Book Description Review “George Washington’s Nemesis uniquely reads as a highly engaging criminal investigation…”The Colonial Review “A masterful job . . . and well-rounded view. . . . A must-read for any serious student of the American Revolution who wants to learn more about the life and controversies of Maj. Gen. Charles Lee.”Dr. Sean Heuvel Read more About the Author Christian McBurney has written five books on the American Revolutionary War, including ‘Kidnapping the Enemy: The Special Operations to Capture Generals Charles Lee & Richard Prescott’. His published articles include one in MHQ: The Journal of Military History, on the British attempt to abduct George Washington, which was nominated by the U.S. Army Historical Foundation as best magazine article for 2017. He also publishes Rhode Island’s leading history blog (www.smallstatebighistory.com). He is an attorney in Washington, D.C. Read more Customers Review: General Charles Lee was General Washington’s second in command when he was captured by the British on December 13, 1776. Three months into his imprisonment, he committed a treasonous act, submitting a plan on how to defeat the Continental Army. He was never prosecuted for that act because it was not discovered until June 1858, 75 years after Lee’s death. Lee was exchanged on April 23, 1778 and resumed his command. After his famous confrontation with his commander-in-chief at the Battle of Monmouth, he demanded a court-martial to clear his name on the three charges brought against him. Christian McBurney, an attorney, says that the court-martial was tantamount to Gen. “Ulysses Grant bringing charges against William Tecumseh Sherman on the eve of his march through Georgia.” McBurney presents the facts of these two events and discusses the pros and cons of many questions arising from them. This book is a thorough and objective analysis of those events. It is a compelling read that could rival the best TV courtroom dramas. Highly recommended.
For students of the American Revolution, Charles Lee is a polarizing figure, second-in-command of the Continental Army under George Washington, until the Battle of Monmouth Court House in June of 1778. Then that fateful day brought the court martial of Lee. Through this prism one has placed Lee in either a positive or negative light.Until now, historian Christian McBurney brings a level of objectivity that allows the reader to determine and form their own opinions on this military officer. In a balanced and insightful history, McBurney crafts a well-written, engaging history that provides a forum to uncover the facts about Lee and what happened during the American Revolution. A needed addition to any history enthusiast’s library.
Author Christian McBurney’s most recent book, George Washington’s Nemesis: The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the American Revolution, is extremely well written. I have the Kindle Edition. Major General Charles Lee certainly was an odd character. Christian McBurney gives us great information about his act of treason and his court-martial conviction. This book is thoroughly researched and a delightful read.
I thought this book was really important in doing a deeper look into Charles Lee, rather than just portraying him as a two dimensional villain. Lee, and the drama that swirled around him, was much more nuanced and interesting.
Esteemed Revolutionary War scholar John W. Shy once wrote that to understand Maj. Gen. Charles Lee in depth, a psychiatrist is probably required instead of a historian. Indeed, Charles Lee was one of the American Revolution’s most controversial and complicated personalities, perplexing generations of scholars who have attempted to understand this disgraced Continental Army leader. However, through the book GEORGE WASHINGTON’S NEMESIS: THE OUTRAGEOUS TREASON AND UNFAIR COURT-MARTIAL OF MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES LEE DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, it is evident that an attorney’s perspective also proves invaluable in sorting through the dense layers of complexity concerning General Lee’s personality and career. A lawyer by trade, author Christian McBurney does a masterful job of re-examining the two events that are most closely identified with General Lee – his suspected treason as well as his controversial performance at the Battle of Monmouth and subsequent court martial. To date, most historians have condemned Charles Lee for his perceived lackluster performance at Monmouth while remaining largely dismissive of his acts of treason (committed during his captivity as a prisoner of war), where he submitted strategies to the British that would help them to end the conflict. However, McBurney challenges this paradigm, arguing that while General Lee should be condemned for his treasonous behavior, his performance at Monmouth should be reexamined. Using his skills as an attorney, McBurney presents compelling cases on each front that challenge the reader to reevaluate everything they believe about Charles Lee. For instance, he closely examines the acts of treason (discovered in the 1850s well after General Lee’s death) and makes a compelling legal case that General Lee would have faced enormous repercussions had this information been discovered during his lifetime. Conversely, and contrary to conventional accepted wisdom, he argues that Charles Lee performed well in battle at Monmouth and was rather the victim of faulty intelligence as well as uncooperative subordinate commanders. Further, he asserts that Lee was made to be a scapegoat of sorts at his court martial, being forced to take the full blame for the Continental Army’s initial difficulties at Monmouth, even though others such as Brig. Gen. Charles Scott contributed substantially to the problems. While maintaining that he was poorly treated during the court martial, McBurney argues that Charles Lee was ultimately his own worst enemy, possessed with an arrogant, conspiring and petty personality that often got him into trouble with others. Thus, McBurney concludes that General Lee had largely himself to blame for the controversies that ruined his military career. However, by taking an objective, legalistic approach, McBurney provides a well-rounded view of the controversial general that allows readers to appreciate the good parts of his personality as well as the bad. Further, McBurney is quite thorough in exploring the existing scholarship on Charles Lee – commending it and challenging it where necessary – which leaves the reader with a well-rounded perspective about the Continental Army’s second highest-ranking officer. Overall, Washington’s Nemesis is a must-read for any serious student of the American Revolution who wants to learn more about the life and controversies of Maj. Gen. Charles Lee.
Christian McBurney provides an in-depth, extremely well researched picture of one of the most interesting and enigmatic Patriot general officers of the American Revolution, Major General Charles Lee. He develops picture of Lee as a complex, highly capable yet irascible officer, who’s character flaws were responsible for his downfall, a true American tragic hero.McBurney uses his legal expertise to thoroughly examine whether Lee violated the statutes surrounding treason while he was a prisoner of the British. He then fully examines the charges that Washington brought against Lee following the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse and insightfully examines and makes judgement on each of the charges.McBurney’s writing is engaging and fast paced. This book is an outstanding addition to recent scholarship on the America Revolution. |
8 reviews