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The War for the New World

The Seven Years War as it was fought in the New World has always fascinated students of military history. Its stage-the wilderness of the American north-east, at a time when its vast forests and lakes were sparsely populated by settlers from Britain and France and ever threatened by the fierce indigenous Indian tribes, each with its particular loyalty or enmity-conjures a drama of colour and romance which has found its way into fiction and the cinema. Yet this was a brutal contest-often fought with little mercy-and one which despite its intimacy was fought for the highest of stakes-the dominance of continental America and the premiership of world power. Here is the story of that confrontation-from burning cabins and stockades to massacre. From lightning raids by daring forest rangers to the storming of besieged fortresses and cities. This is the French and Indian War-an account of how the New World became a mostly English speaking one and how France lost its opportunity to be the dominant world power of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. ... Read more

Product Description
This classic volume gives a frank and vivid account of the earliest of the Indian Wars. It was written by Thomas Church, Esq. (1673-1748) based on the accounts and papers of his father, Col. Benjamin Church (1639-1717), who was one of the principals invol ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Early History of a Forgotten Conflict
Church's 'History of Philip's War' is one of the earliest and most popular of all the accounts of this nearly forgotten conflict that virtually decimated New England in 1675.Though it saw the deaths of a huge portion of the English and Indian populations living in New England at the time, this war and its tragic protagonist have nearly been lost down the long dark memory hole of American History.This is a shame because the story of King Philip and his war to protect his people's land and culture is one well worth remembering.

First published in 1716, this book was written by the son of Colonel Benjamin Church, one of the leading participants of the war.It tells the story of the Wamponoag sachem Metacom, or King Philip as he was known to the English, the youngest son of the famous chief Massasoit.Philip attempted to maintain a peaceful co-existence with the English colonists in New England, but soon found that this was nearly impossible as more and more settlers coveted valuable Indian land.Though Indians and whites had lived peacefully side by side for several generations, it was not to last, and the simmering suspicions as well as racial and religious tensions would eventally burst forth into the bloody conflagration that would become known to history as Philip's War.The war would last for over a year and in the end, the native population of New England would be devastated, many towns and settlements burned to the ground, and the face of Indian/white relations changed forever.

Philip's War set the terrible precedent for all future Indian wars in North America, and the horrible face of war of this kind would be experienced again and again over the course of the next 300 years.Church's 'History' is recommended to anyone interested in this fascinating yet tragic period in American history. ... Read more

Product Description
When young Charles Nourse volunteered with his neighborsand friends and enlisted in the Amesbury, Massachusetts, militia in1755 he could not have imagined the sights, terrors, and adventures hewould encounter.

He learned what it meant to become a soldier, with endless days ofmarching, drills and fatigue duty.He saw the seedy side of camp lifeamong soldiers from the different colonies.He witnessed for thefirst time the spectacle of a council of war between Sir WilliamJohnson and his loyal Indian followers.He accompanied the famousRobert Rogers on several hair-raising scouting missions intoFrench-held territory.And, during the bloody Battle of Lake George,he experienced the horror of combat, and the devastation it wrought onthe men and their families.

Charles Nourse also found out how it felt to fall in love.He waslearning the true meaning of War, Hell, and Honor. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (12)

Good overview, but needs maps
Fowler shows that France neglected French Canada to its own detriment. While the French government persistently ignored pleas for any money or resources (Voltaire famously said France should not waste its time on "a few acres of snow"), the British, especially under William Pitt, were manic about winning the North American war. Ironically, the British victory laid the foundations of the American Revolution as the British were bitter that American assistance was negligible even though it was to the benefit of the colonists, while the Americans were resentful of these British demands for men and money.

Fowler very clearly and ably describes the situations, personalities, and geography of the North American theater of the Seven-Years War. But along with this detail, this book very badly needs maps of what Fowler describes. They are essential items for Fowler's emphasis on describing the geography of the conflicts and its impact on the outcome.

Empires at War
Fowler writes well and makes this epic and the players come alive. I never realized the supreme importance of the French and Indian War had to the history of our country. The author is extremely knowledgable but does not burden the reader with unrelated facts- a real art for an historian. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in American history.

Great Read on Early American War
This book is a must read for anyone interested in American history.It give great detail on the men, the battles, the Indians...everything you need to have a good understanding of what the war was about and how it effected everyone involved and lead to the American Revolution.I wish I had read it sooner.

Vital history
As many have noted, the French and Indian War is ignored by historians far too often. In school, if history is still taught amongst all the modern PC nonsense, US history begins with the American Revolution; but any world (or US) history class should begin here. Though the F & I War was surely overshadowed by the Revolutionary War just a few short years later, it was, no doubt, the first world war with its global impact undeniable and indelible.

Fowler does a masterful job retelling the story in lurid fashion with no stone unturned and few dull moments. I do believe he covers the global impact of the war, contrarily to one prior reviewer. If anything, he might spend too much time on that side at the onset and in the seemingly endless chapters 11 & 12, since the book is about "the struggle for North America" after all.

My only criticisms, and they're such small ones that I still gave the book the maximum stars, is that it could truly be 50-100 pages shorter. I know historians, of which I am one, can be wordy and drone on about an incident over 25-35 pages that could be relayed in 10-15, and Fowler does that a few times, especially at the end. The book could be just as informative and magnificent in 220 pages, frankly. I mused this a few times.

There are also perhaps a few too many high level words, which I don't believe he uses to show off, but at the same time, makes this book above the level of any high school student, and here in 2009, probably too esoteric for most collegians. That's unfortunate yet true.

But all in all, despite some PC/self-loathing whining about "the natives" in the closing pages, a wonderful and necessary read.

God it's great to read a well written book!
Although not as detailed as CRUCIBLE OF WAR, it covered the world wide conflict, bringing the players to life, providing an understanding of the strategies, and a continuity to the history.I would rank this as one of the best overviews I've ever read.I only wish I'd gotten the hard-copy since the maps and illustrations suffer in the paperback version. ... Read more

Product Description
The Father of His Country was not always that stellar commander and stern first president who gazes serenely from the famous portraits we have of him.George Washington was once, in fact, a proud, ambitious, and sometimes foolhardy young man whose brashness triggered a major war between the superpowers of his time.

Using Washington's diaries as a source, Robert McClung tells the story of George's uneven beginning steps into greatness.With French and British facing off for control of North America, the 21-year-old Virginian took on military responsibilities far beyond his ability.Sent to warn the French out of the Ohio Valley, he wound up ambushing them in peacetime, being nearly wiped out in return, and being branded as an "assassin."He was with Braddock when that British general's force was nearly annihilated; later, he struggled to maintain discipline over his militia, while he argued with his superiors to the point of insubordination both about battle tactics and the preferments of rank.When the British defeated the French at Fort Duquesne, Washington resigned and retired to a gentleman's life at Mt. Vernon.

George Washington always had courage and great ambition.What he learned as a young man was how to deal with the Indian allies; fight in the woods; keep control of troops; provision his men; and - most of all - curb his fiery temper.These were the things that would pave his way to greatness seventeen years later when he was called to lead the Continental Army into battle against their mother country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book on time period for the age group
A good book for those in grades 6 and up concerning George Washington's involvement in the French and Indian War. Many adults, let alone children, do not know why George Washington was given consideration to be commander in chief of the armed forces in the American Revolutionary War.This book gives us that information.
The book starts with Washington's perilous trip to warn the French to leave the Ohio Valley in 1753, takes us through Washington's defeat at Fort Necessity and Braddock's disaster, and ends with Washington's resignation in 1758 after the French abandoned Fort Duquesne (pronounced Dew-cane), which is at the site of present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The book's 114 pages (plus a bibliography and index) is not the most exciting writing I have ever read, but it is not boring either. There is enough detail given to make the book interesting, but not enough to make it tedious for the casual reader.The only fault I would give the book is that the author is quick to blame Washington for not only the mistakes he made, but also for events that Washington had little control over.However, if the author took the space to explain every point of view, the book would have been, by necessity, much longer.
For those wanting a book with not too much detail concerning Washington's involvement in the French and Indian War, this would be a good book to read.And for the age group it was written for (roughly junior high age students I believe), it is a very good choice.The book is long enough to include all the important events without being so long so as to bore those who have only a casual interest in the subject.For those who have little or no knowledge of George Washington's involvement in the French and Indian War (and, in fact, his part in STARTING the war), the book would be especially appropriate, even for adults.
As a book in general, I have given the book a 3 star rating.However, if I were to judge the book as a book written for ages 11 and up concerning George Washington involvement in the French and Indian War, I would rate it higher.

A Wonderful Book On George Washington
This book was well done for readers of any age,and details the part of George Washington's life that many will probably be unaware of.A good read. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1786, George Washington wrote a rare autobiographical account of his service in the French and Indian War. In these eleven pages, Washington relates the compelling narrative of his experiences during the war, including a striking account of the friendly-fire incident at Fort Ligonier in 1758 that Iinvolved the life of GW in as much jeopardy as it had ever been before or sinceI. George Washington Remembers presents for the first time in print an extraordinary autobiographical account of George Washington's service in the French and Indian War. The eleven-page letter offers a very personal glimpse of a self-reflective leader seldom seen in Washington's other writings. The reproduction is accompanied by an annotated transcription of the piece and original essays that place the work in the context of the French and Indian War and Washington's life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The hand of Providence acting in our time
This richly illustrated and thoroughly documented book preserves and perpetuates George Washington's ONLY autobiographical account:Here he recalls the world war that he started, the war that transformed North America, and created the United States and Canada."Big picture" historians will delight in the accompanying essays by Professors Anderson, Higginbotham, and Zagarri.Those concerned with historical specificities and historic sites will applaud the thoroughness of annotators Martin West and Burton Kummerow.All of us wanting to SEE the 18th century will appreciate the collection of portraits and maps assembled here.In this volume, the marble Washington morphs back into the real person he once was: a middle-aged man at yet another decisive turning point in his career (the first-ever Presidency lay just ahead) thinking back to his resume-ruining role in the series of disasters launching the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War).What did it all mean?How had he ended up at THIS juncture?In wrestling with this memoir, he comes to understand that he had been preserved by Providence for the enormous challenge ahead.We should all be thankful that he was; and thankful for the guiding hand of Providence that preserved the manuscript and makes accessible this compelling volume.

An excellent book of high quality
This is an excellent book of high quality which merits the attention of sudents of both the French and Indian War and George Washington.The many portrait images are clear and sharp. The images of the 11 manuscript pages are not easy to read, but to a large extent this appears to be due to the condition of the document, which is over 200 years old. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to see the actual handwriting of Washington in one of his few autobiographical efforts. The actual content of the manuscript appears in highly readable transcript immediately following the images of the manuscript pages. A preliminary "Note to the Reader" suggests reading the transcript first before attempting to read Washington's handwriting. Following the transcript are 77 annotations by Martin West, the highly regarded director of Fort Ligonier and author of numerous historical articles on the French and Indian War.In some respects, these scholarly, yet concise annotations are the most interesting aspect of this book.The book also contains an excellent essay on "Young Washington" by Don Higgenbotham of the University of North Carolina and an essay, "Biography and Autobiography" by Rosemarie Zagarri of George Mason University, placing Washington's autobiographical manuscript remarks in the context of Lt. Col. David Humphreys' intended biography of Washington. The book concludes with an interesting essay by Professor Fred Anderson of the University of Colorado, author of "Crucible of War", probably the definitive book on the French and Indian War.Two appendices follow. The first is a fascinating explanation of the conservation of the manuscript by the conservator, Christine Smith. The second appendix,by Burton Kummerow, will be of considerable benefit to those interested in historical tourism. It is a guide to the historic French and Indian War sites mentioned in Washington's manuscript.A previous reviewer remarked negatively on the book's omission of the defeat of troops under Major James Grant of the Forbes Expedition in 1758. This is explained by the fact that Washington had no direct knowledge of this engaggement. At the time of Grant's Defeat, Washington was more than 100 miles away in Raystown (Bedford, PA). Washington's only knowledge of the event was based on hearsay. One of the principal values of the Washington manuscript is that it is a primary source.Neither it nor the book purports to be an exhaustive accounting of all the events of the French and Indian War, so criticism based on the omission of one's personal favorite event seems unfair.Those who purchase this book will be glad they did. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive overview of the French and Indian War, including biographies and full or excerpted memoirs, speeches, and other source documents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Picture Book
In the intro, the author describes his enthusiasm for antique maps.The book is nothing more than an exhibit of his collection.His descriptions of events in the French & Indian Wars are cursory at best, with references to his maps on nearly every page.His 118 illustrations, nearly all maps, consume over half of the pages.A very disappointing purchase.Believe me, you won't learn a lot from this book!

A good beginning summary of the FIW...
This book has a very good summary of the French and Indian War. Almost every page is filled with etchings, drawings, or maps. The maps are mostly historical rather than computer generated maps, and it was a quick read, primarily because without the pictures it is only about 100 pages of text.
The text goes into some of the main movements of the war as well as the actual events, and it is written in a lively fashion. A good pickup.

Well written, many visual aids
This is a well written, concise history of the French and Indian War.It begins with George Washington's mission (1753-1754) to tell the French to get out of the territory, which is important as that is really what starts events in motion that leads to the war.The book covers the rest of the war as well. It can be read in an hour or two.It also contains many wonderful "prints, drawings, maps and portraits." For a concise history of the war, this is an excellent book.
For those interested in a more indepth history, Wilderness Empire by Eckert (for an exciting historical narrative type of writing), Montcalm and Wolfe by Parkman, or Crucible of War by Anderson would be better choices.However, these three books are very, very long indepth hitories.
If one is looking for a well-written, concise history of the War with a multitude of visual aids, then this is THE book.A good book also for those already having a knowledge of the period, who wish to study maps concerning the war. A good book for students also, who are looking for a basic understanding of the war, its causes, and its results.
I rated this book a 3 as a book in general, but if judged as a "concise history of the war with lots of visual aids," it would be a 5.Homeschoolers rejoice!

The Condensed History of The French and Indian War
Schwartz's book "The French and Indian War" is a good, general book about what in Europe was called the Seven Years War.It provides a good foundation of the time-line of engagements, major events of the conflict, and includes numerous historical maps from the period.Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I would of liked to have had a little more detail and depth on the actions of the combats.It was an easy read (about 1 -2 hours) and easily explains the major military events of this first major warfare between European powers (and colonist) that occurred on the continent that would become the United States of America. ... Read more

Product Description
An account of the savage conflict which rage on and off for seventy years as the French and the British struggled to control the continent of North America. ... Read more

Product Description
Francis Parkman's history Montcalm and Wolfe, originally published in two volumes is, possibly, the finest history book to come out of America and is the definitive account of the Seven Years War in the New World. It sets the conflict in an historical context and includes both biographies of its principal characters and much about its political consequences. This book, Musket and Tomahawk, has been adapted from Parkman's more expansive work by the Leonaur Editors, especially for those students of military history-both serious and casual-who are primarily concerned with the war itself.This was a war fought under blazing suns and driving snows. It was fought in the deep forests, on lakes and rivers and on the slopes of mountains. It was a war of ambuscade, sieges, massacres and the storming of palisades and burning blockhouses. It brought collisions in full battle between the regular troops of Britain and France, but it also embraced militias drawn from the settlers of both sides including famous backwoodsmen and scouts who became the Rangers. Not least of those embroiled were the deadly indigenous people of the land-the Indian tribes of the Eastern Woodlands-who fought according to their individual loyalties to each side and who brought a colour and savagery which was unique to this frontier conflict.Musket and Tomahawk is a riveting story of a war that has always fascinated students of military history because of its very diversity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Ethnocentric and Ill-informed
I'm only about halfway through this book but I've gotten enough of a gist of Parkman's style to understand what he's about. First I'll say that I bought the book as a student of Native American history, hoping to get an informed perspective on theNative American culture of warfare and their tactics, especially amongst the Ohio Indians, who are my primary focus. What I got was the 19th century version Tonto and the Lone Ranger. For example, in the opening chapters of the book Parkman keeps referring to an Indian ally of Washington known as "Half-King," who plays a somewhat pivotal role in Washington's first campaign against Fort Duquesne and the Battle of Fort Necessity. However, anyone who knows jack about the Covenant Chain or Indian Affairs of this period knows that "Half-King" isn't a name it's a title, and it's a title bestowed on more than one individual. During this time period the Ohio Valley Indians were beginning to assert themselves within the Covenant Chain and the Iroquois, in order to stave off a revolt, anointed some important Ohio Valley Indians as "Half-Kings" to represent them in the Council at Onondaga (Though still without a vote). Therefor "Half-King" could just have been another village leader with anerroneous English name now lost in the annals of history, or could have been a serious military/political player in the region. Not only does Parkman not explore Indian culture or politics appropriately, but he doesn't seem to be aware of them, hence his non-recognition of the significance of Half-King.

In his narrative Indians play the Tonto to the Europeans Lone Ranger. Their perspective is not allowed to intrude on the narrative even though, on the French side, they were responsible for the larger portion of French victories. The book has some interesting nuggets about white colonial figures at the time, however this book is more useful as historiography than as history. Parkman was writing at a time when the prevailing opinion about American Indians was that in order for their race to be preserved, they'd have to be rid of their "Indianness" or to be completed acculturated into European society. Parkman, writing at this time, largely removes from the Indians in history any characteristics they had that didn't fit with perspectives of the time period; the "noble savage" or the "Drunken Indian."

Pros: Not boring even if its bad history. Interesting biographies on many American founders such as Washington and Franklin. Good example of 19th century perspectives on Indians.

Cons: One sided White ethnocentric history, whose popularity and staying power as literature has pretty much wrecked the public education systems study of American Indian history.

Abridged "Moncalm and Wolfe"
A less weighty version of "Montcalm and Wolfe" with focus on the military campaigns, this
is one of my favorite books on the subject. A true reader of the French and Indian
Wars must have some Parkman in the library!

OUTSTANDING!
This book is a tremendous read for those interested in the reality of warfare faced by everyone touched by the conflict known as the French and Indian War.As an amateur historian on the subject, I found the descriptions of battles to be more lively and in depth than most other accounts I have read on the conflict to this point.Far from being racist, Parkman is skilled at describing the attitudes and perspectives of the inhabitants at the time, and does an excellent job of "painting the picture" of the horror of colonial warfare faced by soldiers and local frontiersmen alike.This was a "savage" war, and Parkman doesn't hide that fact behind modern historical political correctness.I especially appreciated the attention given to the French side of the conflict.You can't help but to feel for those individuals who were abandoned by their mother country, and yet were asked to win a war in which they had almost no chance of success.You can even make comparisons of the French situation in Canada to that of the Americans facing the Japanese in the Philippines during WWII.Both armys waiting for ships that would never come. This book is ideal for those individuals with a better than basic understanding of the war, in that it dives right into the conflict from a military perspective.

A GREAT AMERICAN HISTORIAN
Parkman was a great American historical writer and researcher. This classic work should be read and appreciated in context with the date and time that it was written.

Parkman the bigoted novelist
"Parkman was a liar.He fabricated documents, misquoted others, pretended to use his great collection of sources when he really relied almost entirely on a small set of nastily biased secondary works, and did it in order to support an ideology of divisiveness and hate based on racism, bigotry, misogyny, authoritarianism, chauvinism and upper class arrogance."
Empire of Fortune, by Francis Jennings
... Read more

Product Description

In the summer of 1754, deep in the wilderness of western Pennsylvania, a very young George Washington suffered his first military defeat, and a centuries-old feud between Great Britain and France was rekindled. The war that followed would be fought across virgin territories, from Nova Scotia to the forks of the Ohio River, and it would ultimately decide the fate of the entire North American continent—not just for Great Britain and France but also for the Spanish and Native American populations.

Customer Reviews (28)

The French and Indian War is a short history of the conflict that is well done
The French and Indian War (1756-1763) was, according to historian Samuel Elliot Morrison, the first world war. Global conflict raged between the principle opponents France and Great Britain. The seventeenth century saw almost constant conflict in Europe as monarchsfought over such major issues as trade, colonial empires and rulership over the various countries.
Borneman, the popular author of "1812" is a lawyer and historian. He focuses his lens on the actions in the conflict in North America and the Caribbean.
The results of the French and Indian War were:
1. Great Britain conquered Canada driving the French from North America.
2. English victories from North America to the Caribbean to India helped put into place the vast British Empire. The author of that achievement was Prime Minister William Pitt and the British navy and armed forces.
3 Native Americans lost their control of the continent to the British.
4. The war sowed the seeds of the American Revolution by:
a. Grievous taxes were waged on the Americans to pay for the massive costs of William Pitt's global war.
b.Americans were forbidden settlement west of the Appalachian mountains hindering western expansion.
c. Americans did not like having to lodge British troops in their homes.
d. Americans delplored the Intolerable Acts imposed on them by the faraway British Parliament.

Borneman is good at explaining the strategy and tactics employed in the major battles of Louisburg, Ticonderoga,
Oswego, Ft. William Henry, Quebec and other battles. Eighteenth century warfare relied on siege tactics, frontal assaults and brutal hand to hand fighting.His description of Braddock's Defeat and the emergence of George Washington as a leader is well done.
We meet many fascinating military men in the course of these pages: General Jeffrey Amherst whose strategy helped win the war: the British General James Wolfe and his French counterpart Montcalm who both died on the Plain of Abraham during theQuebec battle; Robert Rogers of the famed Rogers' Rangers, Pontiac the Ottowa chief who assailed Fort Detroit, the Howe brothers, Thomas Gage, Benedict Arnold and several others.
The most detailed and best book on the French and Indian war remains Dr. Fred Anderson's "Crucible of War."
However the Borneman book is good for someone who wants to have a general knowledge of the French and Indian War and its importance in American and European history. The book includes good maps of the battles and of North America during the bloody war.

Unveiling the French & Indian War
Great job of concisely covering all aspects of the F&I War.He covers international diplomacy, the 6-Nations (Iroquois) Indian factor and the major combatants.Campaigns & Battles are covered as well as their background & effects of outcome.Good maps of East coast & major battles, etc.He covers a couple things that Fred Anderson glosses over in his short book "The War That Made America."But that is always a factor in books that aren't intended to be exhaustive or ultra-scholarly.Definitely 5-Stars!

Price???
About half-way through book.... Very nice.

But, am I the only person that feels that the Kindle version should be cheaper than the paperback?

What the heck, greedy publishers?

Good Book
Well written, easy to read book about the French and Indian War. Fills in details leading up to the war and analyzes how decisions and events that took place at that time helped form the necessary conditions for the American Revolution.The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America (P.S.)

Great summary of the French and Indian war
Walter Borneman providesa accurate and succinct summary of the French and Indian War (Seven Years War) and its effect on the American colonies.The book tracks the campaigns and political tidings in North America during the war and shows the overwhelming force that England brought to bear against the French colonies in Canada.The book primarily covers the American parts of the war but does digress to cover the Caribbean, Manila and India as it relates to the global political strategy of William Pitt.Borneman takes the time to introduce the key characters and provides enough of the background material to understand its relevance.This book summarizes many of the key books on the French and Indian War.If you are looking for a detailed account this is not the place to start but if you are looking for a summary you can't go wrong.In addition to the summary it should be noted that this book also provides some of the better maps I have seen related to the war and really shows troop movements and layouts of forts well.The one reason I have to deduct a star is that the treatment of Indians in the book is fairly week.For all his time on diplomacy there is almost no attention to the Indian diplomacy that occurred nor much on the tactics that the famous "American rangers" adopted after working with the Indians.Overall though a great addition to the literature on the French and Indian war and a great summary book to start with. ... Read more

Product Description
This memoir is unique. It is not only a first-person account of the French and Indian War, a scarce commodity, but it is also the work of a common soldier, rarer still. Charles Bonin's story reads as if the reader were sharing wine with the old veteran in ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable, good effort from editor, poor printing quality
As stated in the title, this book is about a French and Indian War Soldier.In this case it is a French soldier, which is different in that one usually doesn't get an account of military actions unless it is from an officer, nor does one usually get to hear things from the French side; usually we only can gather information from those presenting accounts from the British point of view.
The memoir covers the years 1751 through 1761.The soldier in question was with the French at George Washington's defeat at Fort Necessity, and at Braddock's defeat--along with other military action.The soldier, Jolicoeur Charles Bonin, gives us many tales of military actions and also a chapter on his views of Indian lives and customs.All of this is very interesting.There is also a bibliography of the sources used by the editor for the memoirs and for his notes.There is also an index which is always useful to those using the book for reference.
As stated by the editor of this edition of the book (published by Heritage), this account was first published by Abee Casgrain, then by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, and finally by the present editor, Andrew Gallup.The good thing about this is that the present editor of this edition uses all the explanatory notes from all editions to explain what Bonin is talking about when things get confusing.Also, since Bonin didn't write his memoirs until about 50 years after the fact, he makes a lot of mistakes.For instance, he places Braddock's defeat in 1756, when in fact it was in 1755.However, Gallup in his notes straightens things out when errors such as this occur.
While most of history of the time has been covered by others, it is still enjoyable to read an account from the French point of view and from a common soldier.Every once in a while, however, Bonin sheds some light on a dark situation.For example, during the Battle of Braddock's Defeat, I have read many authors trying to figure out whether the French and Indians "flanked" the British on an early command or whether this happened later at the command of another, or whether the Indians just took it upon themselves.Bonin writes that it was the French plan to flank the British right from the beginning (of course, none of this makes any sense if one doesn't have a knowledge of Braddock's Defeat in 1755).Anyway, it is information like this that make the book interesting.
However, since Bonin writes nearly 50 years after he took part in all this action, and he makes so many mistakes, it also makes one wonder how much he has just plain forgotten and is wrong about.But, in any case, the memoirs are enjoyable and informative to read.
The production of the book, however, is poor.I have read many books published by Heritage Books, Inc. before and they were good quality publications, but his one is just bad.It looks like they simply took the editor's original typed pages, copied them and shrunk them down to size to fit in the book.The type is bad.If one remembers back when typewriters used to have "ribbons," and one remembers what it looked liked when someone kept typing when the ribbon was going bad, then you can visualize what the type looks like in this book.Besides that, the text isn't even "justified."That is, the right margin of the text is not even-the lines of test end at various points just like when one types a letter on an old typewriter.This raggedy appearance along with the poor type doesn't make this a pretty looking book. This books selling price puts it in the hardback price range, but it is only a softback book, and with bad type besides.
This is an entertaining and enjoyable book to read, and the editor of the book did a good job on his part, but the book costs too much for a softback book with the quality of the printing this one exhibits.I rated this book low only because of the price and the poor quality of the book-makers work.Note, however, that this is not a condemnation of Heritage books in general, as every other book I have seen of theirs is of good quality.I just wonder what happened to this one.And in the end, if Heritage hadn't published it again, then we couldn't read it to begin with, so I guess one just as to take the good with the bad. ... Read more

Product Description
The Black Watch-the 42nd Foot-are the senior highland regiment in the British Army. In 1757 it was engaged in the Seven Years War as it was fought in North America in the conflict that we term 'The French and Indian War'. They would face one of their most severe trials in combat as the British moved to dislodge the French Army from its strongly held and vital strategic stronghold at Fort Ticonderoga-or Carillon as it was known to the French. This already formidable defensive position was made even more daunting by a wide breastwork of fallen trees, their branches hewn into a tangle of deadly spears. The Black Watch threw themselves upon it with their famous broadswords in an attack that would go down in history and regimental legend. This book covers the build up to the fateful assault and the eventual fall of the fort and the campaigns beyond. Extensive biographical sketches and muster rolls of the companies of the regiment make it an essential tool for both those interested in the period and genealogists alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Contrary to what many people believe, America did not fight her first World War in the trenches of Western Europe in 1917-1918. The first world war in which America was involved was fought on our native soil, with an impact on our nation's history at lieast as significant as that of the 1917-1918 war. It determined once and for all which power would dominate in North America, England or France. This popular, accessible, short history has been completely rewritten for this second edition and new illustrations have been added. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent Book
I believe that this book was well written and brought the story of the French & Indian War to life.A great book for all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Just a compilation of worthless stories
This very short (64 pages, only 50 of which have direct info) book on the French and Indian War does not cover the war in detail, but merely has a collection of historical letters and reports on various topics like: women, disease, a skirmish, etc.... Even for an introduction, I think this is a poor choice.

Disappointing
I bought this book to give to my kid for information on the French and Indian War.This was a mistake.The book tells almost nothing about the history of the War.It is just some stuff that goes on during the war, but it is not what the title suggests.

Not worth the money. Buy something else.
This is a small book (approximately 5"x7") of only about 50 pages consisting mainly of excerpts from journals and letters written during the French and Indian War period (1754-1763 or so). These are all interesting readings, but all of these excerpts have been printed numerous times elsewhere.While a person who has never read anything about the French and Indian War may gain some insight from this book, I can't imagine anyone who has read anything about this period gaining any new knowledge from this book.There just isn't enough information here, nor is there anything new that hasn't been told already.For comparison, "Montcalm and Wolfe" by Francis Parkman offers more information about the French and Indian War in its appendixes than "The French and Indian War" offers in the entire book.And "Montcalm and Wolfe" doesn't cost a great deal more.I would buy "Wilderness Empire" by Eckert, "Crucible of War" by Anderson or "Montcalm and Wolfe" instead.Or, if one is looking for a shorter, concise history of the war, one of the many good books available is "The French and Indian War 1754-1763: The Imperial Struggle for North America," by Seymour Schwartz, which is available for about 3 times the cost of this book but offers many, many times the information (it also has many maps and pictures, is 7"x10" in physical size and has nearly 4 times the number of pages).Any of these four books--and many others--will be money better spent.In fact, most encyclopedia articles (which are usually rather short) will offer a better rendering of the history of the war than this book will, as this book doesn't offer even a reasonable history of the war or its causes; it is more like an odd collection of lengthier-than-normal footnotes.If the title of the book were "Various writings concerning the French and Indian War," then I could somewhat understand the contents, but since the title is "The French and Indian War," the book is a complete failure.In reading the table of contents, one might be impressed, but this is a case of "not judging the book by the table of contents."The table of contents greatly exaggerates the amount of information contained therein.I'm really not sure why this book was written: it presents nothing new; there is no different approach to the history of the time; no great writing; no new ideas or insights; nothing that can't be found elsewhere, no real history of the war's causes and progress-completely disappointing.I have never in my life had a book on the French and Indian War that offered less for the money--there is just not enough information in this book to justify its cost.This is simply a book of several short episodes of things that happened during the French and Indian War.I gave this book 1 star only because I couldn't give it "0".

Primary Source Documents Tell the Story
This short collection of documents from different participants in the war helps to explain what the confict was all about, from many perspectives: the British, French, Colonists, and the Native Americans. Great for students! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic History Book For Homeschool
I found this Large Print History Book written by Gertrude and John Southworth to be an excellent Home Shool presentation of the early years of the original Thirteen American Colonies. The 501 page fully illustrated hardbound book is divided into Nine Units enabling the Homeschool Teacher to present the subject in balanced segments covering the period of time of the New World Before the Whitemen to the struglle of Wars and community in America among the growing numbers of settlers, and Native American Indians; Settlers, not as diverse as we find America today but people from many parts of the world; Dutch, French, Spanish and Portuguese Colonies. Aided by many tables, Indexes and Maps including a Pronouncing Glossary this History becomes a great choice for Home School Teachers from an old source that has not suffered the editing of politics and socialism. Harrison Whyte, Editor Bookmanamerica ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Eckert Instead
This book is a short novel in the French and Indian War. I did not find it particularly interesting. I much prefer Eckert's works. ... Read more

Product Description
2 volumes. In 1897, C. Alice Baker published True Stories of New England Captives Carried to Canada During the Old French and Indian Wars, which Heritage Books reprinted several years ago, but which is now out of print. Following the initial publication of that work, Ms. Baker and Emma Lewis Coleman continued to research this topic, scouring the libraries and archives of New England and Canada for information. Following the death of Ms. Baker, Ms. Coleman prepared the present volumes using all the data they had accumulated over several decades. These volumes name all the captives they discovered and provide biographical data on each, but the sketches on those people who had been covered in the earlier volume are abbreviated in comparison to those who had not been covered in the first compilation. This work provides an extensive picture of the Indian attacks on New England communities over about an eighty-year period, and in terms of identifying their captives, it is probably the most definitive work ever published. Sources are cited in footnotes and an appendix identifies various people and places mentioned in the text. There is a complete name index. ... Read more