DOC Conquered into Liberty: Two Centuries of Battles along the Great Warpath that Made the American Way of War by Eliot A. Cohen in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Wonderful Introduction to Fascinating SubjectsBy Thomas M. SullivanAs with many "survey" histories; what you get out of "Conquered into Liberty" depends almost entirely on what you bring to it. In other words; if you have read extensively on the events of the French and Indian War (e.g.; the fall of Fort William Henry to the French in 1757 in; for example; Ben Hughes's "The Siege of Fort William Henry: A Year on the Northeastern Frontier") and the American Revolution as fought in New York State (e.g.; the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 in; for example; Richard Ketchum's "Saratoga; Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War"); there is not much here you don't already know. If; on the other hand; you are relatively new to these subjects and wish a well-researched and very capably written overview of these events to use as a guide to more extensive exploration; this work is for you.As with Richard Berleth' s excellent "Bloody Mohawk;" Cohen assiduously sticks to his geographical knitting; he undertakes to tell his story in the context of the "Great Warpath" and he does so without wandering off into events; however intriguing; in adjacent locales; constantly reinforcing the context of his narrative. Additionally; Cohen adds as a coda a brief but very finely wrought account of events in the region during the War of 1812 focusing on the pivotal Battle of Plattsburgh and the long-forgotten but fascinating story of how geopolitical dreamers among both the British and American former combatants conjured visions of more territory while the passage of time eventually allowed Canadians to savor the results of what they regarded as their own "war of independence."In sum; Cohen's work; while not an exhaustive account of any of these events; nor intended to be; is a wonderful introduction to them; and as any student of them knows; will open a door to a remarkably rich and rewarding catalog of additional reading.16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Early wars that shaped America -- readable; fresh; candidBy Donald M. BishopWas it Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Last of the Mohicans" that sparked your interest in the French and Indian Wars? Henry Fonda in "Drums Along the Mohawk"? Was it the novels of Kenneth Roberts; or the bracing histories of Francis Parkman? Or perhaps a visit to Ticonderoga? Whatever awakened your interest in the century of conflict on the "Great Warpath" between Albany and Montreal; you'll want to read this superb book. Here's why:-- Military histories are usually organized by wars; campaigns; generals; or weapons. This is something rarer; focused on decades of struggle across one area. Lake George and Lake Champlain are now easily visited and hiked; but in the 1700s the strategically important area was remote and difficult wilderness. -- Cohen does a good job describing campaigns from bottom to top -- by soldiers and commanders at Lake George and Lake Champlain; to commanders and council halls in Quebec; New York and Philadelphia; Paris; and London.-- There's a consistent fine focus on the enormous difficulties of supply -- and shipbuilding -- in the wilderness. Modern logisticians will appreciate what was accomplished.-- There are many profiles of leaders on both sides -- men as diverse as Ethan Allen; Robert Rogers; Montcalm; Frontenac; Bougainville; Stark; Lord Jeffrey Amherst; Burgoyne; McDonough; and many more. The author's looks at their strengths and weaknesses are candid and fresh. There's a fine short essay on Benedict Arnold. This book adds to the reputation of one man who was not there; George Washington; as he wrestled with threats and priorities during the Revolution; and it also brought home to me how many veterans of the French and Indian War led the Continental Army.-- Cohen gives readers a lot to chew on when he discusses how these conflicts shaped the American military character and the American Way of War. The author's public life has placed him among America's most senior military leaders; so he is alert to the echoes of these early wars even today. The book's final chapter must now be required reading for history majors and all who wish to understand the American past.-30-22 of 24 people found the following review helpful. Becoming a Nation along the Great WarpathBy Todd GreentreeLike all successful histories; Eliot Cohen's Conquered into Liberty is a serious book that entertains while it enriches our lives. Its topic; the two centuries of conflict that dominated life along "the Great Warpath" in the Champlain Valley corridor between Albany and Montreal; turns out to be central to the American story; no less important for being lesser known. To read Conquered into Liberty is to discover how insecurity; friction; and even terror characterized relations among the British; French; Indians; Canadians; and Americans on this early frontier of what today is the familiar and friendly space between the United States and Canada. As with his previous portrayal of four great wartime leaders in Supreme Command; Eliot Cohen weaves into the chronology of battles; individual stories of heroism and cowardice; competence and incompetence to show how "personalities often dictate [the] outcomes" that become our histories. He gives us in detail the campaigns in the North Country that made Benedict Arnold into George Washington's most courageous and capable commander in the first part of the Revolutionary War; and explains the provocations that turned Arnold into our leitmotif for treachery. It was in these wars on the frontier too that Robert Rogers of New Hampshire commanded Robert's Rangers on scouting and raiding missions that became the legacy of special operations and the Army Rangers that are such prominent elements of U.S. warfare today. Less stirring but equally significant features of the American way of war also came into being along the Great Warpath; through the energy; talent; and innovation of people like Philip Schuyler who kept the Continental Army clothed and fed during the long winters of the Revolution; and the engineers who later built fortifications across the wilderness and the shipbuilders who conjured a fleet on Lake Champlain; leading the British to realize they would have to accommodate the U.S. in the New Word; thus setting the stage for the rise of the United States as a global power. Conquered into Liberty is also an evident labor of love. Through richness of narrative and depth of interpretation; Eliot Cohen sets a standard for history by turning the mirror he shines on this distant part of our past into a clear reflection of our nearer selves.