Deze auteur onderzoekt hoe de Amerikaanse manier van oorlogvoering voortkwam uit een conflict met een onverwachte vijand: Canada. Door middel van tien veldslagen langs de historische Grote Oorlogspadroute van Albany naar Montreal, onthult de auteur diepere waarheden over de Amerikaanse benadering van oorlogvoering, gesmeed gedurende bijna twee eeuwen. Met een passie voor de regio en haar geschiedenis brengt de auteur niet alleen cruciale gebeurtenissen tot leven, maar ook minder bekende personages, en biedt zo een boeiend verhaal van een fascinerend, vaak over het hoofd gezien, hoofdstuk in de geschiedenis.
Rejecting accepted theories for unexpected military disasters, the authors brilliantly analyze disasters of great magnitude. They assert that military misfortune turns not on individual or collective failure but is rooted in the nature of the complex interconnections between men, systems, and organizations.
Two Centuries of Battles along the Great Warpath that Made the American Way of War
Americans often view the Civil War as the defining conflict that solidified the nation and its military values. However, a much earlier struggle between “North” and “South” spanned over two centuries, beginning in the 1600s, and significantly influenced American geopolitics and military culture. Eliot A. Cohen examines how the American way of war developed through a prolonged conflict with Canada. He details how five groups—the British, French, Americans, Canadians, and Indians—vied for control of the crucial corridor from Albany to Montreal, known to Native Americans as the “Great Warpath.” This region, characterized by lakes, rivers, and woodlands, was pivotal in shaping the military values, practices, and institutions of the emerging nation. Through vivid accounts of various conflicts—ranging from woodland skirmishes to naval battles—Cohen illustrates the evolution of a uniquely American approach to warfare along the Great Warpath. He combines tactics, strategy, and narratives of battles with insights into lesser-known figures like loyalist spy Justus Sherwood and self-taught engineer Jeduthan Baldwin, while also revisiting familiar characters like Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen, and George Washington. Grounded in thorough research, this work promises to engage and enlighten readers for years to come.