Dear Mr. Cornwell:

I recently finished your wonderful book, “The Fort”.  I can’t remember the last time I read a book where I couldn’t wait to get home from work so I could pick it up to “see what happens next”.

The book was recommended to me by a Facebook friend of mine last year as I was traveling through New England.  The trip was planned because I wanted to visit ancestral grave sites.  My “gateway” to the area had been my great-grandmother, Irene Billings, who was born in Bangor, as well as her mother, Betsey Grindle.  To make a long story short, I did some research online and discovered that my 6th great-uncle, John Billings, was killed at Fort George, as he had been conscripted by the British to help build the fort.  I believe he must have been hit by one of the cannonballs and literally blown to bits because they were never able to recover the body.  He was from the Sedgwick/Deer Isle area, SE of Castine.  He left behind a wife and two week old son.  The specifics remain fuzzy, so I have to do some additional research to get the complete specifics.  His son John,Jr., BTW, grew up to fight in the War of 1812 and he later because a successful farmer who lived into his 90’s.

Having visited Castine last May and literally “walking the fort”  made it all the more exciting reading the book.  I could see the land forms in my head!  I must say, your detailed descriptions were fantastic!  I could “see” the ships, “feel” the cold weather, etc.  The climax at the very end was thrilling and very sad at the same time.

I much appreciate your writing about the raw horrors of war and taking the romance out of it.  It is such a tragic waste of human life.

You have such a gift of developing your characters.  I felt equally close to Wadsworth and McLean.  Sir John Moore was also terrific.  Paul Revere, what can I say.  Yes, America lives a lot on myth, and Revere is a great example.  Frankly, I find truth far more interesting than myth!

I know it never took place, but I loved the meeting between General Wadsworth and McLean. Thank you for that.  I also loved Lt. Little going off on Saltonstall, but you are right, Lovell is the one that really screwed it up.  I knew what was going to happen, but the end of the expedition still left me speechless.

I don’t want to leave too long of a note, but wanted to let you know that I will be returning to Castine next May.  What a lovely town it is!  It will mean even more to me now that I’ve read your book.  I’ve made a point of ordering more copies of your book and giving them to my family and friends to read!

I think the next book I will order is “Redcoat”.  I can’t wait to see how you treat the premise I’ve read about.

Thank you again for this wonderful book!  Given my family history, it means a lot to me.

A very happy 2019 to you and your wife, Judy!

Don Schmidt

La Jolla, CA