John A. Williams (5) (1908–2006)

A short piece, and a very mixed bag; Williams “Battle of Hubbardton” must rank as excellent for what it is, and disappointing for what it is not. What it is, is a narrative of events leading up to and making up the only battle of the American Revolution fought in Vermont. What it is not is a story to be enjoyed by those who like to read either history or narratives of battles. Retired army Colonel Williams does an outstanding job or researching and reporting timeline and details of a show more little known battle. His footnotes and even his reporting of the ‘fog of war’ and its confusion can give a student of detail an idea of what happened. He has produced a worthwhile piece of scholarship.

The disappointment comes in the lack of a storyline that might relate the inspiring tale of St. Clair’s withdrawal from Ticonderoga and his successful march and the actions that enabled him to rejoin the American forces gathering to defeat Burgoyne in the campaign. Seth Warner and Ebenezer Francis, General Frasier and even Reidesel’s Hessians, are certainly worthy of a better narrative. I can recommend the book only for very serious students, but to them it is important. show less