A Battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution

by Craig Symonds

Overview

A Battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution, a second collaboration between Dr. Craig L. Symonds and cartographer William J. Clipson, authors of A Battlefield Atlas of the Civil War, is a fresh visual and narrative overview of the principal military engagements of the American war for independence.

Symonds narrates each battle in a clear, concise, and readable way. Accompanying two-color, full-page maps aid the visual comprehension of students as well as military history buffs, making this easy-to-handle book an ideal classroom text, battlefield tour guide, or library reference. Four introductory essays draw the narratives together, each highlighting a new facet of the British-American conflict.

“The Early Campaigns” recounts the formation of the Continental Army and the selection of Washington as its commander.

“The Turning Point” discusses the tough winter spent by Washington’s troops at Morristown, and the ongoing feuding within the American officer corps early in 1777. These problems belied that this year would prove the turning point of the war with the American defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga.

“A Global War” announces the entry of France into the war on America’s behalf, renewing the struggle between two of the greatest powers in the western world – France and England.

“The War Moves South” explores the shift in British strategy in trying to recruit Loyalists from southern colonies, the last alternative to political defeat for Britain and for Colonial Secretary Lord Germain, whose reputation was at stake. The conflict between Patriot and Loyalist in the South led to the final destruction of this strategy and victory for the new states.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611214420
Publisher:	Savas Beatie
Publication date:	10/05/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Craig L. Symonds is Professor Emeritus at the US Naval Academy where he taught naval history and Civil War History for thirty years. He earned his B.A. at UCLA and his Masters and Ph.D. degrees from the Univ. of Florida. He is the author of many award-winning books, including The Battle of Midway and Lincoln and His Admirals.

Table of Contents

Key to Map Symbols vi

New Foreword for 2018 Edition vii

Introduction 1

Prologue: Boston Harbor 5

Part 1 Early Campaigns 9

Map 1 The Road to Lexington 13

Map 2 Concord 14

Map 3 The Siege of Boston 17

Map 4 Bunker Hill 19

Map 5 The Americans Invade Canada 21

Map 6 Arnold's March to Quebec 23

Map 7 Valcour Island 25

Map 8 New York I: Long Island 27

Map 9 New York II: White Plains 29

Map 10 Trenton 31

Map 11 Princeton 33

Part 2 The Turning Point 35

Map 12 Burgoyne's Plan 39

Map 13 Ticonderoga and Hubbardton 41

Map 14 Fort Stanwix and Oriskany 43

Map 15 Bennington 45

Map 16 Saratoga, I: Freeman's Farm 47

Map 17 The Highlands 49

Map 18 Saratoga, II: Bemis Heights 51

Map 19 Brandywine 53

Map 20 The Paoli "Massacre" 55

Map 21 Germantown 57

Map 22 The Siege of Philadelphia 59

Part 3 Global War 61

Map 23 Monmouth 65

Map 24 Newport 67

Map 25 Stony Point and Paulus Hook 69

Map 26 Penobscot Bay 71

Map 27 War on the Frontier 73

Map 28 Savannah 75

Map 29 In European Waters 77

Part 4 The War Moves South 79

Map 30 Charleston 83

Map 31 Civil War 85

Map 32 Camden 87

Map 33 King's Mountain 89

Map 34 Cowpens 91

Map 35 Guildford Court House 93

Map 36 Hobkirk's Hill 95

Map 37 Eutaw Springs 97

Map 38 Cornwallis vs. Lafayette 99

Map 39 March to the Chesapeake 101

Map 40 Battle of the Virginia Capes 103

Map 41 The Siege of Yorktown 105

Epilogue: The World Turned Upside Down 107

Suggestions for Further Reading 109

Index 111

Editorial Reviews

Coverage is impressively comprehensive, as Symonds includes not only the more famous campaigns and battles, but many smaller events, such as the Battle of Paulus Hook, although he oddly omits operations on the Gulf Coast between the British and Spanish. Nevertheless, this remains a valuable work, particularly so for anyone in need of an introduction to the Revolutionary War.

The NYMAS Review

"Symonds does a masterful job of providing readers with background information on each campaign and an overall narrative that orients them to Clipson’s maps. The result is a highly readable, well-illustrated volume that covers wars major theaters in a comprehensive, if high-level, manner in just over 100 pages. I recommend that anyone interested in the American Revolution obtain a copy and keep it handy whenever reading about a campaign from that war."

ARGunners Magazine - Ben Powers

A battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution also serves as an effective overview of the entire war. While each map and essay can stand alone to describe a battle, Symonds writes a flowing narrative that can be read like a traditional book, cover to cover.

On Point: The Journal of Army History, Volume 25 Issue 1 - Lieutenant Colonel John C. Lemay

"'A Battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution' will prove to be an ideal and unreservedly useful classroom text, battlefield tour guide, or library reference."

Midwest Book Review