Book Review: Almost a Miracle: the American Victory in the War of Independence by John Ferling

I had been looking for a comprehensive book on the Revolutionary War for quite some time
when I discovered John Ferling's Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of
Independence. This book was just what I was looking for. Ferling covers the origins of
the war, the leaders, both political and military, diplomatic moves, military strategy, the
battles, and the aftermath. Ferling also provides detailed analysis of the events. By
the time I finished the book, I agreed that the American victory in the Revolutionary War
was indeed almost a miracle.

Ferling takes a balanced approach in his analysis. He praises and criticizes both sides
equally, and everyone receives equal treatment. He praises George Washington for his
successful Christmas 1776 attack on Trenton, N.J. , his fighting spirit, his leadership
capabilities and his refusal to quit during the war's many (for the American side) low
points. He also criticizes Washington for his mistake filled handling of the New York
campaign earlier in 1776 and his failure to grasp the significance of the British southern
strategy in the Carolinas later in the war. British generals receive the same treatment
for their mistakes. Ferling also is evenhanded is his reporting of the ugly side of the
war, describing the British massacre at the Waxhaws led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton as
well as the retaliation by the Americans against surrendering Loyalists at the Battle of
King's Mountain.

On the governmental and diplomatic side of the Revolutionary War, Ferling goes into detail
about conflicts within the British government over the handling of the war, and of the
relations between France and the United States that eventually led to French intervention
on the American side. This was a marriage of convenience, as France and Britain were
enemies, and the French viewed this as a chance to contain British ambitions. On the
domestic front, Washington often had to plead with Congress to supply his army adequately
and pay his soldiers while the American economy was in tatters.

Ferling used a huge number of primary sources in writing this book, and quotations from the
writings of participants are found throughout. There are extensive endnotes and a
bibliography.

The American victory in the Revolutionary War was a complex mixture of timely military
victories, diplomatic initiatives, French intervention, a refusal to quit in the face of
adversity, the emergence of good generals in the field, such as Nathaniel Greene, tactical
errors, and sometimes just plain luck. The Americans won battles just often enough earlier
in the war to keep from losing, but it was victories in the south in 1780 and '81 that
finally sealed it. If the stalemate had continued beyond 1781 it was likely that mediation
by other European powers would have ended the war and created a small United States in the
north while Britain retained the southern colonies, and territory to the west. The
American's had to win it in 1781, and they did. As John Ferling states in this well
written book, it really was almost a miracle.