Play Book Tag discussion

Several of us are planning to read the newly published The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, the 2nd in Atkinson's American Revolution Trilogy. We read and loved the first, The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 and have been eagerly awaiting this one's publication.

This will be an ongoing buddy read. While some have started it, others are still waiting for library copies, and others of us will not get to it for a couple of months or more due to life, work and other reading demands.

All are welcome at any time!

ETA: Deep dives into google rabbit holes are welcome -- about anything in the book that has you diving into a Google search.

One thing I thought of was the difference that communication makes in modern warfare.

Right away I could see how lags in communication and of course transportation makes such a difference.

Yes, communication was so slow and sporadic back then.

I think it is a good choice to start in France. It brings in the international perspective right away. Atkinson is such a great storyteller!

Joy D wrote: "Yes, communication was so slow and sporadic back then.

I think it is a good choice to start in France. It brings in the international perspective right away. Atkinson is such a great storyteller!"

Yes, I loved how he set the scene in France and then included Franklin and Lafayette.

Think I will start tonight - this one will take me quite a long while but have been looking forward to it for a long time.

Steven wrote: "Think I will start tonight - this one will take me quite a long while but have been looking forward to it for a long time."

Oh good. I look forward to sharing thoughts with you. I am very close to spending the winter in Valley Forge.

I have finished the book.

It is amazingly comprehensive, and provides details into the lives of the people and the logistics of the army's preparations - so much to consider! It reinforces some of the other themes we have read in our history-related buddy reads in this period, such as people fighting against friends and neighbors.

Some of this info I had read in Washington: A Lifeby Chernow, which I also highly recommend (it's another tome, though!)

I need to get my thoughts together, but I'll be posting my review next week. How are you coming on it, Fran and Steven?

I am only 18% in by my kindle's measurement, but looking at pages of text that means I am about on 50% mark.

We've just arrived in Valley Forge and I'm about to visit England and France to see what is going on there.

I was intrigued by the whole Burgoyne expedition, which sounded like such a great idea, but didn't end that way.

The Howe's move from NY to Philadelphia! I was struck by how long it took.

Yes, it took way longer to do anything back then.

The Burgoyne expedition is one of those "best laid plans" going awry. I found it fascinating. It directly to the alliances between the United States, France, and the Netherlands, which ended up making a huge difference in the outcome.

I never realized that the whole Burgoyne/ Fort Ticonderoga was so interesting. I loved the American Sharp Shooters.

I just finished chapter 3 and Howe is on the move, albeit, with many starts and stops on his way to Head of Elk, and the Philadelphia Campaign. I know quite a bit about this but almost nothing about Saratoga so cannot wait for that.

Steven wrote: "I just finished chapter 3 and Howe is on the move, albeit, with many starts and stops on his way to Head of Elk, and the Philadelphia Campaign. I know quite a bit about this but almost nothing abou..."

I was really struck by how long it took for him to get from NYC to Head of Elk which is really just a short distance by modern standards.

Booknblues wrote: "Steven wrote: "I just finished chapter 3 and Howe is on the move, albeit, with many starts and stops on his way to Head of Elk, and the Philadelphia Campaign. I know quite a bit about this but almo..."

Sense of distance and time to cover has changed so much even since I was a kid - it is 'shorter' and faster.

At one point I found a secret drawer in a cedar chest that had been my mother's - nevermind that I had owned that chest for decades before I did. Inside were letters my parents had written each other when they were courting in the late 1930s. They lived in rural NYS some distance apart. As Dad was a dairy farmer, a 24/7 job, they only saw each other once a week if weather and farming allowed. He would drive to see her in the town in PA where she had a job on Sunday for noon dinner attending mass. That drive by cars of thar era was 2 hours each way. Today that same drive is about 40 minutes over the same back country roads. I drove it last summer at my maternal side family reunion.

Gives perspective.

Yes, travel was tough in the 1700s, and as Theresa mentioned all the way through a good part of the 20th century. It was one of the reasons that when one went to visit, they usually stayed for quite a while.

It was really terrible for those poor British soldiers, and even worse for their horses and livestock crammed packed into the holds of those ships for more than a month in the extremely hot weather of July. I cannot really imagine.

I would also add that the maps in "The Fate of the Day" are informative and beautifully rendered.

Finished and posted my review:

The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick Atkinson - 5* - My Review
PBT Review: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

While I appreciate Atkinson includes chapters on England and France to get a view of the world at the time of the revolution, I find that my interest lags. I've just finished a chapter on England and about to move to France.

The Earl of Sandwich was more interesting than I previously thought.

Booknblues wrote: "While I appreciate Atkinson includes chapters on England and France to get a view of the world at the time of the revolution, I find that my interest lags. I've just finished a chapter on England a..."

I'm pretty sure I did some rabbit hole dives on the Earl of Sandwich when reading The British are Coming. Definitely more interesting than ever knew.

Just to say that Fort Ticonderoga is a prominent setting in outlander book 7, echo of the bone. Which I listened to earlier in this year, and I’m now watching season seven on STARZ. Just thought I would add that in.

Amy wrote: "Just to say that Fort Ticonderoga is a prominent setting in outlander book 7, echo of the bone. Which I listened to earlier in this year, and I’m now watching season seven on STARZ. Just thought I ..."

Interesting. I gave up on the series after reading The Fiery Cross as I didn't like it as much and it was too long between release dates. I read the first one back in 1992. I sometimes consider if I should continue, but they are very long and I'm not so sure I would like them anymore.

It would be interesting to see how they portray Fort Ticonderoga. I wonder if it was when Knox was there or the Burgoyne campaign .

Theresa wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "While I appreciate Atkinson includes chapters on England and France to get a view of the world at the time of the revolution, I find that my interest lags. I've just finished a c..."

Yes, any mention of him in other books I've read I assumed he was more of a rake and less influential other than inventing the sandwich.

Trying to sort out my calendar for the next few weeks - lots of work meetings and deadlines coming up and they have 'legs' and move around - I found a notation for next week 'Rick Atkinson', Not the foggiest memory of what that about -- except probably related to his promotion tour. Sure enough, he's at NY Historical Society doing another interview presentation as at Politics & Prose - a local interviewer of course. Well, that's just a few blocks from me and I'm a member of the museum so I get a discount on both the event and buying the book. Wonder if he will be signing????

It's also livestreamed should any be interested - but there is a fee as it is a museum event - https://www.nyhistory.org/programs/th...

If anyone currently reading it has a specific question you would like me to ask, please post it here or PM me before the event.

Now off to deal with the other mysteries on my calendar.

After 2 emails from me my library finally ordered it! I am #1 on the list!

Joanne wrote: "After 2 emails from me my library finally ordered it! I am #1 on the list!"
Yay!

JoAnne, so glad you will have your copy soon.

I am catching up a bit here on the conversation. I’m about at the halfway point where, General Howe is headed back to Britain, and General Clinton is marching his troop northward abandoning Philadelphia. Atkinson is doing his usual great job at telling us about the personalities military and civilian who are the key players in the conflict. He also is excelling at giving us an excellent grasp of the battles. I do feel, however, that he doesn’t go into the same level of explaining with the big picture, the strategic implications – an example would be Saratoga.

I think most historians would agree that this represented the pivotal turning point of the war. The American victory gave France the push it needed to sign the Treaty of Alliance, and if I remember correctly, the war in the north only simmered afterward and the critical fighting moved south. This opinion does not take away from my enjoyment and learning from reading the book.

On a separate note, there was Frederika Riedesel, married to Hessian General Riedesel (who was captured at Saratoga). She and her daughters came from Europe to be with her husband and stayed with him the entire time, including during his captivity. Interestingly, she kept a journal of her time here, which I am sure makes for fascinating reading.

Well, I've reached Part 3 and I'm back in England.

I have to say that Sandwich has even become more interesting.

And poor North, trying so hard to leave his position and not being allowed to. It is somewhat humorous.

You are making good progress. Mine is slow and plodding but am enjoying it.

Steven wrote: "You are making good progress. Mine is slow and plodding but am enjoying it."

I've been reading it for a long time and can't quite seem to finish. I am though at the point where I can see the end in less than 100pages.

I was so excited to read about Sullivan in the west against the Native Americans as his one real battle in Newtown by the Chemung River is by my hometown. Newtown is now Elmira, NY and there has been a monument erected commemorating the event:
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/newtownbat...

This state park is walking distance from the farm I grew up on. I once walked home from the park. I didn't manage to find the straight overland route but set off in the wrong direction (no compass) and ended at a creek, I knew and so followed it home.

I'm sure when Theresa reads that part she will see familiar areas.

The Sullivan expedition should be interesting as I know only a little about it, and if I remember correctly, it did not go so well. Upstate NY is beautiful - thanks for letting me know there is a monument and state park. One of these days will have to visit.

If I recall my town's history correctly, Sullivan's march through my hometown on the Susquehanna on its way to that battle was one of total destruction. Will have to haul out the local history book a neighbor of my family wrote and my notes from historic tours I gave in my senior year at high school when local tried histric bus tours for visitors.

Thrilled to say, I am finished. I may go back and review the illustrations and pictures more closely.

Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tonight was the program at NY Historical Society with David M. Rubenstein interviewing Rick Atkinson. It was phenomenal, very different from the Politics & Prose appearance. You lucky people ... it was filmed for PBS program History with David M. Rubenstein. I overheard the film crew say it will air in the new season starting in January 2026.

Got my signed copy. All were presigned which was fine.

Oh and it will be at least 6 years before the last is done. I do not feel bad delaying reading this a bit.

Very cool, Theresa!

So fun for you, Theresa!

You are so lucky to have seen this!

My book came in this morning!! So excited to start it, but probably cannot get there until Monday to get it. Going to try to get it tomorrow if time allows.

Joanne wrote: "My book came in this morning!! So excited to start it, but probably cannot get there until Monday to get it. Going to try to get it tomorrow if time allows."
I'm looking forward to your comments as you go along.

Great to hear. I am in a short pause as I need to renew it from the library and there is a short waiting list.

Then perhaps I can catch up with you Steven. Good for me. not you though 😄

That is certainly possible as with his other books, it is a smooth read and filled with interesting tidbits. In the meantime, fiction will keep me company.

I started reading today, finally! I only got through the Prologue, but I sure enjoyed it. This man's research is jaw-dropping. The small things about the people are fun to read about; their quirks and personalities are not something you see in other non-fiction history.

Yes, I agree he is a master at giving the reader unique and fascinating insights into personalities.

When you hear him speak about the books and the subject of them, you realize that it is the people who fascinate him. His desire is to know them and that is what he shares.

Moving slowly, not the book's fault, just way too much going on and not enough time to read. I am about halfway into chapter 4.

When in chapter 1 I read
Brunswick's Duke collected a blood money bounty for every man killed or captured
I wondered whose job it was to count the dead???

Another quote, from Chapter 3
that every officer ought to have some reputation to lose
I laughed aloud. That is such a great requirement!

Chapter 4

I was happy to read something new about Benedict Arnold. I had never heard of the Battle of Oriskany before. Or if I have, I had forgotten.

Joanne wrote: "I was happy to read something new about Benedict Arnold. I had never heard of the Battle of Oriskany before. Or if I have, I had forgotten..."

I was interested to find out about Arnold pre-treason as well.

I believe that Arnold was almost certainly one of the top ranked, and trusted, generals in the Army prior to the West Point incident. He was definitely the hero of Saratoga, and there is a statue of his leg at the battlefield park though his name has been removed.

So it is just a stone leg, with no explanation? 😄, that makes me laugh

I have made it to Part 2, and am about 3/4 finished with chapter 11.

Chapter 6- These Are Dreadful Times.

One of my favorite things abut Atkins-He says like it is was:

Brig. General Anthony Wayne is preparing to attack the British at Paoli.

The enemy is are very quiet. I believe he knows nothing of my situation

And Atkins comes back with Wayne was deluded
😂😂

It is light moments like this that make reading his work so enjoyable.

And I am assuming that the Captain John Andre we are hearing about, every now and then, is the same man who was Arnold's "friend" ?


Chapter 9 - How Art Thou Fallen

So many things I had never known. A big one here, the surrender of Burgoyne's Canada Army. I knew that Canada was involved in the war, but I don't ever remember reading about it.

A quote from Gates: If Old England is not by this lesson taught humility, then she is an obstinate old slut, bent upon her ruin

Another loud laugh from me on that one.

The whole Burgoyne campaign was fascinating. It sounded like brilliant strategy, until it wasn't

Yes, John Andre was that Andre.

You are absolutely right in that one of the things that makes this so readable is Atkinson's ability to turn a phrase or to find that perfect unique quote from a person or about an event.