Tow #16 IRB

Tow #16 IRB Fog of war on

1/21/14

            The American Revolution is a pivotal point in world history that would come to shape the modern world, for better or for worse, into what it is today.  This pivotal point in history is attributed to the summer of 1776, the start, and most crucial point, of the American Revolution.  After explaining to historians, in the first half of his book, that the American Revolution was not a disordered banned of disconnected militias fighting separately from the colonial political driving force, Joseph j Ellis delves deeper into his purpose by explaining that, in John Adams’s own words, “In general, our Generals were out generalled (sic).”

            Ellis Uses historical evidence and quotes to assert his claim that America was a unified fighting force but was “generalled” by Generals not on par with the British generals of the time.  Ellis highlights this fact by describing the battle of Long Island referencing a map that he created to explain the defeat of the out-witted George Washington.  However Ellis does explain that George Washington did the right thing by retreating which kept the entirety of the Colonial army from being captured.

            Ellis also uses quotes from his text to express the confused state of Washington’s army that has been led astray by poor leadership, “at such distances from their respective quarters and encampments, as not to be able to oppose the enemy in any sudden approach.” (Washington) (135)   Even Washington himself understood the abysmal state that his army was currently in.  This proves the fact that poor leadership was rampant, mostly because of Washington, in the early colonial military but it was indeed a military not a militia.

            Joseph J Ellis is many things, a professor, a historian and a writer who has written an assortment of Historical pieces, from American Creation, American Sphinx, Founding Brothers and an assortment of other works.