The Resource Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling
Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling
Resource Information
The item Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries.This item is available to borrow from 1 library branch.
Resource Information
The item Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries.
This item is available to borrow from 1 library branch.
- Summary
-
- Describes the military history of the American Revolution and the grim realities of the eight-year conflict while offering descriptions of the major engagements on land and sea and the decisions that influenced the course of the war
- "In this chronicle of America's struggle for independence, award-winning historian John Ferling transports readers to the grim realities of that war, capturing an eight-year conflict filled with heroism, suffering, cowardice, betrayal, and fierce dedication. As Ferling demonstrates, it was a war that America came much closer to losing than is now usually remembered. General George Washington put it best when he said that the American victory was "little short of a standing miracle."" "Almost a Miracle offers an illuminating portrait of Americas triumph, offering vivid descriptions of all the major engagements, from the first shots fired on Lexington Green to the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, revealing how these battles often hinged on intangibles such as leadership under fire, heroism, good fortune, blunders, tenacity, and surprise. The author paints sharp-eyed portraits of the key figures in the war, including General Washington and other American officers and civilian leaders. Some do not always measure up to their iconic reputations, including Washington himself. Others, such as the quirky, acerbic Charles Lee, are seen in a much better light than usual. The book also examines the many faceless men who soldiered, often for years on end, braving untold dangers and enduring abounding miseries. The author explains why they served and sacrificed, and sees them as the forgotten heroes who won American independence. Ferling's narrative is also filled with compassion for the men who comprised the British army and who, like their American counterparts, struggled and died at an astonishing rate in this harsh war. Nor does Ferling ignore the naval war, describing dangerous patrols and grand and dazzling naval actions." "Finally, Almost a Miracle takes readers inside the legislative chambers and plush offices of diplomats to reveal countless decisions that altered the course of this war. The story that unfolds is at times a tale of folly, at times one of appalling misinformation and confusion, and now and then one of insightful and dauntless statesmanship."--BOOK JACKET
- Language
- eng
- Extent
- xiii, 679 pages
- Contents
-
- "My country, my honor, my life" : bravery and death in war
- pt. 1. Going to war, 1775-1776. "Fear is not an American art" : the coming of the war
- "A loss that is greater than we can bear" : going to war
- Choices, 1775
- pt. 2. The war in the North, 1776-1779. "Hastening fast to a crisis" : June 1775-June 1776
- Choices, 1776
- "Knock him up for the campaign" : the Battle for New York, 1776
- "This hour of adversity" : to the end of 1776
- Choices, 1777
- "The caprice of war" : America's pivotal victory at Saratoga
- "We rallied and broke" : the Campaign for Philadelphia, September-December 1777
- Choices, 1778
- "A respectable army" : the grim year, 1778
- Choices, 1779
- "A band of brotherhood" : the soldiers, the army, and the forgotten war in 1779
- "We have occasioned a good deal of terror" : the war at sea
- Choices, 1780
- pt. 3. The war in the South, 1780-1781. "A year filled with our disgraces" : defeat in the South, 1780
- "Southern means and Southern exertions" : hope and despair, June-December 1780
- Choices, 1781
- "Bloody and severe" : the pivotal Southern war, early 1781-- "We are suspended in the balance" : Spring and Summer 1781-- pt. 4. American victory, 1781-1783. "America is ours" : victory at Yorktown, 1781
- Choices, 1782
- "May we have peace in our time" : peace and demobilization, 1782-1783
- "Little short of a miracle" : accounting for America's victory
- Isbn
- 9780195181210
- Label
- Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence
- Title
- Almost a miracle
- Title remainder
- the American victory in the War of Independence
- Statement of responsibility
- John Ferling
- Subject
-
- Generals -- United States -- Biography
- History
- Soldiers -- United States -- History -- 18th century
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Biography
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Campaigns
- Biographies
- United States, Continental Army -- Biography
- United States, Continental Army -- Military life
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
- Language
- eng
- Summary
-
- Describes the military history of the American Revolution and the grim realities of the eight-year conflict while offering descriptions of the major engagements on land and sea and the decisions that influenced the course of the war
- "In this chronicle of America's struggle for independence, award-winning historian John Ferling transports readers to the grim realities of that war, capturing an eight-year conflict filled with heroism, suffering, cowardice, betrayal, and fierce dedication. As Ferling demonstrates, it was a war that America came much closer to losing than is now usually remembered. General George Washington put it best when he said that the American victory was "little short of a standing miracle."" "Almost a Miracle offers an illuminating portrait of Americas triumph, offering vivid descriptions of all the major engagements, from the first shots fired on Lexington Green to the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, revealing how these battles often hinged on intangibles such as leadership under fire, heroism, good fortune, blunders, tenacity, and surprise. The author paints sharp-eyed portraits of the key figures in the war, including General Washington and other American officers and civilian leaders. Some do not always measure up to their iconic reputations, including Washington himself. Others, such as the quirky, acerbic Charles Lee, are seen in a much better light than usual. The book also examines the many faceless men who soldiered, often for years on end, braving untold dangers and enduring abounding miseries. The author explains why they served and sacrificed, and sees them as the forgotten heroes who won American independence. Ferling's narrative is also filled with compassion for the men who comprised the British army and who, like their American counterparts, struggled and died at an astonishing rate in this harsh war. Nor does Ferling ignore the naval war, describing dangerous patrols and grand and dazzling naval actions." "Finally, Almost a Miracle takes readers inside the legislative chambers and plush offices of diplomats to reveal countless decisions that altered the course of this war. The story that unfolds is at times a tale of folly, at times one of appalling misinformation and confusion, and now and then one of insightful and dauntless statesmanship."--BOOK JACKET
- Biography type
- contains biographical information
- Cataloging source
- DLC
- http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
- Ferling, John E
- Dewey number
- 973.3/3
- Illustrations
- illustrations
- Index
- index present
- LC call number
- E230
- LC item number
- .F47 2007
- Literary form
- non fiction
- Nature of contents
- bibliography
- http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
-
- United States
- United States
- Generals
- Soldiers
- United States
- United States
- United States
- Label
- Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling
- Bibliography note
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [653]-661) and index
- Carrier category
- volume
- Carrier category code
-
- nc
- Carrier MARC source
- rdacarrier
- Content category
- text
- Content type code
-
- txt
- Content type MARC source
- rdacontent
- Contents
- "My country, my honor, my life" : bravery and death in war -- pt. 1. Going to war, 1775-1776. "Fear is not an American art" : the coming of the war -- "A loss that is greater than we can bear" : going to war -- Choices, 1775 -- pt. 2. The war in the North, 1776-1779. "Hastening fast to a crisis" : June 1775-June 1776 -- Choices, 1776 -- "Knock him up for the campaign" : the Battle for New York, 1776 -- "This hour of adversity" : to the end of 1776 -- Choices, 1777 -- "The caprice of war" : America's pivotal victory at Saratoga -- "We rallied and broke" : the Campaign for Philadelphia, September-December 1777 -- Choices, 1778 -- "A respectable army" : the grim year, 1778 -- Choices, 1779 -- "A band of brotherhood" : the soldiers, the army, and the forgotten war in 1779 -- "We have occasioned a good deal of terror" : the war at sea -- Choices, 1780 -- pt. 3. The war in the South, 1780-1781. "A year filled with our disgraces" : defeat in the South, 1780 -- "Southern means and Southern exertions" : hope and despair, June-December 1780 -- Choices, 1781 -- "Bloody and severe" : the pivotal Southern war, early 1781-- "We are suspended in the balance" : Spring and Summer 1781-- pt. 4. American victory, 1781-1783. "America is ours" : victory at Yorktown, 1781 -- Choices, 1782 -- "May we have peace in our time" : peace and demobilization, 1782-1783 -- "Little short of a miracle" : accounting for America's victory
- Control code
- 85898929
- Dimensions
- 24 cm
- Extent
- xiii, 679 pages
- Isbn
- 9780195181210
- Isbn Type
- (hardcover : alk. paper)
- Lccn
- 2007009366
- Media category
- unmediated
- Media MARC source
- rdamedia
- Media type code
-
- n
- Other physical details
- illustrations
- System control number
- (OCoLC)85898929
- Label
- Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling
- Bibliography note
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [653]-661) and index
- Carrier category
- volume
- Carrier category code
-
- nc
- Carrier MARC source
- rdacarrier
- Content category
- text
- Content type code
-
- txt
- Content type MARC source
- rdacontent
- Contents
- "My country, my honor, my life" : bravery and death in war -- pt. 1. Going to war, 1775-1776. "Fear is not an American art" : the coming of the war -- "A loss that is greater than we can bear" : going to war -- Choices, 1775 -- pt. 2. The war in the North, 1776-1779. "Hastening fast to a crisis" : June 1775-June 1776 -- Choices, 1776 -- "Knock him up for the campaign" : the Battle for New York, 1776 -- "This hour of adversity" : to the end of 1776 -- Choices, 1777 -- "The caprice of war" : America's pivotal victory at Saratoga -- "We rallied and broke" : the Campaign for Philadelphia, September-December 1777 -- Choices, 1778 -- "A respectable army" : the grim year, 1778 -- Choices, 1779 -- "A band of brotherhood" : the soldiers, the army, and the forgotten war in 1779 -- "We have occasioned a good deal of terror" : the war at sea -- Choices, 1780 -- pt. 3. The war in the South, 1780-1781. "A year filled with our disgraces" : defeat in the South, 1780 -- "Southern means and Southern exertions" : hope and despair, June-December 1780 -- Choices, 1781 -- "Bloody and severe" : the pivotal Southern war, early 1781-- "We are suspended in the balance" : Spring and Summer 1781-- pt. 4. American victory, 1781-1783. "America is ours" : victory at Yorktown, 1781 -- Choices, 1782 -- "May we have peace in our time" : peace and demobilization, 1782-1783 -- "Little short of a miracle" : accounting for America's victory
- Control code
- 85898929
- Dimensions
- 24 cm
- Extent
- xiii, 679 pages
- Isbn
- 9780195181210
- Isbn Type
- (hardcover : alk. paper)
- Lccn
- 2007009366
- Media category
- unmediated
- Media MARC source
- rdamedia
- Media type code
-
- n
- Other physical details
- illustrations
- System control number
- (OCoLC)85898929
Subject
- Generals -- United States -- Biography
- History
- Soldiers -- United States -- History -- 18th century
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Biography
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Campaigns
- Biographies
- United States, Continental Army -- Biography
- United States, Continental Army -- Military life
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
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<div class="citation" vocab="http://schema.org/"><i class="fa fa-external-link-square fa-fw"></i> Data from <span resource="http://link.umsl.edu/portal/Almost-a-miracle--the-American-victory-in-the/Qdg23nbyXCQ/" typeof="Book http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/Item"><span property="name http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/label"><a href="http://link.umsl.edu/portal/Almost-a-miracle--the-American-victory-in-the/Qdg23nbyXCQ/">Almost a miracle : the American victory in the War of Independence, John Ferling</a></span> - <span property="potentialAction" typeOf="OrganizeAction"><span property="agent" typeof="LibrarySystem http://library.link/vocab/LibrarySystem" resource="http://link.umsl.edu/"><span property="name http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/label"><a property="url" href="http://link.umsl.edu/">University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries</a></span></span></span></span></div>