You will never look at the American Revolution the same way again. To read this book is to give you a whole new perspective on where we as a nation come from.
Freedom is not free!
1780: At the Battle of Waxhaw, NC, the British Legion massacres the unresisting soldiers of of the Virginia Regiment instead of accepting their surrender. In the aftermath, colonists-ordinary men and women, farmers, shopkeepers, and back woodsmen-come together in secret at an abandoned Spanish mission, renaming it Patriot's Point. There they organize themselves into a fighting force, vowing to contain the British advance at all cost until the Continental Army can retaliate. Fewer than two hundred men stand in defiance of over five thousand British soldiers: two hundred patriots, who understand that freedom is not free.
Excerpt
Trey took careful aim at the British Dragoon as the mass of cavalry bore down upon them. When his target was just less than ten yards distant, he fired, noting with brief satisfaction that the horseman jerked back in his saddle as a crimson fountain of blood erupted from the center of his chest before falling from his horse. He would be one of only five British soldiers that would be killed this day.
There was no time to reload. There was no time for anything. The line of British cavalry tore through the thin, inexperienced patriot line with ease. Trey looked over the battlefield. It was a wide open expanse of tall grassland, bisected by an insignificant country dirt road. The total size was perhaps15-20 acres, with several lines of British cavalry bearing down on the patriot lines of defense. He could see several men trying to surrender to the overwhelming British force.
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Reviews for "Patriot's Point"
Reviewed by Michael Hartnett
3/26/2018
A Powerful Work of Historical American Fiction
The soldiers in Douglas Boren’s inspiring novel Patriot’s Point are given the duty of defending the largest artillery and munitions depot in the Carolinas against British forces about fifty times greater in number. Centered on the plight and fate of Colonel Trey Alexander, the story takes the reader from the 1780 massacre at the battle of Waxhaw to the arguably even more perilous situation at Patriot’s Point.
Sprinkled in with the tension of the against-all-odds defense of the point are evocative stories about key moments in many of the characters’ lives. As the soldiers steel themselves for what seems to be a certain death, they ruminate on tender, intimate turning points of their pasts as they contemplate the sacrifices of the future. Against these individual tales, the novel embodies historical breadth, including a nuanced recounting of the grievances that led to the rebellion.
With compelling characters (including two strong, yet feminine heroines in Melanie and Lilly), Boren makes the novel tremendously engaging by constantly shifting perspectives. The depictions of General Cornwallis and Robert Snow develop the British/loyalist perspective, and the reckless cruelty of Colonel Tarleton and the feckless leadership of Colonel Wainwright serve as fine foils for the earthy, practical courage of Trey and his two old Charleston buddies Jody and Sands. As they wait for reinforcements that appear less and less likely to arrive, the temper and commitment of Trey and the other soldiers who try to hold Patriot’s Point elevate from dedication to nobility.
The sharp-shooting mountain men – Pearson, Boaz, and especially Goforth – give another layer to the narrative as those of the frontier spirit will (for this cause) turn away from their western exploration to fight to free the colonials to the east from British control. Indeed, Boren presents a novel that is instructive, fleshing out perspectives to delve into the roles of freed slaves in the fight and the pirating days of commerce that preceded the revolution.
Patriot’s Point is an engaging read that serves a tremendous reminder of the commitment and sacrifices the revolutionary generation so willingly embraced. I recommend you pick up this fine historical fiction about a monumental time in America’s founding.
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