Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution [Hardcover]

Jim Piecuch (Author), John Beakes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1877853712 | ISBN-13: 978-1877853715 | Edition: First

From the early campaigns of the Revolutionary War in 1776 to the final battles in 1781, Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard of the Maryland Line built a reputation as outstanding military leader. One author calls Howard "one of the finest regimental commanders in American History." Contemporaries, including George Washington and Nathaniel Greene, knew well the impressive fighting qualities of this young officer. Howard participated in the New York campaign of 1776 and the Philadelphia campaign of 1777, led his troops as they fought heroically at the Battle of Camden in SC in 1780, and was awarded a silver medal by Congress for his superb performance at the 1781 Battle of Cowpens. After the war, Howard held several important offices including Governor of Maryland and U.S. Senator. This is the first miltary biography of this distinguished soldier.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Nautical & Aviation Pub Co of Amer; First edition (November 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877853712
• ISBN-13: 978-1877853715
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #676,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Eye-Opening Book on the Revolutionary War, December 28, 2009

By 

David Hillman "davehillman" (Damascus, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution (Hardcover)

"Cool Deliberate Courage" by Jim Piecuch and John Beakes is a tribute to those American patriots who most people have never heard of, but were the backbone of our great nation. For no other reason, that may be the best reason for reading this book.

John Eager Howard, born in Maryland in 1752, seems cut from the same perceptional cloths that we have of famous figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Nathaniel Greene. Born of a landowner family, educated in local schools, and called to serve because of his belief that the British colonies suffered under British rule, Howard rose steadily through the ranks the "hard way". I was struck how he could have "bought" his way to higher commissions, but instead chose to come up through the ranks, learning to be a soldier and earning the respect of his troops, fellow officers and senior commanders. The book reveals Howard to be one of those rare men who understands that leadership, knowledge, responsibility and hard work are the great callings of men in difficult and trying times.

Beakes and Piecuch do an excellent job of chronicling the service of John Eager Howard from organizing troops in New Jersey, to historic battles in the Carolinas. Howard rose from Lieutenant to the rank of Colonel serving with great honor through many battles that, as a novice reader of Revolutionary War battles, I had never heard of. Battles at the Cowpens, the Guilford Courthouse, and Hobkirk's Hill, to name just a few, are presented in vivid detail from both the strategic perspective and the very personal perspective of the officers and troops who fought bravely. Although, I generally think of myself as well read, my one great lesson that I have taken from this book is that I am sorely lacking in the true understanding of these pivotal events that shaped the founding of our country.

The final chapter of the book focuses on the final 36 years of Howard's life that in some ways understates our understanding and appreciation of this time period. Howard served in the Senate and was a fine businessman, family man, and early believer in causes such as the problems with slavery and racism.

The authors, admittedly basing this book on a "small number of documents that have lain largely unexplored for over two hundred years", have offered a riveting and detailed account that goes beyond mere historical accounting to reach for inspirational tones of great men in great times who fought for causes that we have little appreciation for in modern times.

In writing this review, I have two things to admit. First, I am well acquainted with John Beakes and have had many conversations about the book prior to its publishing. With that said, I have enjoyed reading it immensely. Second, while I have read the book once thoroughly, I find myself, going back through to understand the finer details of battles and events. If I do have a criticism of the book, it is that I wish more maps had been included to provide a broader geographical perspective of the battles and travels of Colonel Howard.

My interest in military history has always been in the World War 2 and modern eras of the Korean, Vietnam, and Middle East conflicts -- this book has opened my eyes to new frontiers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Eager Howard comes alive again in a military biography worthy of such a legend., December 28, 2009

By 

William Hughes (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution (Hardcover)

John Eager Howard (1752-1827) was one of Maryland's finest sons. He was a distinguished infantry officer in the Revolutionary War from the summer of 1776, until 1781. Later, he got involved in politics, serving as governor of Maryland, a state senator, and finally, in the U.S. Senate. Yet, Howard's intrepid military exploits haven't been chronicled in a book, until now. Thanks to authors, Jim Piecuch and John Beakes, Howard comes alive again in a military biography worthy of such a legend. Its title is: "Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution." Well written and fully documented, the book is 164 pages long. Focused on Howard's career in the military, the authors, with a wide brush, also retell the story of that war, whose victory by the gallant rebels over the then-mighty British Imperial War Machine helped to establish the Republic. I think Marylanders, especially, are going to love this tome. Why? Because so many of Howard's daring comrades in arms were Marylanders, too, such as: Col. Otho Holland Williams; Gen. Mordecai Gist (a cousin of Howard's); Captain William Smallwood, (whose now defunct namesake fort is found opposite Fort Howard); Captain Daniel Dorsey; Col. Moses Hazen; Brig. Gen. Rezin Beall; Col. Josias Carvil Hall; Major John Cradock (a boyhood friend); and Gen. Samuel Smith. Their roles, as part of the fabled "Maryland Line" in the Revolutionary War, are intertwined and recounted, to some extent, with Howard's riveting personal story.

Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by The Journal of Army History, January 7, 2011

By 

On Point - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in the American Revolution (Hardcover)

"Readers will find this work extremely well written and thoughtful."

--Josh Howard

On Point, The Journal of Army History