With Musket and Tomahawk: Volume I - The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War of 1777 - Hardcover

Logusz, Michael O.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1935149008 ISBN 13: 9781935149002

Publisher: Casemate Pub, 2010

Synopsis

A comprehensive look at the brutal wilderness war that secured America's independence . . .

With Musket and Tomahawk is a vivid account of the American and British struggles in the sprawling wilderness region of the northeast during the Revolutionary War. Combining strategic, tactical, and personal detail, this book describes how the patriots of the recently organized Northern Army defeated England's massive onslaught of 1777, thereby all but ensuring America’s independence.

Conceived and launched by top-ranking British military leaders to shatter and suppress the revolting colonies, Britain’s three-pronged thrust was meant to separate New England from the rest of the nascent nation along the line of the Hudson River. Thus divided, both the northern and southern colonies could have been defeated in detail, unable to provide mutual assistance against further attacks.

Yet, despite intense planning and vast efforts, Britain's campaign resulted in disaster when General John Burgoyne, with 6,000 soldiers, emerged from a woodline and surrendered his army to the Patriots at Saratoga in October 1777.

Underneath the umbrella of Saratoga, countless battles and skirmishes were waged from the borders of Canada southward to Ticonderoga, Bennington, and West Point. Heroes on both sides were created by the score, though only one side proved victorious, amid a tapestry of madness, cruelty, and hardship in what can rightfully be called "the terrible Wilderness War of 1777."

MICHAEL O. LOGUSZ has served in both the Regular and Reserve branches of the U.S. Army, most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007–08. He holds a B.A. from Oswego State College and an M.A. in Russian Studies from Hunter College in New York. The author of numerous articles and a previous book on WWII, Lt. Colonel Logusz has personally examined the ground of each battle he describes. He currently lives in Florida.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Wilderness War of 1777

1 The Strategic Dilemma in the Northern Theater
2 Lord Germain’s Proposal
3 Burgoyne’s Plan to Advance on Albany
4 The British Army in Canada
5 The Northern Campaign Commences
6 British Moves and Patriot Uncertainty
7 Burgoyne Advances and Fort Ticonderoga Falls
8 Cries of Retreat and Forest Combats
9 The Battle of Hubbardton
10 Fighting Off Marauders and Raiders
11 Samuel Kirkland: Chaplain and Intelligence Agent
12 Burgoyne’s Plan to Reach Fort Edward
13 Bolstering Forces on Both Sides
14 Burgoyne Hacks His Way South
15 The Tragic Case of Jane McCrea
16 The Battle of Bennington
17 Schuyler Is Relieved of Command
18 The Patriots Raid Fort Ticonderoga
19 The First Battle of Saratoga: Freeman’s Farm
20 Troops Dig In and Patriot Generals Collide
21 Burgoyne’s Strategy Unravels
22 The Second Battle of Saratoga: Bemis Heights
23 The British Begin to Collapse
24 Burgoyne Surrenders

Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index

About this title

About the Author

Michael O. Logusz has served in both the Regular and Reserve branches of the U.S. Army, most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007–08. He holds a B.A. from Oswego State College and an M.A. in Russian Studies from Hunter College in New York. The author of numerous articles and a previous book on WWII, Lt. Colonel Logusz has personally examined the ground of each battle he describes. He currently lives in Florida.

Review

"...brilliantly written, meticulously researched, vivid and well balanced account highlighting the four month struggle in the pivotal year of 1777 during the American Revolutionary War" (Auburn)

“...a fascinating book... Logusz brings this part of the Revolutionary War to life with excellent detail. ... It is a story with real people as they struggle to live and win the independence of a new nation. From a historical standpoint and as one who loves history, I highly recommend this book.” (IPMS/USA)

“..does an excellent job of covering the Saratoga Campaign....” (The Journal of America’s Military Past)

“Logusz has a flair for vivid detail, whether describing the terror Colonists felt during Indian raids on their settlements or the chaos of battles in the unfamiliar wilderness.” (Library Journal)

“The Wilderness War is captured here with a fresh and intimate perspective.” (Lone Star Book Review)

“... an in-depth. Military analysis of a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War... enthralling study that brings military history to life...” (Midwest Book Review)

“...a fresh approach...makes a solid contribution to understanding the campaign...” (Military History of The West)

"This study of the Saratoga campaign, in which forces of British General Burgoyne were trailed, corralled and finally forced to surrender, demonstrated or the first time the military potential of the Revolution....scholarly research and is supported by half a dozen quite useful maps...”" (Military Illustrated)

“... a superlative saga of this time period... research is truly superb and very much in depth...relies on correspondence and reports from both sides of the conflict to bring the story of the Wilderness Campaign to life... As is so often the case reality is much more gripping than fantasy and this book surely fits into that mold.” (Modeling Madness)

“...gives an account of the campaign at strategic, tactical and a personal level from the initial planning of the campaign to the final surrender of Burgoyne’s force at Saratoga ...actions are well presented and detailed...” (WarGames Recon)

Edition details

• Publisher: Casemate Pub
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1935149008
• ISBN 13: 9781935149002
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 432