Washington's Immortals - by Patrick K O'Donnell (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

By the award-winning author of Dog Company: a historic account of a Revolutionary War unit's "tactical acumen and human drama . . . combat writing at its best" (The Wall Street Journal).

In August 1776, little over a month after the Continental Congress had formally declared independence from Britain, the revolution was on the verge of a disastrous end. General George Washington found his troops outmanned and outmaneuvered at the Battle of Brooklyn. But thanks to a series of desperate charges by a single heroic regiment, famously known as the "Immortal 400," Washington was able to evacuate his men and the nascent Continental Army lived to fight another day.

In Washington's Immortals, award-winning military historian Patrick K. O'Donnell brings to life the forgotten story of these remarkable men. Comprised of rich merchants, tradesmen, and free blacks, they fought not just in Brooklyn, but in key battles including Trenton, Princeton, Camden, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, and Yorktown, where their heroism changed the course of the war.

Drawing on extensive original sources, from letters to diaries to pension applications, O'Donnell pieces together the stories of these brave men-their friendships, loves, defeats, and triumphs. He explores their tactics, their struggles with hostile loyalists and shortages of clothing and food, their development into an elite unit, and their dogged opponents, including British General Lord Cornwallis.

Through the prism of this one unit, O'Donnell tells the larger story of the Revolutionary War.

"Well-written, and superbly researched . . . A must-read for Revolutionary War and Maryland history buffs alike." --Bill Hughes, Baltimore Post-Examiner

Review Quotes

Praise for Washington's Immortals:

Winner of the Modern Patriot Award from the Sons of the Revolution
Winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution National Excellence in American History Book Award
Named one of the "100 Best American Revolution Books of All Time" by the Journal of the American Revolution
Finalist for the 2017 Library of Virginia People's Choice Award for Nonfiction
An Amazon Best Book of the Year So Far (History)

"What makes Washington's Immortals different from most Revolutionary War accounts is its seamless blend of tactical acumen and human drama . . . O'Donnell admirably blends a story of ardent farmers, merchants and mariners with a combat story of sharp, bloody engagements . . . [He] makes fluid use of letters, diaries, pension affidavits and early histories to bring home the carnage of war as the foot soldier saw it . . . Washington's Immortals is an example of combat writing at its best."-Wall Street Journal

"A powerful narrative . . . a must-read for those with deep or casual interest in the American Revolution."--Journal of the American Revolution

"Well-written, and superbly researched . . . [A] compelling story of the Maryland Regiment . . . Intimate and often inspiring . . . O'Donnell is at the top of his game . . . A must-read for Revolutionary War and Maryland history buffs alike."--Baltimore Post-Examiner

"Gritty . . . a 'boots on the ground' account, with great storytelling verve . . . For readers who enjoy well-researched military history, this is the book for you."--Washington Independent Review of Books

"[Washington's Immortals is] nothing short of remarkable . . . O'Donnell has put together, with beautiful transitions, the compelling story of the Revolutionary War through the eyes of the regular soldier . . . You don't have to be a military history devotee to appreciate the book . . . It put[s] the whole Revolutionary War into sequential perspective."--Daily Press

"Compelling . . . Washington's Immortals is well-researched and . . . lively."--Fayetteville Observer

"A boots-on-the-ground account that . . . personalize[s] brave men whose names have fallen into the crevices of history . . . A strong point of Mr. O'Donnell's book is his adept skill in describing military tactical maneuvers."--Washington Times

"O'Donnell writes about war from the soldiers' weary, battle-scarred perspective . . . At the same time, he describes and analyzes the strategic and tactical elements of battle with an even-handed regard to the wisdom and errors on each side . . . Through his vivid prose, we smell the sulfur in the gunsmoke and hear the fierce and often final cries of the combatants . . . Reveal[s] an important and little-known part of the sprawling history of the Revolution."--American Spirit

"An incredible book . . . I encourage all of you to get out and purchase this . . . I love the book . . . if you like military history, this is a great book."--Rick Crandall, Breakfast Club, KEZW 1430 AM

"O'Donnell does a fantastic job telling the story of these men and their role in the war . . . A rich and compelling narrative . . . Definitely recommended . . . You don't need to be a scholar of the Revolution to enjoy the book."--Historia Militaris

"O'Donnell deploys a fusillade of fact and fresh research in a Revolutionary War history rich in irony and event . . . Readers will admire O'Donnell's exhaustive research, skilled org

About the Author

Patrick K. O'Donnell is a bestselling, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. He is the author of ten books, including Beyond Valor, Dog Company, and First SEALs. He served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and speaks often on espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks' award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, Fox News, and Discovery.