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Gavin K. Watt's Revolutionary Canadian History #1
A Dirty, Trifling Piece of Business: The Revolutionary War as Waged from Canada in 1781
By 1781, the sixth year of the American rebellion, British strategic focus had shifted from the northern states to concentrate in the south. Canada’s governor, Frederick Haldimand, was responsible for the defence of the Crown’s largest colony against the threat of Franco-American invasion, while assisting overall British strategy. He cleverly employed his sparse resources to vigorously raid the rebels’ frontiers and create anxiety, disruption, and deprivation, as his Secret Service undermined their morale with invasion rumours and threatened their Union by negotiating with the independent republic of Vermont to return to the British fold.
Haldimand flooded New York’s Mohawk and Schoharie valleys with Indian and Loyalist raiders and, once the danger of invasion passed, he dispatched two coordinated expeditions south. One was launched onto Lake Champlain to alarm Albany and further the secret talks with Vermont. The second struck deep into enemy territory, fought a battle at Johnstown, and retreated precipitately. The rebels effectively countered both expeditions.
Haldimand flooded New York’s Mohawk and Schoharie valleys with Indian and Loyalist raiders and, once the danger of invasion passed, he dispatched two coordinated expeditions south. One was launched onto Lake Champlain to alarm Albany and further the secret talks with Vermont. The second struck deep into enemy territory, fought a battle at Johnstown, and retreated precipitately. The rebels effectively countered both expeditions.
- GenresHistory
504 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2009
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About the author
Gavin K. Watt
19 books5 followersGavin K. Watt is the author of eleven books about loyalist military history, including Burning of the Valleys and Rebellion in the Mohawk Valley. He lives in King City, Ontario.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 9, 2016
"A Dirty, Trifling Piece of Business: Volume 1: The Revolutionary War as Waged from Canada in 1781" by Gavin K. Watt is about the English/Tory/Native American offensives in New York and New England during 1781.
Gavin Watt is a Canadian historian who has written extensively about Canada in the American Revolution. I have been very impressed with his writings and endeavor to read his books when I have a chance. I find his writing quite readable and his works thoughtful, well considered and, when I have looked, quite accurate. Additionally, he writes from the perspective of the English side, which to this US reader is rarely encountered. I highly recommend his work.
I brought his book on St Leger's Campaign with me when I walked the Oriskany battlefield. The National Park Ranger there and I discussed Watt's observations and how they related to the current view of where the battle occurred. The ranger seemed to feel that certain of Mr Watt's observations deserved further investigation.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about what happened in the western areas of New York and New England during the campaign of 1781. And I would highly recommend all of his works to anyone interested in the American Revolutionary War in New York and New England.
Gavin Watt is a Canadian historian who has written extensively about Canada in the American Revolution. I have been very impressed with his writings and endeavor to read his books when I have a chance. I find his writing quite readable and his works thoughtful, well considered and, when I have looked, quite accurate. Additionally, he writes from the perspective of the English side, which to this US reader is rarely encountered. I highly recommend his work.
I brought his book on St Leger's Campaign with me when I walked the Oriskany battlefield. The National Park Ranger there and I discussed Watt's observations and how they related to the current view of where the battle occurred. The ranger seemed to feel that certain of Mr Watt's observations deserved further investigation.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about what happened in the western areas of New York and New England during the campaign of 1781. And I would highly recommend all of his works to anyone interested in the American Revolutionary War in New York and New England.
Displaying 1 of 1 review