Recommended Recent Books 

George Washington's Westchester Gamble This fascinating book by Richard Borkow provides a series of riveting chapters that view the U.S. War for Independence from a wide variety of perspectives. Westchester County NY was the middle ground separating the defenders of the Hudson River Valley and the British who wished to split the new-born United States in two. The personal perspectives of Westchester citizens are described in context with the shift of annual campaigns from New England to the Carolinas and with the power struggles between European nations, in whose eyes the U.S. was just one of many contested areas around the globe. The land granted to the U.S. at the peace table would depend on which side dominated Virginia by the end of 1781, and the U.S. race to avoid bankruptcy, mass desertions, and foreign domination is told with conviction and ample documentation. George Washington's Westchester Gamble (2011) is available from History Press 192 pages, $22.00 plus shipping

Unlikley Allies, by Joel Richard Paul (Riverhead Books, New York, 2009) is the lively -- and true -- story of how an American merchant (Silas Deane), a French playwright (Beaumarchais), and a spy (the Chevalier d'Eon) nearly lost, but ultimately saved, the American Revolution. The book provides insights on the struggle to obtain, sustain, and retain support from France through the eight years of conflict, blockade, and intrigue. The 343 endnotes document in some detail the primary sources used for describing the people and events involved.

The Grandest Things is a 116-page, hardcover book that tells the story of 100 national parks using photographs and postage stamps to illustrate important places, people, and events. The book is a joint effort of the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Postal Service. Robert Reyes-- a former Vice Chair of the W3R-US and an archivist for the Postal Service -- played a key role in developing this book. For details see the NPS Announcement

Battles of the American Revolution The Guide to the American Revolutionary War in Canada and New England (Busca, Inc., 2010), by Norman Desmarais, covers 403 battles, raids and skirmishes of the Revolutionary War in this area. It identifies the location of the sites, provides historical background, and lists the interpretive aids there. It has links to the websites of pertinent parks and tourist organizations that post upcoming events. There are many photographs showing details of historic buildings, monuments, battlefields, and equipment. A Glossary defines 18th-century military and historical terms. This is the first volume of a projected multi-volume series that will provide a comprehensive history of the military actions in the War of American Independence. The author has compiled data for almost 3,000 engagements (several times more than in previously published lists) and documents these in ample footnotes. To view the appendices (alphabetical and chronological lists of all 3,000 engagements), the bibliography, and the color photos see the publisher’s website buscainc.com/html/guidetotheamericanrevolutionarywar.html

Un Nouveau Livre sur le Général DUPORTAIL Those who read French will enjoy this new book -- DUPORTAIL ou le Génie de George WASHINGTON -- on the life and career of General Louis Duportail. The author, French Colonel Serge LE POTTIER (Ret.), served in Algeria, served as a French liaison to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and taught engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. An English edition may be prepared later. See publisher's site (Economica) for purchase details.

Rochambeau: Washington's Ideal Lieutenant by Jini Jones Vail, describes the role of this leader of the French expeditionary force as it worked along-side the Continental Army during 1781-83 to guard New England from British attack, block military excursions from the British-occupied city of New York, and make a surprise march to besiege and capture the British army under General Cornwallis at Yorktown VA. Rochambeau's extensive military experience and his army of battle-hardened troops were a significant addition to the allied forces in the United States. Review: "From the very first word to the very last a reader will be engaged in the romance, glory, and hardships of the amazing victory of the combined French - American Continentals over those of England, as explained in Jini Jones Vail’s book, Rochambeau: Washington's Ideal Lieutenant. It will educate and entertain the learned reader as well as those first discovering the subject. It matters not how many other books on the subject have been read. This one is a must read!" Sallie Tullis De Barcza -- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association (W3R-US) Order the book from the author - $25.00 plus shipping, payable only by money order or bank check --- or order from Amazon.com.

Spain and the Independence of the United States by Thomas E. Chávez, describes the role of Spain in the world-wide web of political liaisons, schemes, finance, commerce, power, personalities, and philosophy that formed the setting for the U.S. War for independence in 1775-1783. Spain's colonies in North, Central, and South America and its commercial arrangements with Great Britain in those colonies made it hard for Spain to comply fully with the Bourbon treaty of mutual assistance with France. In spite of that Spain contributed financing, facilitated delivery of military goods, and provided military victories over the British along the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast that were essential to the U.S. achieving both independence and treaty concessions of the land between the Appalachian mountains and the Mississippi River. The Spanish troops and sailors came from Spain and throughout Spanish America. Many died fighting British forces in Central America, the Caribbean, along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Louis and as far north as Michigan, along the Gulf Coast to Mobile and Pensacola, as well as in Europe. -- 286 pages, $24.95, ( Univ. of New Mexico Press, 2002)