The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the American Revolutionary
War, but it was the pivotal campaigns and battles of 1781 that decided
the final outcome. 1781 was one of those rare years in American history
when the future of the nation hung by a thread, and only the fortitude,
determination, and sacrifice of its leaders and citizenry ensured its
survival.
By 1781, America had been at war with the world's strongest empire for
six years with no end in sight. British troops occupied key coastal
cities, from New York to Savannah, and the Royal Navy prowled the waters
off the American coast. The remaining Patriot forces hunkered down in
the hinterland, making battle only at opportunities when British columns
ventured near. But after several harsh winters, and the failure of the
nascent government to adequately supply the troops, the American army
was fast approaching the breaking point. The number of Continental
soldiers had shrunk to less than 10,000, and the three-year enlistments
of many of those remaining were about to expire. Mutinies began to
emerge in George Washington's ranks, and it was only the arrival of
French troops that provided a ray of hope for the American cause.
In a shift of strategy given the stalemate between New York and
Philadelphia, the British began to prioritize the south. After
shattering the American army under Horatio Gates at Camden, South
Carolina, the British army under Lord Cornwallis appeared unstoppable,
and was poised to regain the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia for the
Crown. However, when General Nathaniel Greene arrived to take command of
Patriot forces in the south, he was able to gradually turn the tables.
By dividing his own forces, he forced the British to divide theirs,
dissipating their juggernaut and forcing Cornwallis to confront a
veritable hydra of resistance.
1781 was a year of battles, as the Patriot Morgan defeated the notorious
Tarleton and his Loyal legion at Cowpens. Then Greene suffered defeat at
Guilford Courthouse, only to rally his forces and continue to fight on,
assisted by such luminaries as Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox," and
"Light Horse Harry" Lee. While luring Cornwallis north, Greene was able
to gather new strength and launch a counterattack, until it was
Cornwallis who felt compelled to seek succor in Virginia. He marched his
main army to Yorktown on the Peninsula, upon which the French fleet, the
British fleet, Greene, Washington, and the French army under Rochambeau
all converged. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his weary and
bloodied army.
In this book, Robert Tonsetic provides a detailed analysis of the key
battles and campaigns of 1781, supported by numerous eyewitness accounts
from privates to generals in the American, French, and British armies.
He also describes the diplomatic efforts underway in Europe during 1781,
as well as the Continental Congress's actions to resolve the immense
financial, supply, and personnel problems involved in maintaining an
effective fighting army in the field. With its focus on the climactic
year of the war, 1781 is a valuable addition to the literature on the
American Revolution, providing readers with a clearer understanding of
how America, just barely, with fortitude and courage, retrieved its
independence in the face of great odds.