Braddock at the Monongahela [Paperback]

Paul E. Kopperman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

A rare combination of documented fact and good storytelling, Ill-Starred General is the biography of a much maligned man from one of history's most vital eras. The career of Edward Braddock began during the court intrigues of Queen Anne and George I, gained momentum in continental military campaigns in the early 1750s, and ended abruptly in the rout of his American army near present-day Pittsburgh in 1755. This highly acclaimed biography reveals the man-and the politics-behind his defeat, one of the major setbacks to British imperial power in the American colonies.

On July 9, 1755, an army of British and American soldiers commanded by Major General Edward Braddock marched toward a major western outpost held by the French, confident of an easy victory. Suddenly, they were attacked by a much smaller force of French and Indian fighters-Braddock's army was destroyed, its commander fatally wounded, and supplies and secret papers were lost to the enemy. Paul E. Kopperman has used all of the known eyewitness reports of Braddock's defeat-some never before printed-to present an exciting critical account of this definitive battle in the French and Indian War. Braddock at the Monongahela is a synthesis of in-depth analysis of primary source materials, thoughtful evaluation of previous studies on the subject, and Kopperman's own persuasive interpretation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A careful examination. . . . [Kopperman] has written, although he disclaims that distinction, the definitive narrative of the battle. . . . The book is a masterful demonstration of the techniques of critical analysis."-American Historical Review

"Kopperman has reconstructed the battle in vivid detail, using British, American and French sources. It is a fine study that will satisfy the military buffs; but for the student of history, the real meat lies in the appendices. Here Kopperman shows how the Braddock historiography has evolved. . . . A fascinating picture and a lesson in the writing of history."-Publishers Weekly

"[Kopperman] relies heavily on firsthand accounts, and his extensive research is evident. . . . This major contribution to the literature on the period is highly recommended."-Library Journal

"Although there have been several able studies of the incident, Kopperman's surpasses all others in thoroughness and critical acumen."- Choice

About the Author

Paul E. Kopperman, professor of history at Oregon State University, is the author of Sir Robert Heath, 1575-1649: Window on an Age, as well as numerous articles on British, colonial American, and military history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Pittsburgh Pr (Txt) (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822958198
• ISBN-13: 978-0822958192
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly Research Disproves the Myths, July 31, 2002

By 

K. Good (Monroeville, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Braddock at the Monongahela (Hardcover)

Review update: Since this book is now in print again, I recently purchased it and just finished re-reading it. I was again enormously impressed with what an excellent work it is. Professor Kopperman presents nothing less than the definitive work on this topic, clearly the result of thorough research and IMO a near flawless analysis of difficult (and often contradictory) source materal.

Even having now passed the 250th anniversary of the Battle of the Monongehela, there is still a disturbing amount of junk-history floating around about the battle and Edward Braddock. It seems that not enough people have consulted this book and learned their subject better before they expound on it.

Buy this book now while you can. Even if your interest in the topic is only moderate, the book may cause you to reflect on how strangely garbled commonly accepted history may be, when contrasted with carefully researched facts.

Original review:

I read this book some time ago and found it to be a tremendously helpful work in revealing a truer understanding of a hugely misunderstood and misrepresented historical figure and the events surrounding his tragic battle. As one who grew up in the region where the events happened, and having done some independant research and writing on the topic, I can attest that most of the conventional wisdom about Edward Braddock and the Battle of the Monongahela is so distorted that almost no one relates the true facts anymore (if they ever did).

Kopperman dug deeply into source documents, with particular focus on contemporaneous accounts of those who were present. The author states that he was not out to necessarily rehabilitate Braddock's reputation, nor to vilify it either, but to look through the wall of legend and onto what really occurred with Braddock's expedition to Fort DuQuesne and why. By examining the best surviving evidence and contemporary documentation, including an examination of the motives behind who wrote what, a better and objective understanding can be gained.

If you must read just one book on this topic, this would be the one to get.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Braddock on the Monogahela reprinted at last!, October 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Braddock at the Monongahela (Hardcover)

Not before time Paul Kopperman's book `Braddock on the Monongahela' has been reprinted. Published as far back as 1977 and yet it still remains the most perspicacious analysis of the battle. The first 130 pages provide a stylish narrative and commentary that would be hard to exceed. The remaining 200 pages commence with an excellent bibliographic essay that reviews the historiography of the Braddock Defeat and is a model of its kind. This is followed by an assessment of the reliability of the account of Robert Orme, who was an Aide de Camp to General Braddock.

Orme provides one of the most complete accounts of the expedition and he was at the forefront of the contemporary defence of Braddock's reputation. Most secondary accounts rely very heavily on Orme's testimony although the distinguished historian Stanley M Pargellis cast doubts on Orme's motives and reliability in the decades between the wars. Kopperman weighs all this in the balance and comes to his own judgement which he tests against other eyewitness statements and recounts his analysis with a precision which is a joy to read.

The final slice of the book comprises reprints of eyewitness accounts from both British and French sources (some seen for the first time herein) together with Kopperman's assessment of their relative merits. Much of this documentation is not easy to access so in reprinting those items that relate to the battle the author allows to the reader the opportunity to indulge in historical interpretation on his/her own account.

This is a first rate piece of historical writing and justly deserves to be reprinted. The prose is stylish, the analysis clear and original. It is the one book on Braddock's Defeat that anyone with an interest cannot afford to be without. Buy this book now!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Braddock disaster: an excellent account and source book, February 13, 2006

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Braddock at the Monongahela (Paperback)

This is a fascinating book and remains one of the best in presenting original source material regarding Braddock's expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1755. Kopperman begins by reconstructing the battle scene as completely as possible based on contemporary accounts; he then analyzes these accounts attempting to find holes in them. The book becomes an important exercise in trying to determine historical truth, RASHOMON-style: how accurate are the so-called eyewitnesses, and what prejudices and degrees of self-interest, not to mention the "tricks" of empirical evidence, are at play in the making of clear judgments are examined by Kopperman.

An historian willing to give Braddock his due, he is somewhat dismissive of the harshest criticisms leveled against him. Rather than poor generalship, Kopperman places greater fault for the disaster at the feet of the soldiers themselves, especially their failure to follow orders. He believes if the men had massed and conducted a bayonet charge, they could (he's careful here, and refuses to say would) have routed the enemy. Some have accused Braddock of being a martinet, which Kopperman discounts. Other charges against the General include not heeding advice from subordinates, showing contempt for the Indians and Americans taking part in the expedition, and being an ineffectual leader of men and poor military tactician - charges that Kopperman carefully examines but finds wanting (sometimes he seems TOO willing to give Braddock the benefit of the doubt).

In the second half of the book he records both British and French accounts of the battle and critiques each one. Again he tries to determine the accuracy of these accounts and to call attention to what he considers mere conjecture or clear errors. It's good having these reports, some of them never before printed, where the reader can evaluate for herself their importance as well as seeing Kopperman's viewpoints. Also included are maps drawn by eyewitnesses at the battle, and a map of the battle site today. The book is an excellent one, a must-read account of the Braddock disaster in western Pennsylvania.