Where a Man Can Go: Major General William Phillips, British Royal Artillery, 1731-1781(Contributions in Military Studies)

This is the first published account of the life of Major General William Phillips, a British officer whose achievements during the American Revolution place him in the ranks of Britain's most successful generals such as Charles Cornwallis. Although he was a commoner, Phillips rose from the rank of cadet in the Royal Artillery Academy, distinguished himself through remarkable achievements in Europe's Seven Years War, and went on to command a field army in America. This story chronicles his extraordinary abilities, leadership, and innovative style which left a lasting mark on British artillery tactics and military leadership. It provides new insights into the captivity of Burgoyne's army, British operations in Virginia in 1781, and the first detailed account of the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia. In this probing biography, suitable for military buffs and historians alike, Davis uncovers new and fascinating materials about Phillips' life, including his connivance with General Cornwallis to change British strategy in the American southern theater. Though Phillips has largely been denied attention throughout history, Davis' work goes a long way toward restoring his rightful place.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Peter Somerville-Large Preface Celts--Crusaders--A Cadet Genesis of the Artilleryman Interludes Canada and Adventure Where a Man Can Go Saratoga Convention and Captivity The Card Player of Monticello Independent Command Campaign Petersburg Try the Militia The Final March Return to Blandford Epitaph Appendix A: A Provenance of Phillips' Portrait Appendix B: Inventory of Phillips' Mess Appendix C: Last Will and Testament of William Phillips Bibliography Index

About the Author :
ROBERT P. DAVIS retired from the U.S. Army in 1982 as a First Sergeant, after serving 26 years on active duty including Vietnam in 1968-1969, but he continues to work for the army as a civilian. He is a consultant to the City of Petersburg, Virginia, for its Revolutionary War history and is involved in reenacting and lecturing on Major General Phillips and the Battle of Petersburg. Mr. Davis has been a member of the Company of Military Historians since 1974.

Review :
…an interesting work that adds to knowledge of Phillips, especially his personal relationships with women. …[a] fine bibliography that gives a welcome and useful insight into British military institutions of the eighteenth century via the talented but, ultimately, unlucky General Willaim Phillips. Davis provides a straight forward account of Phillips's life….Readers looking a narrative histories of the Revolutionary War, particularly the British campaign at Saratoga and the early stages of the Virginia campaign of 1781.