The Final Invasion: Plattsburgh, the War of 1812's Most Decisive Battle

By David Fitz-Enz

Book Overview

A major event in both America's history and the European wars of the nineteenth century, the War of 1812's Battle of Plattsburgh saw the largest invasion ever of a foreign military into the United States, as the British army and navy, fresh from victories against Napoleon, attempted to conquer Lake Champlain and its shores. Their plan was to seize control of key waterways and port cities, a move that would cripple America's defenses. Outnumbered and outgunned, the U. S. land and sea forces fought the British ships and troops to a standstill, allowing the leader of the American fleet, Lieutenant Thomas Macdonough, to carry out a brilliant maneuver which ensured an American victory.

Author Fitz-Enz researched and produced a companion PBS documentary that examined the leaders on both sides of the conflict and their actions during the battle. His research brought to light numerous documents, including diaries and secret battle orders, that reveal new insights into the battle. His descriptions of the confrontation in the pages of The Final Invasion bring to vivid life the cannon blasts that tore through ships and their crews and the rush of infantry storming the fortifications around the city.

Endorsed by the U. S. Army War College, The Final Invasion is a thrilling look at a pivotal moment in American and world history.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815411391
• ISBN13: 9780815411390
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Cooper Square Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

History with a Sense of Humor

Colonel Fitz-Enz has demonstrated an uncanny knack of combining the historical with the humorous. War isn't funny, of course, but small tactical events with editorial comments make for an excellent and interesting book. The book also shows how very close the US came to losing it all. An excellent read.

Final Invasion

I bought the book because it won the Distinguished Writing Award. Different from any other history book I have read because it is written from the British prospective more than the victors. Easy to get through,it tells a story that I have never heard before. How did I miss this important event in our country's history? To think that we were attacked on September the 11th once before. If we had lost this one, we could have lost it all. It is a must read for every American.

Well Done

Great research in a military intelligence gathering style. Good military analysis of the event. Book length, but a short story due to large font. I am suspect to some details, such as the use of "Britsh 62nd Regt of Foot or Royal Americans" when he may mean the 60th Regt. A major error I think.

Encyclopedic knowledge

Fitz-enz shows his vast knowledge of military history and of this little known battle at Plattsburgh in 1814 in this book and in his video of the same name. Filled with detail but written with a simple direct prose style it is a compelling account. I felt drawn to the times and the people. The description of the naval engagement is extremely visual. You can almost smell the cannon balls flying back and forth.