Placing a War's Military Moments Into Their Proper Context
What is a 'turning point' in a war? Which conflicts within a specific war can accurately be considered a 'decisive battle'? This is the focal point of John R. Maass's new military history book 'From Trenton to Yorktown: Turning Points of the Revolutionary War.'
In his introduction, Maass suggests that these terms have been overused, even at times quite haphazardly. This overuse of 'turning point' and 'decisive battle' has resulted in not only diluting their proper definitions, but also diluting actual turning points or decisive battles, as well as overemphasizing and overestimating moments and battles during a war that are neither a turning point nor decisive. To demonstrate the proper use of such terms, and therefore place such moments in their proper perspective, Maass has utilized the American Revolutionary War as his syllabus.
Maass's teaching abstract has enabled him to not only prove his point, but do so in a manner that is entertaining from a military standpoint and educational from an American history standpoint. The author has taken five moments from the Revolutionary War to demonstrate exactly what is required to be considered a 'turning point.' These moments and battles are the battles of Trenton and Princeton (1776 and 1777, respectively), the Battle of Saratoga (1777), wintering at Valley Forge (from 1777 to 1778), the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781), and the Battle of Yorktown (1781).
Painting of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse by H. Charles McBarron.
Public Domain
What Are the Consequences?
As Maass's examples illustrate, it is not always a battle that proves to be a turning point during a war, such as the winter at Valley Forge. Nor is it always a victory that proves to be a decisive battle, such as his selection of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. What seems most important, according to Maass, is the consequence of the battle or moment. This, as just mentioned, is not strictly dictated by the outcome of a battle. As the old adage suggests, one can win the battle, but lose the war.
The consequences stem from what transpires from the moment, and how significant that consequence is. Maass demonstrates how the surprise attacks and quick victories at Trenton and Princeton, during the winter of 1776 to 1777, resulted in enabling the Continental Army to continue the war. At the time, the army had suffered a string of defeats, morale was at a significantly low ebb, enlistments for thousands of soldiers were due to expire in the coming weeks, and the trust in Gen. George Washington's leadership had begun to weaken. The result of these battles completely altered all of those negatives, and was therefore less about the victories themselves and more about the consequences of those victories.
Concerning the nonengagement of Valley Forge, the Continental Army suffered through a harsh winter (though, as Maass clarifies, not as harsh as some historians like to suggest), sickness, and an extreme lack of provisions (food, clothing, and shelter). Thousands deserted or died from disease and exposure during these winter months, though the vast majority of Washington's army remained together. The consequence of headquartering at Valley Forge was taking the opportunity to drill the soldiers to the point of becoming a professional army (or at least as professional as possible). When Baron von Steuben, the Prussian military officer arrived at headquarters, he was placed in charge of drilling and training the officers and soldiers. What resulted was a confident and better prepared army that could conduct maneuvers more seamlessly and would, therefore, be less likely to panic in the face of the British. The winter had profoundly transformed the army.
A Choice for Debate
Maass's selection of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse is possibly the one choice that American Revolution enthusiasts and military history buffs may attempt to debate. The battle was not a victory, but a defeat, although it was, in the same vein as the Battle of Bunker Hill, a victory that felt like a defeat. The British, under the command
er
of Gen. Lord Cornwallis, suffered an approximate 25 percent casualty rate, leading one British member of Parliament to suggest that 'another such victory would ruin the British Army.'
Related Stories
10/18/2022
5/11/2023
But what about the Battle of Kings Mountain or the Battle of Cowpens, which occurred during the same campaign (known as the Southern Campaign)? Maass discusses these and their importance to the overall conflict. His reasoning, however, for choosing Guilford Courthouse rather than Kings Mountain or Cowpens as the turning point was not about the win/loss outcome on paper, but the consequence of the battle. It was the Battle of Guilford Courthouse that forced Cornwallis to retreat and maneuver toward Virginia, and, ultimately, Yorktown, where his final defeat would take place. This immediate consequence of retreat and then the longer-term consequence of arriving in Yorktown would spell the end not only of Cornwallis's army, but of Britain's willingness to continue the war.
A Cause to Reconsider
It should be understood that Maass is not attempting to shortchange any specific battles or moments from the Revolutionary War. He is simply trying to ensure that historians and readers alike place such moments in their proper context and therefore assess the complexities of war with more care.
'From Trenton to Yorktown' is not an attempt to thoroughly detail each of these moments in the war. Maass admits that an attempt at doing so would require a much larger book. What Maass does provide, however, is enough information and detail to introduce the reader to the major, and some minor, players involved in the specific conflict; the geographic location and how the geography proved beneficial or detrimental to either side; some of the maneuvers conducted by the combatants; the personal perspectives from military officers and political leaders on both sides; and, most importantly, the overarching results of such moments.
Maass has written an enjoyable and informative book, which should cause readers to consider or reconsider their views on what defines a 'turning point' or a 'decisive battle.'
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jamaica's ‘crocodile guardian' is fighting to save the island's feared predators
Editor's Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. In the heat of the Jamaican sun, where the wetlands glisten and buzz with life, an ancient predator is vanishing. There are around 28 species of crocodiles found throughout the world's tropical and subtropical regions. But there is only one species in Jamaica, found primarily along the southern coast from St. Thomas to Westmoreland. Once revered and feared across the island, the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) has long ruled the mangroves and coastal lagoons. But in recent years, its population has been decimated, due to illegal hunting, habitat loss and plastic pollution, as well as killings prompted by a lingering fear among locals. Lawrence Henriques has made it his life's mission to change that. Known as 'The Crocodile Guardian,' Henriques has spent the past four decades fighting for their survival. He runs the Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary, a grassroots conservation project in the southeast of the island, perched on the edge of what he says is one of Jamaica's last viable crocodile habitats. From this remote corner of the island, he's trying to undo years of damage: nursing sick crocs back to health, raising juveniles and restoring their numbers in the wild. 'There's a real fear of crocodiles in Jamaica,' says Henriques. 'They're not tolerated by a lot of people. So if one turns up in someone's backyard, it's often killed for meat or just because people are afraid.' Although crocodiles are often seen as aggressive and dangerous, attacks are few and far between. While reliable figures are hard to come by, according to the global database CrocAttack, there have been 11 incidents reported over the past decade in Jamaica, including one fatality in 2018. That's why Henriques is working to change the narrative about the animal and help people understand that they are far less threatening than their reputation suggests. Born and raised in the Jamaican capital, Kingston, during the 1960s, Henriques always had a penchant for 'creepy crawlies,' such as spiders, scorpions and snakes. But it was crocodiles that truly captured his attention. 'We had a lot more crocodiles and a lot more habitat in those days,' he recalls. 'I always had a half a dozen or so baby crocodiles rearing in my bedroom.' That fascination eventually became a vocation. After studying overseas and learning more about reptiles when working with the Scientific Exploration Society, a UK charity, in Belize, Henriques returned to Jamaica in 1980. He was startled to find that despite crocodiles being classified as endangered in 1971 under the Wildlife Protection Act, there was little practical conservation happening. 'The laws were there, but nobody was doing anything,' he says. 'The environmental agency was very under-resourced and still is to this day. And there was nobody really with expertise or knowledge on reptiles.' Henriques volunteered to assist the Jamaican government, carrying out crocodile rescues and providing rehabilitation, all while holding down a job in the citrus industry. He continued like this for almost 20 years, before a brief relocation to London, UK. When he returned to Jamaica in 2010, he launched what would become the Holland Bay Crocodile Sanctuary — a facility dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation and public education. The sanctuary, which lies on the edge of a wetland, is home to 27 adult crocodiles along with 18 baby crocs. The juvenile crocs have been bred on site and are typically released into the wild after three years, while the adults have been rescued and rehabilitated after being hit by cars, caught in traps, or found living in squalid conditions. Over the past three years, around 90 have been successfully released back into the wild according to Henriques. One of the crocodiles living at the sanctuary currently is Xena, who was discovered guarding her eggs in an area littered with trash, her skin slimy and her teeth gray from pollution. Savannah Boan, an international ambassador from Gatorland Global, the conservation arm of the Florida-based wildlife park which helps to fund the sanctuary, says that since being relocated, Xena's skin has healed and her teeth are white again. Her babies have also been raised at the facility and released into safe areas, helping to boost wild populations of the species. 'Lawrence is doing extraordinary work with very limited resources,' she tells CNN. Despite legal protections, crocodiles in Jamaica face growing threats. Poaching is rampant, often driven by demand for meat or misguided fear, according to officers from the country's National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). 'Poaching is definitely a huge problem,' says Leighton Mamdeen, an environmental officer at NEPA. 'We try to limit it through enforcement measures such as regular monitoring and we partner with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force to do patrols.' According to media reports, there is a thriving black market for crocodile meat and eggs in Jamaica, with the meat sold for as much as 5,000 Jamaican dollars ($31) a pound (450 grams) – more than 10 times the price of chicken meat. This could stem from a widespread misconception in some rural communities that crocodile meat has aphrodisiac properties. Damany Calder, another environmental officer at NEPA, says he has noticed a troubling pattern during callouts, when crocodiles are discovered with their tails removed. 'There's a rumour about the crocodile tail… it's (used) either for sexual performance, fertility or longevity,' he says. In other cases, crocodiles have been found in backyard ponds, kept as pets, or used as props for TikTok stunts or music videos. There was even a time when a small live crocodile was found stuffed in a broken fridge, says Calder. He believes it may have been part of a ritual referred to as Obeah, a Jamaican religious tradition similar to voodoo. Social media videos have occasionally resulted in prosecutions but only if culprits are caught in the act, Calder says. Individuals found guilty of killing crocodiles may be charged a maximum fine of $100,000 or face one-year imprisonment. 'The police are heavily involved, and they're trying to improve the penalties,' says Henriques. 'But like everything else, it's catching the person and proving it in court. It's a very long, drawn-out process.' Development is another killer. Jamaica's mangroves and wetlands are currently being cleared for tourism and residential development according to The Forestry Department. This affects the country's coastal resilience, as mangroves reduce wave energy and storm surges, helping to prevent flooding, and it damages biodiversity, as they are serve as nurseries for fish and provide essential habitat for species like crocodiles. As this territory shrinks, crocodiles are forced closer to humans. 'These animals are ending up in places they've always lived,' Henriques says. 'But now those places are towns and roads … We've taken their habitat.' To Henriques, the crocodile isn't a menace — it's a keystone species that has been on the island for millions of years. It even features on the Jamaican coat of arms, which shows a crocodile perched atop a royal helmet and mantling, designed to symbolize the island's unique wildlife and natural heritage. 'They're like engineers of the ecosystem,' he says. 'They dig channels, control fish populations and keep the wetlands healthy.' He explains that the presence of these apex predators helps to regulate biodiversity within aquatic ecosystems by controlling prey populations and creating microhabitats that support various flora and fauna. But Henriques warns that because of poaching and habitat loss, the island no longer has many large male crocodiles left along the coastline: 'Most now are smaller. It's a serious shift.' 'What's happening in Jamaica reflects a global pattern — wetland species are disappearing, and with them, the health of the entire ecosystem,' he adds. Despite the challenges, there's a cautious sense of hope. Henriques and NEPA have ramped up community outreach and education programs, especially in areas near crocodile habitats. 'One of the most impactful things we've done is visit schools,' says Mamdeen. 'If you start with the kids, you'll have a greater chance of securing the animal's future.' When reports of a crocodile in a pool of water near a school caused panic among parents and children, NEPA directed its outreach efforts toward local students. 'We told them: crocodiles would rather run (from you) than rush (towards) you,' he says. 'If you're near water at night, walk with a stick. If the animal is touched, it moves.' Henriques added: 'People are beginning to understand these animals have a place … They're not pests. They're survivors.' Still, the sanctuary is one of only a few conservation efforts on the island, and without continued support, Henriques fears Jamaica's crocodiles may not survive the next few decades. 'We can't afford to lose them,' he says. 'They've been here longer than we have. They're part of this land.'
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Free admission offered at these California national parks and forests on Juneteenth
Juneteenth, an official national holiday since 2021, brings with it free admission to all national parks and forests. It will be one of just seven such days when admission is free at national parks and five days for national forests. The holiday celebrates the last American slaves to be officially freed. They were freed by Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. In Southern California, participating National Park Service locations include Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Channel Islands, Cabrillo National Monument, Yosemite and many more. For those who can't make it to national parks on Juneteenth, free access will be available on three more days this year: Aug. 4, Sep. 27 and Nov. 11. Land managed by the U.S. Forest Service will also offer free entry on the last two of these three days. Other fees for parking, tours and the like will still apply. If California residents prefer to visit state parks, they can get in for free via a pass available at any library that grants free access to more than 200 parks every day of the year.
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
A Word, Please: When phrases lose their popularity
Not long ago in this column, I talked a bit about the expression 'step foot,' as in 'I wouldn't step foot in that store.' The first time I heard it, I was embarrassed for the speaker who, I was sure, meant 'set foot.' The second, third and fourth times I heard it, I sensed a change was underway — and I'm not a fan of change (that's an understatement). Eventually, I looked it up and learned that 'step foot' is slowly gaining on 'set foot,' whether I like it or not. Figures of speech, like words, evolve. Take 'vicious cycle,' for example. For a solid century, there was no 'vicious cycle' — at least not in published writing. Pretty much everyone who could get near a printing press agreed the expression was 'vicious circle.' The idea behind the expression, of course, is that of being stuck in a loop, a bad one. Merriam-Webster defines 'vicious circle' as 'a chain of events in which the response to one difficulty creates a new problem that aggravates the original difficulty.' As the 20th century dawned, 'vicious circle' continued to dominate, but suddenly it had some competition. 'Vicious cycle' was emerging as a contender. 'Vicious circle' held onto its lead until just about a decade ago, when 'vicious cycle' nosed ahead. At the same time, the original and originally correct expression 'vicious circle' started to dive. I'm not optimistic about its future. 'Top up' is another term that caught my eye lately, and not in a good way. I started seeing it in travel articles pondering whether it's worthwhile to buy airline miles to 'top up' your existing balance enough to book a flight. My whole life, the expression I heard was 'top off.' According to Merriam-Webster, 'top off' is a phrasal verb that has two definitions: The first is 'to end (something) usually in an exciting way.' So an athlete may top off their career with a final victory, or a nice dinner can be topped off with dessert and coffee. The second definition is similar to the first: 'to fill (something) completely with a liquid.' Be it a mug of coffee or a tank of gas, when it's not quite full and you fill it all the way, you're topping it off. 'Top up,' meanwhile, was a perfectly fine way to say 'top off' if you're British. But it wasn't for us, I thought. We were top-off people. Turns out that's not quite right. 'Top up' has been in print as long as 'top off,' and though the American version has always been more popular in American publishing, 'top up' has never been far behind. I was wrong about that, but I was even more wrong about 'You've got another think coming.' I couldn't understand how anyone could make the embarrassing mistake of using 'think' in this expression. Obviously, the correct version was 'You've got another thing coming.' I never considered the context. The expression follows a stated or implied statement of 'If you think X …' so 'another' makes sense because you've already had one think. Of course, a think is a thing. So it's not wrong to say you've got another thing coming. And that's lucky for modern English speakers, because Ngram Viewer shows that 'another think coming' started to decline in popularity about 10 years ago while 'another thing coming' is becoming more popular than ever — just when I was getting used to 'think.' For me, there are two takeaways from these trends. One, the language will keep changing. And two, change will continue to annoy me. — June Casagrande is the author of 'The Joy of Syntax: A Simple Guide to All the Grammar You Know You Should Know.' She can be reached at JuneTCN@
