Brandywine

A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777

By: Michael Harris

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

Length: 17 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Long overshadowed by the stunning American victory at Saratoga, the complex British campaign that defeated George Washington's colonial army and led to the capture of the capital city of Philadelphia was one of the most important military events of the war. Michael C. Harris' impressive Brandywine is the first full-length study of this pivotal engagement in many years.

Though the bitter fighting around Brandywine Creek drove the Americans from the field, their heroic defensive stand saved Washington's army from destruction and proved that the nascent Continental foot soldiers could stand toe-to-toe with their foe. Although more combat would follow, Philadelphia fell to Gen. Sir William Howe's British legions on September 26, 1777.

Harris' Brandywine is the first complete study to merge the strategic, political, and tactical history of this complex operation and important set-piece battle into a single compelling account. More than a decade in the making, his sweeping prose relies almost exclusively upon original archival research and his personal knowledge of the terrain. Told largely through the words of those who fought there, Brandywine will take its place as one of the most important military studies of the American Revolution ever written.

©2014 Michael C. Harris (P)2021 Tantor

Wonderful

Wonderful….full of detail that is easily visualized. I live in the area of the battle and its nice just take a short ride and see the places mentioned

Helps piece together what little I knew of the battle.

I grew up very close to where the events depicted in this book take place. I grew up learning tidbits of the story. Recently, I read “Hero of two wolds:..” about the life of Lafayette. (What a story and what a man. It seems almost impossible to accomplish what that man did in a lifetime.) That book motivated me to read this book.

I now feel as though I understand the context of the battle and it’s mechanics. I was amazed to read about Howe’s trip around the Delmarva peninsula that preceded the Battle of the Brandywine. I learned so very many details that I never knew. For example, a group of English and German soldiers may have walked right in front of the house in which I grew up!

There were times that I thought the detail was excessive and slowed the general narrative (descriptions of divisions, battalions etc.) but overall I felt as though I could follow the course of the battle in my mind’s eye.

I think this book will appeal to folks that are interested in the revolutionary war and people that live in these communities today.

Enjoy

Comprehensive

I enjoyed this audiobook very much. It was detailed and well researched. My ancestor was wounded at the battle of Brandywine while fighting for the Maryland third regiment. I’m hoping to learn more about exactly what happened to him.

good serious and sober view of the battle

the author carefully analyzes the contemporary accounts against the subsequent writing to piece together what happened at the battle. I would love to understand more about the French BDE commander Deborre and why he commanded his troops such as he did to create the unraveling of the defensive line