Bayonets in the Wilderness: Anthony Wayne's Legion in the Old Northwest (Campaigns and Commanders, 4)

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Summary: Anthony Wayne and the Founding of the United States Army
Review: Alan Gaff's latest book (June 2004) on Major General Anthony Wayne's campaign in the Northwest Territory (1792-1796) is the best attempt to date to synthesis this most extraordinary time in American history. Mr. Gaff makes a welcome departure from past authors of this campaign and uses many first-person accounts; chiefly from journals, diaries, daily orders, contemporary newspapers and military records. This book is very enjoyable to read and flows nicely, although some chapters leave the reader hanging, most likely the result of overzealous editors. In his book Gaff neither demonizes nor glorifies General Wayne as many authors have done in the past. He lets the reader form an objective opinion of Anthony Wayne based on the evidence. Military historians will find it hard to not be awed by the military genius of this patriotic general. Genealogists will also find this book interesting since it mentions many of the "common" soldiers who worked, fought and bled on this campaign. This book will have special appeal to scholars of Pennsylvania and Ohio history as well as the fourteen other states that Wayne's officers recruited in for the Legion of the United States. A thoroughly enlightening book highly recommended for scholars of the post-Revolutionary Era.

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Summary: Definitive History of Wayne's Campaign
Review: Anthony Wayne's campaign to win the Old NorthWest in post-Revolutionary time. The author includes personal accounts by the soldiers and officers, and weaves contemporaneous historical facts into the narrative for a full look into the man that Anthony Wayne was and the obstacles that he faced leading the legion into the wilderness.
The personal touches are what make this book compelling. I was emotionally drawn to the good-byes that white and Indian captives made to their "adoptive" families after the signing of the Treaty of Greeneville.
I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where cultural references to Mad Anthony are plentiful. (As a matter of fact, I attended Wayne High School, where our mascot was the General himself, atop a horse). It was great to read an objective, factually-sound account of this important historic figure.


Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Book
Review: As someone that is a student of The Legion of the United States It was fantastic to have a new book on this forgotten campaign. With the first hand accounts you can really get into the minds of the people that fought in the Legion. I highly recommend this book to any students of the military arts, not just historians but modern military personnel.