Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War

by Michael Kranish

When Thomas Jefferson wrote his epitaph, he listed as his accomplishments his authorship of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia statute of religious freedom, and his founding of the University of Virginia. He did not mention his presidency or that he was second governor of the state of Virginia, in the most trying hours of the Revolution. Dumas Malone, author of the epic six-volume biography, wrote that the events of this time explain Jefferson's "character as a man of action in a serious emergency." Joseph Ellis, author of American Sphinx, focuses on other parts of Jefferson's life but wrote that his actions as governor "toughened him on the inside." It is this period, when Jefferson was literally tested under fire, that Michael Kranish illuminates in Flight from Monticello. Filled with vivid, precisely observed scenes, this book is a sweeping narrative of clashing armies--of spies, intrigue, desperate moments, and harrowing battles. The story opens with the first murmurs of resistance to Britain, as the colonies struggled under an onerous tax burden and colonial leaders--including Jefferson--fomented opposition to British rule. Kranish captures the tumultuous outbreak of war, the local politics behind Jefferson's actions in the Continental Congress (and his famous Declaration), and his rise to the governorship. Jefferson's life-long belief in the corrupting influence of a powerful executive led him to advocate for a weak governorship, one that lacked the necessary powers to raise an army. Thus, Virginia was woefully unprepared for the invading British troops who sailed up the James under the direction of a recently turned Benedict Arnold. Facing rag-tag resistance, the British force took the colony with very little trouble. The legislature fled the capital, and Jefferson himself narrowly eluded capture twice. Kranish describes Jefferson's many stumbles as he struggled to respond to the invasion, and along the way, the author paints an intimate portrait of Jefferson, illuminating his quiet conversations, his family turmoil, and his private hours at Monticello. "Jefferson's record was both remarkable and unsatisfactory, filled with contradictions," writes Kranish. As a revolutionary leader who felt he was unqualified to conduct a war, Jefferson never resolved those contradictions--but, as Kranish shows, he did learn lessons during those dark hours that served him all his life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American Revolution, Biography, American History, Presidents, War

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2008

About the author

Michael Kranish is an investigative political reporter for The Washington Post. He is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Trump Revealed, John F. Kerry, The Real Romney, and the author of The World’s Fastest Man and Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War. He was the recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists Award for Washington Correspondence in 2016.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a Revolutionary War buff but this is a book that needs to be owned by anyone interested in the American Revolution. I learned a lot from it. I had no clue that Thomas Jefferson had any issues during the war as Virginia's governor. Yes, I knew he was Governor during the war and that he had to leave Williamsburg because I had heard about it at Colonial Williamsburg, but I had no clue the extent of it. The first 100 or so pages of this book are about his time in Williamsburg before he became governor and his life at Monticello. The last two thirds of the book are about his decisions and beliefs as Governor of Virginia. I did not realize that President Jefferson believed in weak executive to the extent that it made it hard to find horses, ammunition and men for the war in Virginia. I had no clue that he didn't want to have anything to do with the war planning and believed that he didn't know anything about it. Yet he delayed calling in the militia as Benedict Arnold moved closer to Williamsburg. I didn't realize that President Jefferson gave up the governorship during the war either. I assumed that he was defeated. I was interested to learn about his caring nature when it came to his wife and children. I just learned a lot from this book. I felt that Michael Kranish did a very good job keeping it fast paced and interesting. I would recommend this book to any history buff looking to learn more.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Kranish's "Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War" he takes a slightly different approach to one of the most important people in Virginia during the Revolutionary War & US history by examining in detail the events in Thomas Jefferson's life during that time frame. With a decent amount of detail, Kranish puts we the reader back into the mid-1770s & beyond as he tells of the events of Jefferson's time as governor of Virginia & the exact fears of the colonists at the time. Each chapter moves us forward in time & gives you a good feel for what life would've been like during that era & also gives us an insight into Jefferson himself that isn't seen all that often. Jefferson & the other leaders of that time are humanized in a way that is very nice to see as he reminds us that they were fallible people & put their lives at great risk. The inevitable flight from Monticello happens near the end as Jefferson continues to fear for his live to avoid becoming the most prized British POW of the war. The book is a must read for anyone with an interest not only in the man who would become the 3rd president of the US & is also the author of the Declaration of the Independence but for anyone with an interest in the Revolutionary War itself.

[Eric Atkisson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, if somewhat misnamed; most of it is about the several British invasions of Virginia in 1781, while Jefferson was governor. The actual flight from Monticello for which he was maligned by critics is a relatively minor and anticlimactic postscript. What I found most enlightening wasn't about Jefferson at all, but at how wretchedly the state's militia performed during most of the conflict, how poorly most Virginians cooperated with the war effort (indeed, a good portion of the public remained Loyalists to the crown), and how so many of their slaves deserted to the British. The book was well worth reading for those insights alone.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the Revolutionary War histories I've read so far deal rather perfunctorily with the latter years when the conflict moved south. They hit the high points like Yorktown and mention that a lot of terror and destruction were spread across the countryside, but mainly skim the surface. That's where this book fills the gap.

Michael Kranish starts with some fascinating background on what colonial Virginia was like such as the different (upper) classes of Tidewater and Piedmont, the compulsive gambling, and Jefferson's upbringing. He describes the frictions between Loyalists and Patriots, and Lord Dunmore's difficult flight. But the focus of the book is the year when Jefferson was governor. Benedict Arnold, now a British general, laid waste to towns up and down the James River, plundering as he went. Jefferson, not a military man by his own admission, moved the Legislature to avoid the British and belatedly called out local militias, most of whom offered scant resistance and poor showings. But Kranish does an excellent job of explaining the situation (a situation for which Jefferson has been criticized ever since): the difficulties in raising the promised number of men for the Continental Army, the poor condition of the militias, and the woeful defenses offered by the Virginians. In an interesting twist of irony, Kranish points out that many of those difficulties arose from Jefferson's resistance to a standing army and support for laws limiting the power of the Governor. Kranish offers a defense of Jefferson but declines to get bogged down in it and focuses more on the history, including a number of interesting stories.

I'll admit I'm not much of a fan of Jefferson - most of what I've read hasn't been particularly flattering. But Kranish presents him as a real person, doing what he could in a situation for which he wasn't well-suited (briefly mentioning the health problems his family faced). He overstates some of Jefferson's latter accomplishments but points out the failures and shortcomings, but overall he sticks to the history. This isn't light reading - it will probably be most appreciated by those more seriously interested in the War or history of the region - but also stops short of being dry and scholarly. It is well annotated and indexed, and I found it to be an interesting read.

[Paul Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the title is Flight from Monticello, the book starts long before that event occurred. To me, this is a good thing though. While more die hard history buffs might know every detail that is already in this book, I enjoyed it immensely. It is a good telling of the story of Virginia during the revolutionary war and many of the things that went on, and people that were involved.

[The Book Studio]

Watch Bethanne Patrick interview Michael Kranish about his new book “Flight from Monticello” on The Book Studio.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine book about an overlooked period in Jefferson's life.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

An engaging short story sandwiched between badly written prose.

[Michael Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flight from Monticello delves into Thomas Jefferson's time as Governor of Virginia, the British invasion of the state, and Jefferson's near capture by British forces as he fled his home in Monticello.

A great deal is known about Jefferson's role in the writing of the Declaration of Independence, his service as ambassador to France, as well as his time as Secretary of State under George Washington and later President. But I knew very little of Jefferson's time as Governor.

It was a challenging time as the highly professional British forces faced the poorly trained and equipped volunteer Virginia Militia and were able to operate almost without opposition. Several times, Jefferson had to move the seat of government to avoid being overrun by the British and on more than one occasion he was nearly captured by British forces.

It was one of the darkest moments in Jefferson's life. If captured, he could have been executed as a traitor to the Crown, but he had little in the way of resources, no organized military to counter the British invasion, and little professional military leadership to rely on. Despite the circumstances, he was accused by Patrick Henry and others of dereliction of duty and cowardice for his flight from the British forces.

The accusations, although later abandoned by his accusers, were a stain on his reputation that he brooded over for the rest of his life. There is no question that it wasn't Jefferson's finest moment as a leader. He made a series mistakes including wildly overestimated the militia's capabilities and misjudging the British intentions. Yet, Jefferson had no military experience (as he openly acknowledged) and very little power as Governor in a system of government that gave him few executive powers.

This history doesn't paint Jefferson in the most favorable light, but neither does it condemn him for his leadership under the trying circumstances he faced.

While Flight from Monticello provides insight into a less well-known time in Thomas Jefferson's life, I found that it sometimes dwelled on extraneous detail and wasn't an overly compelling read. A good, but not great history.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating and exciting account of not only Jefferson's activities during the Revolutionary War, but it's really about the state of Virginia's experience during the war (spoiler alert: it's not pleasant). Its coffers were empty, the militia scattered and under-supplied, its navy nearly non-existent, its citizens preferring to riot rather than join the militia, its governor (Jefferson during 2 years of the war) too institutionally weak to do anything about any of it.

Kranish describes all this in great detail yet the pace never lags. Along the way, you'll learn a ton about the other actors, such as Benedict Arnold and his treason and his plot to kidnap George Washington; British cavalry officer Banastre Tarleton and his too-close-for-comfort attempt to capture Jefferson; John Champe and his daring undercover mission to kidnap Benedict Arnold; Jack Jouett and hid own midnight ride to warn Jefferson of Tarleton's pursuit; Josiah Parker and his diary.

It's all a wonderful combination of information and knowledge presented in an entertaining narrative.

[Bonnie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Revolutionary War in Virginia

During the British Invasion of a Virginia, Jefferson was the governor and by default, the military commander. The governor had very few powers and he had difficulty raising a militia. He was criticized for his ineptness but insisted he was the wrong person to be in charge of the military . Other than a detailed accounting of the many battles, troup movements, and final battle, the most interesting aspect of this book is the role slavery played in the war and also in the culture and economics of Virginia. The story ends with the battle at Yorktown, and just skims over the rest of Jefferson's life. His relationship with Sally Hemings is not explored.

I recommend this book; however, the writing is not as polished as David McCullough. The details of the battles are repetitious.

[Daniel Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though somewhat misnamed, this was a super enjoyable read. Very little of the book is about Jefferson’s actual escape from Monticello as the British arrived at Charlottesville. Sorry if I wanted more about his flight from Monticello, in a book called “Flight from Monticello.” Despite that, this is a solid deep dive into Virginia’s ill-prepared militia during the Revolutionary War, as then-Governor Jefferson grappled with his need for a stronger militia against his small government principles unwilling to muster one by any means necessary. Also peppers in some little-known Revolutionary War heroes amongst the familiar names and examines plantation life along the James River as Virginians chose sides. Way cool 😎

[Joseph J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling adventure of war and escape. Peopled by fascinating personalities, led by Thomas Jefferson, including his enemy Patrick Henry, the many faceted Mary Byrd, and other heroes and villains of the War for Independence in Virginia. Kranish, a reporter by profession, with color and verve brings us along the rutted roads and perilous hillsides of a still largely forested Virginia. And there the weakened from childbirth and increasingly frail Martha Jefferson and children, a looming domestic tragedy for a Jefferson in the depths of war, revolution, and political crisis. It was a humiliation which would haunt Jefferson and his career the rest of his life.

[SMK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather rote recounting of the events of the war in Virginia and the role of Thomas Jefferson. Obviously well researched, the book sheds light on a time which Jefferson himself would remain more or less obsessed with for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, Kranish does not offer any point of view, or argument, or original take; he simply recounts the factual narrative, and this dry regurgitation had me losing interest half way through. That said, for any Jefferson aficionado this is essential reading, as no other book covers this time in Jefferson’s life in such detail.

[Paul Creasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Very readable and quite informative. I learned quite a few things about such a little discussed incident in American history. I also learned that the state government of Virginia was as dysfunctional then as it still is now. Jefferson comes off well in this account. Patrick Henry comes off poorly. Benedict Arnold is actually worse than I already thought. Highly recommended.

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting part of Jefferson's life--perhaps because it is a period when Jefferson was at his best concerning leadership. He is running around making all his friends and neighbors donate horses and then enacting an emergency withdrawal from the Virginia capitol and Monticello.

(Although the Louisiana Purchase was pretty good too)

[William Guerrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointing. It's a shame the fellowship that enabled the writing of this book was given to a journalist rather than an historian.

But there is enough detail and good writing in the book to make it worthwhile and valuable to those interested in this important and historically neglected subject.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that looks in detail at Jefferson's time as governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War. It also serves as a good short dual biography of Jefferson and Patrick Henry.

[Patrice S · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are fan of American history, you’ll find this book interesting and informative. There is information here that you never learned in school. And it’s presented in an enjoyable way.

[Sam Viebrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was fine, sort of dry, but interesting at points. I love reading about the AR but a little dry for my taste.

[Mike Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice narrative history with the right amount of detail and background

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book with Thomas Jefferson in the title, Jefferson doesn't figure very prominently here. The "flight from Monticello" doesn't even happen until very late in the book.

That might seem like a deal breaker, except for the fact that the story this book does actually tell, is interesting in its own right. What it really is, is a book about the Revolutionary War as it happened in Virginia. Most popular histories of the war tell it from George Washington's perspective - you follow him, and the war, from Massachusetts to New York to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and only at the end do you get to Virginia for the British surrender at Yorktown.

This book tells you everything that happened in Virginia before Washington got there. British troops basically had the run of the place, leading up to the flight from Monticello in the title. It's a good story, and one worth telling, but I guess "The History of the Revolutionary War in Virginia" wouldn't sell as well as a book with Thomas Jefferson in the title.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about the Revolutionary War in Virginia from reading this book. I'm much more familiar with events in New England. With characters like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, this book was an engaging read. This book is also a reminder that we shouldn't let our failures destroy us. Jefferson was a terrible wartime governor of Virginia, often ignoring calls to attack the British that would possibly have ended the war earlier. He was not much of a military mind. Yet, Jefferson went on to be a valuable European diplomat for the newly formed US and later a great president. This book gave a glimpse into what created Jefferson.

Reading this while visiting Monticello and Yorktown was so perfectly timed, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this history.

[Grace Struiksma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War is more than a historical narrative about Jefferson as governor of Virginia. It is a detailed account of the American Revolution from a Virginia perspective. While the text thoroughly analyzes Thomas Jefferson's philosophies, flaws and choices presented to him during a time of crisis while serving as governor of Virginia, the author interestingly unravels the story of a state at war, including the major players involved, specific places and battlegrounds, strategies and dilemmas. Kranish provides comprehensive insight into the significance of Virginia during the Revolution, and not simply as the place regarded as the culmination of the conflict.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of the Revolutionary War in Virginia with an empahsis on Thomas Jefferson and his role as governor. His flight from Monticello is a minor chapter of the book. But Thomas Jefferson was haunted by this chapter in his life and the perception he was a coward. Author redeems Jefferson and offers reasonable arguement that he made the correct choice out of necessity not fear.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about Jefferson's role as a wartime governor of Virginia. Some people accuse him of cowardice as he escaped from the invading British but this book explains things and makes it clear that Jefferson acted responsibly. Lots of ancillary information about the overall Revolution as it took place in Virginia - much more active than typical history transmits to us.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read that focused on a relatively unknown period in American history. Michael Kranish paints a vivid picture of late 18th century Virginia and the dynamics involved between the British/Loyalists and Americans (specifically Governor Thomas Jefferson) in the Revolutionary War. This is a page-turner and I highly recommend this book to interested readers.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is kind of a dry read which focuses on Thomas Jefferson’s term as Virginia governor and his actions to repel the invasion of Virginia which happened during the end of his term as he was forced to run from Monticello with Banastre Tarleton’s cavalry in pursuit. This covers probably the darkest moment of Jefferson’s political career.

[William]

Very interesting and hereto unknown (to me) topic about Thomas Jefferson. Not nearly the history reader I once was, when times were simplier and history more "stable", so I'll be anxious to read this, especially if a cheaper soft cover is available.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a drier historical text then I was anticipating. I thought it was going to dramatize a specific event more. It's always interesting to read history, but this didn't quite live up to my expectations.