The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War of 1777
January 15, 2010
The wilderness of northern New York and New England hosted significant actions of the American Revolution throughout 1777. Logusz ("Galicia Division: The Waffen-SS 14th Grenadier Division, 19431945"), a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, seeks to describe the encounters that formed a turning point in the Revolution. Following an introduction that establishes strategic conditions prior to 1777, he provides chronologically dated chapters recounting actions throughout the year. Logusz has a flair for vivid detail, whether describing the terror Colonists felt during Indian raids on their settlements or the chaos of battles in the unfamiliar wilderness. He mentions that it was the stories of people who experienced the war that motivated him to embark on this project. VERDICT Able storyteller though Logusz is, his book lacks analysis, and the story has been told before. Richard M. Ketchum's "Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War" covers largely the same events in a popular, accessible format and with appropriate analysis. Those seeking details regarding the American Revolution in 1777 may consider Logusz's work but should bear Ketchum's in mind.Matthew J. Wayman, Penn State Lib., Schuylkill
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