“Fields of Battle: The Wars for North America” by John Keegan was recommended through the Wall Street Journal’s Saturday feature where an author recommends five books. The books is a combination personal essay about Keegan’s feeling and experience in America and the impact of these particular wars, and specific battles in those wars on the impact of North America. Battles covered include the capture of Quebec by the English from the French, the Battle of Yorktown, McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign (which retraced much of the land used at Yorktown) and Custer’s Last Stand.
The beginning of this book was slow with the personal essay, but it improved once Keegan discussed specifics.