[4HB]≫ Descargar Saratoga Turning Point of America Revolutionary War Richard M Ketchum 9780805046816 Books

Saratoga Turning Point of America Revolutionary War Richard M Ketchum 9780805046816 Books

Download As PDF : Saratoga Turning Point of America Revolutionary War Richard M Ketchum 9780805046816 Books

Saratoga Turning Point of America Revolutionary War Richard M Ketchum 9780805046816 Books

This work is a labor of love by the author, Richard Ketchum, who went all over the areas in which the Northern Army of both British and Continentals waged two campaigns. One turned out to be disastrous for the Americans while the other resulted in the complete loss of a British Army and in many ways the American War of Independence. Ketchum, who passed in 2012, was an accomplished editor at American Heritage Publishing Company for over two decades. He was regarded as one of the finest historians of the American Revolution and as such studied the conflict for decades. Saratoga is one of the several fine works he produced and no student of the Revolution will be disappointed with its pages.

Ketchum traveled to the places noted in the book which enabled him to write a firsthand observation of the grounds involved. Even though more than two centuries have passed since the events he wrote about, Ketchum accurately described the grounds where several of the battles were fought. For military historians this was critical in constructing an accurate picture of the battlefields as geography often dictates the way battles flow. Ketchum also was able to paint in the reader’s minds how the area was in most cases practically uninhabited wilderness with dense forests that were major obstacles to the armies involved in the fighting. This shows us just how difficult it was for the men of that time period to fight each other because they often spent more time just trying to get close to each other.

One of the major factors in this campaign was the weather. In an age where muskets using gunpowder to fire lead balls was the firearm of the era, weather was critical. Any type of rain produced musket misfires and the summer and fall of 1777 were wetter than normal. This also produced high degrees of humidity which sapped the strength of men and pack animals. Ketchum tied that into the logistical efforts required to supply both armies. The result shows exactly why the British failed to win this campaign. More than anything, logistics decided the outcome. The British were on an incredibly long supply line with the Americans enjoying a relatively easy supply chain.

I was particularly impressed with the way Ketchum took pains to describe the individuals in the conflict, both officers and the enlisted men as well as the noncombatants. This use of primary sources was exemplary and sets the book apart from efforts cobbled from secondary sources. This put a human face on the events that unfolded and shows that war involves people. War is not always glorious and often on a battlefield men are fighting for the men next to them, not lofty principles and ideas.

If there was one thing which I did not like about this book it was the lack of attention paid to the American supply effort. Gates’ army was armed by the French as some ships arrived with artillery, gunpowder, muskets, and uniforms in New England harbors. These munitions were instrumental in arming the Continentals and in attracting thousands of militia to the army. Some estimates run as high as 90% of the muskets used in the two battles were supplied by the French. That is information which was absolutely critical to the American victory.

Other than that, this is a fine book worth reading by any historian of the Revolution. Notes are at the end of the book and form an interesting read on their own. The sources are well documented and verified. The result is a solid work of historical analysis by a solid historian.


Tags : Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War [Richard M. Ketchum] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <div>A New York Times Notable Book </div>,Richard M. Ketchum,Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War,Henry Holt and Co.,080504681X,903787727,USA,Saratoga Campaign, 1777.,Saratoga Campaign, N.Y., 1777.,United States;History;1775-1783, Revolution;Campaigns.,1775-1783, Revolution,Campaigns,History,History - Military War,History General,History United States Revolutionary Period (1775-1800),History: American,Military History - Modern,Saratoga Campaign, N.Y., 1777,U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789),United States,United States - Revolutionary War,World history,c 1700 to c 1800,c 1800 to c 1900,Saratoga Campaign, 1777

Saratoga Turning Point of America Revolutionary War Richard M Ketchum 9780805046816 Books Reviews

Author Ketchum utilized a very large canvas in order to communicate a gripping account of the pivotal events of the American Revolutionary war. The trade paperback edition consists of 448 pages and another very generous 97 pages of notes, sources, bibliography and index. This is a book to be immersed in. I was constantly looking up locations on maps, recalling passages from biographies I had read about Stark, Arnold, Franklin and Washington and consulting the notes and index.

The basic story of Saratoga can be summarized in one sentence. General Burgoyne surrendered his English and German army to General Gates at Saratoga New York as a result of over extended supply lines from Canada. Certainly there were other factors that contributed to the English loss such as mass desertions by the Indian allies, lack of carts and horses, summer torrents and blazing heat and lack of reinforcements from either Canada or from Generals Howe or Clinton. Overriding everything was a general sense of British hubris; "we shall put the fear of the British Lion into these rebellious bumpkins - send out our Hessian and the Brunswickians troops; now let us retire to our tent for several toasts to the King".

The author deserves all the acclaim he received for this book. His ability to weave relevant quotes from letters, journal, reports, and even newspapers sustains the narrative and maintains high reader interest in the events, battles and every day trials of an army on the march.

For this reader the most riveting aspect of the months long campaign by Burgoyne was the description of the appalling terrain, near impassable "roads" render into muddy quagmires full of gullies and tree stumps. Added to this the accounts of the unremitting gorilla tactics of the retreating rebels - felled trees, destroyed bridges and sharpshooter ambushes. Ketchum captures a vivid account of a bloody, dirty campaign in which the colonists were fortunate to prevail.
Great book for the overview of the campaign, from the end of 1776 when Carleton moved back to Canada for the winter to the surrender. Good profile of all of the major characters. Outstanding descriptions (very readable) of the retreat from Ticonderoga, Hubbardton, Bennington, Skenesboro, Ft. Stanwix, Oriskany, and Saratoga.
I like Ketchum's writing so much I am going to read his Trenton/Princeton book and likely the Bunker Hill one as well.
One drawback lacking in maps. A campaign overview map, Ticonderoga, Hubbardton, Bennington, and one for each Saratoga battle. They could have drawn down to a little more detail of the action they describe.
This work is a labor of love by the author, Richard Ketchum, who went all over the areas in which the Northern Army of both British and Continentals waged two campaigns. One turned out to be disastrous for the Americans while the other resulted in the complete loss of a British Army and in many ways the American War of Independence. Ketchum, who passed in 2012, was an accomplished editor at American Heritage Publishing Company for over two decades. He was regarded as one of the finest historians of the American Revolution and as such studied the conflict for decades. Saratoga is one of the several fine works he produced and no student of the Revolution will be disappointed with its pages.

Ketchum traveled to the places noted in the book which enabled him to write a firsthand observation of the grounds involved. Even though more than two centuries have passed since the events he wrote about, Ketchum accurately described the grounds where several of the battles were fought. For military historians this was critical in constructing an accurate picture of the battlefields as geography often dictates the way battles flow. Ketchum also was able to paint in the reader’s minds how the area was in most cases practically uninhabited wilderness with dense forests that were major obstacles to the armies involved in the fighting. This shows us just how difficult it was for the men of that time period to fight each other because they often spent more time just trying to get close to each other.

One of the major factors in this campaign was the weather. In an age where muskets using gunpowder to fire lead balls was the firearm of the era, weather was critical. Any type of rain produced musket misfires and the summer and fall of 1777 were wetter than normal. This also produced high degrees of humidity which sapped the strength of men and pack animals. Ketchum tied that into the logistical efforts required to supply both armies. The result shows exactly why the British failed to win this campaign. More than anything, logistics decided the outcome. The British were on an incredibly long supply line with the Americans enjoying a relatively easy supply chain.

I was particularly impressed with the way Ketchum took pains to describe the individuals in the conflict, both officers and the enlisted men as well as the noncombatants. This use of primary sources was exemplary and sets the book apart from efforts cobbled from secondary sources. This put a human face on the events that unfolded and shows that war involves people. War is not always glorious and often on a battlefield men are fighting for the men next to them, not lofty principles and ideas.

If there was one thing which I did not like about this book it was the lack of attention paid to the American supply effort. Gates’ army was armed by the French as some ships arrived with artillery, gunpowder, muskets, and uniforms in New England harbors. These munitions were instrumental in arming the Continentals and in attracting thousands of militia to the army. Some estimates run as high as 90% of the muskets used in the two battles were supplied by the French. That is information which was absolutely critical to the American victory.

Other than that, this is a fine book worth reading by any historian of the Revolution. Notes are at the end of the book and form an interesting read on their own. The sources are well documented and verified. The result is a solid work of historical analysis by a solid historian.