WASHINTON’S IMMORTALS The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution by Patrick K. O’Donnell - 2016

The American Revolution could have easily ended  soon after it began were it not for the courage and determination of a brigade of four hundred men, called “Washington’s Immortals”.   A Month after The Revolution began, in July 1776, Washington’s army was is desperate straights. His troops were outnumberd and surrounded in the battle of Brooklyn.  Thanks to this regiment Washington was able to evacuate his army from what seemed like either certain capture or slaughter.

The men who formed this brigade were all volunteers, forming The First  Maryland Brigade. Officers and soldiers often had to provide their own guns and equipment.  The men were largely considered “gentlemen”, professionals,rich merchants and  affluent farm owners.  The men mostly knew each other. Several married sisters of their comrades in arms.  They fought in key battles of The Revolution, including Trenton, Princeton, Camden, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, and Yorktown, where their heroism changed the course of the war.

O’Donnell goes into fascinsting significant detail about their friendships, their trials, and the impact of the war on their families.  As the work dragged on, they increasingly struggled just to find food and adequate clothing. We learn of their conflicts with loyalists and about the British Army.  The British officer corps were largely from wealthy families who bought them commissions.  They laughed at the Americans as an army of farmers and blacksmiths.  There were freed slaves in the regiment and we learn about them.

Through focusing on one group of men, O’Donnell tells the story of how the most powerful military in the world were defeated by an army of amateurs.

“Combat historian, bestselling author, and public speaker Patrick K. O'Donnell has written eleven critically acclaimed books that recount the epic stories of America's wars from the Revolution to Iraq. He is a premier expert on elite and special operations units and irregular warfare. O’Donnell’s books are described as “nonfiction that reads like fiction.”
From https://www.patrickkodonnell.com/index.html

I think all into The American Revolution will enjoy this book.