The First American Army - Bruce Chadwick [0]
THE UNTOLD STORY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE MEN BEHIND AMERICA’S FIRST FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
BRUCE CHADWICK, PHD
Also by Bruce Chadwick
George Washington’s War
Brother Against Brother
Two American Presidents
Traveling the Underground Railroad
The Reel Civil War
“Bruce Chadwick reminds us that the Revolution was fought and won by men without general’s stars or officers’ commissions. It’s good to see how much ordinary Americans cared about liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
—Thomas Fleming, author of Liberty! The American Revolution
“Although wars are fought by soldiers, they are usually described by historians writing about generals. This book puts first things first: the story of the Revolutionary War is told as it was experienced by the soldiers who waged it, those unsung patriots whose souls were tried by battle, privation, and disease. It is a look through the other end of the telescope, giving new meaning to such words as sacrifice and courage and perseverance. To understand the war, really understand it, read this book.”
—Dave R. Palmer, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Ret), Author of The Way of the Fox, The River and the Rock, Summons of the Trumpet, 1794, First in War, and Washington and Arnold
“The First American Army is a most laudable and successful effort to put faces and personalities to some of the men at the knife’s edge of the Continental Army. …The author tells the stories of some long-forgotten soldiers whose individual achievements might appear small, but collectively comprised our army of independence. Through the use of anecdotes and excellent quotations from the writings of the soldiers themselves, he brings their characters to life and helps appreciate the intense sufferings and also some of the pleasures of life in the army.
“Dr. Chadwick brings clarity to a neglected, but absolutely vital, dimension of the Revolutionary War: why men choose to endure year after year of often bitter and frustrating army life. While the desertion rate among patriot soldiers was high, the fact that so many soldiers stayed and did their duty despite poor or non-existent food, clothing, and pay, reflects the remarkable commitment they had to achieving independence. Their steadfast faith and service in the cause never fails to evoke my admiration and respect.”
—Joseph Lee Boyle, Author of Writings from the Valley Forge Encampment of the Continental Army, December 19, 1777–June 19, 1778
Copyright © 2007 by Bruce Chadwick
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Cover photo © Corbis.
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The hardcover edition was previously cataloged as:
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chadwick, Bruce.
The first American army : the untold story of George Washington and the men behind America’s first fight for freedom / Bruce Chadwick.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-0753-2
1. United States. Continental Army--Military life. 2. Washington, George, 1732-1799. 3. Washington, George, 1732-1799--Friends and associates. 4. Soldiers--United States--Social conditions--18th century. 5. United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Social aspects. I. Title.
E259.C43 2005
973.3′4--dc22
2005019866
Printed and bound in the United States of America
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
For the brave men and women in the military forces of the United States of America
“The rising world shall sing of us a thousand years to come,
And tell our children