There were a lot of things going for this book but the action and adventure was too sparse for me, giving way to endless dialogue and explanation. As a true story I found the whole situation fascinating, but them I discovered that the author fabricated parts and it kinda took the shine off a little? The main characters are varied. Some are certainly worthy of respect (Mclean and Moore and Marine Captain Welch to name but a few), but others are so pigheaded that you have to wonder whether any such commanders would really be found at the head of armies in time of war? It was also hard for me to think of the Americans as enemies, perhaps the reason why books about the War of Independence are not generally successful?