1776 by David McCullough

10/10

I just finished this yesterday. It was a doosy, a humdinger, a ripping good yarn (I'm trying to think of 1776 era expressions).

History was my favorite subject in Middle School. During class, I would look at pictures of maps in my text book that indicated where battles took place and movements of the different armies. I was fascinated with both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. So you could say that this book was right up my alley. I knew that I would like it and it did not disappoint. While I did enjoy my history classes, the teachers really didn't have a chance to go into the kind of depth that I would have enjoyed, and of which I did enjoy with this book. Needless to say, I probably (perhaps sadly) learned more about the Revolutionary War from this book than I did in all my educational history classes. Well, I should say I learned about the mid-1775 to the very beginning of 1777 period (the period that the book covers). I pretty much knew nothing about any of the battles that took place in New York.

McCullough was able to paint some pretty vivid and descriptive pictures. He takes personal letters and journal/diary entries from the men most heavily involved and it brings you right into the heart of the matter, into the very core of this emotional conflict. It was also cool to see such an in depth portrayal of the British army's point of view.

I always knew that the United States were huge underdogs, but, oh boy were they ever. Most of the book shows how undermanned the Americans were. 1776 was a good year for Americans in that it brought about the Declaration of Independence. But it was a terrible year in that the British were pretty much mopping the floor with them during battles. The Americans were pretty much on a constant retreat. They got dominated until the end of the year when the battles of Trenton and Princeton turned the tide of the war.

I was kind of in disbelief as I read about how much courage these men mustered in the face of extreme disappointments and hardships. It was amazing that some of them continued in the cause rather than giving in. I enjoyed how many of these men expressed their feelings of how God is behind them and their fight for liberty. There were many instances where many American lives were saved based on random weather occurrences (fortuitous wind/fog) and they readily attributed such instances to the hand of divine Providence. It was refreshing to read. This country was certainly born and founded by spiritual men who had faith in God. I also learned about some huge American heroes that don't get as much "pub" as they deserve. Nathanael Greene was as much of a hero as anybody in U.S. history, as was Henry Knox. It was nice learning more of George Washington and all that he did and went through. I liked how McCullough didn't paint some rosy picture where all these men were shown to be perfect and flawless. Instead, he talked in great detail of their weaknesses (particularly Washington's indecisiveness), but also showed their remarkable strengths. It was nice to learn of these men and the sacrifices they made for our country.

There is a quote on the back of the book from a guy writing for The Denver Post that I agree with: "Should be required reading in living rooms from coast to coast."

Quotes:

From Washington: "I heard the bullets whistle; and believe me there is something charming in the sound."

Some random clergyman's description of Gen. Lee: "One...which I should have taken for a bear had I seen him in the woods." Ha ha.

Washington: "We must bear up against them, and make the best of mankind as they are, since we cannot have them as we wish."

"That these men found the time, and energy, to write all that they did, given the circumstances, is a wonder, and ought to be acknowledged as another of their great services to their country. Washington, in the time covered by this narrative, from July of 1775 to the first week of 1777, wrote no fewer than 947 letters!"