George Washington and the Final British Campaign for the Hudson River, 1779 - by Michael Schellhammer (Paperback)

About the Book

In the summer of 1779, British general Sir Henry Clinton launched one last attempt to gain control of the Hudson River, the most strategically important waterway during the American Revolution. The campaign involved all of George Washington's main Continental Army and most of the forces around New York City under Clinton's command, but ended without a major battle. Still, the summer saw plenty of action. American cavalry sparred with their British counterparts in eastern New York; thousands of militiamen resisted brutal British raids along the Connecticut coast; and Washington stunned the British with daring night bayonet attacks on the fortified posts of Stony Point and Paulus Hook. This study details the strategy, tactics, officers, soldiers, and spies that shaped this critical campaign, which helped set the stage for America's final victory in the Revolution.

Book Synopsis

In the summer of 1779, British general Sir Henry Clinton launched one last attempt to gain control of the Hudson River, the most strategically important waterway during the American Revolution. The campaign involved all of George Washington's main Continental Army and most of the forces around New York City under Clinton's command, but ended without a major battle. Still, the summer saw plenty of action. American cavalry sparred with their British counterparts in eastern New York; thousands of militiamen resisted brutal British raids along the Connecticut coast; and Washington stunned the British with daring night bayonet attacks on the fortified posts of Stony Point and Paulus Hook. This study details the strategy, tactics, officers, soldiers, and spies that shaped this critical campaign, which helped set the stage for America's final victory in the Revolution.

Review Quotes

"well written, and providing interesting detail on the organization, equipment, and tactics of both armies, as well as profiles of numerous soldiers, including many relatively minor figures who played notable roles, this work will prove valuable reading for anyone interested the American Revolution"-The NYMAS Review; "Schellhammer describes the strategy, tactics and intelligence gathering involved in the entire 1779 Hudson River campaign in fascinating style...excellent maps...well written narrative...a must read"-Journal of the American Revolution.

About the Author

Michael Schellhammer, a retired Army officer, has served in the Persian Gulf War, Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq. His work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, The Washington Times and The Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin.