Washington's Partisan War, 1775-83 (Paperback)

“This solid, workmanlike monograph, based on impressive research and laced with first rate maps…gives the reader a greater appreciation of the performance of the states and their leaders in the northern theater of the war. And it shows that Washington was flexible in his use of the militia, which at times surprised him with its turnout and its performance.”―Reviews in American History “Everyone knows that George Washington distrusted the militia….He has been quoted so often on the topic that even specialists do not realize that Washington also saw virtues in militiamen and used them with real skill.” –Mark V. Kwasny

The issue of Washington's use of the militia during the Revolutionary War is indeed a complex question. At the beginning of the war, Washington considered the militia unreliable, and most officers viewed it with contempt. Yet, as the war drew to a close, Washington stated that "the militia of this Country must be considered as the Palladium of our security." Kwasny's (history, Ohio State Univ.) in-depth analysis provides the reader with the necessary evidence to follow the changing role of the militia through the war. The reader also can follow the transformation of Washington and how he developed his ultimately successful use of the militia. The work is very well written and thoroughly researched; there are over 60 pages of notes. Although of greatest interest to period historians, it does explain some ambiguities that have persisted about Washington as a general. Recommended for subject specialists and historians.?Mark E. Ellis, Albany State Univ., Leesburg, Ga.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.