1776

I finally finished reading 1776 by David McCullough. And the verdict is in.....I loved it! An interesting thing about me is that although I like to dress up in girly clothes, have long hair, wear make-up, etc. I am really a tomboy deep down, at least when it comes to things like outdoor activites, snakes and bugs, and war books or movies. I wouldn't say it's the blood, guts and gore that I enjoy about war, but more like the courage, endurance, and glory. 1776 had it all. In my literally journey of the American Revolution I have read in the past couple months: Sarah Bishop, The Hessian, My Brother Sam is Dead, and 1776. They were all good books, although when I read the first three I only had a small idea of the details surrounding the Revolution. In hindsight, I may have enjoyed the fiction stories more if I had read them after 1776.
I think what I enjoyed most about 1776 was the clear view it presented of George Washington and the trials that he faced during those first moments of the war. In the memories that I have retained from my previous education, I always had the impression that the Revolution went as follows: The British started the war, they were bigger and had more money, but the Continental Army beat them. I never even realized how long the war actually lasted and that things were actually really bad for the Patriots much of the time. I felt my heart bleeding with George Washington as he looked at the troops and how little they had for clothing and shelter. It seems appropriate that I would be reading this book in the winter, so that I could more fully understand how awful the winters must have been in a climate inclined to even lower temperatures than what we experience here in Virginia.
Another detail that I never really caught before were the seemingly small miscalculations that Washington made in the battle of Brooklyn and again at Fort Washington, that had very grave results. In no way, did this knowledge lessen my opinion of this most stalwart Commander-in-Chief, but rather made his predicament seem that much more real in my mind. As heart bled with the troops during the retreat through New Jersey, so did it rejoice with them at the battle of Trenton, when the great surprise attack on the Hessians made them surrender, thus turning the tide of the war.
I appreciate what the author has done for George Washington, the Continental Army and the great nation to which I belong by recording these events in an interesting, yet detailed account of the event that eventually led to the freedom that I know enjoy in my daily life. I look forward to reading his Pulitzer prize winner, "John Adams."