Books › Guns for General Washington
Guns for General Washington
First published 1990 · 142 pages
A freezing, grueling, and triumphant trek through the wilderness that turns a historical logistical feat into a gripping survival adventure.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like trudging through knee-deep snow with the wind howling in your ears. It transforms a logistical military maneuver into a high-stakes survival adventure, anchoring the grand sweep of the American Revolution in the freezing, mud-soaked reality of moving massive cannons across a treacherous wilderness. The narrative moves at a brisk, determined clip, driven by the earnest bond between two brothers and their shared refusal to give up against impossible odds. The prose is accessible and action-packed, keeping the focus on the tactile hardships of ice, broken sleds, and exhausted oxen. It is a perfect fit for young readers who crave historical fiction that feels less like a textbook and more like a rugged, triumphant test of human endurance.
- Mood
- frigid
- tense
- rugged
- triumphant
- Tone
- earnest
- adventurous
- determined
- suspenseful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- brotherly loyalty · overcoming impossible odds · man versus nature · wartime ingenuity
- The writing
- Clear, action-oriented, and highly accessible, focusing on the tactile, freezing realities of the physical journey.
- The arc
- Moves from restless frustration into a grueling, suspense-filled test of endurance, culminating in a deeply satisfying triumph.
- Who it's for
- Young history enthusiasts and readers who love survival stories centered on ingenuity, grit, and brotherly bonds.
Content notes
- wartime peril
- animal distress in harsh weather
About the book
In the bitter winter of 1775-76, Colonel Henry Knox and his younger brother Will, both of the Continental Army, become frustrated with the British blockade of Boston and decide to attempt to move 183 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, over 300 miles of mountainous wilderness, to defend the besieged city.
Description from Open Library.
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