From June 28, 1778, until October 1781, there is a gap in major engagements by the main Continental Army under the command of General George Washington. A few minor engagements, at Springfield, Connecticut Farms in New Jersey or Stony Point in New York, occurred. Actions in the Southern Theater occupied much of that period and Newport, Rhode Island became a focal point as well, especially with the French arrival. Historians, especially popular and public historians, tend to quickly cover these approximately three years of war in short order, moving onto the finality.

Yet, these years are important, especially to understand the other facets of warfare, rebellion, and revolution. Diving into the primary sources, from the quill pens of Washington, his fellow generals, staff officers, Continental Congress, and the soldiery that comprised the Continental and militia forces, and one can easily surmise how important those non-major-warfare years were. Luckily for the avid students and enthusiasts of the American Revolutionary War, we now have a concise, richly researched, and impactfully created prose published by Casemate and authored by Jeffrey A. Denman to fill this gap.

A glance at Denman’s biography reveals that he was a public-school teacher and historian who has a resume filled with publications and researched articles. He takes that acquired skill set into this publication, weaving the story, sprinkled with direct quotes and primary source material, for an accurate and compelling overview of the high-stakes of the American Revolution and how success very much so hung in the balance from 1778 – 1781.

At the center is Washington, as the “book tracks…strategic and personal contributions across multiple theaters of war…” (pg. xv). This includes relationships with other military and political leaders, along with the French commander, Rochambeau, in how he “carefully navigated French egos, the paralysis of Congress, and state politics…” (pg. xvii). Yet Denman’s goal is to provide a balanced approach to these years from Monmouth Courthouse in 1778 to Yorktown in 1781, “History proves that Washington was not a great military strategist…committed serious tactical mistakes” but “no man…could match Washington in courage, fearlessness, and devotion to his country.” (pgs. xvi-xvii).

Concluding his introduction, Denman clearly states the purpose of the following pages and why, although no major engagements were fought for over three years under Washington’s command, “this book, focusing on moments and locales rarely chronicled, provides an in-depth and captivating window into how one individual galvanized meager resources to accomplish the extraordinary” (pg. xvii).

In the following chapters, Denman weaves together the primary and secondary sources to create a portal for the reader to jump into, transported to the middle of the American Revolution and the emotional rollercoaster that was Washington’s experiences. Coming to life beside Washington will be household names and common soldiers of the Revolution, such as Surgeon James Thatcher, who relates during the frigid winter of 1779-1780, not spent at Valley Forge but Morristown, that “in addition to other sufferings, our only food is miserable fresh beef, without bread, salt, or vegetables.” Commanding in the Hudson Highlands, General William Heath sent a missive to Washington that can almost make the reader’s stomach also growl in sympathy for the Continental soldiers, “some of the Troops were Ten Days without Bread, which was such a Tryal even to the veterans…” to the point that some soldiers were almost mutinous. (pg. 83).

Still, Washington kept his focus on the larger strategic goal: planning raids against British forces in and around New York City. Denman explains several engagements in detail, including the actions at Stony Point, New York, and Paulus Hook, New Jersey, giving readers a fuller sense of the fighting that characterized the northern theater during these years. Throughout, Washington’s mindset and discipline stand out, reinforcing why he was the right person for the role. He was especially skilled at compartmentalizing. For example, after receiving devastating news of a destructive British raid on New London, Connecticut—which suffered the highest percentage of destruction of any American city—Washington absorbed the report and refocused “on coordinating with de Grasse [French naval commander] for the climactic siege at Yorktown” (pgs. 160-161).

As the book title so plainly states, the ring will be closed around the British, both at Yorktown and, for the focus of this book primarily, in the northern theater. In this study, what seemed to the casual reader of the American Revolution years of inaction, Denman flips that, and shows how pivotal the actions of Washington and those concerned were to the success of the cause. Highlighting how integral Washington’s leadership skills in a bevy of ways cemented how integral he was during this period to sustaining the war effort. This is a must-read for anyone looking for an introduction to what occurred during and occupied the time and energy of Washington from 1778 through 1781.

Casemate Publishers, 2026
240 pages plus images
ISBN: 1636245080
$34.95