The Guide to the American Revolutionary War in Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland Virginia and North Carolina (Battlegrounds of Freedom)

This is the fourth in a planned six volume comprehensive guide to the location of thousands of military actions of the American Revolution -- from the great and well-known battles through the many intermediate and less well known engagements to the almost numberless obscure skirmishes, raids, ambushes and chance encounters that were little noted at the time and which today are virtually unknown, even to many professional historians. This is a truly monumental undertaking. But it is an undertaking in which the author appears to have been successful. Before proceeding further with this review, it is important to clarify what this work is intended to be and what it is not intended to be. It is not intended to be a definitive history of the Revolution or even of the actions that it describes-that would take a library. Nor is it intended to be a complete catalog of every instance in which shots were fired in anger-historical research is a living thing and documentary evidence for previously unrecognized encounters is constantly being added to our knowledge base. It is, rather, intended to be a guide to the location of known sites at which people fought and died during the struggle for our independence for the use of those who wish to visit them and stand on hallowed ground. Desmarais's work has two distinct but interrelated parts-the book, and two web sites. They should be regarded as integral parts of the whole. The book contains directions to hundreds of sites in the five states covered in this volume, followed by brief sketches of the actions (often a dozen or more) that took place at and in the vicinity of that location. Each state's section begins with a small map on which sites in that state are denoted. The text then addresses each site (as near as possible in order from one end of the state to the other) with a boxed description of the site and its location, followed by brief descriptions of the actions that took place at and near it, in chronological order. Because the maps are small and the sites are presented in roughly geographic order, it can be difficult on occasion to find a particular site or action on the map. That is where the web sites come in. The first web site is the publisher's web site (www.buscainc.com). Clicking on the title brings up a page with links to a 119 page bibliography, three appendices and a gallery of 192 color photos. (Similar information for earlier volumes in this series can be accessed by clicking on "Busca Publishing" in the left hand list, then clicking on the desired title in the web page that appears.) The appendices are quite helpful in locating specific sites and actions. Appendix 1 is an alphabetical list of the battles, actions and skirmishes included in the book. Looking for a particular battle or skirmish? You should be able to find it here. Appendix 2 is a chronological list of the battles, actions and skirmishes. Interested in what happened in, say, June of 1779? Look here. Appendix 3 lists battle sites grouped and keyed to major cities and other locations. This can be a major time saver to those planning a trip who would like to visit historic sites while they are in an area. The second web site is http:// gaz.jrshelby.com/desmarais/. This is where to find detailed maps and driving directions. The Guide to the American Revolutionary War In Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina: Battles, Raids and Skirmishes is an important work that deserves a place in the library of anyone who has an interest in the history of the American Revolution and who might wish to visit some of the sites of actions which contributed to the winning of American independence. —Norman Fuss, Corps of Engineers, King's Army in America