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Revolutionary Delaware: Independence in the First State
In 1776, Delaware declared independence from both England and Pennsylvania. Originally known as the Three Lower Counties of Pennsylvania, the First State was instrumental in the fight to form a new republic. The Marquis de Lafayette, Nathanael Greene and George Washington all made trips to the state. Caesar Rodney's ride and the Battle of Cooch's Bridge are legendary, but the state has many unsung heroes. Citizens from every village, town, crossroads and marsh risked their lives to support their beliefs. Author Kim Burdick offers the carefully documented story of ordinary people coping with extraordinary circumstances.
176 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 25, 2018
A book I enjoyed, and it promised not too focus on the Battle of Cooch's Bridge only, but to provide a more expansive view of Delaware in the American Revolution. The book delivered on this focus, although I was disappointed not to find the level of detail I was looking for concerning the battle.
The rest of the book details life in Delaware during the revolution through a series of vignettes and anecdotes, treating the service of the Delaware Line and that of the Flying Camp (a force of militia tasked with responding to exegencies within the state during this time) in a similar manner. There are primary source quotes interspersed.
Overall the book deliver on what it promises, although it is short, under 150 pages before a lengthy bibliography. It scratches the surface and must have been difficult to write, as there are allusions to so many more interesting stories throughout.
The rest of the book details life in Delaware during the revolution through a series of vignettes and anecdotes, treating the service of the Delaware Line and that of the Flying Camp (a force of militia tasked with responding to exegencies within the state during this time) in a similar manner. There are primary source quotes interspersed.
Overall the book deliver on what it promises, although it is short, under 150 pages before a lengthy bibliography. It scratches the surface and must have been difficult to write, as there are allusions to so many more interesting stories throughout.
January 8, 2020
Considering that I picked this up at the check-out line at Walgreens, it is an excellent short account of the Revolutionary War in Delaware.
George Read was one of Delaware's most famous founding fathers. He is one of only two men who signed all three of the Petition to the King from the Congress of 1774, The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, but this little book relates that Read had voted against independence at the Continental Congress of 1776, and when Delaware's troops returned to the state after the war he was serving as State President and he denied that the soldiers had a right to vote after being outside of the state for so long. He recanted this position when angry crowds collected on election day and he became "anxious for his personal safety".
George Read was one of Delaware's most famous founding fathers. He is one of only two men who signed all three of the Petition to the King from the Congress of 1774, The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, but this little book relates that Read had voted against independence at the Continental Congress of 1776, and when Delaware's troops returned to the state after the war he was serving as State President and he denied that the soldiers had a right to vote after being outside of the state for so long. He recanted this position when angry crowds collected on election day and he became "anxious for his personal safety".
December 30, 2017
Working through a series of books I obtained at the Lewes History Festival, I dived into the next three, from Revolutionary War, to Civil War, to World War II involving Delaware, which will add to our Delaware History section in the local high school library. Signed by author Kim Burdick, this novel is a brief, but specific and accurate portrayal of Delaware's involvement in the Revolutionary War.
One does not realize how common a path it was to trek through Delaware and be seated between so many activities that determined the direction of the colonies.
Also, one does not realize the amount of disagreement between Tories, Whigs, and local residents on whether to remain loyal to the crown or to break away, but far it was not unanimous and the wish to remain pacifist on behalf of the Quakers and Friends' Society also drove many protests against anyone that would not speak against the crown.
Seeing historical names like Caesar Rodney, John Dickinson, and Mary Vining, as well as seeing Delaware pick up after the William Penn acquisition, break into it's own state, and seeing Wilmington, Sussex County, Kent, and New Castle amid this time of George Washington, Valley Forge, and more is quite amazing.
The personalization is real to locations within Delaware in relation to the Revolutionary War, and one certainly gets a more personalized sense of Delaware and roles it plays through this time. Chocked full of maps and individuals, you get the sense of identity that Delaware was leading up to being the first state when it made it through such a tumultuous time as the Revolutionary Way, providing its own militia and support while others on the state raged against separation.
Also, you get the sense of the sacrifice so many made in this state for the sake of being its own state, the first state to sign the Declaration of Independence, and the tremendous effort it took to do so. At times there are so many dates, locations, etc you need to go back and reread and soak it in, but in the overall scheme, you se Delaware in a much more personal light as a result.
One does not realize how common a path it was to trek through Delaware and be seated between so many activities that determined the direction of the colonies.
Also, one does not realize the amount of disagreement between Tories, Whigs, and local residents on whether to remain loyal to the crown or to break away, but far it was not unanimous and the wish to remain pacifist on behalf of the Quakers and Friends' Society also drove many protests against anyone that would not speak against the crown.
Seeing historical names like Caesar Rodney, John Dickinson, and Mary Vining, as well as seeing Delaware pick up after the William Penn acquisition, break into it's own state, and seeing Wilmington, Sussex County, Kent, and New Castle amid this time of George Washington, Valley Forge, and more is quite amazing.
The personalization is real to locations within Delaware in relation to the Revolutionary War, and one certainly gets a more personalized sense of Delaware and roles it plays through this time. Chocked full of maps and individuals, you get the sense of identity that Delaware was leading up to being the first state when it made it through such a tumultuous time as the Revolutionary Way, providing its own militia and support while others on the state raged against separation.
Also, you get the sense of the sacrifice so many made in this state for the sake of being its own state, the first state to sign the Declaration of Independence, and the tremendous effort it took to do so. At times there are so many dates, locations, etc you need to go back and reread and soak it in, but in the overall scheme, you se Delaware in a much more personal light as a result.
July 17, 2021
This book is mostly concentrates on the state's homefront. While it isn't bad, it doesn't cover the military aspects of the war as much as it could have. For example, the Battle of Cooch's Bridge is passed over in only a couple paragraphs, without going into any tactical details and without using a map of the battle.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews