1794: America, it’s Army, and the Birth of a Nation
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with the Lawtons. We all look alike, talk alike, and sweep everything under the rug alike. In case you haven’t spent more than 5 minutes with me, I have a Founding Father Fetish and it’s fortunately genetic. We freely pass around our American Revolution books; we’re basically the aggressive and emotionally void offshoot of Oprah’s book club. While we aren’t accepting new members because with great power comes great responsibility, my father and I are going to review the last book he stole from me when I was home and I had to buy another copy of to finish.
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“1794: America, it’s Army, and the Birth of the Nation” by Dave R. Palmer was a random find of mine one night when I was buying a costume or oatmeal in bulk on Amazon. It masterfully dispels the notion that America’s Revolution was over with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Palmer describes in detail how fragile the young Republic was in every way – politically, militarily, economically – and how it lacked vision, cohesion and leadership. The most fascinating aspect to the book was the personal sacrifice of George Washington, whose leadership and character shaped the nation and defined the role of President and Commander in Chief as he overcame foreign and domestic challenges with a leadership style we have never and will never see replicated. As President, Washington’s role in establishing a Constitutional Republic that would defend itself, provide for Western Expansion and confront political foes both foreign and domestic, exhibited a command of our country that was so profound and has yet to be witnessed since. This historical account of the Revolution from a historical version , focusing on the development of the United States military; from the darkest time of the Revolution during the Newburgh Conspiracy, through our young country’s first call to arms in the Western Territories, all culminating in 1794. Instead of allowing our memory of the nation’s first military to be basked in the light of victory, it discusses the supreme lack of Congressional support for the army, overwhelming disrespect for the role of militia even though our country stood in a vulnerable and precarious state, and the fact that we had less than 100 registered soldiers after the culmination of the war. This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of our nation.
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It’s $5 on Amazon. Best five dollars you’ll spend; better than a Pumpkin Spice Latte.