Vol. 41, No. 14
08/01/2025
Right in the Middle of the Revolutionary War
AT A GLANCE
• This book covers major events such as the fall of Fort Ticonderoga, the turning point at Saratoga, and the loss of Charleston.
• George Washington’s leadership is examined, highlighting his strategy of endurance over outright victory.
• The war’s expansion into a global conflict is explored through France and Spain’s involvement.
• With detailed maps, firsthand accounts, and sharp storytelling, Atkinson brings key battles and overlooked stories to life.
The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, by Rick Atkinson, New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2025, 874 pages, hardcover.
It’s one thing to declare independence; it’s another to sustain it. As the author of this magisterial, riveting, and densely researched book reminds us, the American War for Independence lasted 3,076 days. The times that try men’s souls, in Thomas Paine’s phrase, also required more than 1,300 military actions. Those, we read, were “mostly small and bloody, with a few large and bloody, plus 241 naval engagements in a theater initially bounded by the Atlantic seaboard, the St. Lawrence and Mississippi Rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico, before expanding to other lands and other waters.”
This all came after King George III told his Admiralty, “When once these rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit.” Indeed, there were plenty of blows, but George’s prediction missed the mark. Patriotism can be costly. It has been estimated that a quarter million Americans served the cause in some military capacity. And at least one in 10 of those died for that cause.
Premium Content
The full article includes detailed analysis of Massie's legislative strategy, exclusive quotes from the interview, and insider information about upcoming votes.
Log In to Continue Reading
- 12 Issues Per Year
- Digital Edition Access
- Digital Insider Report
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime
- Renews automatically
- 12 Issues Per Year
- Print edition delivery (USA) *Available Outside USA
- Digital Edition Access
- Digital Insider Report
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime
- Renews automatically