General Washington and the Calculus of Victory : The Command Decisions and Other Factors That Won America's War for Independence
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Overview
Through a series of critical decisions made between 1775 and 1781, George Washington shaped the course of the American Revolutionary War. This book examines twelve pivotal moments--from the audacious seizure of artillery at Fort Ticonderoga to the deception campaign that culminated at Yorktown--to assess how Washington's judgment, restraint, and adaptability preserved the Continental Army and enabled ultimate victory.
The narrative focuses on decisions whose outcomes were uncertain at the time: the nighttime evacuation from Brooklyn Heights; the risky winter campaigns at Trenton and Princeton; the controversial choice to inoculate the army against smallpox; and Washington's willingness to avoid battle when engagement threatened catastrophe. It also explores his talent for delegation, highlighted by appointments such as Nathanael Greene in the South and Baron von Steuben as inspector general, as well as his strategic use of elite forces like Daniel Morgan's riflemen. Placing these decisions within a broader framework, the book evaluates why the rebellion succeeded--or why Britain failed. It weighs Washington's leadership against structural factors that shaped the war's outcome: British logistical and administrative weaknesses, the challenges of distance and terrain, growing American military competence, civilian resistance, and the decisive impact of foreign intervention.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9781955041751
- ISBN-10: 195504175X
- Publisher: Brookline Books
- Publish Date: October 2027
- Page Count: 256
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