The Siege Chapter Summary

General Washington and the Continental Army had been routed in the Battle of Long Island and withdrew to the defenses of Brooklyn Heights, which left them confined between Hessian and British troops and the East River. General Washington was able to keep the revolution alive by maintaining the Continental Army in the field.

The Servant by James C. Hunter lays a foundation of required strategies that are commonly learned throughout life. The concepts that are laid out in this book are quite interesting and similar to the laws of love. There is an unfortunate amount of successful and unsuccessful people who acquire the “I know best” leadership style that John portrays. Having the “I know it all” mentality can be a person’s biggest downfall. Within this story, you can see the consequences of that mentality as John is losing his grounds in all leadership roles within his life. These strategies are not difficult or new but understanding the foundation of these strategies may be quite challenging for some. When reading this book I recognized to become an efficient leader

Yet in early spring at Valley Forge General Nathanel Greene was appointed quartermaster. Conditions for the members of the continental army greatly improved. Food was in abundance as well as clothing and soldiers took full advantage of it. While the American soldiers were very valiant, they lacked the discipline and skills of a true army. This soon changed will the arrival of Baron Von Stueben. Von Stueben quickly turned the continental army into a true “army.” Leaving Valley Forge Washington and his men had a renewed sense of patriotism. They were now a united army with the skills to defeat the British although they had suffered great losses they had made great achievements and were now truly an army. The winter of Valley Forge exemplified the true will of General George Washington and his troops. They were united and they were ready to fight for one cause life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The British enrolled about fifty thousand American Loyalists and enlisted the services of many Indians, who though unreliable, who fair-weather fighters, inflamed long stretches of the frontier”(135). This extra help from colonists, Loyalist, hessians, and the Indians only add to the army creating a bigger advantage towards the colonists. Even though they did not win it can said that the British seemed to have a bigger lead on the colonists. Colonists presented themselves as weak and disorganized, where one would presume that they wouldn’t win at all, “Yet the American rebels were badly organized for war. From the earliest days, they had been almost fatally lacking in unity, and a new nation lurched forward uncertainly like an uncoordinated centipede”(136). Organization is important for the colonists because they are competing against a well-developed and trained army.

One thing in the story that shocked me is how different our perception of the Revolutionary War is from the reality. An example of this was how ill trained the American army was at the beginning of the war. The army was undisciplined, disobedient, and motivated only by their paychecks. Many perceive the soldiers as valiant, zealous men, but it wasn’t until much later in the war that the soldiers rose to the occasion and became the warriors that we remember today.

There is a fascinating book called 1776 by David McCullough; which is his tenth Book he has written on the subject. In this exciting novel he describes several significant issues that George Washington had to overcome to secure his ultimate victory in 1783. The book also describes the first year of the American Revolution, specifically the triumph of Boston and the failure at New York. The lack of morale while the war waged on, which affected the ability of the troops to fight. Then a hugely successful attack on Trenton, and how that help saved the revolution. The author starts by describing the challenges of creating and maintaining an army and then developing and drilling a military force that will be disciplined in the field of battle.

The story starts off with King George III being shown as more lower class than of royalty. King George eventually has suspicions that the American colonies will try to rise and rebel against him, so in return he begins to gather troops on both land and sea to defend England’s honor. Their blunt distrust of the colonies was a bad choice on their part which spurred conflict towards war. Discussions

1776 written by David McCullough was a very accurate portrayal of the the revolutionary war. The author chose to write the events with mostly a non biased perspective and was able to use multiple sources from the time. This allowed the author to write the book in an interesting way and inform the reader of this vital time in the nation 's history. The book focuses on the life and struggles of George Washington as he progresses through life and the war. It was helpful that the author showed his perspective and thoughts as he grew to become the leader many people think him as today. It is stated that George washington was not a very strong leader when he took control on July third, but it was his perseverance and unrelenting determination that ultimately won the war. Also, The author chose to give insight into the other important leaders who influenced how the war progressed through the year. This was not only accomplished by direct quotes but the author also explained why some decisions were made on both sides made the events less complicated. The fact that the author chose to focus of Washington and the troops lives also made it more personal and it helped that the narrative did not jump around to give an overview of the war from all perspectives.

Though it is a historical book, 1776 has many different themes waiting to be analyzed and dissected. One theme would be the theme of leadership being a major key to success. Throughout the book, McCullough seems to emphasize the fact that even though the American army was minimal, vastly outnumbered by the British, strong leadership was what truly mattered. Not only did this mean the Commander-in-Chief George Washington, but also other commanding officers such as Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox. If the American rebels did not have such strong leadership, both on the field and when inspiration was needed, victory would have been very much postponed or not existent at all. McCullough writes “ good officers were mandatory” and “officers must be better paid, better trained (pg 226).” While the army itself is very important, the commanding officers serve as a driving force that directs the firepower in a certain direction and, in turn, towards victory. Another example would be when soldiers witness their commander, George Washington, rushing onto the field despite the dangers that lay ahead and how important his life was to the cause. One soldier wrote that he would “never forget what [he] felt… When [he] saw him brave all the dangers

“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” This quote in a letter to James Madison, from George Washington, on March 2nd, 1788, explains that once the push for liberty comes through and change is made, it is like the snowball effect. At this point of the war, there were constant losses for the Continental Army they were lacking faith and hope for their liberty. The soldier’s enlistments were also very near to their end and time was going by fast; many were prepared to leave and not signing up again. Overall, the Continental Army was headed towards failure. They needed something to give them a push in the right direction. The battle that raised high spirits in the army was The

1776 started off in Britain, giving a background of King George III and the start of the war. Then the book moved to the Siege of Boston in America. In the siege of Boston an account of both militaries moves and living routines were given leading up to the Continental Army taking Dorchester Heights. This forced the British to evacuate because Washington had sent for cannons and on Dorchester heights was close enough for deadly fire on Boston. From Boston, Washington left a small group, but the rest of his troops moved to New York; which was the British’s next target. At New York the battle of Brooklyn was disastrous for the Continental Army. Afterwards the British moved ships into the Hudson and unleashed the remainder of Washington’s troops who had yet to retreat. When they fled to New Jersey the Continental Army was once again bested. Soon after a brutal loss at Fort Washington was inflicted. Thousands of troops were captured because there were too many in the fort to defend effectively when they had to fallback. Finally Washington made a brilliant strike in the Battle Trenton that gave the Continental Army the momentum it so dearly needed.

The American Revolutionary War took place from 1775 to 1783. The war made the thirteen colonies of the United States of America independent from Great Britain. One of the first major battles of the American Revolution was The Battle of Long Island. The Battle of Long Island was the first battle that took place after the United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776. The battle took place in August 1776 and proved to both sides that the upcoming war would be long and arduous, not easily won by either side. The British Army was victorious in this battle and forced the Continental Army to retreat leaving the entire state of New York under British control. This paper will provide insight and valuable information into the reason behind the American Revolution, and The Battle of Long Island, specifically details concerning the Continental and British Armies, strategies employed during the battle, and an alternate outcome through addressing failures in the American strategy. An alternate outcome to the battle would have a significant impact on the American Revolutionary War.

The American Revolution By Lorelei Treloar Paragraph 1: Thesis statement, contents of essay, summary Paragraph 2: Intro, George’s leadership skills, geography, closing Paragraph 3: Intro, Foreign assistance, colonists spirits and attitudes, closing Paragraph 4: Summarize, restate the main point, profit

“1776” is a story of war. This book chronicles the year 1776 and the different battles that took place during the year. Instead of exploring the political changes the year oversaw, Pulitzer Prize winner, David McCullough explores in a different perspective on the battles that occurred during the year. From battle strategies, to the lives of Major Generals, McCullough takes you through the story in a more realistic and factual perspective. “1776” offers an intimate look into the military aspects of the revolutionary war which creates a more lively and engaging literature. McCullough opens the book in London, where King George III appears on behalf of his people to announce war with the North American colonies. American patriots sought to overthrow British government that overexerted its power and pressed the American colonists, which manifested in the former taxes and troops. The American colonists began to protest and riot, which increased tension, eventually leading to the Battle of Lexington and Concord,

The Battle of Trenton occurred approximately 20 months after the revolution started. On November 16, 1776, the Battle of Fort Washington marked a decisive victory for the British. The British forces killed 59 Continental soldiers and took another 2,837 prisoner (“Weapons and war,” n.d.). Due to the defeat, Continental soldiers retreated across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. The Continental Army did not suffer any losses, but the troops suffered from a sense of defeat. Washington and his men faced a cold winter ahead, they were not sufficiently equipped to survive, enlistment contracts neared the end, local militants refused to take up arms, and the Continental Congress abandoned the