Friederike Baer

I've been wanting to read a modern study of the British use of German-supplied soldiers in the American Revolution, and this book actually exceeded my expectations. Not only does Baer explain how these troops were recruited and organized, and the campaigns they were involved in, but this is also a social history that tries to give you a good sense of what the German troops (and the community that came with them), thought of America and the conflict that they were involved in. Among other things, at least among those whose thoughts have come down to us, there seems to have early on developed serious doubts about the competence of the British field leadership, there was a great deal of repugnance towards African slavery, and there was a serious gap in comprehension over just what Americans were rebelling over. Granular without being overbearing and well worth reading.… (más)