From December 1777 through June 1778, the American Revolution achieved a remarkable turnaround. I these months the Continental Army recovered from abject demoralization at Valley Forge to achieve a stunning victory against the British at Monmouth Courthouse. This compelling history chronicles how the war began to turn–from the consequential leadership of General Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette to the experiences of the men who marched and fought in the ranks–and reexamines one of the most controversial periods of early American history.

Jim Stempel is an authority of the Eastern campaigns of the American Civil War. His articles on psychology, human development, and warfare have also appeared in the New Times, Concepts In Human Development, and North & South. He lives in western Maryland.

Jim Stempel
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 232
Bibliographic Info: 14 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8267-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4093-8
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
Prologue 5
One. Washington 13
Two. Lafayette 23
Three. Washington 33
Four. Lafayette 41
Five. Steuben 50
Six. Greene 61
Seven. Steuben 71
Eight. Lee 80
Nine. Washington 89
Ten. Lafayette 96
Eleven. Washington 107
Twelve. Clinton 115
Thirteen. Washington 122
Fourteen. Lee 133
Fifteen. Lee 141
Sixteen. Washington 154
Seventeen. Martin 166
Eighteen. Hamilton 175
Nineteen. Lee 183
Twenty. Greenwood 193
Appendix: Selected Biographies 201
Chapter Notes 211
Bibliography 221
Index 225

• “Captivated by the short preface, it was evident this was just not another history addressing a brief period of conflict during the American Revolution, but an effort by the author to place the events of a formative six-month period (December 1777 to June 1778) of the young army of the United States in perspective through detailed research and analysis. Using a creditable mix of primary and secondary sources, the author does a nice job of addressing the internal and external challenges contributing to the changes and development of the Continental Army, highlighting the role of key individuals contributing to this process….His organization and writing style allow the reader to digest the book in a series of short sessions or in longer segments if desired. The reader will not be disappointed in the author’s efforts.”—Journal of the American Revolution

• “An informative, gripping account of pivotal events in the War for Independence, it starts with Valley Forge and culminates on the battlefield at Monmouth Courthouse. Jim Stempel gives new meaning to the suffering and steadfastness of the American army at Valley Forge and Washington’s prompt actions at Monmouth which prevented a military debacle. Anyone interested in knowing what America’s independence from Britain required should read this book.”—John Harman McElroy, PhD, Professor Emeritus University of Arizona, author of American Beliefs

• “With superb research and supportive analysis, Jim Stempel has crafted another stellar work, often delving far deeper into events than previous historical accounts. He intricately weaves the Continental Army’s struggles at Valley Forge, the momentous clash at Monmouth between American and British forces, and lastly the epic controversy between Charles Lee and George Washington into a compelling narrative, bound to entertain anyone with an interest in history. His logical, systematic dismantling of Charles Lee’s command performance at Monmouth is devastating. Highly recommended.”—James Holden-Rhodes, veteran, U.S. Marines, author of Smart and Faithful Force