Essay: David McCullough 1776 review

Among the foremost references on the American Revolution, this book has been extensively researched and was thoroughly and carefully written. Intended for audiences with an interest in the revolution, it’s versatile enough to be read by anyone, ranging from those receiving an introduction to the subject to those well-versed and wanting more information. It focuses on the military strategy, leadership, and colonial and British society of the war during 1776. The book presents the facts while comments by the author suggest that he hopes for those who read the book to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of their predecessors and to not allow themselves to become overly confident and subsequently complacent because of prior success.
Author David McCullough grew up in Pennsylvania, and later studied English literature at Yale University, where he learned from some of the greatest American writers of the era. He worked for Sports Illustrated and later the United States Information Agency. He published his first book, The Johnstown Flood, in 1968, to great success. Since 1968, McCullough has written dozens of acclaimed history books, including Truman (1993) and John Adams (2001), both of which won the Pulitzer Prize, and 1776 (2005). He is the winner of some of the most prestigious awards you can win as a writer: he’s the recipient of a National Book Award, two Pulitzer Prizes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor. Living and learning in America has led him to be slightly biased towards the Americans, however, he made a commendable effort to portray both sides fairly and honestly. The usage of over a hundred sources, both primary and secondary, lend themselves to showing how extensively he researched the topic, not to mention countless others that he used in his other books which gave him prior knowledge.
In October of 1775, the Revolutionary War is just beginning. American “rebels” have fired on British soldiers at Lexington and Concord, and King George III of England proposes sending thousands of additional troops, including German mercenaries known as Hessians, to America to quell the uprising. George’s policies prove controversial in the Houses of Parliament, but in the end the Members of Parliament approve George’s plan. In doing so, they ensure that the Revolutionary War will be a long, bloody conflict.
Around the same time, the American army is assembled outside of the city of Boston. George Washington, the leader of the American troops, knows that he’s facing a potential crisis. His troops, who hail from many different American colonies, are disorganized and inexperienced, and their morale is low. Washington himself isn’t a particularly experienced military commander. He comes from a wealthy family in Virginia, where he runs a plantation. He has distinguished himself fighting in the backwoods during the French and Indian War in the 1750s and 1760s. While Washington hasn’t had military experience in years, he’s extremely charismatic, and almost everyone who meets him personally feels a strong desire to earn his respect.
The American military at the time of the Revolutionary War is relatively meritocratic, meaning that even soldiers from modest backgrounds can rise in the ranks. One soldier, Nathanael Greene, comes from a working-class Rhode Island family. He hasn’t had much of an education, but he’s taught himself military strategy, and as a result he quickly earns Washington’s respect.
Washington knows that the British army has occupied the city of Boston. He wants to strike at the British, but his generals—including General Charles Lee, with whom he served in the French and Indian War—caution him against attacking too soon. Washington reluctantly agrees to wait. In the meantime, the weather becomes very cold, and the soldiers begin to freeze and starve to death. Despite the cold weather, Washington sends Henry Knox on a mission to recover British cannons from the abandoned Fort Ticonderoga. Washington desperately needs these cannons, since his army is running low on gunpowder. In Boston, the British troops are commanded by the aristocratic General William Howe, a mediocre commander rumored to be too “soft” for his job.
After Knox returns from Fort Ticonderoga with the cannons, Washington develops a plan to occupy Dorchester Heights, the region just outside of Boston. In only one night, he and his men occupy the Heights and build strong fortifications. The British, realizing that their position in Boston is now insecure, have no choice but to pull out of Boston and sail to New York. This victory provides a major boost for the American troops, some of whom agree to reenlist in the army for all of 1776.
By April of 1776, Washington and his troops have marched into New York. In many ways, New York poses a threat to Washington’s troops: the population is heavily Loyalist (i.e., supportive of King George III), and the city is vulnerable to naval attack from many different directions. By the early summer, British ships have landed near New York, and seem posed for an invasion. In mid-August, the British land on Long Island and begin to advance toward the city. Washington, wrongly thinking that the British have sent just a few thousand troops to Long Island, suspects that the British are planning another invasion along the Hudson and sends only half of his forces out to Brooklyn to fend off the British. In Brooklyn Heights, the Americans suffer a crushing defeat. Pushed back to the edges of Brooklyn, Washington engineers an impressive escape: in only one night, he and his men sneak into boats along the shores of Brooklyn and flee into upper New York before the British even realize they’ve retreated. Here, as in many other scenes from the Revolutionary War, the British hesitate and squander the chance to defeat the American troops once and for all.
Now based in upper Manhattan, the Americans await the next British strike. General Howe orders the British ships to attack via Kips Bay, and in the fight that ensues, the British forces drive the Americans back to Harlem Heights. Soon afterwards, a fire breaks out in the city of New York, destroying more than a quarter of the city. It’s been suggested (and the British forces at the time believe) that Washington ordered the fire to prevent the British from utilizing New York’s resources. However, this has never been proven.
In Harlem Heights, Washington again faces a crisis. He’s almost surrounded by the British, and many of his men desert. By November 1776, Washington’s troops have drawn back to Fort Washington, located on Manhattan along the Hudson River. Washington concocts a plan that involves dividing his army into four groups. One group, headed by General Lee, will stay along the Hudson; another will go north; another, headed by Washington, will go into New Jersey; and a fourth, headed by Nathanael Greene, will defend Fort Washington. However, the British forces easily take over Fort Washington while Greene is out on an expedition with Washington. This is a crushing loss for Washington, and he begins to think less of Greene.
By the end of November, Washington has brought his remaining troops into New Jersey. Most of his men are exhausted and dispirited, and even his friend and personal secretary, Joseph Reed, privately begins to doubt Washington’s abilities to lead. Meanwhile, General Howe argues with his generals about how best to proceed. Howe chases Washington’s troops further into New Jersey, but stops suddenly, allowing Washington’s forces to escape. The American army experiences another major setback when General Lee is captured by the British. The American forces are on the verge of collapse. Washington’s allies in Philadelphia, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, are forced to leave Philadelphia for fear of a British invasion.
The book concludes at the end of December, with General Washington enacts a final, daring plan. On Christmas Day, he and his men cross the cold, miserable Delaware River and sneak into Trenton, New Jersey, where a group of 2,000 Hessians is celebrating the holiday. The next morning, in the Battle of Trenton, Washington’s forces successfully overpower their opponents. This is a huge victory for the American side, restoring the soldiers’ faith in Washington’s leadership abilities. Washington scores a second major victory when he launches a surprise attack against British forces outside of Princeton, New Jersey.
McCullough demonstrates his master storytelling abilities throughout the book, bringing us to the scene that he has painted in our minds so that we are right there with the action, from fighting with elephant to standing next to the royal carriage of King George III as it parades down the streets of London. Maintaining a strong narrative throughout the nearly 400 page book seems like an impossible feat, especially with the onslaught of facts in every sentence, but it is done artfully. The pace of the paragraphs combined with the cadence of sentences create a story that captures the attention and keeps a hold on the mind. Shorter, impactful sentences punctuate longer ones to illustrate the point that can be drawn from the information. His word choice is relatively simple, making it easy to read without having to open a dictionary for every other word. He is able to introduce characters well enough that when we see their names later on, we not only think of their accomplishments but of who they are. Long gone is the dry history of textbooks and stories that make eyes glaze over. This is interesting.
For many, the writing of the Declaration of Independence is the first thing to come to mind when they hear of the year 1776. The book 1776 illustrates how much more there is to the year. From complex military decisions to political turmoil, there is far more of interest than just a document. He warns against the feeling of superiority that lead to the British loss and of how attention to the past can be the necessary teacher in times of doubt by simply relaying the facts. He looks at the events and how they connect with each other with the 20/20 vision of the future, showing us the path that led to major wins and losses by both sides. This book is a must-read for anyone and, if they do not already hold a love for history and military strategy, then this book will likely foster one.