War for Independence: A Military HistoryUniversity of Chicago Press, 15. mar. 1958 - 226 strani The American victory in the Revolutionary War came as a surprise to people all over the world. Believing that successful wars were fought by professionals and aristocrats, they could not understand how ragged and hungry troops of ill-assorted civilians were able to defeat one of the world's strongest professional armies. This book is an effort to explain how and why that upset was accomplished. Alternating with scene and summary, the narrative has pace and proportion. Battles fall into campaigns, and campaigns interpret strategy. Commanders are deftly characterized, and flashes of insight illuminate victories and defeats. There emerges a picture of American soldiers as tougher and more deeply motivated fighters than the uncommitted British and German professionals. The book also demonstrates how highly prized were the rights that the revolutionists sought to confirm or establish, and serves as a reminder today that some ideas are worth risking life for. "What is most amazing about this excellent history is Prof. Peckham's ability to retell these . . . legendary events . . . in a way which enriches and absorbs the reader."—Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times |
Vsebina
Prelude to Battle | 1 |
I A Middling Force | 7 |
II Canada Lost Carolina Held | 21 |
III To the Delawareand Back | 38 |
IV A Thousand Untoward Circumstances | 58 |
V Disappointments in Battle and Alliance | 81 |
VI Frontiers in Flames | 102 |
VII The War on the Sea | 117 |
IX Recovery of the South | 145 |
X Rendezvous at Yorktown | 164 |
XI Flames and Embers Extinguished | 183 |
XII The Summing Up | 197 |
Biliographical Notes | 210 |
Important Dates | 220 |
223 | |
VIII Into the Slough of Despond | 128 |
Druge izdaje - Prikaži vse
Pogosti izrazi in povedi
Admiral Ameri American Revolution army Arnold attack August battle began Benedict Arnold Boston Brigadier British Burgoyne Burgoyne's camp campaign cannon Captain captured Carleton casualties Charleston Clinton Colonel colonies command Congress Continental army Continentals Cornwallis Dan Morgan defeat detachment enemy England Estaing expedition fighting fire fleet force Fort Schuyler Fort Ticonderoga fought France French Gage garrison Gates Gates's gave George Germain Governor Greene guns Hessians Howe's Hudson hundred Indians ington Island John July killed King Lafayette Lake Champlain Lincoln Lord loyalists marched ment miles military militia moved musket Nathanael Greene naval navy Newport night North October officers ordered Philadelphia prisoners raids Rawdon rebels redoubt regiments reinforcements resign retreat Rhode Island River Rochambeau sailed Savannah Schuyler seized sent September ships siege soldiers South Carolina Sullivan supplies surrender thousand troops Ticonderoga took town turned Valley Forge victory Virginia Washington Wayne William winter wounded York Yorktown