What do you think?
Rate this book
The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware
From the bestselling author of Washington’s Immortals and The Unknowns , an important new chronicle of the American Revolution heralding the heroism of the men from Marblehead, Massachusetts On the stormy night of August 29, 1776, the Continental Army faced annihilation after losing the Battle of Brooklyn. The British had trapped George Washington’s army against the East River, and the fate of the Revolution rested upon the shoulders of the soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Serving side-by-side in one of the country’s first diverse units, they pulled off an “American Dunkirk” and saved the army by navigating the treacherous waters of the river to Manhattan. In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O’Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and helped shape the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy. The Marblehead Regiment, led by John Glover, became truly indispensable. Marbleheaders battled at Lexington and on Bunker Hill and formed the elite Guard that protected George Washington, foreshadowing today’s Secret Service. Then, at the most crucial time in the war, the special operations-like regiment, against all odds, conveyed 2,400 of Washington’s men across the ice-filled Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776, delivering the momentum- shifting surprise attack on Trenton that changed the course of history. White, Black, Hispanic, and Native American, this uniquely diverse group of soldiers set an inclusive standard the US Army would not reach again for more than 170 years. The Marbleheaders’ story, never fully told before now, makes The Indispensables a vital addition to the literature of the American Revolution. As bestselling historian Patrick K. O’Donnell dramatically recounts, the Marblehead Regiment, led by John Glover, was truly indispensable. Beginning nearly a decade before the war started, The Indispensables also reveals how Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Josiah Lee spearheaded the break with Britain and helped shape the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships and forging critical supply lines that established the origins of the US Navy. Marbleheaders battled at Lexington and on Bunker Hill and formed the elite Guard that protected George Washington, a precursor to today’s Secret Service. Then, at the most crucial time in the war, the regiment conveyed 2,400 of Washington’s men across the ice-filled Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776, delivering the momentum-shifting surprise attack on Trenton that changed the course of history. This uniquely diverse unit set an inclusive standard the US Army would not reach for over 170 years. Compelling and original, The Indispensables is a vital addition to the literature of the American Revolution.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published May 18, 2021
About the author
Patrick K. O'Donnell
21 books241 followersO’Donnell is a bestselling author, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. The author of twelve books, including: Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution, The Unknowns, First SEALs, Give Me Tomorrow, The Brenner Assignment, We Were One, Beyond Valor, and Dog Company, he has also served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and speaks often on espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for scores of documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, and Discovery and is the recipient of several national awards. He also regularly contributes to several national publications and shows.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 26, 2021
An indispensable book for understanding the American Revolution!
Need freedom? Who you gonna call? The Marbleheaders!
This highly fascinating, well-researched, and well-written book is about the men of Marblehead, Massachusetts, who became indispensable in getting the American Revolution off to a successful start. Marblehead, at the time of the story, was a town whose people worked the Grand Banks fishing for cod, with that product being 1/3 of the Massachusetts economy. Fishing was a dangerous business, and the men on the boats quickly learned they needed to work together to stave off frequent life and death situations. Whatever the men’s color or creed, their worth was quickly assessed by their talent, quick-thinking, resourcefulness, and especially the content of their character. With trust and teamwork their bywords, these men and their leaders spearheaded the American Revolution as an indispensable, go-to team for the indispensable man, George Washington.
The author fills his book with little-known stories he gleaned from primary research he made into muster rolls and pension applications made by Revolutionary War veterans in 1820. He starts the book with a sailor seeking to retain his freedom by revolting against his impressment into the British navy. The author then goes into a discussion of Marblehead’s inoculation attempt against the deadly smallpox virus, which set up a mini-civil war with conservative loyalists who objected to the vaccinations sponsored by several of the book’s major Marblehead figures: Dr. Nathaniel Bond, Elbridge Gerry, and John Glover. Dr. Bond goes on to later inoculate Washington’s army (perhaps saving it from destruction by smallpox). Gerry becomes a towering political force in the Revolution and later becomes James Madison’s vice president. And Colonel/General John Glover leads Marblehead’s impressive military efforts and becomes a trusted confidant to Washington.
The main focus of the book, a list of Marblehead’s Revolutionary War involvement, includes:
Lexington and Concord
Bunker Hill
Battle of Brooklyn (ferrying Washington’s army out of Brooklyn to enable their escape)
Kips Bay (making a stand as the rest of the army melts away)
Washington’s Life Guard (staffing)
Throg’s Neck and Pell’s Point
Battle of Fort Washington
Trenton (ferrying Washington's men across the Delaware & capturing bridge to cut off Hessian escape)
Princeton
Helping to start the American Navy (strategy of capturing British ships to get ordnance & precious gunpowder for rebels and depriving said from British)
Saratoga
=============
Not mentioned in the book, but helpful to know as the action develops:
The seaside town of Marblehead, 14 miles NE of Boston, was previously called Marble Harbour by Captain John Smith of earlier Jamestown fame, who also named the area “New England.” Continuing the tradition of mistaking the town’s shoreline granite ledges for marble, settlers would later name the town “Marblehead,” focused upon the ledges as a “head” or exposed rock (geologically the uppermost extremity or projecting part of land). Marblehead’s claim to be the birthplace of the U.S. Navy is disputed by a number of other towns: Beverly, MA; Machias, ME; Philadelphia, PA; Providence, RI; and Whitehall, NY.
Neck: a narrow piece of land that comes out of a wider part (e.g., Great Neck).
Point: a projecting usually tapering piece of land or a sharp prominence. (e.g., Pell’s Point).
Pounder – cannon descriptor indicating weight of cannon balls.
Trunions: Pins or gudgeons, especially a cannon’s two small cylindrical projections, which form an axis on which the cannon pivots as it is aimed.
Gunpowder mixture constituents: 15% charcoal, 10% sulfur, and 75% saltpeter. Sulfur (yellow/gold) burns at a relatively low temperature (sort of like kindling), charcoal (black, carbon) is the main fuel, and saltpeter (gray, potassium nitrate) is the oxidizer, the intense source of oxygen, the ignition accelerant. Not an accident is that black, gray, and gold are the school colors of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Tactics are outgrowths of technology. With the advent of gunpowder and the use of the musket as a weapon, battlefields were now smoky and noisy. Leaders needed to maintain control, via drums, bugles, and keeping their men close. Musket firing in volleys maintained the speed of loading and firing. The psychological effect of a round of mass fire, where many inaccurate muskets managed to hit at least something in an effort to shock and awe, was followed either immediately or after several more rounds by a massed bayonet charge. The speed of firing and cohesive unit movement was a critical focus of Prussian army drill. [Military tactics later changed with the advent of the rifled musket and Minie ball for speed and accuracy, allowing for dispersion of units, with soldiers then more often able to move independently as seen in America’s Civil War.] Note: P 54: The author writes, “Under the best possible conditions, a well-trained and well-supplied soldier could load and shoot four or five times per minute.” While it is said that a well-trained Prussian soldier (someone who spent many years practicing) could get off rounds up to six times a minute, some of the very best modern-day Rev War reenactors can barely make four times per minute. Many times in battle involving unit movement, a soldier would be lucky to get off one round per minute.
Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 was a rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, with the help of the Scots and the French, to regain the British throne for his father, James (Latin Jacobus, hence Jacobite) Francis Edward Stuart, son of King James II/VII Stuart, who had been removed from power by William and Mary in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
=============
I believe you’ll find the author has a great style of writing. He uses many fine words that carry the story quite well. A few times, however, he tries to keep the action going by using logical but likely speculative supposition about various action (P 59: John Gerry…dipped his pen into his inkwell…. His pen scratched as he scrawled his missive, and he hastily sealed his letter with wax before handing it off to an express rider.). And how did the author know this? Sometimes, he also goes into great extended detail, which can either be engaging or not, depending upon the reader’s level of interest. And, at least once, I believe he makes an error of fact: P 196: "Lee [Washington's valet] was later described by Thomas Jefferson “as the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.” Actually, the person Jefferson was describing was George Washington himself.
In his content, the author covers much of the first half of the American Revolution by “colorizing” the Marbleheaders in an otherwise black & white Revolutionary War history. Many times the Marbleheaders are major players, but sometimes the full event histories are recounted even if there are just slender threads of involvement. For example, for Lexington, we learn of it primarily because some of the involved Marbleheaders were there hiding in a frozen cornfield. Other times, we learn of a famous person because a Marbleheader worked for him. But whatever the action, the reader will find many revealing anecdotes, quotes, and origin stories of famous patriot personages not found elsewhere. One event I found particularly interesting was the propaganda race to get news of Lexington and Concord to England. Who fired the first shot? Who was at fault? Whoever got the news first to tell their story, the rebels or the Brits, would gain some advantage!
Overall I found this book about the truly Indispensables both engaging and enlightening. As well, it features excellent maps, portraits, and documentation. Bottom-line: very highly recommended!
Of possible interest: George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!” and
Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation
Need freedom? Who you gonna call? The Marbleheaders!
This highly fascinating, well-researched, and well-written book is about the men of Marblehead, Massachusetts, who became indispensable in getting the American Revolution off to a successful start. Marblehead, at the time of the story, was a town whose people worked the Grand Banks fishing for cod, with that product being 1/3 of the Massachusetts economy. Fishing was a dangerous business, and the men on the boats quickly learned they needed to work together to stave off frequent life and death situations. Whatever the men’s color or creed, their worth was quickly assessed by their talent, quick-thinking, resourcefulness, and especially the content of their character. With trust and teamwork their bywords, these men and their leaders spearheaded the American Revolution as an indispensable, go-to team for the indispensable man, George Washington.
The author fills his book with little-known stories he gleaned from primary research he made into muster rolls and pension applications made by Revolutionary War veterans in 1820. He starts the book with a sailor seeking to retain his freedom by revolting against his impressment into the British navy. The author then goes into a discussion of Marblehead’s inoculation attempt against the deadly smallpox virus, which set up a mini-civil war with conservative loyalists who objected to the vaccinations sponsored by several of the book’s major Marblehead figures: Dr. Nathaniel Bond, Elbridge Gerry, and John Glover. Dr. Bond goes on to later inoculate Washington’s army (perhaps saving it from destruction by smallpox). Gerry becomes a towering political force in the Revolution and later becomes James Madison’s vice president. And Colonel/General John Glover leads Marblehead’s impressive military efforts and becomes a trusted confidant to Washington.
The main focus of the book, a list of Marblehead’s Revolutionary War involvement, includes:
Lexington and Concord
Bunker Hill
Battle of Brooklyn (ferrying Washington’s army out of Brooklyn to enable their escape)
Kips Bay (making a stand as the rest of the army melts away)
Washington’s Life Guard (staffing)
Throg’s Neck and Pell’s Point
Battle of Fort Washington
Trenton (ferrying Washington's men across the Delaware & capturing bridge to cut off Hessian escape)
Princeton
Helping to start the American Navy (strategy of capturing British ships to get ordnance & precious gunpowder for rebels and depriving said from British)
Saratoga
=============
Not mentioned in the book, but helpful to know as the action develops:
The seaside town of Marblehead, 14 miles NE of Boston, was previously called Marble Harbour by Captain John Smith of earlier Jamestown fame, who also named the area “New England.” Continuing the tradition of mistaking the town’s shoreline granite ledges for marble, settlers would later name the town “Marblehead,” focused upon the ledges as a “head” or exposed rock (geologically the uppermost extremity or projecting part of land). Marblehead’s claim to be the birthplace of the U.S. Navy is disputed by a number of other towns: Beverly, MA; Machias, ME; Philadelphia, PA; Providence, RI; and Whitehall, NY.
Neck: a narrow piece of land that comes out of a wider part (e.g., Great Neck).
Point: a projecting usually tapering piece of land or a sharp prominence. (e.g., Pell’s Point).
Pounder – cannon descriptor indicating weight of cannon balls.
Trunions: Pins or gudgeons, especially a cannon’s two small cylindrical projections, which form an axis on which the cannon pivots as it is aimed.
Gunpowder mixture constituents: 15% charcoal, 10% sulfur, and 75% saltpeter. Sulfur (yellow/gold) burns at a relatively low temperature (sort of like kindling), charcoal (black, carbon) is the main fuel, and saltpeter (gray, potassium nitrate) is the oxidizer, the intense source of oxygen, the ignition accelerant. Not an accident is that black, gray, and gold are the school colors of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Tactics are outgrowths of technology. With the advent of gunpowder and the use of the musket as a weapon, battlefields were now smoky and noisy. Leaders needed to maintain control, via drums, bugles, and keeping their men close. Musket firing in volleys maintained the speed of loading and firing. The psychological effect of a round of mass fire, where many inaccurate muskets managed to hit at least something in an effort to shock and awe, was followed either immediately or after several more rounds by a massed bayonet charge. The speed of firing and cohesive unit movement was a critical focus of Prussian army drill. [Military tactics later changed with the advent of the rifled musket and Minie ball for speed and accuracy, allowing for dispersion of units, with soldiers then more often able to move independently as seen in America’s Civil War.] Note: P 54: The author writes, “Under the best possible conditions, a well-trained and well-supplied soldier could load and shoot four or five times per minute.” While it is said that a well-trained Prussian soldier (someone who spent many years practicing) could get off rounds up to six times a minute, some of the very best modern-day Rev War reenactors can barely make four times per minute. Many times in battle involving unit movement, a soldier would be lucky to get off one round per minute.
Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 was a rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, with the help of the Scots and the French, to regain the British throne for his father, James (Latin Jacobus, hence Jacobite) Francis Edward Stuart, son of King James II/VII Stuart, who had been removed from power by William and Mary in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
=============
I believe you’ll find the author has a great style of writing. He uses many fine words that carry the story quite well. A few times, however, he tries to keep the action going by using logical but likely speculative supposition about various action (P 59: John Gerry…dipped his pen into his inkwell…. His pen scratched as he scrawled his missive, and he hastily sealed his letter with wax before handing it off to an express rider.). And how did the author know this? Sometimes, he also goes into great extended detail, which can either be engaging or not, depending upon the reader’s level of interest. And, at least once, I believe he makes an error of fact: P 196: "Lee [Washington's valet] was later described by Thomas Jefferson “as the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.” Actually, the person Jefferson was describing was George Washington himself.
In his content, the author covers much of the first half of the American Revolution by “colorizing” the Marbleheaders in an otherwise black & white Revolutionary War history. Many times the Marbleheaders are major players, but sometimes the full event histories are recounted even if there are just slender threads of involvement. For example, for Lexington, we learn of it primarily because some of the involved Marbleheaders were there hiding in a frozen cornfield. Other times, we learn of a famous person because a Marbleheader worked for him. But whatever the action, the reader will find many revealing anecdotes, quotes, and origin stories of famous patriot personages not found elsewhere. One event I found particularly interesting was the propaganda race to get news of Lexington and Concord to England. Who fired the first shot? Who was at fault? Whoever got the news first to tell their story, the rebels or the Brits, would gain some advantage!
Overall I found this book about the truly Indispensables both engaging and enlightening. As well, it features excellent maps, portraits, and documentation. Bottom-line: very highly recommended!
Of possible interest: George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!” and
Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation
September 11, 2022
3 1/2-ish. Hard to rate this history of the men of Marblehead who fought the British Army before Lexington and Concord, and who were critical to the success of the early stages of the Revolutionary War.
On the one hand, O'Donnell is not a gifted writer per se: his prose is inelegant and his diction is clumsy. He often gets the cart before the horse: a person will take some action before we know who he is, and only after the reader has spent some moments in confusion will the person's relevance and background be made clear. And very likely this information will be given to the reader again; O'Donnell repeats himself frequently, especially in the first part of the book.
On the other hand, O'Donnell's simple and immediate style is highly accessible, barring the occasional fits and starts caused by the issues mentioned above. His abundant use of primary materials supports this; he has a gift for positioning the telling quote from a contemporary. He makes the reader see (and feel) the struggles and successes of these men from their point of view, as well as from that of the outsiders who observed them. His research seems extremely thorough. He is very good at conveying how narrowly and by what nearly incredible strokes of luck the Continental Army survived its early days. A change in the wind, the sudden appearance of a bank of fog, a messenger who cannot be understood by Hessian mercenaries, a note thrust into a pocket unread: had such things not occurred, the rebellion might have been crushed in its infancy. The full value of the contributions of the Marblehead men emerges in the retreat from New York, and the battle of Trenton.
Mr. O'Donnell does include some helpful maps of military actions; he might have included a few more. I think it would also have been helpful to have some kind of chart of which Marblehead men went where and when; it was rather hard to keep track of all the individuals. (There is a dramatis personae in the back, but it is not particularly helpful in this endeavor, in my opinion.) To some degree even the frequent repetition is probably not totally without beneficial effect.
I appreciated the author's reference to the inclusion of Marblehead and Essex County men of color in the events portrayed. It is good to see their names, and the names of the white men of various origin, most of whom are long forgotten by most people. To say that Marblehead was ahead of its time in diversity is probably an overstatement, as for whatever reason, other maritime towns and cities in Massachusetts saw sailors of color among their crews. But that does not diminish the fact that as they had sailing the Grand Banks before the war, the men of Marblehead worked together as a relatively cohesive fighting team. Their accomplishments (the early foundations of the US Navy, their participation at Bunker Hill, their evacuation of troops in New York, the crossing of the Delaware, the taking of the bridge at Trenton, the fighting surgeon who inoculated the Continental Army, etc.) deserve to be better remembered than they are.
I recommend this history for its vivid picture of Washington in the earliest days of his command, and for its portrait of some extraordinary ordinary men and their "indispensable" contribution to the survival and success of the Continental Army in its infancy.
On the one hand, O'Donnell is not a gifted writer per se: his prose is inelegant and his diction is clumsy. He often gets the cart before the horse: a person will take some action before we know who he is, and only after the reader has spent some moments in confusion will the person's relevance and background be made clear. And very likely this information will be given to the reader again; O'Donnell repeats himself frequently, especially in the first part of the book.
On the other hand, O'Donnell's simple and immediate style is highly accessible, barring the occasional fits and starts caused by the issues mentioned above. His abundant use of primary materials supports this; he has a gift for positioning the telling quote from a contemporary. He makes the reader see (and feel) the struggles and successes of these men from their point of view, as well as from that of the outsiders who observed them. His research seems extremely thorough. He is very good at conveying how narrowly and by what nearly incredible strokes of luck the Continental Army survived its early days. A change in the wind, the sudden appearance of a bank of fog, a messenger who cannot be understood by Hessian mercenaries, a note thrust into a pocket unread: had such things not occurred, the rebellion might have been crushed in its infancy. The full value of the contributions of the Marblehead men emerges in the retreat from New York, and the battle of Trenton.
Mr. O'Donnell does include some helpful maps of military actions; he might have included a few more. I think it would also have been helpful to have some kind of chart of which Marblehead men went where and when; it was rather hard to keep track of all the individuals. (There is a dramatis personae in the back, but it is not particularly helpful in this endeavor, in my opinion.) To some degree even the frequent repetition is probably not totally without beneficial effect.
I appreciated the author's reference to the inclusion of Marblehead and Essex County men of color in the events portrayed. It is good to see their names, and the names of the white men of various origin, most of whom are long forgotten by most people. To say that Marblehead was ahead of its time in diversity is probably an overstatement, as for whatever reason, other maritime towns and cities in Massachusetts saw sailors of color among their crews. But that does not diminish the fact that as they had sailing the Grand Banks before the war, the men of Marblehead worked together as a relatively cohesive fighting team. Their accomplishments (the early foundations of the US Navy, their participation at Bunker Hill, their evacuation of troops in New York, the crossing of the Delaware, the taking of the bridge at Trenton, the fighting surgeon who inoculated the Continental Army, etc.) deserve to be better remembered than they are.
I recommend this history for its vivid picture of Washington in the earliest days of his command, and for its portrait of some extraordinary ordinary men and their "indispensable" contribution to the survival and success of the Continental Army in its infancy.
March 11, 2022
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint!
My book club is celebrating its third year anniversary this month, and our very first book was "Washington's Immortals" by Patrick K. O'Donnell. We loved it so much, and we thought it was a great book to start off learning about the American Revolution. As soon as I saw he had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it!
Sidenote: I got approved for this on NetGalley with an e-ARC, and I couldn't have been more excited for it! But, in a first for me, the e-book was so jumbled with the footnotes that I couldn't read the e-book. (Paragraphs that split a page had the footnotes for the page inserted in the middle of the text and it made it very hard to try to read.) I'm sure this issue has been resolved for the final e-copy, but for me I had to snag the physical copy when it came out in order to properly enjoy the book.
But boy, did I enjoy it!!
Structure and Formatting 5/5
This book is pretty chronological, which is a favorite format of mine. Even character introductions and backstories are done in such a way that it doesn't take you out of the moment of what's happening. I just love the way he organizes his books.
Thoroughness of Research 5/5
One thing I loved about "Washington's Immortals" was the fresh new information he added by tapping a new set of source records he found at a tiny Maryland archive. His hyper-focusing on one group of men really lends itself to a deep dive into their lives and personal experiences. He does it again with these Marbleheaders and really gives you everything he can possibly tell you about these men and their experience in the war. I enjoy the research tactic he uses and try to do the same when I research my own family history. (As a result, I think genealogists wanting to research the American Revolution will enjoy this book. And those with Marbleheaders in their line will DEFINITELY want to pick this up!)
Storytelling/Writing 5/5
O'Donnell is described as a military historian. I don't know how that makes him different from some of the other history authors I've read, but as I said before I love how he intertwines the lives of the men in the troops he is covering into the narrative. The people, down to the lowly privates and bystanders, feel like people rather than names found on a roster or witness list. That makes the whole story come to life and it paints a picture not only of the war but of the people it affected.
Level of Enjoyment 5/5
This is definitely one added to my favorites list now, and I'll be keeping an eye out for O'Donnell's next book.
Prior Knowledge Needed 5/5
I think I will now recommend this book over "Washington's Immortals" if you had to choose between the two to start learning about the Revolution. This book really focuses on the earlier parts of the war and introduces some major players in a way that would be fantastic set up for the more all-encompassing "Washington's Immortals." I also recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the American Revolution or wanting to see if history books are something they could enjoy.
My book club is celebrating its third year anniversary this month, and our very first book was "Washington's Immortals" by Patrick K. O'Donnell. We loved it so much, and we thought it was a great book to start off learning about the American Revolution. As soon as I saw he had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it!
Sidenote: I got approved for this on NetGalley with an e-ARC, and I couldn't have been more excited for it! But, in a first for me, the e-book was so jumbled with the footnotes that I couldn't read the e-book. (Paragraphs that split a page had the footnotes for the page inserted in the middle of the text and it made it very hard to try to read.) I'm sure this issue has been resolved for the final e-copy, but for me I had to snag the physical copy when it came out in order to properly enjoy the book.
But boy, did I enjoy it!!
Structure and Formatting 5/5
This book is pretty chronological, which is a favorite format of mine. Even character introductions and backstories are done in such a way that it doesn't take you out of the moment of what's happening. I just love the way he organizes his books.
Thoroughness of Research 5/5
One thing I loved about "Washington's Immortals" was the fresh new information he added by tapping a new set of source records he found at a tiny Maryland archive. His hyper-focusing on one group of men really lends itself to a deep dive into their lives and personal experiences. He does it again with these Marbleheaders and really gives you everything he can possibly tell you about these men and their experience in the war. I enjoy the research tactic he uses and try to do the same when I research my own family history. (As a result, I think genealogists wanting to research the American Revolution will enjoy this book. And those with Marbleheaders in their line will DEFINITELY want to pick this up!)
Storytelling/Writing 5/5
O'Donnell is described as a military historian. I don't know how that makes him different from some of the other history authors I've read, but as I said before I love how he intertwines the lives of the men in the troops he is covering into the narrative. The people, down to the lowly privates and bystanders, feel like people rather than names found on a roster or witness list. That makes the whole story come to life and it paints a picture not only of the war but of the people it affected.
Level of Enjoyment 5/5
This is definitely one added to my favorites list now, and I'll be keeping an eye out for O'Donnell's next book.
Prior Knowledge Needed 5/5
I think I will now recommend this book over "Washington's Immortals" if you had to choose between the two to start learning about the Revolution. This book really focuses on the earlier parts of the war and introduces some major players in a way that would be fantastic set up for the more all-encompassing "Washington's Immortals." I also recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the American Revolution or wanting to see if history books are something they could enjoy.
April 5, 2021
This book revolves around a group of men from Marblehead, Massachusetts and their roles in various stages of the Revolutionary War. The book is well researched and written. The group plays key roles in the events leading up to the War, the formation of the Navy and were the only group to successfully row across the Delaware in order for Washington to spring his surprise attack on the British. The group interacts with many of the more famous people in the Boston area at the time – Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Warren, etc. Those interested in the history of the United States and the Revolutionary War will find this to be an informative book.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, my blog page and my Facebook page.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, my blog page and my Facebook page.
September 27, 2021
Is this a sorry attempt at 'Woke History'? Isn't history supposed to be about facts? Wouldn't a good historian want to educate his/her/its readers on how people thought, acted, reacted, and how they were motivated in the time period he/she/it is writing about and not based on sick ideas that are prevalent in today's society? First of all, Blacks, or Negroes as they were known in colonial times, were not called 'African Americans' at the time - SPOILER ALERT - that's how the author refers to blacks most of the time in the book. Second, there were no diversity and inclusion departments to propagandize the uneducated population into thinking that diversity of skin colour alone was superior to mono skin coloured armies. Just because there were negroes in the ranks of the Marblehead regiments (and very few at that!), that is no proof that they made significant contributions above or beyond the lowly white soldiers. Thirdly, there were no black officers. And the author offered no indications that the individual Negro troops did anything of an extraordinary nature. A very weakly documented thesis, to say the least. Since Woke Communism goes broke, this is the last O'Donnel book I will ever buy.
November 3, 2023
In one of the most desperate hours of the Revolutionary War on August 29, 1776, the soldiers of General George Washington’s Continental Army were trapped in their final line of fortifications on Long Island, in present-day Brooklyn, with their backs to New York’s East River. Just weeks after declaring independence from Great Britain, it now looked like the American dream would vanish before it could even get started as the British were on the verge of cutting Washington’s forces off from escape. To save his army, the Revolution, and a hopeful future bound by liberty and equality for unborn millions, General Washington would turn to the soldier-mariners of Colonel John Glover’s regiment from Marblehead, Massachusetts.
One day earlier, the men of the Marblehead Regiment were rowed over to reinforce Washington’s beleaguered troops on Long Island. “It was evident that this small reinforcement, inspired no inconsiderable degree of confidence,” according to an observer. “The faces that had been saddened by the disasters of yesterday, assumed the gleam of animation, on our approach; accompanied with a murmur of approbation in the spectators occasionally greeting each other with the remark, that ‘these were the lads that might do something.’”
Why did these men from Marblehead inspire so much confidence? In "The Indispensables," an outstanding narrative history of the Marblehead Regiment, historian Patrick K. O’Donnell explains that these Marbleheaders exuded toughness and tenacity forged by fishing some of the most treacherous waters in the world. As O’Donnell puts it, “Men fought against the sea to wrest their living from it with little more than determination and their bare hands.”
Among their ranks, the Marbleheaders counted many members from the same family, including fathers and their sons, brothers, cousins, and best friends. African American, Native American, and Hispanic soldier-mariners also served in the outfit, making the Marblehead Regiment “one of the first and most diverse regiments in the colonies, and later, the army,” according to O’Donnell. Regardless of their origins, these men all stood together in a unit united by their dedication to their common country. As O’Donnell writes, “The regiment was truly a family with deep ties of blood and friendship, a latter-day band of brothers trained for war.”
On the afternoon of August 29, General Washington and his commanders unanimously agreed that the army must evacuate Long Island and cross the East River over to New York City before the British could seal off their escape. To transport the army across that river, Washington placed his trust in Colonel Glover and the men of the Marblehead Regiment. Their task was one filled with monumental difficulty. As one of Washington’s officers put it, “To move so large a body of troops, with all their necessary appendages across a river a full mile wide, with a rapid current in the face of a victorious well-disciplined army, nearly three times as numerous as his own, and a fleet capable of stopping the navigation, so that not one boat could have passed over, seemed to present most formidable obstacles.”
Carrying the fate of the American cause on their oars, the Marbleheaders ultimately overcame the daunting challenges before them, working tirelessly throughout the night and evacuating 9,000 soldiers across the river to safety after nine hours of sweat and toil. Assisted by a heavy fog that concealed the evacuation from the British just as day was breaking, the occurrence of which many attributed to the hand of God, remarkably, not a life was lost during the escape from Long Island.
Through their mastery of the water as mariners and their spines of steel as soldiers, the men of the Marblehead Regiment saved the Continental Army and the American cause from ruin at Long Island. It was far from the last time that the unit would play a pivotal role in the army’s affairs. In what was truly the darkest moment of the war in late December 1776, Colonel Glover and his men spearheaded the effort to transport General Washington and over two thousand of his ragtag soldiers across the ice-chocked Delaware River during a severe winter storm on Christmas night 1776. Their skilled navigation of the treacherous Delaware and their further contributions during the ensuing Battle of Trenton helped secure a transformative victory; a triumph that helped save the American cause at a time when the British seemed to be on the cusp of victory in the Revolutionary War. Through their heroism in these pivotal moments, the men of of the Marblehead Regiment played an indispensable role along the long road that ultimately led to America securing her freedom as an independent nation. As O’Donnell wisely concludes, the soldier-mariners from Marblehead “were the right men at the right time in history.”
One day earlier, the men of the Marblehead Regiment were rowed over to reinforce Washington’s beleaguered troops on Long Island. “It was evident that this small reinforcement, inspired no inconsiderable degree of confidence,” according to an observer. “The faces that had been saddened by the disasters of yesterday, assumed the gleam of animation, on our approach; accompanied with a murmur of approbation in the spectators occasionally greeting each other with the remark, that ‘these were the lads that might do something.’”
Why did these men from Marblehead inspire so much confidence? In "The Indispensables," an outstanding narrative history of the Marblehead Regiment, historian Patrick K. O’Donnell explains that these Marbleheaders exuded toughness and tenacity forged by fishing some of the most treacherous waters in the world. As O’Donnell puts it, “Men fought against the sea to wrest their living from it with little more than determination and their bare hands.”
Among their ranks, the Marbleheaders counted many members from the same family, including fathers and their sons, brothers, cousins, and best friends. African American, Native American, and Hispanic soldier-mariners also served in the outfit, making the Marblehead Regiment “one of the first and most diverse regiments in the colonies, and later, the army,” according to O’Donnell. Regardless of their origins, these men all stood together in a unit united by their dedication to their common country. As O’Donnell writes, “The regiment was truly a family with deep ties of blood and friendship, a latter-day band of brothers trained for war.”
On the afternoon of August 29, General Washington and his commanders unanimously agreed that the army must evacuate Long Island and cross the East River over to New York City before the British could seal off their escape. To transport the army across that river, Washington placed his trust in Colonel Glover and the men of the Marblehead Regiment. Their task was one filled with monumental difficulty. As one of Washington’s officers put it, “To move so large a body of troops, with all their necessary appendages across a river a full mile wide, with a rapid current in the face of a victorious well-disciplined army, nearly three times as numerous as his own, and a fleet capable of stopping the navigation, so that not one boat could have passed over, seemed to present most formidable obstacles.”
Carrying the fate of the American cause on their oars, the Marbleheaders ultimately overcame the daunting challenges before them, working tirelessly throughout the night and evacuating 9,000 soldiers across the river to safety after nine hours of sweat and toil. Assisted by a heavy fog that concealed the evacuation from the British just as day was breaking, the occurrence of which many attributed to the hand of God, remarkably, not a life was lost during the escape from Long Island.
Through their mastery of the water as mariners and their spines of steel as soldiers, the men of the Marblehead Regiment saved the Continental Army and the American cause from ruin at Long Island. It was far from the last time that the unit would play a pivotal role in the army’s affairs. In what was truly the darkest moment of the war in late December 1776, Colonel Glover and his men spearheaded the effort to transport General Washington and over two thousand of his ragtag soldiers across the ice-chocked Delaware River during a severe winter storm on Christmas night 1776. Their skilled navigation of the treacherous Delaware and their further contributions during the ensuing Battle of Trenton helped secure a transformative victory; a triumph that helped save the American cause at a time when the British seemed to be on the cusp of victory in the Revolutionary War. Through their heroism in these pivotal moments, the men of of the Marblehead Regiment played an indispensable role along the long road that ultimately led to America securing her freedom as an independent nation. As O’Donnell wisely concludes, the soldier-mariners from Marblehead “were the right men at the right time in history.”
July 23, 2022
Thanks to Patrick K. O’Donnell’s The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware Hardcover – May 18, 2021, we can know that these few, these luck few, this band of brothers are the real reason why anyone who might be reading this is a citizen of the United States. Exactly how these patriots were that much better than say the Marylanders this same historian recorded in his Washington's Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution, I cannot say as the only other O’Donnall history I have read was: Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs: The Unknown Story of the Men and Women of World War II's OSS. I wonder if all of the long, complicated titles were of his choosing? I get that these are all stories worth the telling. I get those regimental histories are a valuable way to honor good people. This is not my favorite author historian.
Evidentially the men of Marblehead were uniquely close, many being from the same family including fathers and sons. Please re read that last statement because it will be made several times. Marblehead was a major seaport, and sailing ships was a matter of skills rather than skin color and people who sailed together form close bonds. Read that several times as it will also be restated many times. That Marblehead men were at the front of so many Revolutionary war battles, on land and sea- There were a large proportion of Marblehead widows at the end of the Revolution. Re read that because… Are you noticing a pattern?
In fairness, these few were there at the beginning, provided ship and boat handling skills at key point in the revolution and in general deserve an adulatory re telling of their genuinely heroic and in difficult times actions. Of these men the denigrating title of “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” never typified these patriots. Instead, they could be found with bloody rags for shoes not just present at the critical action at Valley Forge, but getting Washington and his troop ashore because they uniquely had the experience to handle the boats in a fierce snowstorm and across a dangerous river. Elsewhere in varying conditions they found themselves either at the front, critical to holding the line in place like Long Island, and when the time came, making it possible to withdraw an intact army when the larger British Army had certain supremacy in what would have otherwise been an Army ending defeat.
These were good men, these New England sailors and patriots. It is right that their story be told- In detail and with suitable, documented proof that they bore us during the ‘Times that try men’s souls.” I only wish the story telling had been better written.
Evidentially the men of Marblehead were uniquely close, many being from the same family including fathers and sons. Please re read that last statement because it will be made several times. Marblehead was a major seaport, and sailing ships was a matter of skills rather than skin color and people who sailed together form close bonds. Read that several times as it will also be restated many times. That Marblehead men were at the front of so many Revolutionary war battles, on land and sea- There were a large proportion of Marblehead widows at the end of the Revolution. Re read that because… Are you noticing a pattern?
In fairness, these few were there at the beginning, provided ship and boat handling skills at key point in the revolution and in general deserve an adulatory re telling of their genuinely heroic and in difficult times actions. Of these men the denigrating title of “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” never typified these patriots. Instead, they could be found with bloody rags for shoes not just present at the critical action at Valley Forge, but getting Washington and his troop ashore because they uniquely had the experience to handle the boats in a fierce snowstorm and across a dangerous river. Elsewhere in varying conditions they found themselves either at the front, critical to holding the line in place like Long Island, and when the time came, making it possible to withdraw an intact army when the larger British Army had certain supremacy in what would have otherwise been an Army ending defeat.
These were good men, these New England sailors and patriots. It is right that their story be told- In detail and with suitable, documented proof that they bore us during the ‘Times that try men’s souls.” I only wish the story telling had been better written.
June 26, 2021
Well written accounts of the American Revolution with emphasis on the contributions of the Marblehead, MA Patriots throughout the war. The author brought forth detailed accounts of many of the battles on land and sea from which I learned a lot. I am from that area of MA and didn't know about many of the events detailed in the book. Washington's navy is a fascinating part which caused the British to provide escorts for their supply ships thereby affecting their availability to attack revolutionary targets. Amazing to hear about the sacrifice the Marblehead, MA Patriots (and of course all the Patriots in general) gave not just on the water and land, but the deplorable conditions they came home to. All in all, a very informative and enjoyable read on the American Revolution.
Read
February 29, 2024I first read Washington's Immortals, about the heroic Marylanders of the Battle of Brooklyn, and many other battles. I thoroughly enjoyed that, so it was only natural to continue into the Indispensible, another wonderfuly view of the American Revolution.
Mr. O'Donnell is an excellent storyteller, which is what a good historian should always be. It is like he had a "Listening Time Machine" that allowed him to share historic conversations. He made the great leader George Washington come alive and become a true hero, and this led to my new selection George Washington's War by Robert Leckie, author of A Helmet for my Pillow and a wide range of books on American History. He is another Masterclass Historian...
I am enjoying the new book already and may stick with Leckie after this with From Sea to Shining Sea...
Mr. O'Donnell is an excellent storyteller, which is what a good historian should always be. It is like he had a "Listening Time Machine" that allowed him to share historic conversations. He made the great leader George Washington come alive and become a true hero, and this led to my new selection George Washington's War by Robert Leckie, author of A Helmet for my Pillow and a wide range of books on American History. He is another Masterclass Historian...
I am enjoying the new book already and may stick with Leckie after this with From Sea to Shining Sea...
July 2, 2023
A book that recounts the amazing contributions of the men from Marblehead in the Revolutionary War.
July 27, 2021
Very interesting read about the key events from our troops that originated this free country. It was interesting to read how, in so many of the battles, that our founding military players were so close to losing the fight, but managed to win them.
Some of the language dates back to the founders - and - you may need to look up word definitions in some instances for clarity....
Some of the language dates back to the founders - and - you may need to look up word definitions in some instances for clarity....
July 24, 2021
This is--well, sort of--a regimental history, which is a genre that had a very brief heyday in the last half of the 19th century and has largely gone the way of bell-bottom jeans and fiscal conservatism. The regimental history is largely--but not exclusively--a product of the Civil War era. There was a market for first-hand tales of martial combat then, and the supply of literary blood and gore was sufficient to meet that demand. You see some of them in World War II histories--Stephen Ambrose's BAND OF BROTHERS is of course the best known, although it is about a company rather than a regiment.
O'Donnell is reviving the genre, writing about a Massachusetts regiment, centered around the towns of Marblehead and Beverly, that served in the Revolutionary War and was instrumental--due to the number of seafarers in the ranks--in the evacuation of New York and the subsequent crossing of the Delaware in the Battle of Trenton.
This is either your jam, or it isn't. It was not always my jam. I grew up in Texas; the American Revolution got short shrift next to the Texas one. I didn't really get into the history of the Revolution until I moved to New Jersey and got a job working literally on the Trenton battlefield. (O'Donnell highlights, rightly, the Second Battle of Trenton; the ugly, squat, orange cube of an office building was built right where the British forces massed to cross the bridge to crush the American army, which it failed to do. Other than a couple of ragged flags at the modern bridge, you'd never know.)
I say it's only sort of a regimental history, because Marblehead was a leader in the nascent American navy as well, so there's lots of privateering. And there's a good bit of information about politicians from Marblehead, too, which is... not entirely boring. I guess. (There is an old story about a Boston Bruins fan yelling at a goalie, "We got a town here named after you. Marblehead." That is everything I knew about Marblehead going in. I now know much more.)
Anyway. This is very well done, and I am glad that I read it. I have one minor quibble in that I think that O'Donnell doesn't give enough credit to the New Jersey rebels (David Hackett Fischer's WASHINGTON'S CROSSING gives them their due). But other than that, this was great, and if you want a Revolutionary War regimental history, this is what you want, even if you don't know it yet.
O'Donnell is reviving the genre, writing about a Massachusetts regiment, centered around the towns of Marblehead and Beverly, that served in the Revolutionary War and was instrumental--due to the number of seafarers in the ranks--in the evacuation of New York and the subsequent crossing of the Delaware in the Battle of Trenton.
This is either your jam, or it isn't. It was not always my jam. I grew up in Texas; the American Revolution got short shrift next to the Texas one. I didn't really get into the history of the Revolution until I moved to New Jersey and got a job working literally on the Trenton battlefield. (O'Donnell highlights, rightly, the Second Battle of Trenton; the ugly, squat, orange cube of an office building was built right where the British forces massed to cross the bridge to crush the American army, which it failed to do. Other than a couple of ragged flags at the modern bridge, you'd never know.)
I say it's only sort of a regimental history, because Marblehead was a leader in the nascent American navy as well, so there's lots of privateering. And there's a good bit of information about politicians from Marblehead, too, which is... not entirely boring. I guess. (There is an old story about a Boston Bruins fan yelling at a goalie, "We got a town here named after you. Marblehead." That is everything I knew about Marblehead going in. I now know much more.)
Anyway. This is very well done, and I am glad that I read it. I have one minor quibble in that I think that O'Donnell doesn't give enough credit to the New Jersey rebels (David Hackett Fischer's WASHINGTON'S CROSSING gives them their due). But other than that, this was great, and if you want a Revolutionary War regimental history, this is what you want, even if you don't know it yet.
December 12, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, but while it is extensively researched, it is not particularly well written. It tells an interesting and compelling story, but ambiguous phrasings, repetitions and cliches abound.
September 21, 2021
For the most part, I really enjoyed Patrick K. O’Donnell’s “The Indispensables,” a history of the American Revolution and the vital contributions made to it by citizens from Marblehead, Massachusetts and neighboring seacoast towns. While I’m not an historian, or an expert on the Revolution, I’m interested in the subject and I’ve read a fair amount. I came away from “The Indispensables” believing that I’d learned a great deal.
O’Donnell’s history begins with a description a Marblehead as a seacoast town filled with fisherman, sailors, and merchants, including most notably, merchant Elbridge T. Gerry who would represent Massachusetts at the Second Continental Congress, sign the Declaration of Independence, and use his overseas contacts to acquire the gunpowder so crucial to the American war effort, yet in such short supply. It goes on to detail how Marblehead then supplied the soldier-mariners who would act as Washington's navy and, in 1776, would rescue the Continental Army from annihilation on Long Island by rowing it across the East River in the middle of a storm, and then, four months later, row it across the Delaware during a blizzard to win the crucial Battle of Trenton. Some pretty gripping stuff.
O’Donnell doesn’t just focus on the Marbleheaders. His book is filled with sketches of various individuals crucial to the war effort (e.g., George Washington, James Warren, John Glover) as well as on-the-ground anecdotes revealing what life was like for soldiers and sailors on both sides of the conflict. O'Donnell makes great use of the small details that help readers become absorbed in the times..
The author does rely a lot on quotes from various contemporaneous witnesses. While that may lend authenticity to the work, sometimes its problematic. Some of those quotes, being written in the language of the times, are extremely convoluted, requiring close, close reading (sometimes several times) to glean their meaning. Sometimes, that has the effect of drawing the reader out of the story. And sometimes it leaves the reader scratching his head, wondering if he’s understood the meaning correctly. More than a few times I found myself wishing the author had just summarized those passages.
Finally, I read an uncorrected, advance proof provided by the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press, through Netgalley, the Kindle-specific version of which I downloaded onto my Kindle. I found the formatting to be confusing in many places. Specifically, I had problems differentiating between the main text and footnotes. Lots of times, I couldn't tell which was which. I know this was an uncorrected proof, but still, for advance readers to be able to be fair to the author, that’s something that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Because of that, I will not be posting this review, or any part thereof, until after "The Indispensables" has been finalized and published.
My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read what I’m sure will be a very fine work.
O’Donnell’s history begins with a description a Marblehead as a seacoast town filled with fisherman, sailors, and merchants, including most notably, merchant Elbridge T. Gerry who would represent Massachusetts at the Second Continental Congress, sign the Declaration of Independence, and use his overseas contacts to acquire the gunpowder so crucial to the American war effort, yet in such short supply. It goes on to detail how Marblehead then supplied the soldier-mariners who would act as Washington's navy and, in 1776, would rescue the Continental Army from annihilation on Long Island by rowing it across the East River in the middle of a storm, and then, four months later, row it across the Delaware during a blizzard to win the crucial Battle of Trenton. Some pretty gripping stuff.
O’Donnell doesn’t just focus on the Marbleheaders. His book is filled with sketches of various individuals crucial to the war effort (e.g., George Washington, James Warren, John Glover) as well as on-the-ground anecdotes revealing what life was like for soldiers and sailors on both sides of the conflict. O'Donnell makes great use of the small details that help readers become absorbed in the times..
The author does rely a lot on quotes from various contemporaneous witnesses. While that may lend authenticity to the work, sometimes its problematic. Some of those quotes, being written in the language of the times, are extremely convoluted, requiring close, close reading (sometimes several times) to glean their meaning. Sometimes, that has the effect of drawing the reader out of the story. And sometimes it leaves the reader scratching his head, wondering if he’s understood the meaning correctly. More than a few times I found myself wishing the author had just summarized those passages.
Finally, I read an uncorrected, advance proof provided by the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press, through Netgalley, the Kindle-specific version of which I downloaded onto my Kindle. I found the formatting to be confusing in many places. Specifically, I had problems differentiating between the main text and footnotes. Lots of times, I couldn't tell which was which. I know this was an uncorrected proof, but still, for advance readers to be able to be fair to the author, that’s something that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Because of that, I will not be posting this review, or any part thereof, until after "The Indispensables" has been finalized and published.
My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read what I’m sure will be a very fine work.
May 24, 2021
I received an advanced reader copy of The Indispensables” in digital format through Net Galley, My thanks to the publisher and author for this exemplary history of a group of patriots who responded to liberty’s call in the early days of the War of Independence.
Patrick K. O’ Donnell does a magnificent job of historic story telling in “ The Indispensables” . It is the story of men from Marblehead, Mass. who rallied to the cause of American Independence even before there was a call to arms. Mostly men of the sea, they picked up firearms and blades and fought at almost every major battle in the first years of the war. At Lexington and and Concord, Bunker Hill,, the fighting around New York City then on to the battles that saved the nascent United States . The were present when Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised the British and ensuring conflicts. As Mr.O’ Donnell relates, it was the Marblehead men who steered the boats that ferried Washington’s army across that ice strewn , raging River. They even fought at sea as privateers.
Throughout the book there are stories of the Massachusetts’ men’s steadfastness and dedication to the cause of liberty. The author writes clearly and well. His depictions of combat, the privation of the American soldiers who fought the well- equipped and professionally led British with stunning success.. The book abounds with citation from letters and diaries that bring the personages of simple soldiers to vibrant life. . Washington himself, often depicted as a remote and wooden Olympian shows his steel in leading his men at the forefront of battles, encouraging,,pleading, cussing and cheering on his troops.
I love to read history, but I have read only a few books of the period of our fight for Independence. Perhaps because of the hagiographic treatment given some of our most important figures . “ The Indispensables” is a superb history that I recommend for everyone.
A few notes: (1) The author points out that many of the regiments formed in Marblehead had soldiers of color who fought, suffered and died alongside their friends in the War of Independence.News to me, and it points up the woeful scholarship of other , more renown historians..
( 2) As noted above, I read an ARC digital copy. There was no art work or maps in this book, but there were some pages with notations and other indications that maps were to be in the finished copies. I hope so, although I resorted to Wiki for maps. ( amazing how some parts of Now downtown New York City and surrounding Burroughs hide bloody battlefields long paved over) . . (3) There were some digital formatting oddities, such as footnotes appearing in the middle of paragraphs, that I am sure will be gone in finished copies.
Never mind- this book is easy to recommend.
���
Patrick K. O’ Donnell does a magnificent job of historic story telling in “ The Indispensables” . It is the story of men from Marblehead, Mass. who rallied to the cause of American Independence even before there was a call to arms. Mostly men of the sea, they picked up firearms and blades and fought at almost every major battle in the first years of the war. At Lexington and and Concord, Bunker Hill,, the fighting around New York City then on to the battles that saved the nascent United States . The were present when Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised the British and ensuring conflicts. As Mr.O’ Donnell relates, it was the Marblehead men who steered the boats that ferried Washington’s army across that ice strewn , raging River. They even fought at sea as privateers.
Throughout the book there are stories of the Massachusetts’ men’s steadfastness and dedication to the cause of liberty. The author writes clearly and well. His depictions of combat, the privation of the American soldiers who fought the well- equipped and professionally led British with stunning success.. The book abounds with citation from letters and diaries that bring the personages of simple soldiers to vibrant life. . Washington himself, often depicted as a remote and wooden Olympian shows his steel in leading his men at the forefront of battles, encouraging,,pleading, cussing and cheering on his troops.
I love to read history, but I have read only a few books of the period of our fight for Independence. Perhaps because of the hagiographic treatment given some of our most important figures . “ The Indispensables” is a superb history that I recommend for everyone.
A few notes: (1) The author points out that many of the regiments formed in Marblehead had soldiers of color who fought, suffered and died alongside their friends in the War of Independence.News to me, and it points up the woeful scholarship of other , more renown historians..
( 2) As noted above, I read an ARC digital copy. There was no art work or maps in this book, but there were some pages with notations and other indications that maps were to be in the finished copies. I hope so, although I resorted to Wiki for maps. ( amazing how some parts of Now downtown New York City and surrounding Burroughs hide bloody battlefields long paved over) . . (3) There were some digital formatting oddities, such as footnotes appearing in the middle of paragraphs, that I am sure will be gone in finished copies.
Never mind- this book is easy to recommend.
���
January 6, 2022
Settled in 1629 and incorporated 20 years later, Marblehead, MA would providentially yield soldiers and sailors pivotal to George Washington's efforts to win crucial victories for the for the fledgling pre-US republic. This perspective on the birth of the United States has never been told quite like this, nor from the vantage of such sharp perspective as that of Revolutionary War historian--and a gentleman I call friend--Patrick O'Donnell.
O'Donnell painstakingly finds connections and pieces of history previously unstitched together as he researched and constituted the men of the famed Marblehead Regiment from historic document. His findings yielded what amounted to an overwhelming rate of successes (and a handful of failures) from these men never quite told like this before. Between the covers of this well-researched work we read the story of the first American soldier executed by the Continental Army during the Revolution (Thomas Hickey). We read multiple stories of how the Revolutionaries narrowly escape destruction, whether at Trenton, Brooklyn or crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 during a blizzard. These occasions, and numerous others, all had the hand of the Marblehead Regiment's men involved to shape enough of a positive outcome, further fueling revolutionary goals and outcomes.
Marblehead's men would literally enable the birth of our new country, create (and become the birthplace (disputed by nearby Beverly, MA)) and establish the origins of the US Navy; and eventually become the birthplace of USMC aviation (not mentioned in the book!). The Marblehead Regiment would prove decisive in their seizure and envelopment of the bridge at Assunpink Creek, transforming the "battle from a minor victory into a crushing triumph that changed the course of the war." A Marblehead doctor would go on to save the army from the ravages of smallpox, while separately, an artillery company from Marblehead would fight courageously at Bunker Hill. Marblehead would also produce some of the most notable men shaping the nation to include Elbridge Gerry (for whom the term gerrymandering is named)--a future US Vice President--and Azor One and Jeremiah Lee. As a sign of their early naval prowess Marblehead mariners would execute the 'American Dunkirk' during the Battle of Brooklyn, evacuating soldiers from Brooklyn to Manhattan (in which a curtain of 'providential' fog provided cover); and later prove instrumental during the Battle of Pell's Point.
All in all, this is a welcome masterpiece of prose dramatically written, and a HUGE add to the historical archives of our nation's history!
O'Donnell painstakingly finds connections and pieces of history previously unstitched together as he researched and constituted the men of the famed Marblehead Regiment from historic document. His findings yielded what amounted to an overwhelming rate of successes (and a handful of failures) from these men never quite told like this before. Between the covers of this well-researched work we read the story of the first American soldier executed by the Continental Army during the Revolution (Thomas Hickey). We read multiple stories of how the Revolutionaries narrowly escape destruction, whether at Trenton, Brooklyn or crossing the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 during a blizzard. These occasions, and numerous others, all had the hand of the Marblehead Regiment's men involved to shape enough of a positive outcome, further fueling revolutionary goals and outcomes.
Marblehead's men would literally enable the birth of our new country, create (and become the birthplace (disputed by nearby Beverly, MA)) and establish the origins of the US Navy; and eventually become the birthplace of USMC aviation (not mentioned in the book!). The Marblehead Regiment would prove decisive in their seizure and envelopment of the bridge at Assunpink Creek, transforming the "battle from a minor victory into a crushing triumph that changed the course of the war." A Marblehead doctor would go on to save the army from the ravages of smallpox, while separately, an artillery company from Marblehead would fight courageously at Bunker Hill. Marblehead would also produce some of the most notable men shaping the nation to include Elbridge Gerry (for whom the term gerrymandering is named)--a future US Vice President--and Azor One and Jeremiah Lee. As a sign of their early naval prowess Marblehead mariners would execute the 'American Dunkirk' during the Battle of Brooklyn, evacuating soldiers from Brooklyn to Manhattan (in which a curtain of 'providential' fog provided cover); and later prove instrumental during the Battle of Pell's Point.
All in all, this is a welcome masterpiece of prose dramatically written, and a HUGE add to the historical archives of our nation's history!
August 5, 2021
I grew up in Massachusetts about 30 miles from Marblehead. I've been there often. As a Boy Scout I marched the 7 miles from Acton to Lexington reenacting the march of the Acton Minutemen who joined the Minutemen from Marblehead and other Massachusetts communities there. In the Army teaching in the Transportation School, I used the story of John Glover and his Marbleheaders manning the boats that took Washington's army across the Delaware as an example of early Army transportation but I did not know how indispensable the men of Marblehead had been to the Revolution until I read this book! I never knew how important these hardy sailor/soldiers were to both the Continental Navy and Army until I read this book!
The Indispensables is an apt title for this book because it highlights the vital role that the people, money, harbor and facilities played during the entire Revolution. Elbridge Gerry, not a favorite of mine because of Gerrymandering, I was surprised to learn how he was instrumental in supporting the Revolution using his own money and political influence to help supply gunpowder and other supplies needed by the Continental Army. He was also helped shape the Navy. John Glover, a strong leader who helped form the Marblehead Regiment eventually assuming command. He spent his own money and pretty much went broke getting gunpowder through his business connections with the trading house owned by Jose Gardoqui and his family. Glover not only used his money but also his ships to smuggle the powder into Marblehead. Glover led the Regiment in much of the fighting up through 1782. His leadership and his Marblehead Regiment extricated the Army out of Brooklyn across the East River helping Washington and the Army to live to fight another day. I mentioned earlier the crossing of the Delaware for the successful attack on Trenton. Other Marbleheaders were on the successful raid against Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to capture gunpowder. When General Washington wanted to establish a Navy, Glover and other Marbleheaders provided ships and crews. The city of Beverly, Massachusetts was used as a base for the fledgling Navy. Caleb Gibbs a Marbleheader commanded Washington's Guard. By the war's end 378 Marbleheaders had died in service. Because the sailors had stopped fishing to join the Revolution, the town of Marblehead and Beverly lost substantial income and were economically devastated by the conflict.
One aspect of the Regiment and the sailing community of Marblehead was that both were integrated. African American s specifically named are Romeo, Manuel Soto and Caesar Glover, all Freedmen who willingly served in the Regiment.
This book is an interesting read that brings the Revolution from a broad brush history to the affects on a small community. It is a good read!
The Indispensables is an apt title for this book because it highlights the vital role that the people, money, harbor and facilities played during the entire Revolution. Elbridge Gerry, not a favorite of mine because of Gerrymandering, I was surprised to learn how he was instrumental in supporting the Revolution using his own money and political influence to help supply gunpowder and other supplies needed by the Continental Army. He was also helped shape the Navy. John Glover, a strong leader who helped form the Marblehead Regiment eventually assuming command. He spent his own money and pretty much went broke getting gunpowder through his business connections with the trading house owned by Jose Gardoqui and his family. Glover not only used his money but also his ships to smuggle the powder into Marblehead. Glover led the Regiment in much of the fighting up through 1782. His leadership and his Marblehead Regiment extricated the Army out of Brooklyn across the East River helping Washington and the Army to live to fight another day. I mentioned earlier the crossing of the Delaware for the successful attack on Trenton. Other Marbleheaders were on the successful raid against Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to capture gunpowder. When General Washington wanted to establish a Navy, Glover and other Marbleheaders provided ships and crews. The city of Beverly, Massachusetts was used as a base for the fledgling Navy. Caleb Gibbs a Marbleheader commanded Washington's Guard. By the war's end 378 Marbleheaders had died in service. Because the sailors had stopped fishing to join the Revolution, the town of Marblehead and Beverly lost substantial income and were economically devastated by the conflict.
One aspect of the Regiment and the sailing community of Marblehead was that both were integrated. African American s specifically named are Romeo, Manuel Soto and Caesar Glover, all Freedmen who willingly served in the Regiment.
This book is an interesting read that brings the Revolution from a broad brush history to the affects on a small community. It is a good read!
June 23, 2021
I won a copy of The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by Patrick K. O'Donnell from Goodreads.
The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by Patrick K. O'Donnell is an important history lesson delivered with all the elements of a thriller. Readers are quickly immersed into the story of the men who were at the forefront of the American Revolution. These men and their community, whose morals and ideals challenged the status quo and promoted American independence, rose up again and again to overcome incredible odds, especially on the battlefield. Time and again, the reader realizes that, if not for these mostly unsung heroes, the United States of America would not exist today. O'Donnell details the successes and failures, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Full of action, amazing individuals, twists, and surprises, The Indispensables takes readers to the underdogs' fight for freedom and a New nation.
The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware by Patrick K. O'Donnell is an important history lesson delivered with all the elements of a thriller. Readers are quickly immersed into the story of the men who were at the forefront of the American Revolution. These men and their community, whose morals and ideals challenged the status quo and promoted American independence, rose up again and again to overcome incredible odds, especially on the battlefield. Time and again, the reader realizes that, if not for these mostly unsung heroes, the United States of America would not exist today. O'Donnell details the successes and failures, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Full of action, amazing individuals, twists, and surprises, The Indispensables takes readers to the underdogs' fight for freedom and a New nation.
October 6, 2022
This is an interesting and informative book about the diverse regiment of soldier-mariners from Marblehead, Massachusetts who had such an outsized impact on the American Revolution. These Marblehead fighters were tough men whose experiences at sea before the war (they were mostly fishermen) taught them both how to lead and how to take orders as well as how to endure terrible physical hardships and terrifying dangers. Their skills as mariners came in especially handy during the miraculous evacuation of Brooklyn Heights as well as during Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware. Although there were only 500 or so of them (which actually represents a highly significant proportion of the population of Marblehead at the time) they somehow seemed to be at every important event during the first couple years of the war, and they made their presence felt every time. This is a good book for anyone interested in the American Revolution.
November 29, 2021
When dealing with massive historical events such as the American Revolution, it's sometimes easier to tell a small part of the big story to give the reader a better understanding of the event.
Patrick O'Donnell has done exactly that with "The Indispensables."
Of course the book does deal with the big events of the American Revolution but through the eyes of a small group of excellent mariners from Marblehead Massachusetts. Over and over again, the author illustrates how this group of individuals played such a pivotal role in the outcome of land and sea battles.
It's not an exaggeration to maintain that if this unit were not present at key events in the Revolution, the outcome of the rebellion may well have turned our differently.
Just when you think you've read everything about the American Revolution, an author like O'Donnell comes along to show you there are yet some untold stories.
Patrick O'Donnell has done exactly that with "The Indispensables."
Of course the book does deal with the big events of the American Revolution but through the eyes of a small group of excellent mariners from Marblehead Massachusetts. Over and over again, the author illustrates how this group of individuals played such a pivotal role in the outcome of land and sea battles.
It's not an exaggeration to maintain that if this unit were not present at key events in the Revolution, the outcome of the rebellion may well have turned our differently.
Just when you think you've read everything about the American Revolution, an author like O'Donnell comes along to show you there are yet some untold stories.
December 18, 2021
It’s always so exciting to crack open a new book that delves into the Revolutionary War, revealing a story that has largely gone untold before. This is the story of a group of soldier-mariners based out of Marblehead, Maryland, who pulled off a miraculous rescue of members of the Continental Army in a Dunkirk-like deployment of resources that ferried 2400 men across the Delaware River, saving their lives and helping to make it possible to win the war. But it’s more than just about that fateful Christmas night. It’s also about how the Marblehead Regiment was put together by a man named John Glover. It’s about a group that included black, white and Native American men, fighting side by side, to win freedom from the British Crown. If you love history, you’ll love this book. If you just love a good story, you’ll love it as well.
I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA
I met this book at Auntie's Bookstore in Spokane, WA
August 1, 2023
This was an enjoyable history of the American Revolution, told through the lens of a regiment of soldiers from Marblehead, MA. Of note, members of the regiment played a key role in evacuating the army from Long Island, beginning an American navy, and ferrying the army across the Delaware to attack Trenton, NJ.
I enjoyed O'Donnell's writing and his structure of the book. The cast of characters was short enough to keep everyone straight, and he structured the chapters in nice bites: long enough to capture the action and short enough to be easily digestible.
It's worth noting that the focus on the Marblehead regiment conveys an oversized sense of its role in the Revolution. Obviously there were other former seamen in the Continental Army who participated in all of these events - that so many were concentrated in the Marblehead regiment made it a convenient focus for the book.
I enjoyed O'Donnell's writing and his structure of the book. The cast of characters was short enough to keep everyone straight, and he structured the chapters in nice bites: long enough to capture the action and short enough to be easily digestible.
It's worth noting that the focus on the Marblehead regiment conveys an oversized sense of its role in the Revolution. Obviously there were other former seamen in the Continental Army who participated in all of these events - that so many were concentrated in the Marblehead regiment made it a convenient focus for the book.
Read
May 29, 2023Brigadier General John Glover is my 6th great-grandfather and though I knew he was pretty instrumental in the Revolutionary War, I didn’t realize how indispensable he and his regiment of rugged merchant mariners were to the crucial early battle successes of our fledgling new nation. Described as short, scrappy, and tenacious, I feel a special kinship with this ancestor of mine! One of the most amazing things I learned in the book was his regiment, made up of the Marblehead men from Marblehead, Massachusetts, was diverse and integrated including African Americans and Native Americans from their community that they lived and worked with. Can’t wait to visit Salem, Marblehead, and Boston to experience some of these places!
March 14, 2024
Great adventure of a formidable group of men who played roles in key victories over the course of the early American struggle for freedom. From insurmountable obstacles of nature to battling the most powerful military on earth at the time, these Indispensables were there to achieve victories to keep the struggle for Independence alive. The behind-the-scenes stories also depict leadership and fortitude of men who diplomatically and financially found ways to support them during treacherous times. People today tend to take for granted the cost those before us paid to allow us the opportunities we have today. It reminds those who live particularly in the former 13 colonies of how where we live now was a key battleground and foundation of American and world history since.
May 6, 2024
Chronicle of the deeds and heroism of men from Marblehead, MA during the Revolutionary War. Begins nearly a decade before the start of the way with a focus on natives such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne and their efforts to govern, form alliances and forge supply lines. Much time is spent with the Marblehead regiment, under the command of John Glover. These men fought at Lexington, Bunker Hill, throughout New York and at Trenton and Princeton. They also formed Washington’s guard, crewed the first ships in what would become the navy and rowed Washington and the army across the Delaware. Interesting account of a remarkable group of men. Their impact throughout the war was immense. At times a bit repetitive, but a worthwhile read.
May 17, 2021
No military historian working today brings as much gusto to his work as Patrick O'Donnell. He plunges into his research and keeps digging until he finds details that many missed before. That's what made The Indispensables such a vital and important book for me. There have been so many books written about the founders and the American Revolution that it seemed as if there was nothing left to say. O'Donnell shows how wrong that is, just as he shows how this small band of men from Marblehead made one of the most important parts of the Revolution possible. This is a book that demands your attention.
December 29, 2022
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It was largely a book in search of a point. The Marblehead Men of the Revolutionary War were, along with the Rangers, essentially the first US special forces troops and the forerunners of the Navy’s special boat units. On top of that they were incredibly diverse in terms of race and culture, something the US military wouldn’t see again for nearly two centuries. However, this book is more a photo album of assorted snapshots of the Marbleheaders and those adjacent to them than a cohesive sustained exploration of their part in American history. Also, the author’s overuse of the phrase “inflection point” grates.
August 10, 2021
This detailed and well researched book revolves around a group of men from Marblehead, Massachusetts and their roles in various stages of the Revolutionary War.
Laid bare is the bravery & scarifies made, the pure grit and determination in the seek for liberation.
Those interested in the history of the United States and the Revolutionary will likely find this to be a very interesting and informative book.
My thanks go to the author publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
Laid bare is the bravery & scarifies made, the pure grit and determination in the seek for liberation.
Those interested in the history of the United States and the Revolutionary will likely find this to be a very interesting and informative book.
My thanks go to the author publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
June 15, 2021
Outstanding Piece of American History
Living in Bucks County PA I have attended a number of reenactment events at Washington Crossing Park including crossings held in bitter cold. I learned a lot about Col. Glover and the Marblehead team that Glover led from the reenactors. This excellent book fills in a lot of the backstory of this unit but also the history of the Revolution. Simply a terrific well documented story of what would eventually be the United States of America!
Living in Bucks County PA I have attended a number of reenactment events at Washington Crossing Park including crossings held in bitter cold. I learned a lot about Col. Glover and the Marblehead team that Glover led from the reenactors. This excellent book fills in a lot of the backstory of this unit but also the history of the Revolution. Simply a terrific well documented story of what would eventually be the United States of America!
July 5, 2021
Required reading for All Americans!
My #1 recommendation to others on books I have read. You will revel in the discovery of your true American DNA. It will drive you to want to learn more. I read this in the month before Independence Day, and said a prayer of thanks to those Patriots who proclaimed and delivered our American freedoms by investing their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
My #1 recommendation to others on books I have read. You will revel in the discovery of your true American DNA. It will drive you to want to learn more. I read this in the month before Independence Day, and said a prayer of thanks to those Patriots who proclaimed and delivered our American freedoms by investing their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews