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    1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War
    Unavailable
    1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War
    Unavailable
    1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War
    Ebook359 pages6 hours

    1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War

    By Robert Tonsetic

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    About this ebook

    The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the American Revolutionary War, but it was the pivotal campaigns and battles of 1781 that decided the final outcome. 1781 was one of those rare years in American history when the future of the nation hung by a thread, and only the fortitude, determination, and sacrifice of its leaders and citizenry ensured its survival.

    By 1781, America had been at war with the world’s strongest empire for six years with no end in sight. British troops occupied key coastal cities, from New York to Savannah, and the Royal Navy prowled the waters off the American coast. The remaining Patriot forces hunkered down in the hinterland, making battle only at opportunities when British columns ventured near. But after several harsh winters, and the failure of the nascent government to adequately supply the troops, the American army was fast approaching the breaking point. The number of Continental soldiers had shrunk to less than 10,000, and the three-year enlistments of many of those remaining were about to expire. Mutinies began to emerge in George Washington’s ranks, and it was only the arrival of French troops that provided a ray of hope for the American cause.

    In a shift of strategy given the stalemate between New York and Philadelphia, the British began to prioritize the south. After shattering the American army under Horatio Gates at Camden, South Carolina, the British army under Lord Cornwallis appeared unstoppable, and was poised to regain the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia for the Crown. However, when General Nathaniel Greene arrived to take command of Patriot forces in the south, he was able to gradually turn the tables. By dividing his own forces, he forced the British to divide theirs, dissipating their juggernaut and forcing Cornwallis to confront a veritable hydra of resistance.

    1781 was a year of battles, as the Patriot Morgan defeated the notorious Tarleton and his Loyal legion at Cowpens. Then Greene suffered defeat at Guilford Courthouse, only to rally his forces and continue to fight on, assisted by such luminaries as Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox,” and “Light Horse Harry” Lee. While luring Cornwallis north, Greene was able to gather new strength and launch a counterattack, until it was Cornwallis who felt compelled to seek succor in Virginia. He marched his main army to Yorktown on the Peninsula, upon which the French fleet, the British fleet, Greene, Washington, and the French army under Rochambeau all converged. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his weary and bloodied army.

    In this book, Robert Tonsetic provides a detailed analysis of the key battles and campaigns of 1781, supported by numerous eyewitness accounts from privates to generals in the American, French, and British armies. He also describes the diplomatic efforts underway in Europe during 1781, as well as the Continental Congress’s actions to resolve the immense financial, supply, and personnel problems involved in maintaining an effective fighting army in the field. With its focus on the climactic year of the war, 1781 is a valuable addition to the literature on the American Revolution, providing readers with a clearer understanding of how America, just barely, with fortitude and courage, retrieved its independence in the face of great odds.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCasemate
    Release dateOct 20, 2011
    ISBN9781612000787
    Unavailable
    1781: The Decisive Year of the Revolutionary War
    Author

    Robert Tonsetic

    Robert Tonsetic was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English Literature in 1964. Upon graduation, he entered the US Army as an infantry second lieutenant. After completing Special Forces training in 1966, he served a tour in Thailand with the 46th Special Forces Company. He was subsequently assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam, serving as a rifle company commander during the Tet and May Offensives of 1968. In 1970, he returned to Vietnam as a senior advisor to South Vietnamese Ranger and Airborne battalions. His decorations for his wartime service include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star for Valor. He retired from the Army at the rank of Colonel in 1991, after completing a three year assignment as a faculty member at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. Upon his return to the US, Robert earned a Doctorate in Education, and was employed at the University of Central Florida as a staff member and adjunct professor. He currently lives with his wife, Polly, on Maryland's eastern shore.

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    Reviews for 1781

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    • 4/5
      This was a well written narrative of the year that America won the Revolutionary War. The author concentrates on the military and diplomatic history with a good dose of the politics on both sides of the water thrown in. I always enjoy reading about the English arguing with each other about just about everything. Clinton and Cornwallis never got along and if they had put as much energy into fighting the Americans as they spent on their intramural spats as they might have won the war. The English were not solidly united politically either but neither were the Americans.Most of 1781 was spent fighting the English Southern campaign and on the American side that was a war between neighbors. I remember when I was very young watching Leslie Nielsen play the part of the "Swamp Fox", Francis Marion. Two of my favorite Revolutionary War battles, Cowpens and King's Mountain, were fought in 1781. The author does a good job on the description of these and the other battles during that year. King's Mountain was fought strictly between the Americans and I have always been intrigued by the way the Patriots got themselves together and won very convincingly. Cowpens was a good example of General Nathanael Greene's talent in his use of the militia troops. He just asked them to stand and get off two good volleys and then they could leave the field. He got good use out of the troops and didn't ask too much from them.The author gave Washington and Lafayette places of prominence in the action. Lafayette enjoyed being the young protege of Washington and a leader of the Revolution. The more I learn about Washington the more admiration and respect I have for him. His leadership of the Americans and his ability to work well with the French were but a small part of his overall leadership. I enjoyed the book very much. It is a relatively short audio book and I listened to it twice back to back. This type of book is my idea of a good time. A well written narrative history of an interesting topic. The author won a Silver Star for his exploits in the Vietnam War. After 27 years of service in the army he retired with the rank of colonel. Unfortunately that opens up something I find very upsetting. I deeply respect those who served their country in the Vietnam War. My problem is how did America, one of the first countries that was created by a political revolution, allow itself to become the most powerful country fighting to maintain colonial power. It is just a rhetorical question but the whole thing makes me feel ashamed.