Christian M McBurney's Books

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

By: Christian M McBurney

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Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

By: Christian M McBurney

A history of espionage in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War. Espionage played a vital role during the American Revolution in Rhode Island. The British and Americans each employed spies to discover the secrets, plans and positions of their enemy. Continental navy lieutenant John Trevett dressed as an ordinary sailor, grew out his beard and went from tavern to tavern in Newport gathering intelligence. Metcalf Bowler became a traitor on the order of Benedict Arnold, as he spied for the British while serving as a Patriot leader in Providence. Disguised as a peddler, Ann Bates spied for the British during the Rhode Island Campaign. When caught, one spy paid with his life, while others suffered in jail. Author Christian M. McBurney, for the first time, unravels the world of spies and covert operations in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War. “McBurney tells a series of fascinating stories about the spies and their families, many of them prominent Newporters, in his book.” —The Newport Daily News “According to . . . McBurney, New York and Pennsylvania may have witnessed more spy activity in the Revolutionary War, but Rhode Island was not that far behind...”no theater of war produced such rich stories of spies and spying as Rhode Island.” That’s a pretty big brag for a state as small as ours, but McBurney does make his case very well. The fact that Newport was a major North American port at the time had a lot to do with that, but there are a few towns around the edges that turned up some surprising tales of intrigue and treason.” —Cranston Herald

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182

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

162585255X

ISBN 13

9781625852557

Dark Voyage

An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade

By: Christian M. McBurney

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Dark Voyage

An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade

By: Christian M. McBurney

Dark Voyage: An American Privateer's War on Britain's African Slave Trade is the never-before-told story of the extraordinary 1778 voyage of the American ship Marlborough that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to attack the heart of the British slave trading empire in West Africa. Conceived and funded by prominent Rhode Island merchant John Brown, the 20-gun double-decked brig and its mission would have been forgotten were it not for the little-known primary source document, Journal of the Good Ship Marlborough, recognized by the author for its extraordinary importance to the history of slavery and the American Revolution.

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320

Published Date

ISBN 10

1594163820

ISBN 13

9781594163821

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

By: Christian M McBurney

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Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

By: Christian M McBurney

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182

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Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

162585255X

ISBN 13

9781625852557

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay

The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

By: Christian M. McBurney

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Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay

The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

By: Christian M. McBurney

During World War I and World War II, Rhode Island was dotted with coastal forts filled with large caliber guns. Yet they were never fired in anger. By contrast, from 1929 to 1933, during Prohibition, U.S. Coast Guard vessels frequently fired machine guns at rumrunners in Narragansett Bay. Machine gun fire killed three rumrunners and wounded another on the notorious Black Duck. Despite the incident drawing national protests, the carnage continued. The Coast Guard fired machine guns at dozens more rumrunners in Rhode Island waters, killing another man, severely wounding two others, and causing several boats to explode or sink. Join author and historian Christian McBurney as he explores the use of excessive force in Narragansett Bay and other Rhode Island waters.

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Page Count

199

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1439678391

ISBN 13

9781439678398

The Rhode Island Campaign

The First French and American Operation in the Revolutionary War

By: Christian M. McBurney

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The Rhode Island Campaign

The First French and American Operation in the Revolutionary War

By: Christian M. McBurney

Chronicles the battle fought by the joint American and French forces against the British during the Revolutionary War, describing the complex, multi-faceted sea strategies and the controversial decisions made on both sides by the prominent patriots involved.

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427

Publisher

Westholme Pub Llc

Published Date

ISBN 10

1594161348

ISBN 13

9781594161346

Abductions in the American Revolution

Attempts to Kidnap George Washington, Benedict Arnold and Other Military and Civilian Leaders

By: Christian McBurney

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Abductions in the American Revolution

Attempts to Kidnap George Washington, Benedict Arnold and Other Military and Civilian Leaders

By: Christian McBurney

The tactic of kidnapping enemy leaders, used in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, dates to the American Revolution. George Washington called such efforts "honorable" and supported attempts to kidnap the British commander-in-chief (twice), Benedict Arnold (after he turned traitor) and Prince William Henry (a future king of Great Britain). Washington in turn was targeted at his Morristown winter headquarters by British dragoons who crossed the frozen Hudson River. New Jersey Governor William Livingston performed a patriotic service by going to considerable lengths to avoid being abducted by the Loyalist raider James Moody. Sometimes these operations succeeded, as with the spectacular captures of Major General Charles Lee, Major General Richard Prescott, Brigadier General Gold Selleck Silliman, and North Carolina's governor Thomas Burke. Sometimes they barely failed, as with the violent attempt by British secret service operatives against Major General Philip Schuyler and the mission by British dragoons against Thomas Jefferson. Some of the abducted, such as signer of the Declaration of Independence Richard Stockton and Delaware's governor John McKinly, suffered damage to their reputations. The kidnapper risked all--if caught, he could be hanged. This book covers more than thirty major attempted and successful abductions of military and civilian leaders from 1775 to 1783, from Maine to Georgia, and including two in Great Britain.

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Page Count

230

Publisher

McFarland

Published Date

ISBN 10

1476624291

ISBN 13

9781476624297

George Washington's Nemesis

The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the Revolutionary War

By: Christian McBurney

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George Washington's Nemesis

The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the Revolutionary War

By: Christian McBurney

This biography attempts to set the record straight for a misunderstood military figure from the American Revolution. Historians and biographers of Charles Lee have treated him as either an enemy of George Washington or a defender of American liberty. Neither approach is accurate; objectivity is required to fully understand the war’s most complicated general. In George Washington’s Nemesis, author Christian McBurney uses original documents (some newly discovered) to combine two dramatic stories to create one balanced view of one of the Revolutionary War’s most fascinating personalities. General Lee, second in command in the Continental Army led by George Washington, was captured by the British in December, 1776. While imprisoned, he gave his captors a plan on how to defeat Washington’s army as quickly as possible. This extraordinary act of treason was not discovered during his lifetime. Less well known is that throughout his sixteen months of captivity and even after his release, Lee continued communicating with the enemy, offering to help negotiate an end to the rebellion. After Lee rejoined the Continental Army, he was given command of many of its best troops together with orders from Washington to attack British general Henry Clinton’s column near Monmouth, New Jersey. But things did not go as planned for Lee, leading to his court-martial for not attacking and for retreating in the face of the enemy. McBruney argues the evidence clearly shows Lee was unfairly convicted and had, in fact, done something beneficial. But Lee had insulted Washington, which made the matter a political contest between the army’s two top generals—only one of whom could prevail.

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Page Count

389

Publisher

Casemate Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1611214661

ISBN 13

9781611214666

George Washington's Nemesis

The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-martial of Major General Charles Lee During the American Revolution

By: Christian McBurney

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George Washington's Nemesis

The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court-martial of Major General Charles Lee During the American Revolution

By: Christian McBurney

Charles Lee, second in rank in the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War to George Washington, while prisoner in 1777, committed treason by writing and submitting to British commanders William Howe and Richard Howe a military plan on how to defeat the Americans. After his release and commanding a Continental Army detachment in the Battle of Monmouth Court House, he was court-martialed and unfairly convicted of not attacking the enemy and retreating unnecessarily"--

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Page Count

318

Published Date

ISBN 10

1611214653

ISBN 13

9781611214659

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay: The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

By: Christian M. McBurney

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Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay: The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

By: Christian M. McBurney

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Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1467149683

ISBN 13

9781467149686

Book's by Christian M McBurney

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Dark Voyage

Dark Voyage

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay

The Rhode Island Campaign

The Rhode Island Campaign

Abductions in the American Revolution

Abductions in the American Revolution

George Washington's Nemesis

George Washington's Nemesis

George Washington's Nemesis

George Washington's Nemesis

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay: The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

Machine Guns in Narragansett Bay: The Coast Guard’s War on Rumrunners

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