I finished Barbara Tuchman’s book on the American Revolution, The First Salute, a couple of days ago. It’s not up there with her very best books (The Guns of August, A Distant Mirror), but I really enjoyed it.
The title refers to the “first salute” that the new American flag received. It was given to a ship flying the red and white stripes entering the harbor of St. Eustatius (controlled by the Dutch) in the West Indies, on November 16, 1776.
This is not a standard history of the Revolution. The beginning of the book focuses on the West Indies, and she gives an extensive history of the Dutch and their history and involvement in Continental politics. And she ties this in with the Revolution. Also, there are several long biographies of key people who we don’t often hear about in histories of the fight for Independence. Like the English Admiral Rodney.
The last third of the book is about the build-up and final campaign, culminating in the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. To trap Cornwallis, a hundred things had to go just right for the allies (Colonies and the French) with no margin for error. Astonishingly, they did. And it helped that British leadership was inept.
While the book’s chronology is somewhat confusing, Tuchman’s narration and writing are wonderful. A good book if you are looking for some of the overlooked aspects of the Revolution. I mean who knew that Admiral Rodney’s prostate problem was a decisive element in allowing the French Admiral de Grasse to seal off Cornwallis at Yorktown? Who Knew?
Leave a Reply