White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery And Vengeance in Colonial America [Paperback]

Stephen Brumwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

In North America's first major conflict, known today as the French and Indian War, France and England-both in alliance with Native American tribes-fought each other in a series of bloody battles and terrifying raids. No confrontation was more brutal and notorious than the massacre of the British garrison of Fort William Henry--an incident memorably depicted in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. That atrocity stoked calls for revenge, and the tough young Major Robert Rogers and his "Rangers" were ordered north into enemy territory to take it. On the morning of October 4, 1759, they surprised the Abenaki Indian village of St. Francis, slaughtering its sleeping inhabitants without mercy. When the raiders returned to safety, they were hailed as heroes by the colonists, and their leader was immortalized as "the brave Major Rogers." But the Abenakis remembered Rogers differently: To them he was Wobomagonda--"White Devil."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brumwell writes well. His narrative is fluid, well-paced, and sprinkled with intriguing details." -- Canadian Historical Review, March 2006

"Long-overdue scholarly treatment...[Brumwell's] narrative is fluid, well-paced, and sprinkled with intriguing details...Evidence of [his] painstaking research is presented." -- (Book Review Digest, September 2006)

"Provides an impressive insight into an important historical period usually given short shrift in the classroom... An exciting read." -- Kliatt, September 2006

About the Author

Stephen Brumwell has scoured numerous archives to unearth eyewitness accounts that lay bare the remarkable facts behind the legend of this controversial episode from America's violent frontier past. In White Devil, he tells a powerful true story of hardship and courage, savagery and humanity, vengeance and survival.Stephen Brumwell is a well-known expert on the British army in eighteenth-century America, and the author of Redcoats. He lives in the Netherlands.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306814730
• ISBN-13: 978-0306814730
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars War in the Woods, June 1, 2005

By 

Sherman Peabody "Sherm" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America (Hardcover)

This book is a well-written overview of the contributions to warfare by Roger's Rangers and their attack on the Abenaki town of St. Francis in the fall of 1759. Brumwell explores the savage nature of the conflict between the English and the French and Indians, but underscores some of the ironic nature of this conflict: that due to kidnapping and tribal adoption, some St. Francis Indians were likely to have almost as many English ancestors as the frontiersmen they opposed. And that the English frontiersmen could be as "savage" as the Indians. Brumwell does very well dispelling the cliches and stereotypes that many have become accustomed to. He uses records of the St. Francis Indian oral tradition to give a voice to both sides. As an historian and former newspaperman, Dr. Brumwell writes very well and this is important because he creates both a well-researched historical work and a damn fine story. This is, after all, the story of Robert Rogers and is as good a biography of him as John Cuneo's older more traditional biography. As a result, this book can be read by both specialists and general readers alike and will carry the reader away 250 years where they can get lost in the woods.

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NICELY DONE - WELL WRITTEN, August 26, 2005

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America (Hardcover)

I was impressed with this work from the first page. I admit to being one of those who, while aware of this period in our history, actually knew little of it and the impact it had on future events. What little I have read tended to be "soap box" history, that is, work that tried to make either the English or French or Native Americans into either saints or complete animals. This book gives us a rather different slant and pretty well makes the point that "times were hard then." I feel this work goes far in making an attempt to show all sides of the issue, both the good and bad of all the participants. If you are looking for a politically correct, "gosh what animals they were," then this one is probably not your cup of tea. Actually the author has not made any one side look all that nice and civilized. There has never been a war where atrocities were not committed. Further more, there has never been a war where the atrocities were not committed by all sides, to one extent or another. This war was no different. The work is well written and is apprently quite well researched. It is very readable. Recommned this one for any history buff and in particular for those interested in the early history of this country. Recommend you purchase and add this one to your collection.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Are All Savages - By Bill Dixon, July 20, 2005

By 

William Dixon (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America (Hardcover)

"Nous sommes tours Sauvages." So opens Stephen Brumwell's well-written adventure saga of the French & Indian War. I initially read it with some trepidation ,as many recently written books of the period tended to be of the politically correct, revisionist genre. Brumwell pleasantly surprised me with a very readable and balanced story. His inclusion of new and revealing Abenaki and French sources gave me a fresh perspective of Robert Rogers and the Rangers from the adversarial side of that conflict. He presented Roger's ,warts and all, without undue condemnation of his considerable leadership qualities. While not as broad in scope as John Cuneo's earlier biography of Rogers, Brumwell's scholarship and inclusion of new material and fair assessments make this a "keeper". Indeed, Brumwell's gripping and detailed description of the infamous St. Francis Raid and its aftermath was a vivid page-turner. Anyone with an interest in the colonial period in general and the French & Indian War in particular, will enjoy this book immensely.