Fireside Chat, Interview
Rick Atkinson, Author of "The British Are Coming"
- Publication and Scope: Fredrik Logevall (interviewee) is launching a three-volume history of the American Revolution titled The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775–1777, a project expected to take approximately 15 years to complete.
- Motivation for Pivot: Logevall transitioned from journalism to full-time history after 20 years at The Washington Post; he chose the American Revolution over continuing his WWII series (Pacific theater) because the subject has "gripped his imagination" since childhood and addresses the profound question of what early Americans were willing to die for.
- Demographic Scale: The narrative highlights the contrast between the 2.5 million population in 1775 and the modern 330 million, emphasizing that the Founding generation possessed a clear, shared sense of individual autonomy and collective action despite regional parochialism.
- George Washington's Command:
- Washington assumed command of the Continental Army on July 2, 1775, in a strategic move to bind New England troops (the majority of the force) to a Virginian leader, signaling national unity.
- Despite lacking tactical experience compared to European standards, Washington excelled as a "political general," rigorously establishing civilian control of the military to assuage fears of a military dictatorship (referencing Cromwell).
- He personally managed logistics, intelligence, and commissary duties in the war's early years and remained physically robust throughout the conflict, avoiding the widespread diseases that killed ~100,000 North Americans.
- Logevall characterizes Washington as a poor tactical decision-maker in the New York campaign (e.g., failing to recognize flanking vulnerabilities at Long Island) but a crucial political and strategic leader who understood the bond between leader and soldier.
- British Strategic Failures:
- King George III held the strategic misconception that a substantial majority of colonists were Loyalists who would rally to the Crown; the reality was that "hearts and minds" (a term originating here, not Vietnam) had largely shifted against Britain.
- British leadership feared that American independence would trigger the disintegration of the entire Empire (including Ireland, India, and the West Indies), prompting an uncompromising war effort.
- British generals (Howe brothers, Burgoyne, Cornwallis) were often outmatched tactically and lacked the command quality of figures like Nelson; they did not anticipate the concept of a Commonwealth to retain colonial loyalty.
- Key Military Events and Casualties:
- Bunker Hill: Occurred two weeks before Washington's arrival; resulted in 226 British dead and 1,000 British casualties in four hours, a staggering figure compared to single-day losses in later wars.
- New York Catastrophe: Washington suffered a series of defeats (Long Island, Kips Bay, Fort Washington), culminating in a retreat with his army reduced to 3,000 men.
- The Canadian Campaign (1775): A failed two-pronged invasion of Quebec where the Americans hoped to recruit Canada as a 14th colony; the assault failed due to Canadian resistance, the death of Montgomery, and the wounding of Benedict Arnold.
- Delaware Crossing: Washington's gamble at Trenton and Princeton in late 1776/early 1777, which revitalized the revolution after Congress had nearly lost faith in his command.
- Mercenaries and Brutality:
- The British deployed 30,000 German mercenaries (Hessians) who were professional shock troops, contrary to portrayals of them as mere "fumblers."
- The conflict was characterized by extreme violence, including atrocities by both sides against Loyalists, fence-sitters, and prisoners of war.
- British prison ships in the East River held American POWs under conditions Logevall classifies as war crimes, resulting in a 90% mortality rate for captives.
- Role of Benedict Arnold:
- Arnold is highlighted as a brilliant but bitter combat leader who successfully stalled the British navy on Lake Champlain in late 1776, delaying their advance until winter.
- This delay prevented British forces from attacking New York in 1776, setting the stage for the eventual British defeat at Saratoga in 1777 and the subsequent entry of France into the war.
- Arnold's later betrayal is foreshadowed by his resentment over being overlooked for command and credit.
- Historical Contingency: Logevall asserts that American independence was not inevitable; the outcome depended on Washington's survival, British tactical competence, and the specific geopolitical context of 1775.
- Research Methodology: Logevall accessed 350,000 pages of previously unpublished Georgian papers at Windsor Castle (opened in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II) to understand George III's perspective, noting the King's obsessive attention to detail (e.g., recording note timestamps to the minute).
- Editorial Philosophy: Logevall employs rigorous self-editing to maintain narrative focus, adhering to the maxim "get on with it" to exclude detailed anecdotes that do not serve the broader historical argument, even if they are personally compelling.