Early modern warfare Books

Book SynopsisA fascinating naval perspective on one of the greatest of all historical conundrums: How did thirteen isolated colonies, which in 1775 began a war with Britain without a navy or an army, win their independence from the greatest naval and military power on earth?

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the fight for the Hudson River Valley, control of which, both the Americans and the British firmly believed, would determine the outcome of the Revolutionary War.Trade Review"In this fresh, vivid, and often surprising telling of the Revolutionary War, George Daughan explores the timeless theme of hubris and the critical role of geography in the making of American independence. A commanding, compelling performance by an inspired historian." -- Evan Thomas, author of John Paul Jones and Being Nixon"George C. Daughan’s narrative is by turns suspenseful, elegant, and moving. He entwines lucid analysis of politics and diplomacy with expertly rendered accounts of the military and naval campaigns." -- Ian W. Toll, best-selling author of Six Frigates"[A]n exacting account of the personal and national cost of the rebellion on both sides." -- Paula Uruburu - New York Times Book Review"[Daughan] deftly highlights how naval power shaped even war on land." -- William Anthony Hay - Wall Street Journal"In this sharply drawn narrative, Daughan offers something truly valuable: a focus on the grand scale." -- Noah Benjamin-Pollack - National Book Review"[An] enlightening combination of military and regional history." -- Mark Levine - Booklist

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning historian reinterprets the battle that launched the American Revolution.Trade Review"This is hardly a new story, but Daughan imbues it with added nuances of character and motivation…A wonderful addition to the literature on the American Revolution, full of enlightening facts and figures." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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Book SynopsisThe riveting untold story of the fight for the Hudson River Valley, the decisive campaign of the Revolutionary War.Trade Review"[A]n exacting account of the personal and national cost of the rebellion on both sides." -- Paula Uruburu - New York Times Book Review"Daughan’s narrative is by turns suspenseful, elegant, and moving." -- Ian W. Toll, best-selling author of Six Frigates"[Daughan] deftly highlights how naval power shaped even war on land." -- Wall Street Journal"In this fresh, vivid, and often surprising telling of the Revolutionary War, George Daughan explores the timeless theme of hubris and the critical role of geography in the making of American independence. A commanding, compelling performance by an inspired historian." -- Evan Thomas, author of John Paul Jones and Being Nixon"Fascinating…Daughan brings all his subjects to vivid life." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"An enlightening combination of military and regional history." -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisThis crucial period in Russia's history has, up until now, been neglected by historians, but here Brian L. Davies' study provides an essential insight into the emergence of Russia as a great power.For nearly three centuries, Russia vied with the Crimean Khanate, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire for mastery of the Ukraine and the fertile steppes above the Black Sea, a region of great strategic and economic importance â arguably the pivot of Eurasia at the time.The long campaign took a great toll upon Russia's population, economy and institutions, and repeatedly frustrated or redefined Russian military and diplomatic projects in the West. The struggle was every bit as important as Russia's wars in northern and central Europe for driving the Russian state-building process, forcing military reform and shaping Russia's visions of Empire. Trade Review"Thought-provoking insights will doubtless spark debate in many a graduate seminar. ... Hightly recommended." - CHOICE April 2008 Vol. 45 (W.L. Urban, Monmouth College, IL) 'Davies has written a complex history of a complex and significant borderland.' – The Russian ReviewTable of Contents1. Colonization, War, and Slaveraiding on the Black Sea Steppe in the Sixteenth Century 2. Muscovy’s Southern Borderland Defense Strategy, 1500–1635 3. The Belgorod Line 4. The Ukrainian Quagmire 5. The Chyhyryn Campaigns and the Wars of the Holy League 6. The Balance of Power at Century’s End

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Book SynopsisThe American Revolution Reader is a collection of leading essays on the American revolutionary era from the eve of the imperial crisis through George Washingtonâs presidency. Articles have been chosen to represent classic themes, such as the British-colonial relationship during the eighteenth century, the political and ideological issues underlying colonial protests, the military conflict, the debates over the Constitution, and the rise of political parties. The volume also captures how the field has been reshaped in recent years, including essays that cover class strife and street politics, the international context of the Revolution, and the roles of women, African Americans and Native Americans, as well as the reshaping of the British Empire after the war. With essays by Gordon S. Wood, Mary Beth Norton, T.H. Breen, John M. Murrin, Gary B. Nash, Woody Holton, Rosemarie Zagarri, John Shy, Alan Taylor, Maya Jasanoff, and many other prominent historians, the collectiTable of ContentsPart I: Imperial Context 1. Liberty, Province, and Empire Ned C. Landsman 2. The Nation Abroad: The Atlantic Debate over Colonial Taxation Eliga H. Gould Part II: Imperial Crisis 3. “Baubles of Britain”: The American and Consumer Revolutions of the Eighteenth Century T.H. Breen 4. 1776: The Countercyclical Revolution John M. Murrin 5. “Rebel against Rebel”: Enslaved Virginians and the Coming of the American Revolution Woody Holton6. Twenty-seven Reasons for Independence Robert G. Parkinson Part III: War and the Home Front 7. The Military Conflict Considered as a Revolutionary War John Shy 8. Class War? Class Struggles during the American Revolution in Virginia Michael A. McDonnell 9. Eighteenth-Century American Women in Peace and War: The Case of the Loyalists Mary Beth Norton 10. Restraint and Retaliation: The North Carolina Militias and the Backcountry War of 1780-1782 Wayne E. Lee Part IV: American Constitutionalism and Nation-Building 11. Writing on a Clean Slate: The Struggle to Craft State Constitutions, 1776-1780 Gary B. Nash 12. Interests and Disinterestedness in the Making of the Constitution Gordon S. Wood 13. Constitutional Recognition of a Free Religious Market Frank Lambert 14. Aristocracy Assailed: The Ideology of Backcountry Anti-Federalism Saul Cornell 15. “To Man Their Rights”: The Frontier Revolution Alan Taylor Part V: A Social Revolution? 16. The Revolution in Black Life Ira Berlin 17. The Continuing Revolution in Indian Country Colin G. Calloway 18. The Rights of Woman Rosemarie Zagarri 19. From Slaves, Convicts, and Servants to Free Passengers: The Transformation of Immigration in the Era of the American Revolution Aaron S. Fogleman Part VI: Legacies 20. The Other Side of Revolution: Loyalists in the British Empire Maya Jasanoff 21. The Greatness of George Washington Gordon S. Wood

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Book SynopsisBetween 1775 and 1783, some 200,000 Americans took up arms against the British Crown. Just over 6,800 of those men died in battle. About 25,000 became prisoners of war, most of them confined in New York City under conditions so atrocious that they perished by the thousands. Evidence suggests that at least 17,500 Americans may have died in these prisons,more than twice the number to die on the battlefield. It was in New York, not Boston or Philadelphia, where most Americans gave their lives for the cause of independence. New York City became the jailhouse of the American Revolution because it was the principal base of the Crown''s military operations. Beginning with the bumper crop of American captives taken during the 1776 invasion of New York, captured Americans were stuffed into a hastily assembled collection of public buildings, sugar houses, and prison ships. The prisoners were shockingly overcrowded and chronically underfed,those who escaped alive told of comrades so hungry they a

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Book SynopsisIn the autumn of 1647, soldiers and officers of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army held discussions near London on the constitution and future of England. This volume examines the debates (preserved in shorthand), their contexts, and their legacy more broadly and closely than ever before.Trade Review"Reassessing the Putney debates, like the trial of Charles I, is much needed, and Mendle has drawn together an impressive collection of scholars, whose articles are generally of the highest quality... The volume provides stimulating analyses of the text and history of the debates, and the historiography which surrounds both Putney and the protagonists of 1647, and extremely valuable contributions on the context(s) of Putney, and the ramifications of these famous events." Canadian Journal of History"The tantalizing insights that these [debates] offer historians and students of political theory certainly justify the present collection. ...there is a rich array of material for specialists from such diverse fields as political theory, military history, law, crowd behavior, and women's studies." The Journal of Interdisciplinary History"With his own fine sense of historical openness, Pocock put his finger on the point: Putney is not merely a fact. It is also a possibnlity." AlbionTable of Contents1. Introduction Michael Mendle; Part I. The Putney Debates: The Artefact: 2. The survival of the manuscript Lesley Le Claire; 3. Reading and writing the text of the Putney debates Frances Henderson; Part II. The Putney Debates and Their Contexts: 4. The debates from the perspective of the army Austin Woolrych; 5. The army, the state and the soldier in the English civil war Barbara Donagan; 6. The case of the armie truly re-stated John Morrill and Philip Baker; 7. Putney's pronouns: identity and indemnity in the great debate Michael Mendle; 8. The agreements of the people and their political context, 1647–1649 Ian Gentles; 9. From Reading to Whitehall: Henry Ireton's journey Barbara Taft; Part III. Levellers and 'Levellerism' in History and Historiography: 10. 'The poorest she': women and citizenship in early modern England Patricia Crawford; 11. The Leveller legacy: from the Restoration to the Exclusion crisis Tim Harris; 12. Puritanism, liberty and the Putney debates William Lamont; 13. The Levellers in history and memory, c. 1660–1960 Blair Worden; 14. The true Levellers' standard revisited: an afterword J. G. A. Pocock.

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Book SynopsisThe period 1350â1750 saw major developments in European warfare, which not only had a huge impact on the way wars were fought, but also are critical to long-standing controversies about state development, the global ascendancy of the West, and the nature of 'military revolutions' past and present. However, the military history of this period is usually written from either medieval or early-modern, and either Western or Eastern European, perspectives. These chronological and geographical limits have produced substantial confusion about how the conduct of war changed. The essays in this book provide a comprehensive overview of land and sea warfare across Europe throughout this period of momentous political, religious, technological, intellectual and military change. Written by leading experts in their fields, they not only summarise existing scholarship, but also present new findings and new ideas, casting new light on the art of war, the rise of the state, and European expansion.Trade Review'This is an excellent collection of essays about military change across some 400 years.' John France, History'One particular strength of this anthology is the degree of connectedness between many of the chapters … [It] is unusually coherent and comprehensive, and is a valuable addition to the literature on the topic.' Renaissance Quarterly'Essay collections are difficult to edit, in particular when a number of different authors are involved; thus one should take one's hat off to the editors of the present volume for producing the nearest one can get to a homogeneous whole, given the nature of the beast. The essays themselves are, without exception, robust, and in more than one case commendable … as a whole the volume is of great value, not least for what can only be described as its daring overall approach.' Journal of Military History'The contributors [are] uniformly among the leading scholars in their respective fields … Many of these essays are among the most lucid summaries of their sub-fields currently available … this is an extremely good volume of essays, one that benefits both from the high production quality and the inclusion of ten excellent maps. Accessible and yet of a rigorous intellectual standard, it is one that will undoubtedly fulfil its editors' wish to encourage conversation between the diverse students of military history.' Journal of the Society for Army Historical ResearchTable of Contents1. 'Then was then and now is now': an overview of change and continuity in late-medieval and early-modern warfare F. Tallett and D. J. B. Trim; 2. Warfare and the international state system Kelly DeVries; 3. War and the emergence of the State: Western Europe 1350–1600 Steven Gunn; 4. From military enterprise to standing armies: war, state and society in Western Europe, 1600–1700 David Parrott; 5. The State and military affairs in east-central Europe, 1380–c.1520s László Veszprémy; 6. Empires and warfare in east-central Europe, 1550–1750: the Ottoman-Habsburg rivalry and military transformation Gábor Àgoston; 7. Ottoman military organisation in south-eastern Europe, c.1420–1720 Rhoads Murphey; 8. The transformation of army organisation in early-modern Western Europe, c.1500–1789 Olaf van Nimwegen; 9. Aspects of operational art: communications, cannon and small war Simon Pepper; 10. Tactics and the face of battle Clifford J. Rogers; 11. Short-lived triumphs and long-term successes: naval warfare in Europe, c.1330–c.1680 Louis Sicking; 12. Legality and legitimacy in war and its conduct, 1350–1650 Matthew Bennett; 13. Conflict, religion and ideology D. J. B. Trim; 14. Warfare, entrepreneurship and the fiscal-military State Jan Glete; 15. War and State-building Ronald G. Asch.

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Book SynopsisThis 2005 book explores the evolution of Americans' first way of war, to show how war waged against Indian noncombatant population and agricultural resources became the method early Americans employed and, ultimately, defined their military heritage.Trade Review"Read it as a clear, informed survey of the lesser-known wars of early American history, or as a strongly argued reinterpretation of the pattern and relevance of early American military experience, John Grenier's excellent book earns a place on the short shelf of essential books in U.S. military history." -John Shy, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor"John Grenier demonstrates convincingly that there was an American way of war in the colonial and revolutionary eras, which was before the time when previous historians have acknowledged the beginnings of an American pattern of conflict. This earlier form of warfare was in some respects far more brutal and devastating than what came later; but the tendency to blur the differences between civilians and combatants has remained a troubling part of our martial heritage. Grenier's impressive volume will require us to rethink the contours of American military history." -Don Higginbotham, Dowd Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"The First Way of War offers an important reminder that early Americans fought their wars in a variety of ways. One way was largely designed for Indians, depended on unconventional methods, and could be terrifyingly violent. Based on wide and deep research, Grenier surveys a variety of wars between American colonists and Indians, covering both familiar and rarely-tread ground, and details the different techniques tried, adopted, and sometimes discarded as the colonists struggled to find a way to defeat a resilient and resourceful enemy. This is a significant contribution to the increasingly complex and subtle field of early American military history." -Professor Wayne E. Lee, Department of History, The University of Louisville"Grenier makes a strong case that a distinctive method of American warfare emerged during the colonial era. The author has the rare facility of combining an exciting narrative with thought-provoking analysis. A well-researched and well-written book that deserves serious consideration." -Brian McAllister Linn, Texas A&M University"The First Way of War is a well-crafted and exhaustively documented piece of scholarship, with each footnote an authoritative mini-bibliographical essay." -Thomas W. Cutrer, Arizona State University, Military History"...Grenier's study reveals North America's four-hundred-year continuum of irregular warfare and challenges Americans to confront the stark realities of their 'martial culture'." -Kevin T. Barksdale, Marshall University, The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography"The book works well as an overview of warfare in eastern North America in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Grenier's long perspective usefully conflates a multitude of little wars into a long-term struggle between Europeans and native peoples for survival and dominance in North America, a struggle that climaxed in the British triumph in the French and Indian War." -Andrew Cayton, Miami University, The International History Review"well-written monograph...thanks in part to Grenier's lucid prose, we have an excellent analysis of how Americans waged unlimited war from the early colonial period to the beginning of the Republic." -John Richard Mass, Ohio State University, The North Carolina Historical Review"The book's strength lies in its recognition and treatment of the asymmetrical dimension of war as it relates to societies and cultures in general...Grenier's book is lucid and well-written" -MAJ Joseph P. Alessi, USA, Military Review"[Grenier] has addressed the arguments of would-be critics like myself with a sound analytical framework and a well-researched and well-presented narrative. Scholars of American history and of military history will find this book thoughtful and highly provocative." -Guy Chet, University of North Texas, American Historical Review"...a richly insightful contribution to the literature on American ways of war." -Adam Jones, Journal of Genocide Research"The First Way of Ware is a well-researched and thought-provoking work overall. In addition, the historiographical magnitude of Grenier's arguments alone should make it required reading for serious students of early American military history." The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Wesley T. Joyner, University of Southern MississippiTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The First Way of War's origins in Colonial America; 2. The First Way of War in the North American wars of King George II, 1739–55; 3. Continental and British Petite Guerre, circa 1750; 4. The First Way of War in the Seven Years' War, 1754–63; 5. The First Way of War in the era of the American Revolution; 6. The First Way of War in the 1790s; 7. The First Way of War and the final conquest of the transappalachian West.

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Book SynopsisA 2001 examination of the experiences of the British soldiers, or 'redcoats', who fought in the Americas from 1755–63. It explores the Army's distinctive society, using new evidence to provide a voice for ordinary soldiers, previously ignored by historians. Includes the experience of combat, Indian captivity, women, and veterans.Trade Review'Stephen Brumwell's account of the British army in North America during the Seven Years' War offers the most complete, vivid, and sophisticated account we have of the experiences and views of eighteenth-century common soldiers. With wide research, lucid prose, and (above all) compassion, he counts the human costs of empire, and brings to life the terrible war that built it.' Fred Anderson, author of The Crucible of War'A fascinating, judiciously researched, and well-written study … This important book will enjoy a wide readership among specialists, students, and the general public. Its readability will make it a valuable addition in undergraduate survey courses and seminars.' Ben Vinson III, The Historian'This is an excellent, challenging book, convincingly argued through many vivid stories and original research.' Hugh Cecil, The Spectator'… perhaps Brumwell's main achievement is to bring to life the personnel of the army - an achievement made possible not simply by his meticulous research but also by his vivid and engaging prose.' History'Redcoats is an engrossing and readable work that adds greatly to our understanding of the British army in the eighteenth century. For American historians, it provides a much needed addition to the many studies on provincial armies … the work also has a much wider importance for eighteenth-century British cultural and imperial historians … Redcoats is a significant and innovative work which makes an important addition to the literature not only of the British army, but also of eighteenth-century Britain and North America.' War in History'The appearance of Redcoats … announces the arrival of a major military historian … an outstanding combination of historical scholarship and robust prose … the story is so well written as to make it an epic tale …' The Times Literary Supplement'Redcoats has much to offer, and makes an important contribution to the slowly-growing corpus of work on the eighteenth-century Army. It will be enjoyed by specialist and non-specialist alike' The Society for Army Historical Research'The appearance of Redcoats … announces the arrival of a major military historian … an outstanding combination of historical scholarship and robust prose … the story is so well written as to make it an epic tale …' The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsIntroduction: approaching the 'American Army'; 1. Britain's war effort in the Americas; 2. Gone for a soldier; 3. Following the drum; 4. The environmental parameters of American campaigning; 5. The 'American Army' and Native Americans; 6. Irregular warfare in the Americas; 7. The tactical evolution of the Redcoats; 8. The Highland Battalions in the Americas; 9. The legacies of the 'American Army'.

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Book SynopsisOliver Cromwell is one of the most puzzling and controversial figures in English history. In this excellent introduction, Barry Coward uses Cromwell's own words and actions to analyse the life of Oliver Cromwell as a political figure and look at the historical problems associated with his exercise of power.Table of ContentsAbbreviations and Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Unknown Cromwell 2. Cromwell and the Civil War, 1642-46 3. The Search for Settlement, 1646-49 4. Cromwell and the Rump, 1649-53 5. Cromwell and the Godly Reformation, 1653-54 6. Parliament and Personal Rule, September 1654- September 1656 7. The Continuing Quest for Settlement and Reformation, September 1656 – September 1658 8. Conclusion List of Dates Bibliographical Essay Index

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Book SynopsisA Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist reveals the little-known story of the Union soldiers from Alabama who played a decisive role in the Civil War, and how they were scrubbed from the history books.We all know how the Civil War was won: Courageous Yankees triumphed over the South. But is there more to the story?As Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Howell Raines shows, it was not only soldiers from northern states who helped General William Tecumseh Sherman burn Atlanta to the ground but also an unsung regiment of 2,066 Alabamian yeoman farmers—including at least one member of Raines’s own family.Called the First Alabama Cavalry, U.S.A., this regiment of mountain Unionists, which included sixteen formerly enslaved Black men, was the point of the spear that Sherman drove through the heart of the Confederacy. The famed general hailed their skills and courage. So why don’t we know anything about them?Silent Cavalry

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Book Synopsis* Provides students with an affordable collection of key articles on the English Civil War. * Includes a substantial introduction which contextualises the articles and the issues they raise> * Examines and provides a guide to major recent and current areas of debate on the causes, course and consequences of the Civil War.Trade Review"Peter Gaunt's The English Civil War: The Essential Readings is indeed essential reading for any clear understanding of the causes and consequences of the violent birth of modernity in England. The essays he presents are carefully chosen and represent a generation of the best historical work in an area which has sparked controversy for over 300 years." Professor Victor Stater, Louisiana State University "Gaunt's volume, devoted to the civil war, brings out the complexities, cross-currents and different interpretations of that crisis ... a helpful and reliable guide to the shifting centres of interest in this field." Times Higher Education Supplement "A diverse and thought-provoking read, introduced clearly and effectively by Peter Gaunt." History "A good, structured introduction to the topic ... Gaunt's introductory essays to the book's four sections helpfully guide the unfamiliar reader through the minefield of Civil War historiography." History "An expert selection of articles dating from 1972 to 1994, with a running commentary, the whole intended to convey a clear living picture of the problems of the period and the diversity of the historiography ... a formidable task, triumphantly accomplished." Cromwelliana "Gaunt's introductions are impressively clear and concise. His grasp on the subject is never less than firm, and he successfully locates contributions within their historical and historiographical contexts, providing a valuable guide to a vast body of literature." Jason Peacey, History of Parliament Trust - Canadian Journal of History "The editor of this commendable work is Peter Gaunt, who has judiciously chosen what he considers to be the most revealing and insightful articles that have been published over the last 30 years. Both his selection of articles and authors are keenly rewarding for anyone who wishes to understand in some depth what unfolded in the British Isles during this era. Above all, Gaunt possesses the talent to summarize divergent opinions deftly." Journal of Church and StateTable of ContentsEditor's Introduction. 1. What Was The English Revolution: John Morrill, Brian Manning and David Underdown. 2. The English Revolution and Revisionist Revolt: Mary Fulbrook. 3. The British Problem and The English Civil War: Conrad Russell. 4. Opposition to the Personal Rule of Charles I: The Diary of Robert Woodford, 1637-1641: John Fielding. 5. Why Did Charles I Call The Long Parliament?: Conrad Russell. 6. Why Did Charles I Fight The Civil War?: Conrad Russell. 7. The Defection of Sir Edward Dering, 1640-41: Derek Hirst. 8. Sir William Brereton and England's Wars of Religion: John Morrill. 9. Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Creation of Rival Administrations at the Beginning of the English Civil War: Martyn Bennett. 10. The War, the People and the Absence of the Clubmen in the Midlands, 1642-46: Simon Osborne. 11. England Turned Germany? The Aftermath of the Civil War in its European Context: Ian Roy. 12. The Levellers and Christianity: J. Colin Davis. 13. Charles Stuart, That Man of Blood: Patricia Crawford. 14. A Bougeois Revolution?: Christopher Hill. Index.

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Book SynopsisIn the bloodiest conflict Europe had ever experienced, Amalia Elisabeth fought to save her tiny German state, her Calvinist church, and her children’s inheritance. Tryntje Helfferich reveals how this embattled ruler used diplomacy to play the European powers against one another, while raising one of the continent’s most effective fighting forces.Trade ReviewImpressive...Helfferich tracks Amalia Elisabeth's bold, often duplicitous, but ultimately successful diplomatic manoeuvrings in meticulous, indeed exhaustive, detail...In an age when so much of what passes for 'history' in the bookshops is merely the competent journalistic synthesis of earlier (and often better) books, it is refreshing to come across a work that is grounded in original, multilingual archival scholarship and has something genuinely new to say...The Iron Princess is far more than merely the biography of a singularly forceful, if despotic, woman. Its narrative provides an exceptionally sure-footed guide through the mazes of European princely politics at their most labyrinthine, and offers an entirely new insight into the role of the smaller states in shaping the great Westphalian treaties that settled the European state system for the best part of the next two centuries. If the Iron Princess was more fortunate in life than she deserved, she has undoubtedly continued her lucky run in this fine biography. -- John Adamson * Literary Review *Like Elizabeth I of England, Amalia Elisabeth was a mistress of delay, and The Iron Princess shows how she successfully navigated the maze of legal, military, and diplomatic obstacles that awaited her when she assumed power. Helfferich deftly reconstructs the dynamics of power, religious division, and social opposition that Amalia Elisabeth confronted. A superb book. -- Orest Ranum, The Johns Hopkins UniversityThis deeply researched book will make a major contribution to what we know about the Thirty Years War. Helfferich's work will place Amalia Elisabeth of Hesse-Cassel squarely onto the mental map of anyone who takes a serious interest in the most protracted and important European conflict of the seventeenth century. -- Christopher R. Friedrichs, University of British ColumbiaIn this detailed and impressively researched study of Amalia Elisabeth, Helfferich offers a shrewd and sophisticated analysis of the problems of female rule in an age of crisis, combined with an equally penetrating interpretation of princely politics within the Holy Roman Empire during the closing stages of the Thirty Years War. It is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary ruler, deftly told. -- Mary Lindemann, University of MiamiHelfferich's exploration of the intricate political maneuverings of Amalia Elisabeth offers not only a fascinating vignette of the Thirty Years' War, but also a most valuable scholarly contribution and corrective to the political and religious history of the first European war. It was largely due to the landgravine's tenacity and shrewd insight into politics that Calvinism was legalized in the Peace of Westphalia. -- Sigrun Haude, University of Cincinnati

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Book SynopsisAfter 1776, Americans struggled to gain recognition of their new republic and their rights as citizens. None had to fight harder than the nation’s seamen, whose labor took them deep into the Atlantic world. Nathan Perl-Rosenthal tells the story of how their efforts created the first national, racially inclusive model of U.S. citizenship.Trade ReviewCitizen Sailors is a useful reminder that Revolutionary America was more inclusive than the republic would become in the 19th century and than some might wish to make it today. By skillfully coaxing narratives out of previously unorganized troves of documents, Perl-Rosenthal lets us see that the Custom House certificates ‘offered a glimmer of a far more inclusive model of the American nation than existed in any other official quarter.’ He also ably describes the complicated national identities of sailors and the human suffering of Americans wrongfully impressed. -- Mark Spencer * Wall Street Journal *Citizen Sailors is the first book to explore how sailors were crucial to definitions of U.S. citizenship during and after the War for Independence because of their central role in national politics and because of the peculiar problems in ascertaining their nationality. Engagingly written and marshaling terrific new evidence, this important book will alter our understanding of the American Revolution, the Atlantic world, and the dynamics of national identity. -- Joyce E. Chaplin, author of Round about the Earth: Circumnavigation from Magellan to OrbitWith erudition and eloquence, Citizen Sailors tells the remarkable story of the federal government’s efforts to protect the welfare of seafaring Americans, doing so without regard to region, class or, surprisingly, race. Showcasing maritime history at its best, the result is a tour de force that will appeal to general readers and specialists alike. -- Eliga Gould, author of Among the Powers of the Earth: The American Revolution and the Making of a New World Empire

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Book SynopsisIt was Willaim Tecumseh Sherman who both articulated and practiced the relentless scorched-earth policy that broke the heart of the Confederacy. This work illuminates the emotional as well as the intellectual, ideological and occupational lives of this Victorian American.

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Book SynopsisA biography of one of the Confederacy's fighting generals, Patrick Cleburne. Symonds seeks to provide insights into the dialogue between society, culture, and personality, on one side, and Civil War military leadership on the other.Trade ReviewA highly readable work that provides insights into the dialogue between society, culture, and personality, on one side, and Civil War military leadership, on the other." — Journal of American History"Symonds has produced what may truly be the lasting biography of the so-called Stonewall of the West." — Atlanta History"A superb biography and the definitive book on Patrick Cleburne." — North & South"Every student of the Civil War needs to read this insightful account." — Blue & Gray Magazine"Should be in every Civil War collection." — Library Journal"A fascinating story." — Washington Times"This is the biography that Patrick Cleburne has long deserved. Scrupulously fair in his judgments, Symonds accords Cleburne full credit for his accomplishments even as he sweeps away the romantic gloss that has clung to the general for many generations." — Gary W. Gallagher, author of The Confederate War"Fresh and thought provoking. An inspiration to all who appreciate the highest virtue and character under extreme hardship and disadvantage." — Wiley Sword, author of The Confederacy's Last Hurrah"The finest biography of one of the Confederacy's finest fighting generals." — Albert Castel, author of Decision in the West"Outstanding biography, fine battle history, and fascinating reading." — Steven E. Woodworth, author of Davis and Lee at War

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Book SynopsisA critical moment in the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh has been the subject of many books. However, none has told the story of Shiloh as Timothy Smith does in this volume, the first comprehensive history of the two-day battle in April 1862 - a battle so fluid and confusing that its true nature has eluded a clear narrative telling until now.

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Book SynopsisRichard B. Harwell Award. Although often counted among the Union's top five generals, George Henry Thomas has still not received his due. Brian Wills now provides a new and more complete look at the life of a man known to history as ""The Rock of Chickamauga"".Trade ReviewAt long last, here is the definitive biography of George Henry Thomas. . . . An exciting, stirring, splendid achievement." - Emory M. Thomas, author of Robert E. Lee"A superbly crafted 'inside' story of an outstanding American and a true hero in overcoming his life's many political adversities." - Wiley Sword, author of The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah"This is Wills at his best. . . . A major contribution to our understanding of Northern victory in the western theater." - Larry J. Daniel, author of The Days of Glory"Will stand as the basic source on the 'Rock of Chickamauga' for years to come." - James I. Robertson, Jr., author of Stonewall JacksonTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Embattled Virginian 1. Young George (1816-1840) 2. First Duties (1840-1845) 3. "Under Fire"'' in Mexico and Virginia (1845-1848) 4. New Frontiers (1848-1854) 5. The West Beckons (1854-1860) 6. Duty Calls (1860-1861) 7. Keeping the Blue in the Bluegrass (August 1861 - January 1862) 8. A Difficult Interlude (February 1862 - January 1863) 9. "The Rock of Chickamauga" (February - October 1863) 10. Redemption at Missionary Ridge (October 1863 - January 1864) 12. Biding Time in Tennessee (September - December 1864) 14. A Different Kind of War (January - May 1865) 15. An Exasperating Peace (May 1865 - December 1866) 16. Final Stages (1867 - 1868) 17. Thomas's Last Battles (1869-1870) Epilogue: What History Has Done Appendix A. Military Milestones and Principal Responsibilities Appendix B. J. Thomas's Postwar Divisions and Departments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMoving from strategy to battle scene to analysis, this first English translation of volume five of Clausewitz's collected works nimbly conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all its registers: the brisk, often powerful description of events as they unfolded and the critical reflections on strategic theory and its implications.Trade ReviewCarl von Clausewitz's The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland deserves attention not only because it is one of the last texts he wrote. Careful readers would not fail to recognize why this largely overlooked campaign preoccupied Clausewitz's mind in the late 1820s. None of the adversaries could claim a commander of Napoleon's caliber, thus providing a more balanced view about the changes the French Revolution had ushered in in the military realm. The campaign revealed the difficulties of coalition warfare, a subject Clausewitz mulled over in the late 1820s. Fought within a fraught domestic and international context, the campaign's leadership and direction frequently changed. For many of the participants, this remained mainly a war with limited objectives. In other words, throughout The 1799 Campaign, Clausewitz explored issues he had encountered while writing On War but was yet to capture on its pages comprehensively. Murray and Pringle's translation is exceptional; it remains faithful to the original while offering its readers elegant and accessible prose." —Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman behind the Making of On War "Carl von Clausewitz--the name evokes the masterpiece of military theory, but much of the great Prussian theorist's voluminous legacy remains unknown to the wider public. This includes Clausewitz's insightful analysis of crucial campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle have done a masterful job in rectifying this problem. They have already translated Clausewitz's book on Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, and now regale us with a new and exciting edition of the eminent military thinker's analysis of the 1799 campaigns in Italy and Switzerland. This is a highly welcome and thought-provoking addition to Clausewitzian studies. The translation is brilliantly executed, with copious footnotes and annotations by the erudite editors. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary Wars or who wants to understand how history, strategy, and politics interact under wartime conditions. Highly recommended!" —Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History

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Book SynopsisCovers the period of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and focuses on the Second Coalition's campaign in Italy and their victories under Suvorov's dynamic leadership that carried the tide of battle up against the French frontier. This first English translation of volume 5 of Clausewitz's collected works conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all its registers.Trade ReviewCarl von Clausewitz's The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland deserves attention not only because it is one of the last texts he wrote. Careful readers would not fail to recognize why this largely overlooked campaign preoccupied Clausewitz's mind in the late 1820s. None of the adversaries could claim a commander of Napoleon's caliber, thus providing a more balanced view about the changes the French Revolution had ushered in in the military realm. The campaign revealed the difficulties of coalition warfare, a subject Clausewitz mulled over in the late 1820s. Fought within a fraught domestic and international context, the campaign's leadership and direction frequently changed. For many of the participants, this remained mainly a war with limited objectives. In other words, throughout The 1799 Campaign, Clausewitz explored issues he had encountered while writing On War but was yet to capture on its pages comprehensively. Murray and Pringle's translation is exceptional; it remains faithful to the original while offering its readers elegant and accessible prose."—Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman behind the Making of On War"Carl von Clausewitz—the name evokes the masterpiece of military theory, but much of the great Prussian theorist's voluminous legacy remains unknown to the wider public. This includes Clausewitz's insightful analysis of crucial campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle have done a masterful job in rectifying this problem. They have already translated Clausewitz's book on Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, and now regale us with a new and exciting edition of the eminent military thinker's analysis of the 1799 campaigns in Italy and Switzerland. This is a highly welcome and thought-provoking addition to Clausewitzian studies. The translation is brilliantly executed, with copious footnotes and annotations by the erudite editors. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary Wars or who wants to understand how history, strategy, and politics interact under wartime conditions. Highly recommended!"—Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History

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Book SynopsisIn this first of three planned volumes for the University Press of Kansas’s Constitutional Thinking series, Mark Graber aims to restore to contemporary memory the Fourteenth Amendment drafted by those Republican and Unionist members of Congress who supported congressional reconstruction.Trade ReviewIn meticulous detail Mark Graber shows how in the run-up to the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment congressional Republicans shaped the provisions eventually written into that provision with an eye to ensuring control of the government by unionists, which is to say Republicans. He reorients our understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment away from the rights it undoubtedly guarantees to the political effects its framers sought to achieve, among which were unionist control of state governments so that rights could be protected. Though today we do not pay much attention to the sections of the Fourteenth Amendment its framers cared most about, Graber’s arguments tell us a great deal about how we should understand what constitutions actually do." - Mark Tushnet, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law emeritus, Harvard Law School, and author of The Constitution of the United States of America: A Contextual Analysis"Mark Graber has opened our eyes not only to a lost history of the Fourteenth Amendment, but also to its Framers’ central purpose. They sought to create the conditions for a democratic politics that would protect and empower people, both Black and white, who had remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. This brilliant book, part of a projected multi-volume series, teaches that the way we shape our political institutions is every bit as important as abstract guarantees of constitutional rights." - Jack M. Balkin, Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment, Yale Law SchoolTable of Contents Text of Amendment XIV (1868) Series Foreword Acknowledgments A Preface to the Forgotten Fourteenth Amendment Series Introduction: Three Republican Soloists and the Republican Chorus 1. The Exclusion Debate 2. The Problem of Rebel Rule 3. Protecting and Empowering the Loyal 4. Guarantees 5. To Colorado and Beyond Conclusion: Rebels, Loyalists, and Racial Equality Appendixes Table A.1: House Votes on the Fourteenth Amendment, the Exclusion Resolution, and Statehood for Colorado and Nebraska Table A.2: Senate Votes on the Fourteenth Amendment, the Exclusion Resolution, and Statehood for Colorado and Nebraska Table A.3: References to “:Rebel” and “Loyal” in the House of Representatives Table A.4: References to “Rebel” and “Loyal” in the Senate Table A.5: References Paired with “Rebel” in the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session: All Table A.6: References Paired with “Rebel” in the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session: Opponents of the Fourteenth Amendment Table A.7: Conditions for Readmission of Former Confederate States: Members of Congress Table A.8: Conditions of Readmission of Former Confederate States: Petitions Calendar of the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session Notes Index

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1998, Like Men of War was a groundbreaking study of Black troops in the Civil War that is still considered a major contribution to the literature on the United States Colored Troops. In this chronological operational history, Trudeau covers every major engagement - and a few minor ones - that the USCT participated in.Trade ReviewNoah Andre Trudeau’s Like Men of War became an instant classic when it was first published in 1998. No other book offered the scope and depth of the Black military experience during the Civil War era and even with all the research that we’ve seen over the past twenty-five years, the book remains essential reading. Historians and general readers will no doubt enjoy and profit from this updated and revised edition." - Kevin M. Levin, author of Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth"Like Men of War is important and relevant because it remains the only extant narrative history of Black troops in the Union Army aimed at both general readers and scholars and students. Not a logistical or institutional study, Trudeau’s book breathes life into the men and battles of the U.S. Colored Troops." - John David Smith, coauthor of Soldiering for Freedom: How the Union Army Recruited, Trained, and Deployed the U.S. Colored Troops"Two distinguishing features of this book make it the most valuable compendium of the important role of Black soldiers in the Civil War. Every combat operation in which these units participated, including major battles as well as minor skirmishes, is described. And much of the evidence for consists of enlisted men’s letters, diaries, reports, and memoirs. Readers will find here the most complete account of these events." - James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era"Like Men of War remains the best traditional military history of the service of African Americans in the Union Army during the Civil War. It is wonderful that Noah Andre Trudeau and the University Press of Kansas are publishing a new edition of this classic work. No doubt the second edition will help acquaint a new generation of readers with the battlefield story of Black Union soldiers." - Donald R. Shaffer, author of After the Glory: The Struggles of Black Civil War VeteransTable of Contents List of Maps List of Illustrations Preface to the Revised Edition Preface to the 1998 Edition Acknowledgments—Revised Edition Acknowledgments—1998 Edition Author’s Note Part One: 1861–1862 Prologue 1. “A Liberating Army” Part Two: 1863 2. “Will They Fight?” Interlude: “The Power of Fear” Interlude: “A School of . . . Self-Reliance as Well as an Engine of War” 3. “The Old Flag Never Touched the Ground” Interlude: “The Question of Pay” 4. “The Question That Negroes Will Fight Is Settled” Interlude: “A Rebel Master and a Union Master” Part Three: 1864 5. “Amid a Storm of Bullets” 6. “You Are Fighting Against Your Master” 7. “With Wild, Exultant Cheers” 8. “On to Richmond!” Interlude: “This Disgraceful Distinction” 9. “I Am Ready to Die for Liberty” 10. “Saved the Colors” Interlude: “A Practice Justified by No Rule of War” 11. “Into the Very Mouth of Death” 12. “Captain, I Am Wounded; What Shall I do?” Part Four: 1865 “Ye’s Long Been A-coming” Interlude: “We Want Black Commissioned Officers” 14. “Our Errand Through the State” 15. “The Negro Will Fight & Fight Bravely” Interlude: “Their Enthusiasm Was Said to Be . . . Remarkable” 16. “Babylon Is Fallen” Interlude: Nothing Has Shocked Us So Much” 17. “That Winds Up the War” Part Five: Legacies, 1865𔃝2022 18. “This Good Work Is Only Begun” 19. Final Word(s) 20. Taps Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAlmost a quarter of a million lives were lost as King and Parliament battled for their religious and political ideals in the English Civil War. England was divided between Cavaliers and Roundheads engaged in bitter struggles from Preston to Lostwithiel, Pembroke to York. Armies were on the march, villages were decimated and great dynasties destroyed: fathers and sons, uncles and cousins were pitted against each other in defence of their loyalties. The civil war led to the execution of a king, the beginnings of sectarian division in Ireland, savage clan warfare in Scotland and the roots of English socialism.Tristram Hunt avoids adding to the many, mostly transitory interpretations of the civil war and instead offers a timeless narrative based on the first-hand accounts of those who witnessed these traumatic events. In doing so he brings out the voices of the civil war generation - those who lost sons, who witnessed massacres and who fought for an ideal. In this book we see th

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Book SynopsisA concise guide to one of the most important clashes of the Napoleonic Wars, showcasing Napoleon's military genius

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Book SynopsisIn the seventeenth century Bristol was the second city of England. It was the main west coast port, an internationally important entrepot and rich trading centre. Industry flourished, too, with manufacturing and processing industries like soap making and gunpowder production responsible for Bristol''s considerable wealth. In consequence, control of the town became one of the chief objectives of both armies during the civil war which raged in England in the 1640s. Beginning the war under Parliamentarian control, the city changed hands twice, with each transfer having a major effect of the war effort of both sides.This new study argues that when the Royalists captured Bristol in July 1643 they gained not only the city, but also the materials and facilities that literally allowed them to remain in the war. Under Royalist rule Bristol became a vital centre for military and government activities, as well as a centre for importing arms from Europe and becoming almost the alternative Royalist capital. The loss of Bristol in 1645 was therefore a huge blow to the Royalist cause. This book is surely one of the most important written on the civil wars in recent times. Its radical reinterpretation of the pivotal role of England''s second city will ensure it a place on bookshelves of anyone interested in the most turbulent years of the seventeenth century.

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Book SynopsisOne of the lancers rode by, and stabbed me in the back with his lance. I then turned, and lay with my face upward, and a foot soldier stabbed me with his sword as he walked by. Immediately after, another, with his firelock and bayonet, gave me a terrible plunge, and while doing it with all his might, exclaimed, Sacré nom de Dieu! 'The truly epic and brutal battle of Waterloo was a pivotal moment in history a single day, one 24-hour period, defined the course of Europe's future.In March 1815, the Allies declared war on Napoleon in response to his escape from exile and the renewed threat to imperial European rule. Three months later, on 18 June 1815, having suffered considerable losses at Quatre-Bras, Wellington's army fell back on Waterloo, some ten miles south of Brussels. Halting on the ridge, they awaited Napoleon's army, blocking their entry to the capital. This would become the Allies' final stand, the infamous battle of Waterloo.In this intimate,Trade ReviewA blow-by-blow account of the fateful day. I couldn't put it down. * Independent *‘Gripping … The hour-by-hour account is packed with fascinating and often poignant vignettes' * Daily Express, 5 stars *Kershaw writes well and makes sense of the battle ... a clear and straightforward military view. * Literary Review *Shows us the battle at its grittiest and bloodiest, but through it all manages to maintain a grip on the bigger picture. * Scotsman *So where does this leave Robert Kershaw’s 24 Hours at Waterloo? Very simply, in a class of its own ... brings the events to life with judiciously chosen first-hand accounts ... there could be no better companion to the battlefield than Kershaw’s. * Spectator *

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