Wendy's Reviews > 1776

David McCullough's 1776 was a wonderful book. It begins and ends with George III's statement to Parliament. In each case, the King is asking Parliament to support the war. 1776 begins: "On the afternoon of Thursday, October 26, 1775, His Royal Majesty George III, King of England, rode in royal splendor from St. James's Palace to the Palace of Westminster, there to address the opening of Parliament on the increasingly distressing issue of war in America. Parliament did not passively agree to a declaration of war. There was much to debate. The House of Commons didn't vote until 4AM and the House of Lords not until after midnight. The House of Commons -- 278 to 108 in favor of the war. The House of Lords 69 to 29.

My notes from the book:

Washington was described as amiable and modest. Washington could have written a management training book when he wrote: Be easy...but not too familiar lest you subject yourself to a want of respect that is necessary to support proper command.

Adams felt Washington would become the most important "character in the world."

Yet Washington never led an army in battle. Never commanded anything larger than a regiment and never directed a siege.

His "army" was undisciplined, poorly armed. They were up against the best trained; best equipped most formidable military force on earth.

British soldiers hated American weather, the frogs in the spring, mosquitoes in the summer, harsh winds and snow in winter (British soldiers froze to death while standing watch during the harsh winter months.) Worse the British soldiers found it difficult to get a decent beer.

Phillis Wheatley wrote a poem to General Washington -- "Proceed great chief with virtue on thou side. Thy every action let the goddess guide." Washington wrote her back. Thank you most sincerely for your polite notice.... Washington then went onto say that her style and manner exhibit a striking proof of Wheatley's "great poetical talents."

He then invited her to Cambridge. Washington wrote that he would "be happy to see a person so favored by the muses."

General Washington's circle consisted of: General Nathanael Green who walked with a limp and learned about the military through books. He was the youngest brigadier general at the age of 33. General John Sullivan, New Hampshire politician who turned soldier. Known for his courage and tenacity. General Israel Putnam, known as "Old Put." He was from Connecticut and wasn't afraid of anything. Sadly, Putnam could only do one thing at a time.

William Alexander, Lord Sterling (Only American officer who maintained his British title). He commanded forces in Brooklyn. Thomas Mifflin.

General Henry Knox who was a big, gregarious man and was in business selling books. General Knox was a great leader and a real problem solver.

British side -- General Howe was a professional soldier who began his career right after his stay at Eton, when he was 17 years old. Comes from a prominent and well-connected family. William Howe consistently underestimated the American troops. He was always taken aback when he was outsmarted by "the rabble in arms."

Battle where the Americans chase the British out of Boston --- 8,906 British soldiers, 667 women who sided with the Brits, 552 children and 1100 loyalist.

After the Americans reclaimed Boston, the American colonists quoted Exodus 14:25. "He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians."

New York was considered very diverse and profane. A Captain Graydor didn't like "Negroes" in the regiment. He found them disagreeable. Another solider said it rather hurts European eye to see so many Negro slaves upon the street.

New York was a city of wonders. "The City of York exceeds all places that I ever saw."

Another officer described the city as having a Level of piety so low that the people of New York "habitually takes the name of the Lord in vain -- swearing abounds in all the classes.

20 Churches from 20 different denominations.

British ended up with 30,000 men and 100 ships in New York. Americans only 8,000 men.

The British and rape. One officer wrote: "The fair nymphs of this isle are in wonderful tribulation, as the fresh meat our men have here has made them as riotous as satyrs. Girls were at imminent risk of being ravished by just going out to relieve themselves...."Entertaining court Martials.

After the loss of NY, Lee and others loss faith in Washington's ability to command. He is described as being very indecisive and someone who almost begged his underlings to make the decision themselves. When he felt overwhelmed, he would write letters home discussing a repair or a decoration project he wanted to do at Mount Vernon.

In 1776 the colonies enjoyed a higher standard of living than any people in the world. British could not understand how they, the colonists, would choose to rebel against the ruler God had put them under and therefore bring such devastation upon themselves.

After the loss of NY, the colonists thought the British would head to PA so the delegations left Philadelphia.

Nightly battles were costly in life and in equipment, as a result, the British were slow to think the colonists would attack them at night. That is what they did, however, in the battle of Trenton.

The year 1776 begun and ended with two incredible victories. Washington who people lambasted after he loss NY now became a God by the end of the year. "Had Washington been born in the days of idolatry, he would have been worshiped as a God." Pennsylvania Journal.

Success in Princeton and Trenton put a very different face upon the affairs of the British and the colonists. Americans had "bested the enemy, bested the fearsome Hessians, outsmarted them and out fought them." If they did it once they could very well do it again.

The War of Independence was a great hardship for the colonists. By the war's end in 1783, one percent of the population would be killed. One cause of the deaths was the chronic sickness in the American army. They didn't keep themselves as clean as the Brits who had scheduled times to bath, wash their clothes, etc.

Because the Colonists lacked so much as compared to the great British army and navy, the fact that the Americans won the war, "seemed little short of a miracle."