MWSA Review

Best history book ever written on the battles of the Revolutionary War. I did not realize that any history on the battles of our own revolutionary war could be written in a way that made it so interesting and insightful. Theodore Savas and David Dameron have compiled a book that is absolutely second to none in this genre. The book is simply called A Guide To The Battles Of The American Revolution, however, what is inside their book is anything but simple. It is packed with facts and data and told in a narrative that makes for easy reading and understanding.

The authors have created a format that will make any history buff salivate in pure joy. There are maps of all the battles with great details on them. There are facts about the opposing forces so you understand who had what advantages in manpower or weapons. There is even an analysis of what each army was trying to do and what resulted. This is the kind of book that makes history easily understood. I learned something new on almost every single page of this book and I am very well read on the subject. The research is top notch.

This book is suitable for all readers including teenagers. It is history unlike you have ever read before.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

Author's Synopsis

A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution is the first comprehensive account of every engagement of the Revolution, a war that began with a brief skirmish at Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, and concluded on the battlefield at the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781.

In between were six long years of bitter fighting on land and at sea. The wide variety of combats blanketed the North American continent from Canada to the Southern colonies, from the winding coastal lowlands to the Appalachian Mountains, and from the North Atlantic to the Caribbean.

Unlike existing accounts, A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution by authors Theodore P. Savas and J. David Dameron presents each engagement in a unique way. Each battle entry offers a wide and rich-but consistent-template of information to make it easy for readers to find exactly what they are seeking.

Every entry begins with introductory details including the date of the battle, its location, commanders, opposing forces, terrain, weather, and time of day. The detailed body of each entry offers both a Colonial and British perspective of the unfolding military situation, a detailed and unbiased account of what actually transpired, a discussion of numbers and losses, an assessment of the consequences of the battle, and suggestions for further reading. Many of the entries are supported and enriched by original maps and photos. Fresh, scholarly, informative, and entertaining, A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution will be welcomed by historians and general enthusiasts everywhere.