Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary, this sweeping narrative is an astute exploration of the five critical military events that changed the outcome of the Revolutionary war.

For eight grueling years, American and British military forces struggled in a bloody war over colonial independence. This conflict also ensnared Native American warriors and the armies and navies of France, Spain, the Dutch Republic, and several German principalities. From frozen Canada to tropical Florida and as far west as the Mississippi River, the Revolutionary War included hundreds of campaigns, battles, and skirmishes on land and sea in which soldiers and sailors fought and died for causes, crowns, and comrades.

In this masterful, yet accessible narrative of America's fight for liberty, John R. Maass identifies the five decisive events that secured independence for the 13 hard-pressed but determined colonies. These include not only the obvious military victories such as Trenton, Princeton, and Yorktown but also the leadership and reforms that ensured Washington's forces were capable of enduring the harsh conditions of the winter of 1778. Similarly, King Louis XVI's decision to supply Continental troops during the Saratoga Campaign with desperately needed soldiers, arms, money, and fleets is also detailed as a key factor.

These turning points, not all of them triumphs on the battlefield, delivered a victory for the new United States. By challenging conventional interpretations of what ensures victory in warfare, From Trenton to Yorktown offers a fresh perspective on the Revolutionary War.

Around the North Carolina village of Guilford Courthouse in the late winter of 1781, two weary armies clashed on a cold, wet afternoon. American forces under Nathanael Greene engaged Lord Cornwallis's British army in a bitter two-hour battle of the Revolu

Around the North Carolina village of Guilford Courthouse in the late winter of 1781, two weary armies clashed on a cold, wet afternoon. American forces under Nathanael Greene engaged Lord Cornwallis's British army in a bitter two-hour battle of the Revolu

George Washington was first and foremost a Virginian. Born in the state's Tidewater region, he was reared near Fredericksburg and took up residence at Mount Vernon along the Potomac River. As a young surveyor, he worked in Virginia's backcountry. He began his military career as a Virginia militia officer on the colony's frontier. The majority of his widespread landholdings were in his native state, and his entrepreneurial endeavors ranged from the swamplands of the Southeast to the upper Potomac River Valley. Historian John Maass explores the numerous sites all over the Commonwealth associated with Washington and demonstrates their lasting importance.

In 1781, Virginia was invaded by formidable British forces that sought to subdue the Old Dominion. Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis, led thousands of enemy troops from Norfolk to Charlottesville, burning and pillaging. Many of Virginia's famed Patriots--including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and Nathanael Greene'struggled to defend the commonwealth. Only by concentrating a small band of troops under energetic French general the Marquis de Lafayette were American forces able to resist British operations. With strained support from Governor Jefferson's administration, Lafayette fought a campaign against the veteran soldiers of Lord Cornwallis that eventually led to the famed showdown at Yorktown. Historian John R. Maass traces this often overlooked Revolutionary struggle for Virginia and details each step on the road to Yorktown.

Though most of the events in the French and Indian War took place hundreds of miles away, North Carolina was not exempt from its impact. As the European forces of France, Spain, Great Britain and their American Indian allies brought war to the New World, the colony mobilized troops, raised money, built forts and participated in several arduous military campaigns. The war had a huge influence on the colony, including a dramatic conflict between the colonial Governor Arthur Dobbs and the colonial legislature over how many troops to raise and how it would be funded. This led to an increasing sense of independence from Britain that would continue to build after the war was over. Join historian and author John R. Maass as he chronicles a significant yet often overlooked North Carolina history..

The U.S. Army Campaigns of the War of 1812 (Illustrated Edition) offers an expansive exploration of a formative period in American military history, combining scholarly analysis with richly detailed illustrations. This anthology transcends traditional narratives by illuminating the enduring impact of the War of 1812 on the U.S. Army's evolution and the broader socio-political landscape. Readers are invited to journey through diverse literary styles, ranging from thought-provoking essays to vivid historical reconstructions, which collectively underscore not only the strategic and tactical elements of the war but also its cultural and international ramifications. With numerous standout pieces, this collection is both a thorough examination and a compelling narrative tapestry of war that reshapes our understanding of early 19th-century military conflicts. The compendium is curated by esteemed historians, such as John R. Maass, Richard V. Barbuto, and others, whose expertise spans across the myriad aspects of the War of 1812. Each contributor brings their unique scholarly voice, enriching the anthology with perspectives grounded in significant historical, military, and cultural contexts. Their collective scholarship synthesizes American and global viewpoints, aligning with broader historical movements and offering insights into the intricate interplay between military actions and national identity formation during this pivotal era. Recommended to historians, students, and general readers alike, this illustrated edition is an invaluable resource for delving into the complexities of the War of 1812. It stands as a testament to the power of collaborative scholarship to deepen understanding through a wide array of perspectives, styles, and interpretations. This anthology engages readers by fostering meaningful dialogue across its eclectic contributions, inviting a comprehensive reflection on the past that resonates well into the future.

As one of the first colonies explored and established in North America, North Carolina boasts a military history that goes back over four hundred years. From the expeditions of Spanish conquistadors to English attempts to establish coastal outposts in the 1590s, North Carolina saw a variety of military actions since its earliest exploration, including conflicts with Native Americans, the expansion of European dynastic wars to the New World, and the race to secure ready access to slaves, riches, and other resources. The American Revolution proved to be a painful experience as the new state was the scene of several key battles and campaigns; moreover, hostilities between Patriots and Loyalists were particularly violent, creating a bitter divide that lasted for years. During the American Civil War, North Carolina played a pivotal role. As part of the Confederate States of America, the state was the scene of several important battles, while in 1865, one of the two main armies of the Confederacy surrendered to Union forces at near Durham Station, effectively ending the conflict.
The twentieth century saw two tragic world wars, and North Carolina contributed to the war efforts of both these conflicts through its men and women in uniform and the major military camps and bases within its borders, including Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune. Finally, Tar Heels served in great numbers during the Cold War--particularly in Korea and Vietnam--and this service continues during today's War on Terror.
This fourth volume in Westholme's State Military History Series, North Carolina: A Military History will provide readers with a comprehensive overview of North Carolina's long and storied martial past, recounting wars from the colonial period to the present, and relating the heroism and sacrifices of its citizens and soldiers over the past four centuries. The book is illustrated with original maps and numerous photographs and line drawings, and includes recommendations for further reading.

Though most of the events in the French and Indian War took place hundreds of miles away, North Carolina was not exempt from its impact. As the European forces of France, Spain, Great Britain and their American Indian allies brought war to the New World, the colony mobilized troops, raised money, built forts and participated in several arduous military campaigns. The war had a huge influence on the colony, including a dramatic conflict between the colonial Governor Arthur Dobbs and the colonial legislature over how many troops to raise and how it would be funded. This led to an increasing sense of independence from Britain that would continue to build after the war was over. Join historian and author John R. Maass as he chronicles a significant yet often overlooked North Carolina history..

From the closing days of the Revolutionary War in 1783 to the beginning of the War of 1812, the United States Army faced one of its most challenging periods. During this era, American soldiers confronted threats from Great Britain, France, and Spain. On the western frontier, hostile warriors from American Indian nations battled U.S. Army and militia troops north of the Ohio River, as white settlers' insatiable demands for land provoked conflict with Indian communities. The Army suppressed civil unrest, built roads, and conducted explorations, including the transcontinental expedition led by Army officers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The post-revolutionary years also saw the Army in a process of frequent reorganization, from the disbanding of the Continental Army at the end of the Revolutionary War to the establishment of Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne's Legion of the United States, followed by President Thomas Jefferson's efforts at reforming the Army into a Republican institution. These structural changes increased during James Madison's first presidential term, as Americans prepared for war with Great Britain over maritime rights, free trade, and territorial expansion in a conflict that became known as the War of 1812.
Illustrated with photographs, artwork and maps, this explains how the United States' Army was transformed in its first four decades.

George Washington was first and foremost a Virginian. Born in the state's Tidewater region, he was reared near Fredericksburg and took up residence at Mount Vernon along the Potomac River.

As a young surveyor, he worked in Virginia's backcountry. He began his military career as a Virginia militia officer on the colony's frontier. The majority of his widespread landholdings were in his native state, and his entrepreneurial endeavors ranged from the swamplands of the Southeast to the upper Potomac River Valley. Historian John Maass explores the numerous sites all over the Commonwealth associated with Washington and demonstrates their lasting importance.

Defending a New Nation, 1783 1811, the first volume of the U.S. Army Campaigns of the War of 1812 series, tells the story of several military campaigns against Indians in the Northwest Territory, the Army's role in suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion (1794), the Quasi-War with France and confrontations with Spain, the influence of Jeffersonian politics on the Army's structure, and the Lewis and Clark expedition.

From the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783 to the beginning of the War of 1812, the nascent United States Army encountered significant challenges, both within its own ranks and in the field. The Army faced hostile American Indians in the west, domestic insurrections over taxation, threats of war from European powers, organizational changes, and budgetary constraints. It was also a time of growth and exploration, during which Army officers led expeditions to America's west coast and founded a military academy.

In the Civil War's last year, two great adversaries squared off in central Virginia in a series of battles that eventually determined the struggle's outcome. After a month of battles from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor in May and June, 1864, Union Commander in Chief Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was frustrated in his headstrong attempts to batter the Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee and bring them to open battle. Seeking to sidestep Lee's army and attack Richmond, the Confederacy's capital city, Grant moved south to cross the James River and cut the rebel army's supply lines at Petersburg, Virginia, where several key railroads met to form a crucial logistical center. Lee, however, reacted in time to block the Union strike at Petersburg. A ten month siege ensued as Grant sought to pry Lee out of Petersburg with flanking maneuvers, and the Confederates desperately defended the city and Richmond. Lee's lines finally collapsed on 2 April 1865 after a powerful Federal attack on his right, which forced the rebels to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg that night. In a seven day retreat, with Grant's Union forces closely behind them, the Confederates marched west to obtain supplies and join other rebel troops in North Carolina. Grant's forces, particularly the cavalrymen under Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridan, were able to get in front of Lee's column and block his progress at a small court house village called Appomattox. With no chance of victory or even escape left to him, Lee surrendered his forces to Grant on 9 April 1865.

Middle school, through academic level students pursuing coursework about the U.S. Civil War in American History classes may find this book useful as a supplemnetal reading text or for research papers and essays about this topic. Additionally, military personnel, strategists, military historians, history teachers and professors, Americian citizens and others interested in the U.S. Civil War may find this historical reference work engaging.

Middle school, high school, academic, and public libraries news corporations, as well as Federal/State/Municipal Government libraries may want to include this work in their reference collections about U.S. History.