"A delight to read. It will be of interest to general readers as well as to those devoted to war histories and biographies." —Sea History
“Draws out the uncertainty of the contest until the reader is waiting as anxiously as Arnold and his men for the battle finally to be joined. Highly readable” —Military History Quarterly
“Engaging...successfully puts the reader in the shoes of the men who fought at Valcour.” —Journal of the American Revolution
"Kelly adeptly describes the lake battles and offers plenty of insight into the principal combatants." —Booklist
"Stirring accounts of heroism on both sides of the conflict." —Publisher's Weekly
"A boon for fans of Revolutionary-era military history." —Kirkus
"Jack Kelly’s latest history has done [much] for Benedict Arnold’s reputation...one can not help but admire Arnold’s energy and determination." —What Would The Founders Think
"This is historical writing at its best." —Terry Golway, author of Washington's General
“Vivid… Kelly does us all a service by giving this crucial but oft-overlooked story a just telling.” —James C. Rentfrow, Ph.D., author of Home Squadron
"Must reading for everyone interested in how a critical military campaign and pivotal battle on Lake Champlain set the stage for American victory in the War for Independence. Beautifully written, Valcour deserves and will command a wide readership. Highly recommended." —James Kirby Martin, author of the award-winning Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero
2021-01-07
An expert chronicle of an early Revolutionary War operation that deserves to be better known.
Journalist and historian Kelly reminds readers that the summer of 1776 saw the end of the rebels’ first major campaign, and it wasn’t led by Washington, who was then engaged in his disastrous Long Island battles. A year earlier, a two-pronged American invasion of Canada had captured Montreal before disintegrating in the face of resistance, disease, and brutal winter weather. In June 1776, the miserable soldiers retreated to the Lake Champlain area. Few doubted that the victorious Canadians, reinforced by newly arrived British regiments, would follow. Breaking through the lake’s defenses, including the decrepit Fort Ticonderoga, would open the road to the Hudson River and the heart of the Colonies. The author describes four months of frantic activity around the lake, culminating in the October 1776 naval battle off Valcour Island in Lake Champlain. Led by Benedict Arnold, who “exerted his authority by means of a steely will, a profane tongue, and a hot temper,” the inferior American forces were overwhelmed after a brutal battle. However, the onset of winter persuaded the British to withdraw and return the following spring, when they met disaster in the form of a reinforced opponent at the Battle of Saratoga. Most historians agree that Valcour was a decisive campaign and that the three generals responsible (Philip Schuyler, Horatio Gates, and Arnold) performed well—even though all ended the war in disgrace. As in Band of Giants (2014), Kelly demonstrates his firm grasp of the period’s history and characters. Not content with biographies of the major figures and a fine account of the preparations and battle, he ably describes the military culture of the times, the self-defeating politics of the Continental Congress, the design and operation of the various ships, and the tactical problems of fighting on lakes versus the ocean.
A boon for fans of Revolutionary-era military history.
