Holy Crapola guys! I asked our UofW librarian to see what the University had on the Revolutionary War and,,, WOW!! Two and a half entire STACKS on the event. Man,, I'm gonna need a lifetime+ to read 1/3 of it. I'll try to glean out the best of it and bring some to the '09 Douglas bootcamp.
Evelyn Wood Speed Reading course, dude.....
Well worth the time spent! ;D ;D
Start with Paul Revere's Ride by Hackett-Fischer.
Most everything you need to know about April 19th, 1775 is there, including some stuff before and after.
Hello Group; Nickle is on the mark with his recomendation of Paul Revere`s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, You may need a highliter pen and some paper clips to mark the reread to memorize BURN IN BRAIN to get the details. There are many others, But this one is at the top of the list for good info and not a bad read at that. Pappy.
"Hello Group; Nickle is on the mark with his recomendation of Paul Revere`s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, You may need a highliter pen and some paper clips"
Hopefully, only on your personal copies. . . ;) Please not with public libraries/college libraries books. I know that one of the local colleges here is very specific about not doing this!
Of course on your OWN copies.
If you don't have your own copy, yet, why not?
(That's directed to ALL that read this. This book is TOO good and too CHEAP to not own a copy.)
And once you're done with Fischer's PRR, his book on Washington's Crossing is also excellent.
The best one I've found so far is a book by Jacob Fischer from 1908. The illustrations are re-pros of paintings done by eye witnesses. I have a few more too. Definetly gonna buy the Hacket book on Paul Revere.
Hi,
I used to do reenacting of the American War of Independance period. During the winter when there weren't any events, I used to pick up a book or six.
I'd suggest the following:
Lexington and Concord by Tourtellot. Originally published as "William Diamond's Drum" in the 1950s. WIlliam Diamond was the drummer for Capt Parker's Minuteman company in Lexington. The book was one of the first looks at the social situations of LExington and Concord.
Spirit of Seventy-Six is a collection of first hand accounts throughout the AWI.
Frederick MacKenzie's Diaries are worth a read. He was a Subaltern with a British unit, the 23rd Regiment of Foot The Royal Welch Fusiliers. His diaries include arriving in Boston through the Siege and evacuation of Boston. However, the volume containing April 19th is missing. Still worth a read though.
Redcoats and Rebels by Hibbert is worth a read. It tells of the war from the British perspective. There are few books written from this perspective. Not to be confused with Scheer and Rankin's book of similar title.
There are quite a few first hand accounts of the battles at Lexington and Concord. If I recall, most of the towns in the area set up boards to take depositions of people's actions on that day. The state archives has a lot of these and many local towns still have copies.
I'll post more as I unpack my books if anyone is interested.
Jim
Yeah, thanks Jim. I'll try to find 'em in UWs collection.
Here's a great one - it looks at the Rev War from across the pond. The Dutch were the first nation to recognize America as a sovereign nation and boy did that annoy the King! Had the Dutch not wanted to trade with America so badly, we might still be speaking with British accent!
It's called The First Salute:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Salute-Barbara-W-Tuchman/dp/0345336674
Quote from: PHenry on October 23, 2008, 07:49:30 PM
Here's a great one - it looks at the Rev War from across the pond. The Dutch were the first nation to recognize America as a sovereign nation and boy did that annoy the King! Had the Dutch not wanted to trade with America so badly, we might still be speaking with British accent!
It's called The First Salute:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Salute-Barbara-W-Tuchman/dp/0345336674
I love Tuchman, but even this book focuses on events in Europe.
Good reading for sure.
This one might be better.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Morning
Howdy Biathlon!