<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Battles Of The American Revolution
Review: I don't profess to be an expert on the American Revolution, however; I do specifically know enough about the northern campaign to realize that the Battle of Hubbardton did not occur in the State of New York as the index indicates ( " Hubbardton, NY: battle at, 139-40" ). It is the only revolutionary war battle fought within the State of Vermont. To me, such an obvious mistake puts the rest of the book's accuracy in question. Based on that alone, I won't buy it.
P.S. In order to post this opinion, I had to rate this book. In all honesty, I would normally not have put a rating since I haven't read it. Sorry...
Rating: 
Summary: Accuracy Impeccable
Review: I've gone through quite a few histories of the revolution, but this book is different in that it is written purely from the military aspect. The author doesn't critique all the battles but makes a representative selection from each type of battle.Each engagement is accompanied by detailed drawings showing the placement of troops, cavalry, and cannon. He discusses the use of terrain for each battle. In the case of the "Battle Of The Cowpens" he reflects on the purpose of the American commander in putting a river at his back was to prevent his soldiers from having an easy means of running away from the battle. All in all, a good informative read.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent description of battle fields. Superb narrative!
Review: If you are going to read one military book in your entire life, this is the one. It got me hooked on the Revolutionary War, and allowed me to gain a better understanding of the trials and tribulations involved in forging the nation
Rating:
Summary: Good Book on battles and campaigns
Review: If you are in the market for a good book on the major battles and campaigns of the Revolutionary Army then this is the book for you. The author does an excellent job in describing each event without going to exacting detail and boring the reader. If you do not get pulled into the war after reading this book then you need to reread it slowly to better absorb the knowledge within its pages. I agree with another reviewer: "This excellent piece of scholarship and tale of high deeds belongs on every enthusiasts bookshelf...." Pick up a copy at Amazon.com!
Rating:
Summary: Great battle descriptions (tactics and strategy)
Review: If you are looking for a book on the complete history of the revolutionary war, this is not what you want. It only goes through certain numbers of battles so if you are not familar with some background history of the American Revolution you might get lost between chapter. However.... it contain excellent descriptions of the battles it covers: strategy, tactics, weapons, logistics, maps.... everything someone who loves military history would enjoy reading about. If you like to read about wars this is the book for you
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book on an Overlooked War
Review: In my humble opinion, Wood's book, along with Henry Lumpkin's "From Savannah to Yorktown", are two of the best books on various Revolutionary War battles. Wood's text has the advantage of covering battles in both northern and southern colonies while Lumpkin focuses on the south. Battles of the Revolution includes northern colony battles such as: Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Oriskany, and Saratoga. Battles in the southern colonies include: Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Camden, Guilford Courthouse, and the Chesapeake Capes (including Yorktown). The authors' knowledge of not only the war, but also terrain and strategy, are evident throughout the book. While most of the battles covered were American victories, Wood does include some battles won by the British. The text is easy to read and includes interesting anecdotes of the various Revolutionary War leaders. Battle summaries are interesting without being overly simplistic and lack the dry descriptions found in other military books. The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars was the maps - not quite enough in number and detail. I'm a real stickler for books with good battle maps - including several such maps makes the flow of the battle and stategy easier to follow and understand. Complaint aside, I highly recommend the book as quite possibly the best comprehensive book of a largely forgotten war. Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book on an Overlooked War
Review: In my humble opinion, Wood's book, along with Henry Lumpkin's "From Savannah to Yorktown", are two of the best books on various Revolutionary War battles. Wood's text has the advantage of covering battles in both northern and southern colonies while Lumpkin focuses on the south. Battles of the Revolution includes northern colony battles such as: Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Oriskany, and Saratoga. Battles in the southern colonies include: Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Camden, Guilford Courthouse, and the Chesapeake Capes (including Yorktown). The authors' knowledge of not only the war, but also terrain and strategy, are evident throughout the book. While most of the battles covered were American victories, Wood does include some battles won by the British. The text is easy to read and includes interesting anecdotes of the various Revolutionary War leaders. Battle summaries are interesting without being overly simplistic and lack the dry descriptions found in other military books. The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars was the maps - not quite enough in number and detail. I'm a real stickler for books with good battle maps - including several such maps makes the flow of the battle and stategy easier to follow and understand. Complaint aside, I highly recommend the book as quite possibly the best comprehensive book of a largely forgotten war. Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Accuracy Impeccable
Review: Pay no mind to a previous reviewer who questioned the books accuracy. At the time of the Revolutionary War, there was NO Vermont, therefore making it quite impossible to have a battle there. Present day Vermont was actually NY - thus the index. Dont base assumptions on the book off of that review. I have found little to counter in the book, and nothing that isnt factually accurate. Go for it.
Rating:
Summary: battles of the revolutionary war
Review: The author has done a very good job of presenting this very important event in American history into readable and understandable terms. Unfortunately, it is totally biased to the "American" view point. He (W.J.Wood) admits that he has selected battles that the "Americans" won through superior generalship and "British" incompetence and the occasional battle that the "British" won through "American" incompetence. He admits that the "Americans" lost nine battles out of ten they fought. We don't get to hear about most of them! As for John S. D. Eisenhower - in his introduction, he states "American successes such as Bunker Hill and Kings (sic) Mountain were fought by militia alone". I am shocked by such a statement, made by someone who should know better. The "Americans" LOST the battle of Bunker Hill - how can that be a success? Kings (sic) Mountain was basically a squabble in the woods - there were no "Red Coats" there! Saratoga is very well done - again a "British" defeat. Yorktown and the Battle of the Capes are very nicely described. However, the fact remains that if it was not for the French getting into the action (thanks to Benjamin Franklin after Saratoga) "Americans" would still be "British". Lieutenant Colonel Wood does a very nice (biased as it may be) job of describing what was going on in that period. I thoroughly recommend this book as an excellent viewpoint from the "American" side. As an in-depth history of this conflict - it is not, as the author, himself, admits. Mick Jolley, Born and raised "British".
Rating:
Summary: Accurate, Well-Researched, Stirringly Told
Review: This is one of the best books on the battles of the American Revolution. having much of the smell of gunpowder about it, the author tells a straightforward tale of courage, hardship, defeat, and, finally, victory by an army of hard-bitten Continentals who became professionals through endurance, deadly on the job training, and the leadership of some of the best combat commanders in American history. Wood gives credit where credit is due, and woe to the leader or soldier that incurs his wrath and disdain. He pulls no punches, and his incisive narrative and wry wit are as sharp as a sabre slash. There is no beating around the bush here, and you can tell who and what he admires, and what he doesn't. The Continental Army may have been the best, most enduring army in American history. No American army ever had to endure, both from the type of hardship to the length of wartime service, that the Continentals did. They won because of three things: Washington, their own hard-won skill at arms, and the French intervention. These three factors are brought out in evidence in this volume. This excellent piece of scholarship and tale of high deeds beongs on every enthusiasts bookshelf and should be read and reread until the lessons sink in.
<< 1 >>
| 
