The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 (Rick Atkinson, 2025)

Just the kind of book I like - well-written history.

This covers the difficult middle years of the war.

Dense with details, the sentences pile on and give you the sensation of being taken right into the scenes - all his books are like this, a real gift.

1777 a rough year - hadn't realized the British took Philadelphia while Continental Congress fled to York, lots of stuff was stored at Lancaster. Big success for Americans up north against Burgoyne (big win at Saratoga) - partly because the main British force had relocated from NYC to Philadelphia. Not much success for Washington in general this year, and Valley Forge winter quarters are tough. 

Brits just abandon Philadelphia by orders from England after wintering there. Thought to be untenable to hold it given manpower constraints etc and Burgoyne's loss (need to defend NYC). 

Burgoyne news motivated French to get off the fence and become allies (early 1778). 

I like how Atkinson presents perspectives from both England and France.  French role probably more important than I thought. 

In some ways not much happened.  Main armies were struggling to find manpower and maintain supplies, were reluctant to get into major engagements. France and Spain with huge fleets, but mostly inept - though very important in terms of stretching Brit resources - needed to keep lots of ships home to protect the Channel.

Getting the French involved was super important. Franklin influential.

Looking forward to volume 3 of this trilogy.  

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Parts I-II)

Another famous book included in the "Harvard Classics" so I gave it a try.

Franklin's early years - a unique look at life in the colonies in the decades prior to the Revolutionary War.

All of this was fascinating but for whatever reason I just didn't get into the writing. I don't plan to finish this.

Early days.  Franklin learns the printing business and makes a success of it.  Poor Richard's Almanac. The Franklin stove.  Lending libraries.  He was an effective businessman and entrepreneur even in the early portions that I was reading.  Perhaps I would have enjoyed the Revolutionary War days and his time as an ambassador in Paris more?

The Pioneers (David McCullough, 2019)

 (258 pages)

Quick read, enjoyable, McCullough writes engagingly.

This is a story about the Northwest Territory - which became five states with which I'm quite familiar (WI, IL, IN, MI, OH) - I don't know much about this history.  

For one thing I didn't realize the scale of the Ohio River - looking at it on the map was useful.

Also didn't realize how this followed close on the heels of the Revolutionary War; lots of veterans involved.  First settlers head for Ohio in 1787. Founding of Marietta, Ohio.  

Author kind of obsessed with the education and anti-slavery planks of the founding documents; somewhat though much less interested in the fate of the local natives.

The stories about clearing the land, building settlements, dealing with Indians, etc. seemed more familiar.  Mad Anthony Wayne's expedition ended the Indian threat (if that's the way to describe it).

Rapid growth, a lot of change is seen - flatboats, keelboats eventually steam power. Crossing the Alleghenies very difficult; early travelers sometimes had to take apart their wagons and carry the pieces through a rough spot or two (along with the cargo).

Story is told via diaries and letters that I don't think were previously plumbed to such depth.  It's an effective way to tell the story - we see things through the eyes of selected founders and their descendants. One was a doctor who moonlighted as a naturalist (Hildreth). Reminded of the approach in Holland's excellent book about WWII in Italy (though not as compelling as that instance). 

Six Frigates - the Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy (Ian Toll, 2006)

(467 pages)

This was a highly interesting read, much liked.  Core premise was infant-US authorizing construction of six frigates - and taking the recommendation of some expert builder, these were larger than normal for this kind of vessel, though not as large as a ship of the line. But as hoped - they had good success against what previously were considered peer ships. A big lift for the US as it faced off with Britain (the acknowledged superpower in naval matters) in various venues.

The author is the same guy who did such a great job with the WWII Pacific theater trilogy (focused on the navy).  He makes things highly readable. 

So many interesting angles.

Partisan rancor from the get-go; concerns about the loss of freedom, loss of democracy, etc.

Decatur's rise - destroying the Philadelphia.

Looking to set up a puppet in Tripoli but backing off . . . also sounds very current.

The difficult life of sailors.

The idea that young hawks pushed the war of 1812, they did not remember the revolutionary war. This thought strikes me more and more often watching the 30 year cycles recur.

Utter lack of preparedness, getting pulled along by ridiculous war fever. 

Exact overlap with Napoleon's invasion of Russia and acceleration of Peninsular Campaign

USS Constitution - details of its escape at commencement of War of 1812 - kind of amazing that the ship still sails; that folks can walk its deck and pose alongside cannon (including college-age me)

Stories of sailing ships so interesting - weather mattered so much; but techniques also.  USS Constitution "escape" a good example - finding itself becalmed amidst overpowering British squadron - first it puts out small boats to tow, which the Brits match. Then a maneuver with super-long rope attached to anchor (they were in relatively shallower waters) - small boat puts anchor way ahead and the Constitution is more or less pulled toward the anchor.  Brits match but don't catch up; when wind rises, newly-debarnacled Constitution pulls away.

Details of combat, how commanders would issue positioning orders, deployment of sails - so many intricate things happening, absolutely fascinating

War of 1812 - my primary impression was that US got pushed around, Britain didn't pursue only because of Napoleon etc., and the peace accomplished exactly nothing - those impressions are basically correct but author emphasizes that the US did show some power and resolve that headed off getting further pushed around in its infancy - an important idea.

The British Are Coming - The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 (Rick Atkinson, 2019)

I very much liked the author's World War II trilogy (discussed here).  He seems to be bringing the same effective touch to the Revolutionary War - this is a great read.

I've never read much about the Revolutionary War, not sure why.  Hadn't realized there was so much action action prior to issuance of the Declaration of Independence.

Lexington, Concord stories (1775) - genuinely exciting; tough times for the Americans at Lexington but a sense of accomplishment in Concord.

The author's way of making many people (officers, rank and file, home front) come alive in just a few words; of supplying enough details (for example attaching numbers to supplies - gives a sense of scope); always without bogging down or losing the larger narrative.  Readable, interesting.

I had never read much of anything about the 1776 campaign in the southern states (only recalling the cannon balls embedded in the palmetto fort) - mostly a costly diversion for British, interesting discussion.

Benedict Arnold was so talented, involved in so much up north.

Scope of the war was impressive - south, Canada, New York (where British had great successes in 1776, perhaps only wanting for follow-through)  But the immense difficulties of sending an army across and sea, and supplying it.

In general, 1776 as a pretty dreary year for the Americans after the Declaration.  But then Trenton and Princeton - crossing the Delaware on Christmas night, 1776 - this was a much more difficult, and important, undertaking than I had ever realized. Lots of information throughout on the Hessians (who happened to be the target at Trenton, unfortunately for their reputation).

The so-often-repeated error (committed here by the British) of assuming that the local population will rise up in support with just a little success and encouragement - this shows up in invasions in many locations and time periods.

A lot went wrong for England; quite a few decisions that were bungled; but the scope of England's late 18th-century international activities is really impressive.

The colonies as having so much to work out in terms of governance; such variety among them.  An amazing intersection of ideas emerging in English colonies protected by oceans - a chance to work out governance in a new way.