Western Pennsylvania History Fall 2015

BOOK REVIEWS Between 1,200 to 1,400 British and colonial soldiers fought that day; Preston puts the casualty rate at more than 60 percent killed or wounded, many slaughtered as they lay helplessly injured. Some wounded were stripped, marched to Fort Duquesne, tortured, and burned alive. While the battle is the centerpiece of "Braddock's Defeat," Preston paints a Braddock's Defeat: The Battle of the full picture of conditions in 1755 North Monongahela and the Road to Revolution America that brings a clear perspective to By David Preston that complicated era which included the Oxford University Press, 2015 defeat of France in the New World and the Hardback, 480 pp., American Revolution. 20 illus., $29.95 He also rehabilitates Braddock's reputation as dismissive of native help, the battle, he argues that the long-term Reviewed by Bob Hoover, retired book editor of the reinforces the stalwart character of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette effect was to pave the way for the victory of Washington, and praises Benjamin Franklin Americans over their British rulers 28 years for his help in bolstering the expedition. later: "Indeed, the memory of Braddock's The name Braddock can be found from Braddock's Defeat also tells the French Northern Virginia to Western Pennsylvania on Defeat cast a long shadow, one that stretched side of the story. Experienced military roads, parks, lakes, and communities although to include the origin of the American officers are credited at last with the strategy its namesake, British Gen. Edward Braddock, Revolution," he writes, "and particularly the that defeated a much larger force, an action lived only a few months in that region. colonists' decision to take up arms." that included a journey from Montreal that At61 years old, General Braddock arrived What the result told colonists was that rivaled Braddock's march in its efforts. in America in March 1755 as head ofthe largest the formidable English army could be defeated Preston sought to write a definitive military expedition in the British colonies at using the tactics ofthe French and their Indian history of the seminal 1755 battle of the that time. His mission was to oust the French allies. The performance of colonial troops at Mon and he succeeded. from Fort Duquesne at the confluence of the Braddock's Defeat- they covered the retreat as Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, opening British fighters fled-added to their confidence. the territory for British developers. His 300 Preston's account ofthe fighting on July 9 mile march from Alexandria, Virginia, to draws from a variety ofsources, some cited for Always a Home Game: Our Journey what is now Braddock, was a triumph of the first time, and brings the awful nature of Through Steelers Country in 140 Days ingenuity and endurance. the battle into sharp focus. Perhaps 300 French By Josh Miller and Shawn Allen St. Lynn's Press, 2014 Braddock, however, was dead four forces were involved, but the bulk ofattackers 240 pp., ill ustrations, chart months later in the woods south ofUniontown, were Indians from many tribes, nearly 700, $19.74 hardcover his retreating army in tatters. The magnitude firing into the column ofBritish troops on both of his defeat immortalized his name. It was flanks. Braddock was wounded, evacuated by Reviewed by Carrie Hadley, a catastrophe for Great Britain, the high tide his aide George Washington. He died four Cataloger forthe Museum Division of France's power in North America and a days later and was buried in the road so that respite for American Indians threatened by the the army's footsteps and wagon teracks would It's an intimidating feeling- it's Sunday westward expansion of Europeans. hide his grave. Today, his relocated gravesite is morning, and you, a loyal Steelers fan, are vacationing or living outside ofPittsburgh and While military historian David Preston marked with a memorial on U.S. 40, just north need a reliable bar to watch the game later. acknowledges the immediate impact of of Port Necessity. 60 WESTE RN PENNSYLVANIA HISTOU I FALL 2015 .

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