Saratoga: Turning Point of Americas Revolutionary War (Paperback)

I particularly admire how the author covered so many aspects of that battle, ranging from the detailed personality portraits of the commanders on both sides to the split loyalties of the various Iroquois Indian tribes.

Ketchums description of the seeds of disappointment planted in Benedict Arnold's mind leading up to his later betrayal at West Point is so well spelled out. At the same time, the ego and flamboyance of Burgoyne that contributed to his defeat is another highlight of the story. All of this, the author does in an entertaining and story telling manner.

I highly recommend this volume to anyone who wants a better understanding of this key aspect of the American Revolution presented in such an entertaining read.

Like most historians, Ketchum has that ability to bring the moments back to life, to convery that sense of urgency of the event: and he does it by using primary sources as well as his own research. But beyond that, he uses the language in a way that is easily understandable without talking down to the reader. I wish that could be said of other historians! Pick up this book.

Ketchum spends a lot of ink setting the stage: Who was "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne and how did he come to lead the British invasion of New England from Canada? Who were the Germans, often inaccurately referred to exclusively as "Hessians," and why were they there supporting the British? How did Burgoyne's decision to employee Canadian and--more relevant--Iroquois Indians to assist the British invasion affect the campaign? Who were the American officers and how did they get a rag-tag crew of citizen soldiers to defeat arguably the greatest army on earth at the time? Ketchum fleshes out his character portraits and explanations of the ensuing action with generous use of quotes from actual correspondence of the day by many parties involved, officers and enlisted men alike.

The action chronicles Burgoyne's interminable advance down Lakes Champlain and George to the Hudson River where he is to meet General Howe's northbound Army--a pincer move that will divide the New England and southern colonies and win the war. Their auspicious start--fair weather, fast movement, high morale, superior numbers and weaponry--culminates in the shockingly easy victory over the American's prize northern fort at Ticonderoga with nary a shot fired when St. Claire decides (wisely) to retreat. But from there the fun is over. Nasty weather, brutal wilderness, unruly Indians, incompetent officers, unwieldy supply lines, dwindling troop counts, desertion and disease, and, of course, the tenacious and heroic efforts of the seemingly overmatched American Continentals and militias eventually spell doom for the invasion force in the train wreck called the Battle of Saratoga. Ketchum sketches in fine detail the whole excruciating campaign.

One of the startling obstacles of waging 18th-Century warfare was the slow speed of communication, not just with troops deployed across a broad battlefield, but with distant command structure. Never was this more evident than with British efforts to wage war from across the Atlantic, where instructions, supplies, and reinforcements took literally months to appear on scene. With perfect hindsight it's hard to imagine how Burgoyne's campaign had any chance of success, unless he were to charge relentlessly toward Albany, regardless of the condition of his troops; or unless Generals Howe or Clinton had moved to support him in time, as originally conceived. Time and delay were Burgoyne's greatest enemies.

History books are often tedious. Not so with "Saratoga." Ketchum has set the table for plenty of exciting what-if play by armchair generals. I couldn't put this exciting volume down! --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of BIG ICE and WAKE UP DEAD