The Fort : A Novel of the Revolutionary War

SUMMARY: While the major fighting of the war moves to the south in the summer of 1779, a British force of fewer than a thousand Scottish infantry, backed by three sloops-of-war, sails to the desolate and fog-bound coast of New England. Establishing a garrison and naval base at Penobscot Bay, in the eastern province of Massachusetts that would become Maine, the Scots—the only British troops between Canada and New York—harry rebel privateers and give shelter to American loyalists. In response, Massachusetts sends a fleet of more than forty vessels and some one thousand infantrymen to “captivate, kill or destroy” the foreign invaders. Second in command is Peleg Wadsworth, a veteran of the battles at Lexington and Long Island, once aide to General Washington, and a man who sees clearly what must be done to expel the invaders. But ineptitude and irresolution lead to a mortifying defeat—and have stunning repercussions for two men on opposite sides: an untested eighteen-year-old Scottish lieutenant named John Moore, who will begin an illustrious military career; and a Boston silversmith and patriot named Paul Revere, who will face court-martial for disobedience and cowardice. Grounded firmly in history, inimitably told in Cornwell’s thrilling narrative style, The Fort is the extraordinary novel of this fascinating clash between a superpower and a nation in the making.

While the major fighting of the Revolutionary War moves to the South in the summer of 1779, a British force of fewer than a thousand Scottish infantry, backed by three sloops-of-war, sails to the fogbound coast of New England. In response, Massachusetts sends a fleet of more than forty vessels and some one thousand infantrymen to “captivate, kill or destroy” the foreign invaders. But ineptitude and irresolution lead to a mortifying defeat—and have stunning repercussions for two men on opposite sides: an untested young Scottish lieutenant named John Moore and a Boston silversmith and patriot named Paul Revere.

Inimitably told in Cornwell’s thrilling narrative style, The Fort is the extraordinary novel of this fascinating clash between a superpower and a nation in the making.

Publishers Weekly

In a slight departure from his usual sword and musket epics, Cornwell (Agincourt) delivers a straightforward fictionalized account of a disastrous 1779 American military campaign in today's Maine (then Massachusetts) that's heavy on historical figures and tense battle scenes. After the British establish a fort on the Penobscot River, the Massachusetts patriots mount an expedition to oust the redcoats. Unfortunately, the campaign is poorly planned and ineptly executed, pitting an ill-trained and undisciplined force against experienced British soldiers and the Royal Navy. The commander of the American land force is Gen. Solomon Lovell, a useless and dithering Boston politician, and the American navy is led by Cmdr. Dudley Saltonstall, an obstinate officer who refuses to risk his ships. Then there's Paul Revere, artillery commander and shameful yellow belly. In fact, the only American officer with any spirit for a fight is a former schoolteacher, Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. This is a rousing yarn of clashing personalities, crashing cannons, and lively musket and bayonet work, along with spies, cowardice, and moments of incredible bravery. Cornwell presents a fascinating, accurate, and exciting history lesson enlivened with a generous blast of gun smoke and grapeshot. (Oct.)

After the great success of his book on a single battle, AZINCOURT, Bernard Cornwell has interrupted his bestselling series on the making of England with a novel featuring a single battle, this time less known to us but another great story, full of wonderful discoveries . In the summer of 1779 a British force of fewer than a thousand Scottish infantry backed by three sloops-of-war, was sent to what is now Castine in the State of Maine. The War of Independence was in its third year and the Scots were the only British troops between Canada and New York. Their orders were to make a garrison that could serve as a safe haven and a naval base. The State of Massachusetts was determined to expel the British and sent a fleet of forty vessels and some one thousand infantrymen to ' captivate, kill and destroy ' the invaders. But what followed was a classic example of impetuosity and irresolution on one side, and calm professionalism on the other . And what is so tantalising about the whole battle is the presence of two men, each of whom will become famous through later celebration in poetry : Paul Revere and John (later Sir John) Moore . T he story is told from both sides . The main characters are all real figures : the remarkable Peleg Wadsworth and the pillar of the Massachusetts establishment, Solomon Lovell, and on the British side, the consummate soldier, Francis McLean, and the young lieutenant, John Moore . It is a tale of men at war, the choices they made and the stresses they suffered . It is based on diaries, letters and the transcripts of the enquiries and court-proceedings that followed . The Penobscot Expedition was never an important event but it is an extraordinary story that has fascinated Bernard Cornwell for many years In The Summer Of 1779, As The Major Fighting Of The Revolutionary War Moves To The South, A British Force Consisting Of Fewer Than A Thousand Scottish Infantry And Backed By Three Sloops-of-war Sails To The Fogbound Coast Of New England. Establishing A Garrison And Naval Base At Penobscot Bay, In The Eastern Province Of Massachusetts, The Scots Harry Rebel Privateers And Shelter American Loyalists. In Response, The Americans Send More Than Forty Vessels And Some One Thousand Infantrymen To “captivate, Kill, Or Destroy” The Foreign Invaders. But Ineptitude And Irresolution Lead To A Mortifying Defeat That Will Have Stunning Repercussions For Two Men On Opposite Sides Of The Conflict: An Untested Young Scottish Lieutenant Named John Moore, At The Beginning Of An Illustrious Military Career . . . And A Boston Silversmith And Patriot Named Paul Revere, Who Will Face Court-martial For Disobedience And Cowardice. From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell—one of the greatest yet little-known skirmishes of the Revolution: the Penobscot Expedition, a battle that would reveal the true character of a legendary Revolutionary hero.This new novel takes place during the very early days of the rebellion, or the War of Independence, in 18th century Massachusetts before Washington and before the organization of a colonial army. A small British fleet with a few soldiers on board had sailed in to be met, to their surprise, with an overwhelming strength of local militia. Cornwell tells the story on both sides of the conflict, based largely on real figures, including of course Paul Revere (famous from the much later poem). 'Captivate, kill or destroy the whole force of the enemy' was the order given to the American soldiers. THE FORT is the blistering new novel from worldwide bestseller Bernard Cornwell. Summer 1779. Seven hundred and fifty British soldiers and three small ships of the Royal Navy. Their to build a fort above a harbour to create a base from which to control the New England seaboard. Forty-one American ships and over nine hundred men. Their to expel the British. The battle that followed was a classic example of how the best-laid plans can be disrupted by personality and politics, and of how warfare can bring out both the best and worst in men. It is a timeless tale of men at war, written by a master storyteller. Historisk roman. I 1779, det tredje år i den Amerikanske Uafhængighedskrig, bliver et engelsk infanterikontingent på 750 mand sendt sydpå fra Halifax. Deres opgave er at opbygge et fort til beskyttelse af New Englands kyst og havne. Staten Massachusetts regering er fast besluttet på at tilintetgøre de engelske styrker, men det viser sig, at de totalt har undervurderet deres fjender. Resultatet bliver den værste katastrofe for den amerikanske flåde før Pearl Harbor After the British establish a fort on the Penobscot River, the Massachusetts patriots -- among them General Peleg Wadsworth and Colonel Paul Revere -- mount an expedition to oust the redcoats