The Great Warpath: British Military Sites from Albany to Crown Point

The Great Warpath: British Military Sites from Albany to Crown Point

By David R. Starbuck, PhD

206 pages, paperback: $19.95.

ISBN 0‑87451‑903‑9.

Reviewed by Tim Todish

Dr. David Starbuck is already well-known in the field of French and Indian and Revolutionary War military archaeology, but his latest release, The Great Warpath: British Military Sites from Albany to Crown Point, is his most ambitious and best work to date. As the title implies, he covers the strategic water corridor between New England and Canada that included the Hudson River, Lake George and Lake Champlain. In an easy-to-read style, the book combines historical background information and reports on modern-day archaeological efforts with numerous well-chosen illustrations to achieve its stated purpose, which is " . . .to present a historical and archeological overview of some of the most significant military events and sites along the waterway."

While many archaeological reports are boring and cumbersome, The Great Warpath, published by the University Press of New England, is a joy to read. Perhaps this stems from the author's own enthusiasm and his belief that archaeology is more than just digging in the ground. Dr. Starbuck defines archaeology as " . . . asking questions about the past and systematically using artifacts, features, and sites to try to find out the answers, culminating in the publication of professional quality reports."

In the text the author argues the need to protect historic sites from treasure hunters and others who would destroy their archaeological value—something to which reenactors and other amateur historians should pay serious heed. However, once a site is dug, Dr. Starbuck also feels very strongly that archaeologists have an equal obligation to publish the results of their work so that others may learn from it. While these are important issues, the bulk of the book deals with the nitty‑gritty details that are of great interest to reenactors and other history buffs. These range from whether or not there were numbered regimental buttons during the French and Indian War (yes), to whether they were common (no), to evidence of the lives of the women and children who accompanied the armies, which, regrettably, is very scarce.

Dr. Starbuck writes "What I believe archeology and anthropology can contribute to colonial military history is the story of the daily life in the camps, a lively account of what ordinary soldiers did during the 363 or 364 days of the year that they were not fighting." This material is of great interest to living historians, and the book presents it extremely well in both text and illustrations. From the digs at Saratoga, Rogers' Island, Fort Edward, Fort William Henry, Crown Point and other sites, a fascinating story unfolds. It is a story of courage and sacrifice, suffering, hardship and often death. The dangers did not always come from the battlefield. Sickness and disease also took a terrible toll, and a portion of the book is devoted to the military hospitals that were established to treat ill and wounded soldiers. Fort Edward had the largest hospital complex in Northern New York, and there was also a specialized smallpox hospital on the adjacent Rogers' Island.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Starbuck says, " . . .the men who fought along the Hudson River, Lake George and Lake Champlain have earned the right to be remembered and honored by all those who come after them." His book goes a long way to ensure that this will happen.