1776

1776 by David McCullough

Lynn Garrott

History Department

Evangelical Christian School

Memphis, TN

 

            What comes to mind when you think of the year 1776?  Do you think of the founding of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence?  If so, do the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of fourth of July celebrations take center stage in your mind’s eye:  picnics on tablecloths spread on the ground; flags of all sizes waving proudly along city streets; bands playing Sousa marches and other patriotic songs, culminating in our musical prayer, “God Bless America”; then, as night falls, the sights and sounds of fireworks exploding across a free sky before fading into an almost reverential silence?  Quiet contemplation might settle over us as we mentally replay the events of the day, but according to David McCullough, our meditation would be better spent reflecting on the true story of 1776 - a story that gives even greater cause for contemplation and celebration.

 The celebrated Declaration, while long in debate and preparation, took only two weeks to draft. Independence, however, was much more difficult to attain; it took eight long years, replete with bloodshed and deprivations of every kind, to become reality. In 1776, David McCullough systematically jars the American mind to the reality of that pivotal year, the darkest ever faced by the United States and the year that very nearly reduced the Declaration to an incriminating and embarrassing sheet of worthless paper.   McCullough the historian moves chronologically through the struggles of 1776; McCullough the biographer focuses on George Washington and his closest advisors to relate the strength of character required to persevere through 1776.

In the spring and summer of 1775, the American colonists and British regulars fought at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill.  The ragtag Continental army was

holding the world-class British forces under siege in Boston.  A composed, yet irate, King George III spoke to Parliament in October 1775, revealing plans for forcing the impertinent, rebelling colonists to submit to the Crown.   With a strong military history, a well-trained and well-equipped army, and the largest navy in the world, England seemed assured of victory.  The American militias, though temporarily enjoying a measure of success, seemed doomed to ultimate failure.

 The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, appointed Virginian George Washington commander-in-chief of the army.  When the tall, stately Washington

rode into the militia camps around Boston, he was distressed by the filth and lack of discipline he observed.  The condition of the army was so poor that Washington despaired of having taken the position as its leader.  Illness was epidemic in the camp, and drunkenness was common.  An inventory of supplies showed a severe shortage of gunpowder, with approximately nine rounds of ammunition per soldier. Washington was so stunned by the information that he was said not to have spoken for half an hour after hearing it.

However, one of Washington’s strengths was dealing with matters as they were and not as he wished them to be. He said, “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.” He set about the business of turning an ever-changing array of independent individuals into an army formidable enough to drive Great Britain from the colonies.

After the Declaration of Independence was published and the American rebellion became a full-scale revolution, he understood the increased importance of his appointed task.  Washington stated, “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.”

As David McCullough unfolds the days and events that follow, George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, John Glover, and other Patriot officers and regular soldiers become increasingly human.  The value of the character of each individual multiplies exponentially as conditions become increasingly desperate, and discouragement persists unabated.  Men of lesser fortitude might have surrendered the dream of independence, and few would have judged them for it. These men, leaders and followers, lived the words of Thomas Paine in his 1776 The American Crisis, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Though they were tried, they persevered.

Though 1776 is non-fiction, it reads much like a work of historical fiction.  How did David McCullough manage to fashion words of a factual nature into a narrative that allows the reader to share in the hardships, fears, joys, and sorrows of the characters?  While much of the success of the book can be attributed to the honed talent of Mr. McCullough, acknowledgement of the hard work that went into research cannot be omitted.  According to the bibliography, the material for 1776 came in large part from primary sources, including letters of George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and Joseph Reed; diaries and memoirs of individual soldiers; and newspaper articles of the time.  The author organized, summarized, and quoted from the primary sources, layering them artistically as though he were painting a word picture.  He traveled the paths the men followed, visited their homes where possible, read the books and plays with which they were familiar, and studied the paintings of the period. The extensive bibliography includes three books of the history of the Revolution written in the 18^th century.  David McCullough immersed himself in the lives, events, literature, and surroundings of 1776.  The people of the Revolution became real to him; thus he makes them real to his readers.

As I teach my students the history of America, I use information learned from 1776 and read excerpts from the book to them.  McCullough’s descriptions of the crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton are so realistic that I find myself reading faster and faster as the Patriots finally reach and attack the unprepared Hessians.  The crucial timing of the Patriot victory, won by underfed, often shoeless soldiers in blizzard conditions, cannot be overstated. Planned and executed by a desperate George Washington in the closing days of 1776, it was a miraculous turning point in the war.    Because the surprise battle was won, the war continued. Because it continued, it was ultimately won. Sometimes I wish my students and I could study the battle coatless and barefoot on a cold, windy day!  I think our appreciation of the liberty we possess and those who won it for us would increase dramatically.

If our descendants are going to love and treasure freedom, they must be taught the cost at which it has been bought and the victories that have been achieved in the darkest of days.  1776 reveals the miracle of the birth of the United States, and you will want to share the book with family and friends. The fourth of July will take on a new depth of meaning.  Perhaps, in the midst of the summer heat, as you reflect on the celebration of our nation’s birthday, you may even “hear” the sound of muffled footsteps in the snow. Those cold feet belong to our ancestors, and that is the sound of freedom!