He also believed in drama. As the drummers drummed the death rolls, and the hangman put his hand on the lever to send the men to eternity, a courier on a horse would race in shouting, "Stop! By order of His Excellency"
(Of course, some men were hanged or flogged anyways.)
But it wasn't all fun and screwups. The descriptions of the men afflicted with smallpox are not for the squeamish:oozing pustules, maggots feeding on them, horrible pain, and death.
The horrors at Valley Forge as described by the footsoldiers are vivid. That the farmers, blacksmiths, and artisans who made up the Colonial Army stuck it out because they believed in The Rights of Man shows what idealism can endure. What ideals are being fought for in Iraq and Afghanistan?
If this is made into a movie, and it should be, the scene of Cornwallis' defeat at Yorktown is made for cinema. The finest professional army in the world was defeated by ragtag amateurs. There's a lesson in that for us today.
The defeated Brits had to parade to the fifes and drums of their bands as the victors watched. Cannons boomed victory.American soldiers shot their muskets in unison, then shouted slogans. Of course, the American bands also played
War in those days was fought to music . Marchers kept time with their drummers. Even in the heat of battle, bands played to encourage those who were fighting. At night bands entertained, with soldiers singing along. Singing together is a powerful bonding activity.
Chadwick also describes the naval battles and merchant ships. And, I finally found out why George Washington was so great. The soldiers diaries tell why. Without George Washington, there'd be no USA. I think he'd be appalled at what we've become and how freedom has come to mean unbridled greed.
Want to read
August 30, 2013I chose this book specifically because it mentions Washington's Life Guard, and elite group of men chosen specifically to protect and defend General Washington. Not many books are written about or mention his Life Guard which is unfortunate because of their very special role and duty. My interest comes from the fact that an ancestor of mine was, along with his friend, hand picked by Washington himself to join this guard. My ancestor, John Knight, is not mentioned in this book and neither is his friend John Cook however that's not why I'm interested in this particular book, I want more of the historical context. There was a book written about John Knight and his family and ancestry and in that book we have detailed information of my John (Knight) and his service towards democracy. I look forward to completing this book and giving a more detailed review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2014
Buku ini merupakan sebuah buku sejarah mengenai Peperangan Kemerdekaan Amerika Syarikat 1775-1783. Namun demikian,apa yang menariknya mengenai buku ini adalah fokus utama diberikan kepada pengalaman yang dirasai oleh anggota-anggota tentera/militia biasa. Bukannya mereka yang berpangkat tinggi dan ternama. Penulis menjadikan diari,jurnal dan surat mereka yang terlibat di dalam peperangan tersebut sebagai rujukannya.
May 2, 2014
An incredible history of the first continental army told through the diaries and accounts of the people who fought in it. From a doctor, to a farmer, minister, and 17 yr old who all were inspired to join the American Revolution. There are times when the authors writing is not fantastic, but overall it is well put together.
June 20, 2012
A nice look at the life and conditions of the soldier during the Revolutionary War. The writer wrote one chapter of the women during that time and basically called them all camp followers and whores. To me, it was a real drawback of the book and lowered the rating.
Read
May 10, 2013I honestly can't rate this book because I really could finish it. It just moved way to slow for me and if I'm going to read I need something that keeps my interest. Maybe I'll try again but not right now.
November 9, 2007
Another crappy book by Bruce Chadwick. Stupid, boring, unoriginal, and crappy!
December 20, 2008
Good general book for the American Revolution, but not to use for serious research.
August 25, 2010
Told from the perspective of individual soldiers provides a new spin on a well known conflict
February 3, 2013
Really enjoyed this book. I learned a great deal from it. The things they recorded were amazing. What a hard time it was for everyone.
April 20, 2017
Author Bruce Chadwick offers excellent context for the personal narratives of soldiers in George Washington's army. He draws upon diaries to tell the story of about half a dozen men who mostly survived the War of Independence...some with 9 lives during the conflict, varying roles, and changing perspectives as they aged over the many years. I love this book. The subtitle, "The Untold Story of George Washington and the Men Behind America's First Fight for Freedom," is a bit of a stretch. Much of what is offered about Washington is in the narrative, not through the words of individual soldiers...and Washington's role isn't represented THAT much. But one comes to further appreciate George Washington as a brave, resourceful, intelligent, and determined leader of the American forces fighting the British. I've read a number of books about wars, including All Quiet on the Western Front. This history shows that war is never desirable, always involves random and yet predictable death, and that soldiers are rarely appreciated by the people they are fighting for. Reminds me a lot of our times today and how as much as things have changed, they have stayed the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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