Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History)

Book Description

Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia. Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he led his men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trenton followed within days. The Americans held off a counterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind the enemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined. Fischer's richly textured narrative reveals the crucial role of contingency in these events. We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. While British and German forces remained rigid and hierarchical, Americans evolved an open and flexible system that was fundamental to their success. The startling success of Washington and his compatriots not only saved the faltering American Revolution, but helped to give it new meaning.

Customer Reviews:

Where is a ghost writer when you need one?.......2007-08-21

I believe it was easier to cross the Delaware in winter than to get through this book. I just read 1776 by David McCullough, loved it, and was interested in reading more. Fischer is one of the dullest writers I've read. It is painfully obvious that being a successful academic and a successful writer are not necessarily connected.

Top-Notch history from a Top-Notch historian.......2007-06-24

This is probably about as well organized and detailed as any book on a single historical event can get. That it does so without loosing pace or drying out is commendable. While the title may lead one to believe that this book is only about the famous "midnight" crossing, the actual event serves as the centerpiece for the story with the painting by Emanuel Leutze as its starting point. In fact, "Washington's Crossing" deals as much with the events leading up to and afterwards as it does the actual crossing. It is also about more then just the famous crossing with which we are all familiar. Several other Delaware River crossings are detailed including the initial retreat from the ensuing British, the return from the battle of Trenton, and the advance back into New Jersey shortly thereafter. The book is also a detailed biography of George Washington's years just before and into the fist several months of the American Revolution. Appropriately enough this book is also, at times, about the Delaware River itself.

Davis Hackett Fischer deserves five stars on his writing style alone. This book flows like a well written story, which is appropriate in that history is human drama. The book starts with a description and history of the famous painting of Washington crossing the Delaware and then discusses the recent arguments over the painting's accuracy. It seems to have become the fashion lately to debunk this painting over various, some rather trivial details, such as time of day, type of boats used, and even how chunks of ice depicted in the painting, Fischer staunchly defends the painting based on what and who it represents, and most importantly the spirit that is represented. One appreciates Fisher's references throughout this book that American history is not something that needs an apology.

The first three chapters provide a thorough background on all of the major players, the American rebels, the British regulars, and the Hessian mercenaries. Fischer maintains a sense of objectivity in his accounts. Although the acts of rape, pillage, and violence towards the colonies are not ignored, The British and the Hessians are not merely described as the villains of the story just as the Colonials are not by default "good guys." This book is sympathetic to the American cause, but that does not prevent it from describing the people and nations as what they were. One example is General Cornwallis, who is frequently described the pompous and arrogant buffoon who lost the colonies. Fischer however devotes a fair amount of time to Cornwallis's standing in the British military and career as a whole. The depiction is that of an accomplished military career by all standards and that of a person with his own mind who was well respected by all ranks.

The rest of the book can be divided into three sections starting with the seemingly endless series of disasters that the continental army incurred after the British regulars arrived, including the fall of New York, the execution of Nathan Hale, and the loss of Fort Washington, probably the lowest point for George Washington during the entire revolution. The second, as the book's chronology makes its way towards November and December of 1776, deals with the places and events leading up to and including the Battle of Trenton. There is some good history in this section, particularly the river raiding parties out of Pennsylvania that routinely harassed the British encampments along the Delaware River's banks in New Jersey and numerous contributions they made to the attack on Trenton. This section also details Alexander Hamilton's artillery division, one of the few bright spots for Washington's young army. The final section deals with events following the Battle of Trenton, including post celebration war cabinets trying to decide what to do next, the subsequent trip back across the Delaware, and the Battle of Princeton. Again, there are some great gems of history to be found here. Most notably is Fischer's detailing of the lesser known, but probably more important events unofficially known as the Second Battle of Trenton in which Washington's forces held their ground at Assunpink Creek and turned back Cornwallis's larger and superior forces.

Fischer closes the book with a refreshing and necessary summary and conclusion. While the main body of the book completes in fewer than 400 pages, they are dense with information, which leave one feeling that they have actually completed a much longer book. Additionally, there are numerous appendices detailing all sorts of interesting facts and statistics and a section devoted to the Historiography of Washington's Crossing. This is a formidable book, but it is also a top-notch one that should delight fans of History, the American Revolution, and certainly of George Washington. Newcomers to history should probably work their way through a couple of easier books before tacking this one, but they should still consider putting this one on their shelves for future reading.

What can I say that hasn't been said.......2007-06-03

As an avid early American Historian, I place this book in my top three. This is must reading. The facts are told as they were, through the primary characters and you are there during the end of the mini ice age crossing the Delaware. Like MJ's last shot against Utah, if it didn't really happen, we would all just chalk it up to a Hollywood fairytale.

I read McCullough's 1776 after this and there is no comparison.

This book is so vivid and palpable that I felt obligated to go follow the trail of those early warriors. Amazing!

My other two favorites are Chernow's Hamilton and Gotham.

Excellent work .......2007-05-30

Fischer's Washington's Crossing is detailed account of the New Jersey campaign of 1776-1777, specifically focusing on the battles of Trenton and Princetion. Fischer does a great job of showing the differences between the leadership of Washington and Cornwallis and the effects that the battles of Trenton and Princeton had on the soldiers from both sides. While the book does get bogged down in too much detail in some points and not enough in others, this is a great book.

Excellent.......2007-03-20

This is a wonderful book. Now I want to read all of Mr. Fischer's work.

The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Road to Valley Forge (Philadelphia Campaign)

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The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Road to Valley Forge (Volume II).
Best Campaign History Available

The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Road to Valley Forge (Philadelphia Campaign)
Thomas J. McGuire
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0811702065

Book Description

Based on soldiers' and civilians' vivid accounts--many uncovered for the first time from private collections--the story of the compelling fight for independence reaches its most desperate moments. This second in a two-volume set follows the saga from Cornwallis's triumphal march of his British and Hessian troops into Philadelphia in late September to Washington's movement of the weary Continental forces to camp at Valley Forge in December.

Defeated at Brandywine, the Continental forces were worn out and ill equipped. Yet on October 4, Washington embarked on his first major offensive of the war--a surprise attack at dawn on Howe's main camp at Germantown. Only narrowly defeated, the Continentals gained valuable experience and new confidence in the possibility of victory. The seige of the Delaware River forts--one of the bloodiest and prolonged battles of the war--ended with British success in mid-November, but still Howe failed to end the war. He tried unsuccessfully to draw Washington from the fortified hills of Whitemarsh. As the Continental forces moved to Valley Forge for the winter, they would have to face their greatest challenge--survival.

Customer Reviews:

The Philadelphia Campaign: Germantown and the Road to Valley Forge (Volume II). .......2007-10-15

This book is the second in a two part history of the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. Like the first book the author allows the participants to do most of the speaking in their own voices. He also has chosen to use copies of their maps rather then updated accurate historian produced maps. This helps the reader to view the situations as the authors experienced them. Unfortunately if you are not versed in the events this coupled with the multiple approaches and views of a single event can cause the reader to get confused. This may put some readers off, but it must be remembered that combat like many other stressful situations has a way of creating a narrow tunnel vision in the participants. This book allows the reader to share that point of view which is usually sanitized by historians trying to create a single authoritative narrative.

This book is an excellent addition to a very pivotal year in the American Revolution. I was surprised at how very close the Americans actually came to defeating the bulk of the British forces in America in 1777. Most of us are quite familiar with the result of the Battles at Saratoga, NY, but how many are familiar with the siege of Ft. Mifflin? I had heard of this battle and overviewed the site but what I did not fully understand was how important it was for the British to eliminate this American strongpoint. This strongpoint was essentially preventing re-supply of the entire British Army which was occupying Philadelphia and which was starving. They had won at Brandywine and won again at Germantown but they were essentially cut off in Philadelphia with Washington constricting the bag around them. If Ft. Mifflin had held out it is probable that Howe would have had to conduct a fighting retreat with a starving army back to his fleet.

I was also struck by the descriptions of the Battle of Germantown and how some things in the military never change through time and culture. Yet the reader is also given glimpses into how very different war and armies were back then, especially because of the social constructs of the time. Soldiering though is an eternal sameness going back to the ancients and forward to the present. These soldiers on both sides were very hard men and their stamina in the field and in marching would humble any modern army today. That they endured the lack of logistics and still managed to march and fight as they did with the pluck and spirit they had continues to be the untold story of the American Revolution. It is no wonder that Civil War soldiers held the Continentals up as the standard they were trying to match.

I was also continually struck by how they did fight these battles. Not so much on the operational or strategic level but at the tactical level. There was not as much standing shoulder to shoulder in straight lines and shooting it out as is too often portrayed. The dominance of a light infantry ethos especially among British troops will surprise many readers. They other great factor is the predominance of the bayonet as a weapon of decision. This was not the same British Army which would march against Napoleon though it is often portrayed as such.

The bibliography is excellent and will serve to foist many other titles onto my reading stack, in particular I have become interested in the writings of the Hessian Light Infantryman Johann Ewald. His observations seem quite adept given what he was experiencing.

Best Campaign History Available.......2007-09-30

If you have only limited space for Revolutionary War Campaigns this shOULD be in your library along with volume one on the PHILADELPHIA Campaign. its one of the best That is available and is marked by solid research and good writing. Many new manuscript sources were used. The author knows his subject matter intimately.

Washington's Secret War : The Hidden History of Valley Forge

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Interesting Insight
Dissapointing
Couldn't put it down?
Schuylkill: pronounced Skoo-kill.
Another great one for Thomas Fleming

Washington's Secret War : The Hidden History of Valley Forge
Thomas Fleming
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000GPIL6O

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Insight.......2007-10-15

Thomas Fleming is a historian that has written this account using primary documents. In this book he describes how General George Washington kept the ragged Continental Army intact in Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777-1778. He argues that after the British captured Philadelphia, Washington's rivals conspired to have him removed but he "outmaneuvered his political enemies and rescued the Revolution from extremism." I could not put the book down once I started reading.

Dissapointing.......2007-08-02

I found this book quite dissapointing. Although I did learn a great deal about Valley Forge, the author seemed more concerned with proving his point than with attempting a balanced and accurate history. His arguments were just too forced and narrow.

Couldn't put it down?.......2007-07-15

Look, I know this book is about washington's months at valley forge and all of the political garbage that he had to deal with... but it's fantastic! I couldn't put it down!

I'm such a dork.

Schuylkill: pronounced Skoo-kill........2007-07-10

I remember an elementary school field trip to Valley Forge, about fifty miles from my hometown. The tour guide pointed out the replicas of the low-roofed cabins and talked about how the shoeless Continental army left bloody footprints in the snow. These details were mildly interesting to elementary school kids, but the political circumstances that brought General Washington and his troops here in the winter of 1777-78 make a far more interesting case study of how not to run a war.

Fleming cites a variety of correspondence - between Generals Washington and Gates, the Continental Congress, Thomas Mifflin, president Henry Laurens and his son John, and between ordinary soldiers and their families, among others - to reenact the experience of surviving in Valley Forge and to illuminate the power struggle between Washington and those in Congress who wanted to replace him. With some deft political maneuvering, he persuaded Congress to reform the quartermaster and commissary departments to supply his starving standing army. This was highly controversial at a time when true Whig politicians believed patriotic citizens would provide supplies directly to soldiers, and truly patriotic soldiers would serve without pay. This retelling of the Valley Forge episode shows why Washington was revered by his men - not only was he a true leader, he was also a staunch realist. In all the iconography of Washington, the fact that he valued expedience to ideology must not be lost.

Another great one for Thomas Fleming.......2007-07-03

Fleming has a knack for making history interesting. Here he gives us a remarkable behind-the-scenes look on one part of the American Revolution.

The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 (Dear America)

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4th-6th Teacher recommendation
This got my daughter hooked on history
I really like it, It kept me reading.
The winter
The Winter of Red Snow

The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 (Dear America)
Kristiana Gregory
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0590226533

Customer Reviews:

4th-6th Teacher recommendation.......2007-07-27

This year I will be teaching American history to my students. It is important to "connect" as many subjects as possible. This book provides a link between the Civil War, history, and literature. Not only does it link the subjects, it is interesting as well. The author gives a child's look into the War for Independence that is genuine and easily read. Most diary type books are choppy; this one flows well from one entry to the next. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to teach children about the Civil War.

This got my daughter hooked on history.......2007-07-05

My daugher discovered this book in 4th grade and was so thrilled to get her own copy. Nearly three years later, it's still her go-to fiction when she doesn't know what else to read, and she says she always gets something new from it. It's tough to recommend something I've never read myself, but my daughter is a pretty discerning reader, so I trust her judgement on this one.

I really like it, It kept me reading........2006-12-02

For me this book was one that I just couldn't put down, I was always reading it. I like this book becuase I learned more about what went on in Valley Forge then I ever did. The author Kristiana Gregory even put in words like thy and ye to make it sound more back then when you read. What happens to Abigail is so exciting that you want to keep reading and never stop. The Winter of Red Snow has a nice ending and goes on to the epilogue, to tell about what happens in the future. On the very end pages there are pictures of historical people and historical things that happen in the book. The book is 170 pages long counting the epilogue and the pictures. You read to page 147 to get to the very end before the Epilogue. I really predict this book to anyone who likes to read their brother or sisters journal, or someone who likes to hear about history mixed with adventure. If you read it make sure to pass it on to someone else, I am sure they will like it too.

The winter.......2006-06-19

This historical fiction book is about a young girl named Abigail Jane Stuart. She lives in Valley Forge in 1777 and has come to find that some solders come and stay not far from her home. The main characters are Mr. Stuart, Mrs. Stuart, Elizabeth, Sally, and Abigail of course. Also she has a little brother that has just been born named Johnny and there not shore if he is going to survive the winter because winter is just around the corner. The solders are not making things better for them; one example is the solders are very hungry so they stole their chickens. Abigail also gets to meet general George Washington and his wife. I really enjoyed this book because it really explained things well and you really could feel how they felt and you could picture it. The only thing that was a little hard was that some names were hard to say. Also there kind of grammar was hard to say. If you really like historical fiction then buy this book today, I would.

The Winter of Red Snow.......2006-06-19

The Winter of Red Snow is about a girl named Abigail Jane Stewart who records her days by writing in a diary. On December 17, 1777 Abigail was writing and she wrote...
I woke to the sleet hitting the window and another sound I'd not heard before. Papa came and said, "The soldiers are coming!" Finally through the grey we saw them. Three officers on horseback led. We ran outside to cheer for them, but the men were quite and thin. The sight of them took my breath away. "They have no shoes." Elizabeth whispered. Their footprints left blood in the snow. As I wrote this upstairs my candle low, I think I shall never again complain.
I think that really say's allot. She writes about tragic movements sometimes. I think they called it the "Winter of Red Snow" because blood is red and as she said, in her writing there footprints left blood in the snow making it red snow. Abigail has many problems and troubles in this book, witch she tries to find solutions to them. She likes to write what's in her head, what she sees, but mostly what's going on. Read this book for many adventures with Abigail Jane Stewart.

Silver for General Washington ;: A story of Valley Forge

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Amazing Book About American Revolution

Silver for General Washington ;: A story of Valley Forge
Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft
Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B0007I3GPG

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Book About American Revolution.......2002-03-27

I really liked the book Silver For General Washington because it is really interesting book and it talk about how the American Army had to survive in the winter without food, clothes, money, and something to get warm.
I recommend this book to you because it gets you hooked and you would not to let go of the book. This book teaches a lot of history and also teaches you about teamwork and how to survive in tough conditions. If you read this book, you can get good grades in history.It is also an interesting book because talks about war without getting involved in a war at all. Of course it is talking about the American revolutionary war but it is telling everything that is going on at the camp. The book i s about a boy named Gilbert Emmett who was sent to Valley Forge because his dad went to help at the revolutionary war and there was not somebody at home to take good care of his sister and him. At Valley Forge Gilbert helped the Americans who did not have food, he gave some of his food to the Americans and in the end he found that General Washington needed money and he remembered that his dad had really expensive things buried in the house, then he decided to go to Philadelphia, where he used to live. When he had the money he gave the money to the General and that is why the book is called Silver For General Washington.
This book should be read by everybody even if you are not an American.
There are many values you can find along the author's words such as friendship, patriotism, generosity, equality. And America as a country was created on those values and it is wronderful to realize they are still part of the country and literature.

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Great reference and point of departure

The North Carolina Continentals
Hugh F. Rankin
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0807856622
Release Date: 2006-02-23

Book Description

In this classic account of the Revolutionary War experiences of the North Carolina Continentals, Hugh F. Rankin traces the events leading to war in North Carolina and follows all the campaigns and battles in which the North Carolina Continentals took part--Brandywine, Germantown, Charleston, Savannah, Camden, Eutaw Springs, and others. He also provides descriptions of almost all of the significant personalities in the Continental Army. Originally published in 1971, this new edition contains a foreword by Lawrence Babits, introducing the book to a new generation of scholars and general readers interested in the Revolutionary War.

Customer Reviews:

Great reference and point of departure.......2006-09-25

This is a great history of NC & the Revolutionary War, not just the NC Continentasls as the tilte implies. Its valuable for researchers of the era in NC, as Rankin's work is based solidly in the archives. It should be noted however that this is a MILITARY study almost exclusively, and has very little to say about the social aspects of the war in NC.

Valley Forge (Cornerstones of Freedom. Second Series)

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The American Army is transformed one winter at Valley Forge

Valley Forge (Cornerstones of Freedom. Second Series)
R. Conrad Stein
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0516066838

Customer Reviews:

The American Army is transformed one winter at Valley Forge.......2002-02-08

The "Cornerstones of Freedom" series does an excellent job of providing in depth information about historical events for students in upper elementary or junior high school. "Valley Forge" starts with the American Army avoiding barely avoiding being annihilated at the Battle of Brandywine. In the brutal winter of 1777 the colonial army limped into Valley Forge a disorganized and low on supplies and morale. The two things R. Conrad Stein's book focuses on are the severe conditions the troops faced and how they were transformed into a more professional fighting force. Students will learn about not only the leadership shown by commanding general George Washington, but also the efforts by Nathanael Greene to provide better equipment and Baron Friedrich von Steuben to drill the troops in marching and shooting. The improvement was seen the following year at the Battle of Monmouth. This book is filled with paintings and etchings from the 18th and 19th centuries along with contemporary photographs of the National Park. One of the strengths of this book is that Stein often uses quotations from the ordinary soldiers and military leaders of the American army to flesh out the narrative. I found these quite effective in giving young readers a better sense of what things were like at Valley Forge.

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The 2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers
Beautiful illustrations and fine text
Hanukkah at Valley Forge

Hanukkah at Valley Forge
Stephen Krensky
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0525477381

Book Description

A soldier tells George Washington the miraculous story of how a ragtag army of Jewish soldiers defeated a much larger force of powerful Greeks, a tale that provides just the kind of inspiration the General needs. Â“Quietly beautiful watercolor illustrations draw a visual distinction between the frigid blue Pennsylvania night and the golden light of ancient Israel, which is further reflected in the warm glow of the Hanukkah candles.Â” Â—School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

The 2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers.......2007-01-28

When General George Washington encounters a Jewish soldier lighting the Hanukkah candles, he learns about the Maccabee's fight for freedom and how it relates to his own fight for liberty during the Revolutionary War. The dark, somber illustrations in blue tones depict the cold, bitter conditions at Valley Forge. The explanation of the Hanukkah story is effectively differentiated from the rest of the narrative using a yellow background. The author's note explains the origins of this historical anecdote and its sources. This is a beautiful and accessible way to remind readers of the Jewish presence and involvement in early American history and about the commonalities between Jewish and American beliefs and values.

Beautiful illustrations and fine text.......2007-01-19

My colleagues and I absolutely loved this book. I teach 4th grade religious school at my temple, and I read this book to my class at Hanukkah. It was well received. They loved the illustrations and it provoked discussion about Jewish and American history. I donated the book to the Hebrew School library because I wanted as many people to share it as possible.

Hanukkah at Valley Forge.......2006-10-13

Based on some historical evidence, this inspiring story relates how, in the middle of winter at Valley Forge, General George Washington meets a Jewish soldier; an immigrant from Poland who is celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. As the soldier retells the Hanukkah story to the general, Washington's faith is renewed, and he begins to believe in the possibility that his ragtag army can also win against a larger foe. He says to the soldier, "We too have a cruel enemy who leaves us only with the choice of brave resistance or abject submission." Greg Harlin's beautiful watercolor illustrations bring this poignant tale to life. Children will be proud to know that a chance encounter with a Jewish soldier may have given General Washington the courage to continue the battle for independence of the United States. For ages 7 - 10. Reviewed by Diane Rauchwerger

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Valley Forge (PA) (Images of America)
Stacey A. Swigart
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Valley Forge is a name that resonates in the minds of many Americans. As the site of the 1777ñ1778 encampment of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, it has come to symbolize determination and triumph. While many people know something revolutionary happened in Valley Forge, they do not understand how or why it became a place of remembrance today. Using the rich historical collections of the National Center for the American Revolution and Valley Forge Historical Society, Valley Forge shares the early-twentieth-century history of the area through nearly two hundred images, the majority of which are published for the first time. ÝÝValley Forge offers a variety of historical views and background into the site that became Pennsylvaniaís first state park. Highlights include Washingtonís Headquarters and the patriotic and inspiring Washington Memorial Chapel, as well as Revolutionary War artifacts that have found a home in Valley Forge. Thousands of books exist on the history of the American War for Independence, but few describe the events and people who have struggled to preserve that story of independence for people everywhere, as Valley Forge does. ÝÝ

The Wages of War: When America's Soldiers Came Home : From Valley Forge to Vietnam

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The VA exists to limit the government's liability

The Wages of War: When America's Soldiers Came Home : From Valley Forge to Vietnam
Richard Severo , and Lewis Milford
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

The VA exists to limit the government's liability.......2007-07-22

The title above is a quote/paraphrase from the book that has long stuck out in my mind. I read this book back in the '90s, and often find myself referring back to it. The authors make it clear in many cases where their sympathies lie and there is a pervasive politically leftist bias that runs throughout the book. That doesn't mean that myself or others would necessarily and automatically disagree with some of their digs and personal assertions. It is by no means a dry, boring text book on history, but the reader needs to be aware of the often not very subdued opinions the authors express. There seems to be a reasonable trade off there somehow between subjectivity and objectivity.

Though I'm not really sure why it was included, the authors did write quite a bit about the so-called 'Shays Rebellion'-I suppose to give an indication of how Revolutionary War veterans were treated by the financiers in Boston and how these veterans and their plight was ignored or actually misunderstood by the rest of the new United States. That was an interesting account of a portion of American History we rarely read or hear about, and the authors clearly refuse to buy into the standard interpretation of the so-called Shays Rebels as being mere troublemakers bent on challenging Federal or even state authority. If convincing citizens to agree with them on this view was their intent, they certainly won at least one convert.

The authors move steadily from the Revolutionary War on and show the evolution of U.S. veterans' medical care, pensions and benefits...or lack thereof. A huge portion of the book was spent on the Agent Orange issue, as well as the radiation exposure from 1950s atomic bomb tactical maneuvers. Another section that stood out for me was the hundreds of Spanish-American War veterans suffering from fever and virtually dumped into a makeshift field hospital on Long Island. Also, the authors spent a portion of the book pointing out atrocities and excesses committed by American soldiers against the rebels in the Philippines. It's not always clear why the authors included some of the information they did but these things were interesting nonetheless.

The authors spent a reasonable amount of time on the Bonus Marchers (B.E.F) and how they were eventually run out of their Hooverville in D.C. . Certainly no book claiming to be about American war veterans would dare ignore this chapter and the authors did not disappoint here. The authors couldn't conceal their disdain for General MacArthur. MacArthur (along with Patton and Eisenhower who were also involved in the 'attack' against the B.E.F.) did indeed become famous in the next war...and the next-while the Bonus March veterans became a footnote. I must admit that though I believe MacArthur to be an important and brilliant American general I still have always sympathized with the Bonus Marchers. An exact quote at the end of the "After the First World War" chapter shows what I mean by inherent bias on the part of the authors:

"Within a few years, America would have a new war to fight-the most monstrous war in all history. MacArthur, of course, would be a hero again. As the United States drifted closer to that war, the veterans of the Great war-expelled from Washington by the very Government they had fought for-were not only forgiven. They were forgotten."

I don't believe there is a section on the Merchant Mariners and their struggle for veteran's recognition seeing as how they were in constant peril of attack during the world wars. Perhaps a little less space should have been spent on the Agent Orange/PCB/Dioxin angle. However, at least one author seems to have a great deal of knowledge in this area as a journalist covering this topic. The other author also apparently represented Vietnam veterans concerning their claims. Had this book been written later I'm sure a lengthy treatment of the 'Gulf War Syndrome' would have been included. Considering how a ridiculously large number (something like 30,000 or more!) of our Gulf War veterans have succumbed to this it is amazing that we don't hear more about it from the media. Of course, we don't hear much about Agent Orange or radiation poisoning either.

Even though the book meandered at times and lost sight at times of the relationship between war veteran and Washington it was still hard to put down. They did manage to cover quite a bit of U.S. military minutiae that you are not likely to find in a single volume. For the most part they did an excellent job reporting on the treatment of our soldiers as they returned home from war over the last two centuries. There is obviously what I would call a Liberal tone or bias throughout the book. However, this bias did not diminish the factual information they presented nor the fact that these issues concerning our military are issues that exist no matter what the political bent of the author or reader is. A more scholarly work would have let the great amount of researched information speak for itself. This book is more editorial than textbook.

The reader also has to endure a questioning of the morality of American wars (Henry David Thoreau got dragged into the section on the War with Mexico). For some reason the interesting though rather trivial story of the San Patricios as well as the general outlook of Americans regarding Roman Catholics at that time was included-and I don't understand why unless included in a book specifically about the Mexican War or a book on 1840s America. Clearly the authors' points at times don't seem clear or always stick with or connect with the reader.

I feel that a different title for this book would have been more on the mark as it clearly isn't just about veterans' affairs over time. Actually, it's more like three books in one: veterans affairs history, the cost of warfare to individual Americans, and the examination of America's military conflicts from a nontraditional perspective.

So, besides what I perceive as the presence of quite a bit of political bias and am not entirely sure why some things were included in the book and some things weren't, it is still an excellent book and should be read by those interested in U.S. military, political and social history.

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