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Thomas Fleming

Washington's Secret War Paperback – Special Edition, November 7, 2006

by Thomas Fleming (Author)

4.5 546 ratings

Part of: The Thomas Fleming Library (19 books)

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The defining moments of the Revolutionary War did not occur on the battlefield or at the diplomatic table, claims Thomas Fleming, but at Valley Forge, where the Continental Army wintered in 1777–78. WASHINGTON'S SECRET WAR tells the dramatic story of how those several critical months transformed a beaten, bedraggled group of recruits into a professional army capable of defeating the world's most formidable military power.

While the British Army relaxed in Philadelphia only 20 miles away, George Washington trained his army under brutal conditions. Fleming reveals that during this difficult winter Washington was simultaneously fighting another war – one for his political life as members of the Continental Congress hatched a plot to unseat him and others plotted to betray him. For the first time, WASHINGTON'S SECRET WAR reveals how Washington's genius at negotiating the gray world of spies, double agents, and palace intrigue vaulted him from losing general to the charismatic father of his country.

Part of series

The Thomas Fleming Library
Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarpPeren
Publication date

November 7, 2006
Dimensions

5.24 x 1.03 x 7.99 inches
ISBN-10

0060872934
ISBN-13

978-0060872939
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Fleming enhances his position as a leading general-audience historian of the American Revolution with this convincing argument. (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

Solid account of the political intrigue that threatened the American cause during the winter of 1777-78. (Boston Globe)

About the Author

Thomas Fleming is the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, most recently, The Perils of Peace. He has been the president of the Society of American Historians and of PEN American Center. Mr. Fleming is a frequent guest on C-SPAN, PBS, A&E, and the History Channel. He lives in New York City.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarpPeren; First Edition (November 7, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060872934
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060872939
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.24 x 1.03 x 7.99 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 546 ratings

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Thomas Fleming

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"How do you write a book?" 24 year old Thomas Fleming asked bestselling writer Fulton Oursler in 1951. "Write four pages a day," Oursler said. "Every day except Sunday. Whether you feel like it or not. Inspiration consists of putting the seat of your pants on the chair at your desk." Fleming has followed this advice to good effect. His latest effort, "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers," is his 50th published book. Twenty three of them have been novels. He is the only writer in the history of the Book of the Month Club to have main selections in fiction and in nonfiction. Many have won prizes. Recently he received the Burack Prize from Boston University for lifetime achievement. In nonfiction he has specialized in the American Revolution. He sees Intimate Lives as a perfect combination of his double talent as a novelist and historian. "Novelists focus on the imtimate side of life. This is the first time anyone has looked at the intimate side of the lives of these famous Americans, with an historian's eyes." Fleming was born in Jersey City, the son of a powerful local politician. He has had a lifetime interest in American politics. He also wrote a history of West Point which the New York Times called "the best...ever written." Military history is another strong interest. He lives in New York with his wife, Alice Fleming, who is a gifted writer of books for young readers.

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The battles behind the scenes.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 29, 2015

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Thomas Fleming's "Washington's Secret War" is an excellent work of history that looks behind the scenes, beyond the battles, the starvation of Valley Forge", the stories we've all been told.

The author gives us an eyes-wide-open view of the founding fathers at odds with each other and, most importantly, at odds with their commander-in-chief. Most Americans aren't aware of the crisis in confidence the Congress had in regard to George Washington'd leadership of the Continental Army and, indeed, the strategy of meeting the British army in formal battles. There were even some proposing a war of partisan bands and guerrillas.

I think Fleming does a good job of showing how George Washington's leadership was being questioned after the previous year's defeats and the loss of Philadelphia - the continental Capital. Add to this the victory at Saratoga which elevated (wrongly) the status of Gen. Horatio Gates, and the infant nation faced a real dilemma.

There was a cabal trying to replace Washington with Gates and this had more support than most Americans now realize. There were officers within the army, most notably Thomas Conway and Thomas Mifflin, who disliked Washington and saw him as weak and ineffectual. There were members of Congress who would have joined with these men to replace Washington.

In the meantime, Congress was almost completely incapable of helping Washington keep his army together. Congress had printed so much currency that it became worthless and difficulties arose in trying to purchase enough supplies to feed, cloth and keep the army in shoes, gunpowder and rum (more important that you'd expect!). The stories of men naked, shoeless and freezing are mostly true, at least initially. The fact of the matter is that the Continental Army was disintegrating due to desertions, disease and enlistments ending for large numbers of troops.

What was amazing is that the author reveals how Washington became a masterful politician in order to keep the army together, prevent his authority from being stripped and preventing the Congress from diverting from his strategy of meeting the British in face-to-face engagements and maintaining the initiative.

This is a good book that shows the battles behind the curtain that could have easily derailed the revolution. A great read and great history. Five stars.

6 people found this helpful

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RLJComm

Washington’s performance at Valley Forge is nothing less than a tour de force that adds a new dimension to his historic portrait

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 3, 2017

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On the 241st birthday of our great nation—at a time when politicians are at odds with each other over just about everything—it’s a good time to reacquaint ourselves with the tremendous struggle that our young group of united colonies endured to become the United States of America. Thomas Fleming’s “Washington’s Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge” opened my eyes to a significant part of our history that every American should read and remember.

Philadelphia is America’s birthplace where the Continental Congress birthed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. However, during the winter of 1777-78 it was where the British Army ate warm meals and slept on feather beds. Meanwhile, the American Revolutionary Army spent that horrible winter at Valley Forge, barely existing off meager rations. One in four were without shoes and left bloody footprints in the snow. Of the 12,000 troops, starvation, disease, and exposure claimed over 2,500 lives by February 1778. Morale was low to begin with following recent loses at Brandywine Creek and Germantown, Pennsylvania before encamping at Valley Forge for the winter. Our young nation’s military force came close to collapse.

In books, movies, TV, and at school, General Washington is portrayed as doing little to better the situation beyond letters to governors and congressmen asking for supplies. But this is where Fleming’s book really takes off and shows Washington’s renewed spirit in the face of adversity. His personal reputation under slanderous attack by congressional critics and in the upper army ranks who were calling for his replacement, Washington became a politician, formed necessary alliances within the congress, maneuvered to gain votes that put into motion necessary steps to remove obstacles that were hindering the continental army, and ended the attacks on his reputation that were also affecting army morale.

As Fleming wrote, “George Washington’s performance at Valley Forge is nothing less than a tour de force that adds a new dimension to his historical portrait. To my continuing surprise, it has become the heart of this book. Among other things, I hope it will restore respectability to that much-misunderstood word, “politician”.

7 people found this helpful

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Dee Arr

The Winter of 1777-78: Political Maneuvering Uncovered

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 6, 2016

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This is an interesting book. While I (and most every other American) have heard stories about Valley Forge, most of them centered around the lack of food and clothing. This was a discovery of the political wrestling going on behind the scenes. The title does not adequately explain the focus of the book, so I am very glad that I decided to purchase it.

Washington is painted with a new brush (and not one that endeavors to find all the faults of the man destined to become our first President). The author demonstrates the tact, patience, and frustration that had to be a constant part of Washington's life. Washington not only had to worry about the British, he had to concern himself with outfitting and feeding his army while dealing with men (in Congress and in the army) who wanted him ousted from his position.

The only thing that kept me from giving that fifth star was the lack of footnotes. The author did reference his sources in the text, noting that this information came from a letter or from a diary entry or from a conversation documented by one of the participants. This is a departure from many other history books, and footnotes would have been welcome with all insights I have never seen elsewhere. This is not to be taken that I feel the author was not truthful (I feel he was), but it would have served as verification to any doubters.

As far as writing style, I felt the flow was very good. This could have been a dry read, and the author performed admirably by creating a book that was not only interesting but also enjoyable.

28 people found this helpful

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Fantastic book that really let me read all about Washington and his struggles

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 20, 2023

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This book is well written and easy to read. The insight into Valley Forge and his leadership is fascinating. I can highly recommend this book to any student of American History.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Sirtoby

Washington's conflict

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 11, 2016

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I really enjoyed this exhaustively researched new look at the political forces at play in the fight for independence; it fills in a lot where "1776" left off. Like any good biography it raises more questions about Washington's resolve and his personal conflict than it answers, but ultimately exposes his deep moral character. Very insightful glimpse of life in British occupied Philadelphia; maps or diagrams of the many places described would go a long way to help readers unfamiliar with the colonial city, but the pithy picture of barbarous British occupation and abuse in that city was an eye opener. Rather pedantic style was at times hard to follow and lost it a star in my mind, but I plan to reread it unrushed this summer while my kids play in the lake on a sunny day.

Rick Klemenc

a good read

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 14, 2019

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ok

Randy Embury

Condition of Books

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 18, 2019

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Winter Reading

Amazon Customer

Hives new info about Washington

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 4, 2016

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While overall it was good at times it was laboured.
George

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