Customer Reviews

White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

At last, a book written about Robert Rogers without the usual embellishment or hero-worship.
Stephen Brumwell's "White Devil" tells the truth about Robert Rogers - his victories and defeats, his triumphs and tragedies, his accomplishments and failures - and does it all from a scholarly, un-biased viewpoint.
I find it extremely refreshing that Brumwell impartially depicts the French, Canadians and their Indian allies as more than worth adversaries of Rogers and his Rangers. His unprejudicial accounts give the French forces the credit that is long overdue.
Of all the books written about Robert Roggers and his Rangers, I would unhesitatingly recommend "White Devil" as the best of all.
It deserves the rating of 5 stars.

An excellent telling of not only Rogers St. Frances raid, but of the events around it.

As always the fog of war is the most interesting part of the story. Amherst got much credit for taking Ticondaroga after the first attack failed, but in fact the French had withdrawn the bulk of their forces. Thus the place names in my area of Massachusetts.

The book relies on both written records and oral tradition of Indians to tell the tale. It also does an excellent job of giving the side of the Indians without whitewashing them. Men are much more interesting when you treat them as men, not as absolute saints or sinners.

Very solid book, worth your money.

Upon further consideration, I am trying to kick this up to a 4 star rating. The reason for my change of heart is the thorough research and cross referencing the author has done to come to a more balanced reporting of important incidents. For example if Rogers says he killed 100 blazing Abenaki warriors while several others say he killed 30 old women, children, and two ill warriors then a doubt is raised that makes you look at the source of the stories and use a measure of skepticism. I came to this conclusion as I decided to reread some parts.

The Author does a 5 star job of his research.

From my first review:

Admittedly, I am coming off the "Frontiersmen" by Eckert and "Arundel" by Roberts which are historical novels whose history may or may not be dubious.

That said, I found this to be a thoroughly researched and adequately written history book.

I thought I was getting a biography of Robert Rogers. What I got was an exemplary analysis of all things related to the French and Indian War in the New York, New England, Canada Regions with a Rogers emphasis. One reviewer mentioned the section about the attack on the Abanaki Village of St Francis as some kind of riveting tale. To me it was far more like a newspaper report of an incident which of course is always after the fact.

If you are looking for an in depth analysis of Robert Rogers, I don't think you'll be satisfied with this book. It is a must for anyone interested in the 7 Years War, especially around Lakes George and Champlain. Also for those interested in a thorough analysis and perhaps more balanced perspective of Rogers famous raid on St Francis and subsequent escape it is found within.

Too often I found my mind wandering which is why I gave it a solid Good (3 stars).

The author provides a terrific history of George Rogers and his Rangers along with a finite history of the French and Indian War. The author writes a very readable account of the French and Indian War primarily about Rogers and his Rangers who go well into the wilds behind enemy lines on raids and reconnaissance missions against the French and their Indian allies. These Ranger companies were virtually alone and totally unsupported in their forays risking not just capture but also violent deaths by the French's Indian allies, primarily the St. Francis Abenakis who at one time were the terror among the English settlements. While covering the overall campaign in America, the author covers in detail Roger's amazing exploits. Of particular note is Rogers and over 200 Rangers making a strike against the Abenakis' town over 100 miles from their landing point and then after being discovered having to change direction traveling over 200 miles over rough wilderness terrain while being pursued by the vengeful Abenakis and the French. Incredible hardships and an amazing story of survival and after this harrowing exploit, Rogers goes back into the wilderness to fight again. The War against the French and their Indian allies is violent particularly if their prisoners are not of value or if vengeance is preferred. Capture did not necessarily end up being better than a quick death in combat. The author includes a fascinating discussion of the alliances between the various tribes and the French and English. The first chapter of the book starts off with a thrilling description of the capture and imprisonment of the Johnson family of settlers and their experience traveling through the wilderness with their captors and their experience in captivity. The author describes Rogers as a man highly capable, a leader and motivator in war but literally without a business rudder in peace suffering financially and choosing the wrong side during the revolution due to pension and perhaps mistreatment by his countrymen after the French and Indian War. This is an engrossing book, fraught with adventure with some shocking detail on how the Rangers survive their most brutal campaign. This book is an immensely entertaining history where the truth goes beyond the legend. Spencer Tracey's 1940 classic movie, Northwest Passage, is the subject of Rogers' attack on the Abenakis and the harrowing journey of his Rangers to escape, a movie well worth seeing.

In the book "White Devil", author Stephen Brumwell takes you to the French & Indian War. Where we read about the Abenaki Indians and their brutal ways, and another side the Abenaki's not always heard of. Brumwell gives you the history of the infamous Rogers Rangers, and their historic raid on St. Francis which will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read this book about Robert Rogers and his band of Rangers. I would absolutely recommend this book to anybody looking for a wonderfully detailed and historical novel of the French and Indian War, and Robert Rogers, the Father of America's Special Forces, and the United States Army Rangers.

-George

Very well reasearched, interesting, sweeping narrative. Highly recommended for everyone who is interested in the French and Indian War.Nothing to add.

The story of Robert Rogers is in many ways the story of the brutality of the place and times in which he lived, and in the larger sense, the American and Native experience. What Brumwell has given us, is not only a well written account of Roger's Rangers, but perhaps one of the best introductions to the French and Indian War for the casual reader. This is very much the story or Rogers and the men under his command, and the war through their eyes. The reader will come away with a new appreciation for the hardships and frustrations that the British, and their Colonial allies faced over the long years of desperate, bloody warfare. What is most refreshing though is the straight approach taken; Brumwell does not paint a politically correct picture, but instead offers an even handed account of the brutality that both Native Americans, French, and British lived with. It should be a model for future books written on the subject of Indian conflict, and the terrors that both sides visited on each other.