Jim Stempel

Authorized Excerpt: Jim Stempel: Valley Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution

On June 28, 1778, American forces led by General George Washington clashed with the British Army at Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey. The vanguard of the American Army was led that morning by General Charles Lee, who insisted he be given command of an attack he did not think prudent to make. The result was a disastrous withdrawal of Continental troops in the face of a British counterattack, an action that would spark confusion, hostility, and charges of treason, ultimately leading to the court martial of General Lee.

As Washington approached the field, his anger began to increase as signs of failure and collapse swirled around him. He had every reason to believe the morning’s action had been successful, but now his vanguard appeared to be retreating in confusion without having fired a shot. What had happened?

Read an excerpt from Jim Stempel’s Valley Forge To Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution, now available on Amazon and at virtually all online sellers,  detailing Washington’s historic confrontation with Lee, his epic rally of the Continental Army, and the furious battle that ensued – in all, one of the most hotly debated and controversial moments in American military history.

Review of "From Valley Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution" by James Holden-Rhodes

Review of From Valley to Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution

By:  James Holden-Rhodes

 

Great historians have the mental ability to conjure up a palette of rich colors with which to paint their story. The palette crafted by the best historians are a kaleidoscope that embrace a topic of great importance and interest, a superb sense of time and place, and, most importantly, the human element which always binds the other elements into a seamless whole.

Once again, Jim Stempel has painted a canvas that pulls the reader into an extremely important event in American History -- the Winter of 1777-1778. With superb research and supportive analysis, in From Valley Forge to Monmouth: Six Transformative Months of the American Revolution, Stempel has crafted another stellar work, often delving far deeper into events than previous historical accounts.

1777 had seen one disaster after another for the American cause, the only bright light being the British surrender at Saratoga. St. Clair had surrendered Fort Ticonderoga to the Redcoats, and British forces had landed at Head of Elk in Maryland, then proceeded to defeat the Continentals at the Battle of Brandywine. They then occupied Philadelphia, the American capital, and as the year waned, the British captured Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River.