Product Description
This digital document is an article from Dictionary of American History, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 418 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Focuses on cultures and countries around the world, specifically what is and is not shared culturally by the people who live in a particular country. Entries contain descriptive summaries of the country in question, including demographic, historical, cultural, economic, religious, and political information. ... Read more

Product Description
"Leckie is a gifted writer with the ability to explain complicated military matters in layperson’s terms, while sustaining the drama involved in a life-and-death struggle. His portraits of the key players in that struggle . . . are seamlessly interwoven with his exciting narrative." –Booklist"As always, [Leckie] describes the maneuvers, battles, and results in telling detail with a cinematic style, and his portraits . . . are first-rate."–The Dallas Morning News"Leckie’s accounts of battles, important individuals, and the role of Native Americans bring to life the distant drama of the French and Indian Wars."–The Daily Reflector

With his celebrated sense of drama and eye for colorful detail, acclaimed military historian Robert Leckie charts the long, savage conflict between England and France in their quest for supremacy in pre-Revolutionary America. Packed with sharply etched profiles of all the major players–including George Washington, Samuel de Champlain, William Pitt, Edward Braddock, Count Frontenac, James Wolfe, Thomas Gage, and the nobly vanquished Marquis de Montcalm–this panoramic history chronicles the four great colonial wars: the War of the Grand Alliance (King William’s War), the War of the Spanish Succession (Queen Anne’s War), the War of the Austrian Succession (King George’s War), and the decisive French and Indian War (the Seven Years’ War). Leckie not only provides perspective on exactly how the New World came to be such a fiercely contested prize in Western Civilization, but also shows us exactly why we speak English today instead of French–and reminds us how easily things might have gone the other way.Amazon.com Review
Historian Robert Leckie is renowned for his combative proseand pugnacious opinions concerning the major triumphs and tragedies ofthe U.S. armed forces, and fans will not be disappointed in A FewAcres of Snow, in which he tackles Britain's conquest of NorthAmerica. Beginning with Europe's first contact with the Americas,Leckie lays a solid geopolitical foundation for his discussion of thevarious conflicts that tore across Canada and the northern Americancolonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. Leckie betrays hisFrancophilia with extensive court gossip and decadent anecdotes of theEuropean elite; the most detailed accounts of colonialism concern NewFrance and the efforts of its military governors, traders, and prieststo wrest order from a landscape imperiled by Iroquois attackers,British invaders, and, perhaps most fatally, corruption from withinthe governing body itself. (In his concluding chapter on Montcalm'sdefeat on the Fields of Abraham, Leckie speculates that Quebec'sgovernor, Vaudreuil, might have deliberately sabotaged his nation'sdefenses out of monetary self-interest.)

A Few Acres of Snow also rejects recent scholarship on theFrench-Indian Wars by Richard White and Robert Merrill, which hasrevised traditional Native American roles from that of bloodthirstysavages to active participants in the Northwest Territory's politicaleconomy. Leckie's account often reads like a cantankerous, politicallyincorrect throwback to an era of historical writing where the Iroquoisspent most of their time torturing Jesuits and roasting babies whilethe European civilizations, corrupt and flawed as they were,ultimately claimed an unruly empire. --John M. Anderson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

Truly Awful, Silly Diatribe
How did this book get past anyone, let alone an editor, before being published?This has to be one of the most poorly written, researched and edited works of "history" ever produced in this country.A very thinly veiled diatribe against all that Leckie hates, it starts with an essay on Columbus that would have been hard to believe in 1810, let alone 2010.He actually defends Columbus and the conquistadores who followed as the men who freed the Indians from their terrible murderous ways, and gets all gooey about how the Catholic Church beamed its pure and holy light upon all. In Leckie's revisionist world, the French were kindly purveyors of truth and light, the Iroquois unspeakably evil demons.The British were greedy businessmen who unleashed their Iroquois allies upon the innocent populace of Quebec, and the French were defenders who just couldn't control their Huron and Algonquin allies when they ransacked and murdered British colonists. "Unleashed" vs. "couldn't control"?Where's the difference?
The elementary school story of Columbus has very little to do with later French and Anglo American conflict, and it's a mystery as to why it's even included.The later French explorers and holders of royal patents such as Cartier, Le Sueur, Bienville, LaSalle and Radisson get little or no mention.Shouldn't these men figure prominently in a narrative subtitled "The Saga of the French and Indian Wars"?
A thorough mess.Leckie jumps out of the narrative every dozen or so pages to rant about current politics and spews right-wing slop on all sorts of topics.
Other reviewers have mentioned the misogyny, the racism, etc, so I won't even touch upon that here.Altogether, a waste of time.Interestingly enough, it was originally published in 1999, and again in 2006, perhaps trotted out during the waning days of the Bush Debacle for some sort of political purpose.
Do not waste your time on this. Good thing I got it almost free.It's going into the garbage (I wouldn't subject the good readers at Goodwill to this) or better yet, recycling, the concept of which I'm sure would give Leckie apoplexy.

Don't waste your time or money
I have read several books from this author, and most were ok. Not great, but ok. This work is an absolute waste of time to read. The basics like paragraph construction and complete sentences are absent from this work. This makes it difficult to read. There is no real organization or logic in how he presents the material, and since he only cites his own works and secondary sources, it is not a wonder that there are so many factual errors. Just as an example, on page 52 he is describing how a flintlock works - and it is completely wrong. He confuses the term firelock with flintlock and wheel-lock (both flintlock and wheel-lock ARE firelocks), and his discussion on the mechanics of how the weapon actually discharges shows ignorance to basic firearms knowledge at best. According to him, on a flintlock "...a small piece of flint struck a steel frizzen or hammer.." with some sparks flying through a touch-hole to ignite a firing pan , igniting the main charge. Of course the informed reader will realize that the hammer holds the flint, and the flint striking the frizzen ignites the firing pan, the resulting fire passing through the touch-hole and into the barrel breach, thus igniting the main charge. If you cannot even understand how a weapon as simple as a flint-lock musket works, I guess it should not be surprizing that his grasp of the tactics used, and the political climate of the time, is devoid of anything aproaching reality.

In the end, any historical work that is not firmly based on sound research in primary sources, and accurate / factual information about the technology of warfare and the tactics of the period, is doomed to fill landfills at best and spread misinformation at worst.

French and Indian War
This is not Robert Leckie at his best. Having said that, it is still a very readable account of the conflict which set the stage for the Revolution that followed. Leckie goes in to detail not only about the combats but also includes the political machinations which brought on the struggle.
If this period of American History intrigues you, this book should be high on your list.

A mess of a book.
Leckie deserves credit for tackling the "saga" of the French and Indian Wars from a long historical and geographic perspective: his tale starts with Columbus' arrival in the New World, and includes plenty of information on goings-on in Europe (monarchic skullduggery, in particular) and how these events spilled over into French and British North America. Leckie also writes with a keen sense of drama, keeping the pages turning quickly in many parts. However- the book is terribly edited: in some instances, entire paragraphs are repeated in different parts of the narrative. Speaking of narrative, Leckie often loses a coherent chronological thread in a jumble of digressions and anecdotes. Leckie's strong opinions- which he is quite up-front about- render his version of events unreliable at best, particularly since he provides no footnotes, no discussion of the sources that he's drawing on, and a very brief bibliography that doesn't contain any materials written before the mid 19th century. I'm glad I had sufficient background knowledge to be able to take Leckie's conclusions with a grain of salt. I wish someone else had written- and edited- this book.

A Nice Overview of Early North American History
I enjoyed this book tremendously, and was surprised by the poor reviews found here. North American history from 1600-1800 is a serious interest of mine, and I've read widely on the subject. This book is the best general overview of the era I've found, written by a someone who tells a good story. I appreciate how he links European and American history and explains how goals in Europe affected events in North America. It's quirky, opinionated and inaccurate in places, but it's never dull. ... Read more

Product Description
By 1760, the capitulation of Canada by the French and Canadians all but ended the French & Indian War. Blockaded by the powerful British Navy, the people of New France might have been lacking in provisions, but certainly not in fighting spirit. Attempts t ... Read more

Product Description
The story takes place during the French and Indian War on the East Coast of America in what would come to be known as New York. France and Great Britain were battling for control of the American colonies. Native American tribes often sided with the French with sometimes tragic results.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good scholarly work on, especially for those interested in Louisiana's colonial history
The main title of this work is somewhat misleading, and perhaps the subtitle would have been a better choice. Neither, however, does the work justice. Part 1 contains only three very short chapters (totaling twenty-three pages), which summarize the book's main theme. The real meat of the work, however, is the other 159 pages, which contain French-to-English translations of some sixty-six documents related to Louisiana's Texel and Three Brothers affairs. The Texel and the Three Brothers were parlementaires (sometimes referred to as "cartel ships"), privately owned vessels that were often allowed, in time of war, to enter enemy ports for the purpose of exchanging prisoners. As compensation to the owners, the ships were allowed to conduct a limited amount of commerce in the ports visited. In 1759, at the height of the Seven Years's War, two English parlementaires, the Texel and Three Brothers, arrived in Louisiana in the months of March and June, respectively. A dispute arose between Louisiana's governor, Louis de Kerlérec, and his nemesis, the ordonnateur Vincent de Rochemore, over the handling of these ships. That dispute blossomed into what became known as the Affaire de La Louisiane, a nasty political fight that eventually destroyed the careers and health of both Kerlérec and Rochemore and entangled within it a number of civil and military colonial officials who had taken sides in the dispute.

The translations are quite good and provide much insight into the events that formed the basis of the Affaire de La Louisiane. The book design, however, leaves much to be desired. The lack of an index makes the content difficult to access, and the documentation (in the form of end notes), while adequate, cites a number of sources (Villier du Terrage and Gayarré, for example) that are notoriously unreliable. The book would also benefit from a thorough re-typesetting, as it has the appearance of a simple typescript, one using a single, fixed-pitch font, forcing the use of underlines instead of italics and lacking other pleasing-to-the-eye features to which readers are now accustomed.

This text is currently out of print but copies are available (according to WorldCat) at some seventy-one libraries in the U.S. and Canada.
... Read more

Product Description
Reluctant Imperialists? William Pitt, Pennsylvania, and the First Global Warby Matthew C. Ward; The Braddock Expedition of 1755: Catastrophe in the Wilderness by Frank A. Cassell; "Gloomy and Dark Days" by Daniel K. Richter; Pennsylvanians at War: The Settlement Frontiers during the Seven Years' Warby David L. Preston; Food for Thought: Reflections on the Study of War by Holly A. Mayer; Window on the Collections: William Trent's Fort Pitt Journals by Kimberly Burton; Teachers' Page: What's in a Name by Donna Sharer. Magazine format journal, 8.5 x 11, 37 pages. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The third volume of the "Covenant Chain" trilogy, this work restores the Indians to the history of colonial America as human beings and shatters the myth of their savagery. It also revises the popular images of Wolfe and Montcalm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Masterful Ethnohistory
The late Francis Jennings's trilogy consummates his life work of creating an accurate, humane view of colonial Indian-European relations.This is clearly not an operational history, so readers hoping for a full military narrative must look elsewhere.EOF is adequate on battles, but its strengths are political-miltary affairs, the Seven Years' War's global context, and nuanced description of indigenous societies facing unprecedented challenges.It robustly brings to life many dynamic personalities, and is very blunt, even harsh--but not unfair--toward historians (Gipson, Boorstin, Bailyn and especially Parkman) fostering ethnocentric biases about early America.(Eradicating errors isn't always pretty.)The author also confirms Quakers' crucial role in endingPennsylvania's frontier war.Government and academia sometimes treated Jennings shabbily, in person and in print, which helps explain his combativeness.But an immense body of recent research mostly confirms his approach.He ranks among the great scholars of colonialism, albeit through writing rather than training historians a la Bailyn.To gauge his influence, compare A. Vaughan's early "New England Frontier" with his later work. Thanks for fighting the good fight, Fritz.

Revisionist French and Indian War.
This is a good, well written and valuable addition to French and Indian War literature. Not only is it a fresh look, it is a refreshing one. There is amazing detail here about people and places other historians only mention in passing. The focus in on the land, how it was apportioned or stolen, depending on your point of view, and of conflicting, contentious, self interest. At risk was an Empire, not only the one that the French, English and Native Americans wanted to control among themselves but also the one that respective Native American interests and tribes sought to influence and dominate within their own race.

This is really as good as it gets. Be prepared for a very complete, meticulous read. The third book in a trilogy about pre Revolutionary War America, Francis Jennings has written a winner, an absolutely excellent history of colonial and Native American cause and effect.

Biased Beyond Belief
Jennings is a historical revisionist interested more in asserting his views than presenting a balanced and complete history of the period.Focusing primarily on the political struggles within Pennsylvania's colonial government, he goes into great detail to praise the Quakers and their majority in the colony's assembly while reviling their political opponents.Jennings glosses over the major events of the French and Indian War unless they support his main argument.

Jennings uses an interesting writing style that includes first person evaluation of facts especially when he is trying to hammer home his point.His attempt to portray the Quakers as entirely good while their opponents as entirely evil creates a great deal of skepticism.Some of his arguments are ludicrous.For example, he goes to great length to describe the pacifistic efforts of the Quakers to bring a negotiated peace with the Indians that successfully led to the Treaty of Easton.Thanks to the Quakers and their wholesome designs, the Indians were removed as a threat that allowed the capture of Fort Duquesne and the war to be won.

Jennings holds professional British officers and regular troops in contempt.He has nothing good to say about this lot and according to him their contribution to the war was negligible.There are a couple of exceptions like Bradstreet who really was an Acadian provincial skirting the outskirts of the professional officer core and Forbes, who could be forgiven because of his fair dealings with the Quakers.

A great deal of references is included by Jennings to support his arguments.However, he has a tendency to present provocative allegations without foundation.Examples of these include James Wolfe's brutality and Daniel Webb's cowardice.

Jennings' book is a frustrating read for anyone seeking a comprehensive coverage.No doubt his points have some factual foundation but these are unfortunately lost because his overt bias undercuts his assertions.

Empire of Fortune by Francis Jennings
This book is the third in a series by the author.The first one, entitled "The Invasion of America: Indians, Colonialism, and the Cant of Conquest," deals with the Puritan conquest of New England.The second one, entitled "The Ambiguous Iroquois Empire: The Covenant Chain Confederation of Indian Tribes with English Colonies," deals with colonial/Indian relations up to the the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744.This third book picks up the story from there and goes through the French and Indian War.Each can be read separately, but once you've read one, you will want to read them all.

If you are looking for a book that breathes new life into an old subject, then this book is for you.The purpose of this book, according to the author, is to correct "a record that has been badly botched in previous accounts by 'authoritative colleagues.'"Thus, Jennings wants to destroy old stereotypes and myths, some of which have been perpetuated for more than a century and a half.

Jennings talks about the politics of the day, and the why's and wherefore's of historical events.He deals with all the familiar historical figures, but sheds new light on them and their motives.He defends the oft-maligned Quakers and attacks those who have given them a bad name, exposing their agendas.Jennings wants the reader to see both the Red Man and the White Man as human beings who sought their own interests, and often places historical events in that light.He especially goes out of his way to demonstrate that Indians were rational beings who often manipulated White and Red alike to obtain their ends.He exposes the poor scholarship of revered authors, such as Parkman, the Beards,and Boorstin.Jennings sees Parkman as "a racsist of the venomous type" and a disciple of Social Darwinism, a theory he was willing to distort his sources for in order to substantiate.

The book is impeccably written and researched, and boasts a wonderful bibliography.The author's approach is one of ethnohistory and rejects "the concept of race as fallacious and vicious."Instead, he follows "the example of modern anthropologists by using the culture concept" as his basic tool of analysis.

Jennings often writes in catagoric terms, and does not fear documented, bare-knuckled criticism of others who have written in this field.Although he can come across as a self-proclaimed superauthority, the reader will do well to remember that he believes that "[a]ll histories are interpretations by writers predisposed by personal experience and cultural imperatives, and prone to human error."It was not his intention to write a definitive history.His primary goal was to "open the field rather than close it" to a new method of interpretation.

Although he is willing "to acknowledge error when it is demonstrated," he "can be pretty firm when error is only asserted."Anyone who tries to demonstrate Jennings' errors had better go well-versed in primary sources and prepared to take a few lumps.

Good reference but not a good read
Unfortunately the book comes across as extremely cranky.Yes, cranky. The author's tone is self righteous, fussy and cranky, and he looks downhis nose at all things military in a distaining way. As if the French andIndian War could be interpreted without the military aspect! For a muchbetter read, try Fred Anderson's "Crucible of War," justpublished. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
The Disastrous British Expedition that Gave America Its First National Hero
In 1755, Major General Edward Braddock was sent by Great Britain on a mission to drive France once and for all from the New World. Accompanied by the largest armed expeditionary force ever sent to North America, Braddock's primary target was the Forks of the Ohio, where he planned to seize Fort Duquesne and then march north to the Canadian border. After landing in Alexandria, Virginia, Braddock organized his troops and supply chain, threatened to billet soldiers in private homes, and called the first congress of royal governors in America to discuss using local revenue to pay for the expedition--issues that were to drive the future split between the colonies and Britain. In May, the expedition began its nearly 250-mile trek, heroically cutting through dense wilderness, fording rivers, and scaling mountains, while hauling heavy artillery and the first wheeled vehicles ever to cross the Appalachian Mountains. Braddock was joined on the expedition by a young Virginia colonel, George Washington, and others who would later play roles in the future revolution, including Horatio Gates, Thomas Gage, and Charles Lee; among those driving the wagons were Daniel Boone and Daniel Morgan. Less than a day's march from Fort Duquesne, Braddock's exhausted column was annihilated by a combined French and Indian force, some of whom fired rifles--probably the first effective use of this weapon in battle. Over two-thirds of Braddock's British and colonial troops suffered casualties--more than in the Charge of the Light Brigade--and Braddock himself fell mortally wounded, while George Washington miraculously escaped harm despite four bullet holes through his clothing. With this battle, North America at once started and was drawn into a global war between Britain and France.
In Braddock's March: How the Man Sent to Seize a Continent Changed American History, Thomas E. Crocker uses a wealth of sources--including newly discovered letters--to tell the story of one of the most important events in the American colonial period. Not only did Braddock's expedition have a profound impact on American military and political developments, this fateful march opened the first major road for westward expansion, anointed a national hero in George Washington, and sowed the seeds for the American Revolution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

BRADDOCK'S MARCH: HOW THE MAN SENT TO SEIZE A CONTINENT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY
BRADDOCK'S MARCH: HOW THE MAN SENT TO SEIZE A CONTINENT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY
THOMAS E. CROCKER
WESTHOLME PUBLISHING, 2009
HARDCOVER, $28.00, 336 PAGES, MAPS, NOTES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX, ILLUSTRATIONS


During the early 1750s, France and England jockeyed for position in North America. By 1752, the French were seeking to establish a strong position in the Ohio Valley. Along the Great Lakes and the Ohio itself, they constructed a string of forts, key among them being Fort Duquesne, erected in 1754 on the forks of the Ohio.The American colonists themselves had designs on the region, and certainly were unwilling to be excluded from it, but their main counterthrust, Washington's Fort Necessity expedition of 1754, ended in humiliating defeat. The government in London then determined to commit British regulars to the effort. During the autumn of 1754, final plans were laid for the proposed enterprise. The 44th and 48th Regiments of Foot were to be sent to Virginia, then on to strike Fort Duquesne. Meanwhile, the two provincial regiments, the 50th and 51st (they had been reduced in 1748 but were now raised again) wee to move on Niagara. The two British regiments would join them after capturing Fort Duquesne, and this combined force would sweep the French from south of the GreatnLakes. Commanding this effort was to be Major General Edward Braddock, a favorite of the Duke of Cumberland. Despite the ambitious nature of this plan, the government in London committed only the minimum resources to it. The 44th and 48th were among the weakest regiments, both short of personnel. They were to some extent filled out, more in quantity than quality, by drafts from other regiments, and it was anticipated that once they reached Virginia, it was expected that American recruits would bring them both to 700 men in each regiment. On this small and motley force, commanded by an officer who had no combat experience, the government in London placed its primary reliance. Upon arrival in Hampton, Virginia in February, 1755, Braddock refined the master strategy. Massachusetts Governor William Shirley was given command of the Niagara expedition, and in addition to the 50th and 51st he was alloted the New York militia units, along with what ever provincials and Native American allies he could recruit. Sir William Johnson, newly designated superintendent of the northern Native Americans, was ordered to advance on the French fort at Crown Point. His force was to consist of provincials, supported by Native Americans. Finally, a force of New Englanders was to sail to Nova Scotia, there to link-up with British regulars in an attack on Fort Beausejour at Chignecto. Command of this force was given to Colonel Robert Monckton. But the linchpin to the campaign was, of course, Braddock's expedition. With the defeat of Braddock, the master plan for rolling back the French began to unravel. Shirley, who when Braddock was killed in action became commander in chief, was a cautious general-not the last that the British were to have in the highest command during the period of 1755-1763. After putting together a 5,000-man army at Oswego by late September, 1755, he decided not to advance against Niagara. He was likely unnerved not only by the defeat of Braddock's army but also the untimely death of his son, William Shirley, Jr. (who was Braddock's secretary); and the lateness of the season. In BRADDOCK'S MARCH: HOW THE MAN SENT TO SEIZE A CONTINENT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY, author Thomas E. Crocker writes a wonderfully satisfying narrative that combines new scholarship with attention to detail to bring to life not only Braddock himself but also the failed campaign to capture Fort Duquesne. The only thing missing from this book is an order of battle for both the British and their allies and the French and their allies which would have been a great help in understanding this engagement.


Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida

Good history
A little dry but a thorough history of those times. The author has definietly done his research.

worth reading
T.E. Crocker has chosen a erudite path to enlighten the reader as to the character of General Edward Braddock. The detail of Braddock's personal life and military career are excellent. The book however does not pursue details of the march and final battle at the Monongahela. The inside flap refers to Braddock's column as ambushed. The general consensus among most scholars describe this as a collision of forces. There are copious amounts fo information referenced by the author. His interpretation of historical facts regarding this controversial expedition and impact on our American History is well worth reading.

For what it is--a popular history--I think it is pretty good...
Just finished the new book on Braddock by Crocker. Overall: B+.It is not the be all and end all book on the campaign, and it does leave quite a bit out--esp about his use of provincial forces.He gets a few minor details wrong as well.Prob the biggest gaffe (reflective of the fact that he is a lawyer, not a trained historian, and is thus unfamiliar with the wider literature) is his description of the 1755 Carlyle House Conference ("Congress") as a prototype to the Continental Congress of 1774.He's way off with that.The meeting of the Gov's with Braddock was not some kind of representative assembly as Crocker would have us believe.

However, for what it is--a popular history--I think it is pretty good, and if it attracts more people to the subject and colonial military history then it is a good thing.One really ought to read Kopperman, though, to get the full picture.

"The line between disorder and order lies in logistics..."
"Logistics sets the campaign's operational limits." Joint Pub 1: Joint Warfare of the Armed Forces of the United States. I found it a wonderful story of the greatest and perhaps orderly army of it's time in the disorder of colonial america - both wilderness and political. I read with interest how this march could be seen as the actual beginning of the American revolution. Then to think after overcoming the informational and logistical nightmare, success or failure may have hinged only on taking the high or low road. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first complete military study of the campaign directed by Brigadier General John Forbes in 1758 to drive the French out of the forks of the Ohio River. The author details the leadership, supply tactics, artillery, training and discipline that led to the campaign's success and its role in American Colonial history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

French and British
A very detailed account of one of the most important battles on American soil.Most French and Indian War historical narratives briefly cover this campaign. The author has done a great job in revitalizing the military genius of Gen Forbes and describes in detail the tremendous performance of his Soldiers.

Before reading this book, one must read up on the ill fated Braddock campaign in order to grasp the whole historical scenario.I suggest also traveling to Western Pennsylvania to see many of the well preserved battle grounds as discussed in the book.

I rated it 4 stars because I would have liked for the author to compare the historical trek of Forbes to modern day towns, sites, and roads so as to better trace the campaign routes and grasp Forbes major feats through the Allegany's.

A tremendous book for all pre-revolution historians.
... Read more

Product Description

A humble shoemaker hears the bells ringing at Lexington and responds to a call to battle. An aide to George Washington recounts his feelings as he crosses the Delaware. A young surgeon describes in his diary the horror of an army camp, where the spread of smallpox, frostbite, and starvation are deadlier than any sword. These are the voices of the American Revolutionaries.

Most of us know about the American Revolution only from secondhand accounts of the fighting or from documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. But listen closely and you can hear the voices-those that tell the truest stories -- of men, women, and children of all races who experienced the Revolution firsthand, who planted the seeds of liberty and passionately struggled to give birth to the United States of America that we know today.

Customer Reviews (2)

American ideals
My kids read a chapter of this every night.They are enjoyingthe opportunity to get a more translucent perspective of what the American struggle is and the ideals that surrounded the will to preserve it over time.Especially during election time, I highly recommend sharing some of the positive ideals that our country was founded on through the eyes of the people who struggled through it.

American Revolutionary's review
This book is about the times and diffuculties that the the American soldiers endured. Milton Meltzer gathered lots of information about the war, as in many of the other " A history in You Own Words" series. The book is different because the way the author gives you his information is a first person diary entry account. The emotion pours from the " Entry's in the book." The battles are exciting and the talking seems dull afterwords.
" Whatcha had for breakfast"
" Firecake and water, Sir
later. " Whatcha havin for dinner"
" Firecake and water, sir.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the ( American)Revolutionary war ... Read more

Product Description

The Upper Country melds myth and conventional history to provide a memorable tale of French designs in the middle of what became the United States. Putting the reader on the battlefields, at the trading posts, and on the rivers with voyageurs and their allies from the Indian nations, Claiborne Skinner reveals the saintly missionaries and jolly fur traders of popular myth as agents of a hard-nosed, often ruthless, imperial endeavor. Skinner's engaging narrative takes the reader through daily life at posts like Forts Saint Louis and Michilimakinac, illuminates the complexities of interracial marriage with the courtship of Michel Aco at Peoria, and explains how France's New World adventurism played a role in the outbreak of the Seven Years War and the beginning of the modern era.

In this story, many of the traditional heroes and villains of American history take on surprising roles. The last Stuart kings of England seem shrewd and even human; George Washington makes his debut appearance on the stage of history by assassinating a French officer and plunging Europe into the first truly global war.

From unthinkable hardship to dreams of fur trade profits, this fascinating exploration sheds new light on France and its imperial venture into the Great Lakes.

Customer Reviews (4)

Great survey of period
As resident of the upper region, I've visited many of the historic places discussed in the book. From the time of my awakening (visiting Michilmackinac at the age of 8)to now, I had yet to find one book that provided such a concise overview of French colonialism in North America. Particularly intriguing was the continuing chess game between France, England, and Spain.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in this period.

Good Survey Text
As stated by the author in the Introduction, there are no ground-breaking revelations from original scholarship within this work. But it is a good, solid introduction to the politics and economics of the subject region. I only found two small historic errors - details that would be obvious to only the most arcane of French colonial historians.

The bibliography reveals that he has consulted virtually every printed source available, and a large part of this book's value lies in the bibliographic resources revealed. Doctor Skinner's collection and collation of facts from widely disparate sources, presented from a highly objective perspective, make this work a valuable introduction for readers who don't have the time or inclination to wallow in the esoterica of the bibliography.

Comprehensive work Well written
The author covers a significant amount of ground in a very short space. He is effective in bringing history to life.His attention to detail is both interesting and well researched.It is a mandatory read for anyone who is interested in the history of the great lakes. I highly recommend this book!

Two thumbs up!
Skinner is an excellent storyteller and this is a fascinating history of New France and the Great Lakes region. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Valuable study of the South in the Seven Years War
This is a saluable study of the South in the Seven Years War, a story not often told. Titus focuses on VA and does so in a detailed, scholarly fashion.This was a dissertation directed by Richard Kohn of UNC.I highly recommend this work.It is not the best prose, but certainly it is readable. ... Read more

Product Description
For over two hundred years no Indian force in America was so powerful and feared as the Iroquois League. Throughout two thirds of this continent, the cry of "The Iroquois are coming!" was enough to demoralize entire tribes. But these Iroquois occupied and controlled a vast wilderness empire which beckoned like a precious gem to foreign powers. France and England secured toeholds and suddenly each was claiming as its own this land of the Iroquois. Alliance with the Indians was the key; whichever power controlled them could destroy the other.

Wilderness Empire is the gripping narrative of the eighteenth-century struggle of these two powers to win for themselves the allegiance of the Indians in a war for territorial dominance, yet without letting these Indians know that the prize of the war would be this very Iroquois land. It is the story of English strength hamstrung by incredible incompetence, of French power sapped by devastating corruption. It is the story of the English, Indian and French individuals whose lives intertwine in the greatest territorial struggle in American history--the French and Indian War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Wonderful reading
Mr. Eckert has a wonderful way of blending history into a narrative that stays true to the facts as they occured. The reader is swept into the lives and times of the period, pleasantly learning the personality and dynamics of the times. I absolutely encourage anyone with the slightest interest in America's early years to pursue the "Winning of America" series of which the "Wilderness Empire" is the second of six.

great reading
I have read the entire series of these books. All are great reading for people who want a very true picture of life on the American frontier in the 18th century. I have to say that I am not shocked by much anymore, but these narratives were sometimes hard to get through. I had to put them down and walk away for awhile. I sometimes had nightmares about what I had read that day. These were real people with real names. They were flesh and blood with the same DNA that we all have as human beings -- and how they must have suffered. Our country was settled by tough, determined folks.
I wish I would have had these books when I was in high school.
One other thing I did learn from this series are the great follies and tragedies that stupidity causes. A very great lesson for our own time. One can learn wisdom from history and a careful reading of great literature.

Very good reading for history lovers
I only rate this book a 4, because the first book in the series, "The Frontiersman" is the best, and I rated it a 5.But really, this book is great reading.

If your kid is bored with history, this series of books should make him not so bored.

However, I would start with "The Frontiersman" as it is the best.

Wilderness Empire: A Narrative
This book is an excellent account of the Anglo, French and Indian conflict in the early-mid 1700's. I have also read Eckert's book, "The Frontiersman" and this equally if not more gripping. Nice to read accurate, unbiased, non-revisionist historical accounts of this fascinating time period.

Wilderness War
I have received The Wilderness War by Allan W. Eckert in good condition. While I have not had time to read it yet, I know that I shall enjoy it as much as the other books I have read by this author. He is careful and thorough in his research for each of his books, and his writing style is such that you hate to put the book down until it is finished. If you enjoy true history of the settlement of the great lakes region, Mohawk River region, and the Ohio River valley; of the struggles between the white men and native Indians for control of these lands, you will enjoy the series of books penned by Mr. Eckert. ... Read more