Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I finally got around to Redcoat and I’m loving every page of it. It seems strange that I’m getting to it just now after having read most of the non-serial novels like The Fort, Agincourt and Stonehenge. But life sometimes throws you some curves. All the same, it seems appropriate that I read it in the weeks leading up to Independence Day. Once again you’ve fleshed out some fine characters both imaginary and real. Sir William Howe really comes to life there. I also appreciated how you’ve added some nice detail to the action at Paoli’s Tavern. In particular the absence of flints in the muskets of the British troops for the night assault. Reminds me of a decisive moment at the Battle of Brandywine that I read about in a rather acedemic biography of Casimir Pulaski. The column of Hessians sent to outflank the Continental left was ordered to march with unloaded muskets. This enabled Pulaski’s ad hoc cavalry unit to make their heroic and reckless charge. Thusly delaying the flanking movement long enough to enable the Continental Army’s baggage train to escape. It was an American defeat but it could have been much worse.
At any rate, I’m looking foward to finishing up Redcoat over my vacation time before the 4th of July. I’ve visited Valley Forge years ago but I’m sure it’s quite different in many respects from colonial days. Just as Fredericksburg below Marye’s Heights has changed from the Civil War battle. I look forward to seeing how you capture the ambiance of that location in winter.
David M. Dunaj