By 1781, the sixth year of the American rebellion, British strategic focus had shifted from the northern states to concentrate in the south. Canada’s governor, Frederick Haldimand, was responsible for the defence of the Crown’s largest colony against the threat of Franco-American invasion, while assisting overall British strategy. He cleverly employed his sparse resources to vigorously raid the rebels’ frontiers and create anxiety, disruption, and deprivation, as his Secret Service undermined their morale with invasion rumours and threatened their Union by negotiating with the independent republic of Vermont to return to the British fold.

Haldimand flooded New York’s Mohawk and Schoharie valleys with Indian and Loyalist raiders and, once the danger of invasion passed, he dispatched two coordinated expeditions south. One was launched onto Lake Champlain to alarm Albany and further the secret talks with Vermont. The second struck deep into enemy territory, fought a battle at Johnstown, and retreated precipitately. The rebels effectively countered both expeditions.

Gavin K. Watt is a founding member of the Museum of Applied Military History. He is the author of books on the American Revolution as waged from Canada: Burning of the Valleys and The Flockey, and he co-authored The King's Royal Regiment of New York and The British Campaign of 1777. Gavin currently lives in King City, Ontario.

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Lieutenant-Colonel William A. Smy C.D. is a prominent figure in the Armed forces and this is his first novel.

William A. Smy's profile page

This piece of work is a must for any serious student of the Revolutionary War. Gavin Watt is one of the foremost writers and experts on the important contributions of the Loyalists who supported the Crown in the war. No Rev War library will be complete without this and volume two which is due to be published shortly. Three cheers for Mr. Watt: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

New York State

"It is so full of information that it's rather like having several books in one."

Loyalist Gazette