Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The author gets into the nitty gritty of how to fight a war, the details and the men who make it go. this book details many minor but interesting behind the scene action the Washington needed to get the job done. A good read!

An interesting read for anyone even if they are not interested in Revolutionary War history or battles.
The story focuses on the rag tag army that won a war for independence. There are some tidbits added that I never knew like about Betsy Ross for one. The story talks mostly about battles we know and some we don't, but it gives us an idea of the genius behind our first president George Washington. It also gives us insight to the soldiers and how they endured true hardships to achieve freedom.

This detailed and well researched book revolves around a group of men from Marblehead, Massachusetts and their roles in various stages of the Revolutionary War.
Laid bare is the bravery & scarifies made, the pure grit and determination in the seek for liberation.
Those interested in the history of the United States and the Revolutionary will likely find this to be a very interesting and informative book.
My thanks go to the author publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.

This is--well, sort of--a regimental history, which is a genre that had a very brief heyday in the last half of the 19th century and has largely gone the way of bell-bottom jeans and fiscal conservatism. The regimental history is largely--but not exclusively--a product of the Civil War era. There was a market for first-hand tales of martial combat then, and the supply of literary blood and gore was sufficient to meet that demand. You see some of them in World War II histories--Stephen Ambrose's BAND OF BROTHERS is of course the best known, although it is about a company rather than a regiment.

O'Donnell is reviving the genre, writing about a Massachusetts regiment, centered around the towns of Marblehead and Beverly, that served in the Revolutionary War and was instrumental--due to the number of seafarers in the ranks--in the evacuation of New York and the subsequent crossing of the Delaware in the Battle of Trenton.

This is either your jam, or it isn't. It was not always my jam. I grew up in Texas; the American Revolution got short shrift next to the Texas one. I didn't really get into the history of the Revolution until I moved to New Jersey and got a job working literally on the Trenton battlefield. (O'Donnell highlights, rightly, the Second Battle of Trenton; the ugly, squat, orange cube of an office building was built right where the British forces massed to cross the bridge to crush the American army, which it failed to do. Other than a couple of ragged flags at the modern bridge, you'd never know.)

I say it's only sort of a regimental history, because Marblehead was a leader in the nascent American navy as well, so there's lots of privateering. And there's a good bit of information about politicians from Marblehead, too, which is... not entirely boring. I guess. (There is an old story about a Boston Bruins fan yelling at a goalie, "We got a town here named after you. Marblehead." That is everything I knew about Marblehead going in. I now know much more.)

Anyway. This is very well done, and I am glad that I read it. I have one minor quibble in that I think that O'Donnell doesn't give enough credit to the New Jersey rebels (David Hackett Fischer's WASHINGTON'S CROSSING gives them their due). But other than that, this was great, and if you want a Revolutionary War regimental history, this is what you want, even if you don't know it yet.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint!

My book club is celebrating its third year anniversary this month, and our very first book was "Washington's Immortals" by Patrick K. O'Donnell. We loved it so much, and we thought it was a great book to start off learning about the American Revolution. As soon as I saw he had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it!

Sidenote: I got approved for this on NetGalley with an e-ARC, and I couldn't have been more excited for it! But, in a first for me, the e-book was so jumbled with the footnotes that I couldn't read the e-book. (Paragraphs that split a page had the footnotes for the page inserted in the middle of the text and it made it very hard to try to read.) I'm sure this issue has been resolved for the final e-copy, but for me I had to snag the physical copy when it came out in order to properly enjoy the book.

But boy, did I enjoy it!!

Structure and Formatting 5/5
This book is pretty chronological, which is a favorite format of mine. Even character introductions and backstories are done in such a way that it doesn't take you out of the moment of what's happening. I just love the way he organizes his books.

Thoroughness of Research 5/5
One thing I loved about "Washington's Immortals" was the fresh new information he added by tapping a new set of source records he found at a tiny Maryland archive. His hyper-focusing on one group of men really lends itself to a deep dive into their lives and personal experiences. He does it again with these Marbleheaders and really gives you everything he can possibly tell you about these men and their experience in the war. I enjoy the research tactics he uses and try to do the same when I research my own family history. (As a result, I think genealogists wanting to research the American Revolution will enjoy this book. And those with Marbleheaders in their line will DEFINITELY want to pick this up!)

Storytelling/Writing 5/5
O'Donnell is described as a military historian. I don't know how that makes him different from some of the other history authors I've read, but as I said before I love how he intertwines the lives of the men in the troops he is covering into the narrative. The people, down to the lowly privates and bystanders, feel like people rather than names found on a roster or witness list. That makes the whole story come to life and it paints a picture not only of the war but of the people it affected.

Level of Enjoyment 5/5
This is definitely one added to my favorites list now, and I'll be keeping an eye out for O'Donnell's next book.

Prior Knowledge Needed 5/5
I think I will now recommend this book over "Washington's Immortals" if you had to choose between the two to start learning about the Revolution. This book really focuses on the earlier parts of the war and introduces some major players in a way that would be fantastic set up for the more all-encompassing "Washington's Immortals." I also recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the American Revolution or wanting to see if history books are something they could enjoy.

I received an advanced reader copy of The Indispensables” in digital format through Net Galley, My thanks to the publisher and author for this exemplary history of a group of patriots who responded to liberty’s call in the early days of the War of Independence.
Patrick K. O’ Donnell does a magnificent job of historic story telling in “ The Indispensables” . It is the story of men from Marblehead, Mass. who rallied to the cause of American Independence even before there was a call to arms. Mostly men of the sea, they picked up firearms and blades and fought at almost every major battle in the first years of the war. At Lexington and and Concord, Bunker Hill,, the fighting around New York City then on to the battles that saved the nascent United States . The were present when Washington crossed the Delaware River and surprised the British and ensuring conflicts. As Mr.O’ Donnell relates, it was the Marblehead men who steered the boats that ferried Washington’s army across that ice strewn , raging River. They even fought at sea as privateers.
Throughout the book there are stories of the Massachusetts’ men’s steadfastness and dedication to the cause of liberty. The author writes clearly and well. His depictions of combat, the privation of the American soldiers who fought the well- equipped and professionally led British with stunning success.. The book abounds with citation from letters and diaries that bring the personages of simple soldiers to vibrant life. . Washington himself, often depicted as a remote and wooden Olympian shows his steel in leading his men at the forefront of battles, encouraging,,pleading, cussing and cheering on his troops.
I love to read history, but I have read only a few books of the period of our fight for Independence. Perhaps because of the hagiographic treatment given some of our most important figures . “ The Indispensables” is a superb history that I recommend for everyone.
A few notes: (1) The author points out that many of the regiments formed in Marblehead had soldiers of color who fought, suffered and died alongside their friends in the War of Independence.News to me, and it points up the woeful scholarship of other , more renown historians..
( 2) As noted above, I read an ARC digital copy. There was no art work or maps in this book, but there were some pages with notations and other indications that maps were to be in the finished copies. I hope so, although I resorted to Wiki for maps. ( amazing how some parts of Now downtown New York City and surrounding Burroughs hide bloody battlefields long paved over) . . (3) There were some digital formatting oddities, such as footnotes appearing in the middle of paragraphs, that I am sure will be gone in finished copies.
Never mind- this book is easy to recommend.








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This book revolves around a group of men from Marblehead, Massachusetts and their roles in various stages of the Revolutionary War. The book is well researched and written. The group plays key roles in the events leading up to the War, the formation of the Navy and were the only group to successfully row across the Delaware in order for Washington to spring his surprise attack on the British. The group interacts with many of the more famous people in the Boston area at the time – Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Warren, etc. Those interested in the history of the United States and the Revolutionary War will find this to be an informative book.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, my blog page and my Facebook page.

Noted combat historian Patrick K. O’Donnell is set to release his next book, “The Indispensables,” in May 2021. This book focuses on a group of Revolutionary War soldiers from Marblehead, Massachusetts who were distinguished by their skill and bravery on land and at sea. They honed those skills as fisherman and merchants years before the war began. O’Donnell lays out the main premise of his book early on when he states “On numerous occasions, the American Revolution would have met an early, dramatic demise had it not been for the SEAL-like operations and extraordinary battlefield achievements of this diverse group of men and their commander.”

The Indispensables begins with an introduction to the time period and the men of Marblehead. Tensions are continuing to rise between the British and colonies as the two inch closer to war. The lines between Loyalists and Patriots are becoming more stark. Marblehead and Beverly, Massachusetts are unique not just because of their proximity to the site of the early conflicts of the Revolution, notably Boston and Lexington and Concord, but for being the home of a group of men who would provide critical service to the soon to be formed Continental Army and Navy.

They were skilled fisherman, a humble but lucrative profession at the time. In a war against the most powerful navy in the world, they were almost worth their weight in gold. The Marblehead Men were also a racially diverse group that included white, black and Native American soldiers. A rarity in a mostly segregated army, but a model for what the new country could be. It would take hundreds of years to bring that vision to a national scale.

After the introduction, O’Donnell provides a detailed walk through of the significant battles involving the Marblehead Men. People who have spent time learning more about the Revolutionary War know the narrative that Colonel John Glover and the Marblehead Men saved the Continental Army several times particularly in the critical years of 1776 and 1777 when the military effort suffered numerous setbacks and defeats. O’Donnell explains exactly how and all of the key players who were involved on the British and Continental’s side.

The climax is without a doubt the description of the most famous battle, General George Washington’s attack on a group of Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey in December 1776. O’Donnell brings a fresh perspective to the level of misery and suffering of Washington and the Continental Army during this period of the war and the perseverance and will power that they had to muster to attempt and ultimately succeed in this battle.

O’Donnell’s similar treatment of several of the Marblehead Men’s battles is a key strength of the book. He noted that he spent years pouring over national archive records, letters, diaries, memoirs and pensions files in order to research this book. He also worked with numerous public libraries, historical societies, the National Archives, and the Library of Congress. All of this research culminated in a book that provides meticulous details regarding some of the most important moments in U.S. military history. Some of the more gripping passages describe the emotional turmoil and physical suffering that many of the soldiers including General Washington had to endure. That Washington himself was on more than one occasion distressed to the point of tears after significant defeats makes the reader see him in a different light not often revealed in most history courses today.

Any student or teacher of history knows the most difficult part of sharing a story is relaying the why. Why is the story of the Marblehead Men important? Was it their complex blend of skills? Character? Diversity? All of the above? What lessons can the story of the Marblehead Men teach our youth of today? O’Donnell does an excellent job telling us what happened, but the reader is left to reflect on his or her own about why this story is important and how it applies to today. This could be a strength or weakness, depending on how the reader prefers to study history.

Like O’Donnell’s book Washington’s Immortals regarding the 1st and 2nd Maryland Regiment, The Indispensables is a great read for any Revolutionary War enthusiast and student of military and combat history. It would also appeal to anyone seeking to better understand the Founding era. There is so much to learn about American history and culture by studying the events and places surrounding the Revolution. The Indispensables gives an amazing account of how the Marblehead Men’s contribution to the war effort helped keep the Declaration of Independence alive during some of the darkest days of the Revolutionary War.

The Indispensables will officially release on May 18, 2021. It is available for pre-order now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
https://nathanspapers.com/f/the-indispensables-by-patrick-k-odonnell

For the most part, I really enjoyed Patrick K. O’Donnell’s “The Indispensables,” a history of the American Revolution and the vital contributions made to it by citizens from Marblehead, Massachusetts and neighboring seacoast towns. While I’m not an historian, or an expert on the Revolution, I’m interested in the subject and I’ve read a fair amount. I came away from “The Indispensables” believing that I’d learned a great deal.

O’Donnell’s history begins with a description a Marblehead as a seacoast town filled with fisherman, sailors, and merchants, including most notably, merchant Elbridge T. Gerry who would represent Massachusetts at the Second Continental Congress, sign the Declaration of Independence, and use his overseas contacts to acquire the gunpowder so crucial to the American war effort, yet in such short supply. It goes on to detail how Marblehead then supplied the soldier-mariners who would act as Washington's navy and, in 1776, would rescue the Continental Army from annihilation on Long Island by rowing it across the East River in the middle of a storm, and then, four months later, row it across the Delaware during a blizzard to win the crucial Battle of Trenton. Some pretty gripping stuff.

O’Donnell doesn’t just focus on the Marbleheaders. His book is filled with sketches of various individuals crucial to the war effort (e.g., George Washington, James Warren, John Glover) as well as on-the-ground anecdotes revealing what life was like for soldiers and sailors on both sides of the conflict. O'Donnell makes great use of the small details that help readers become absorbed in the times..

The author does rely a lot on quotes from various contemporaneous witnesses. While that may lend authenticity to the work, sometimes its problematic. Some of those quotes, being written in the language of the times, are extremely convoluted, requiring close, close reading (sometimes several times) to glean their meaning. Sometimes, that has the effect of drawing the reader out of the story. And sometimes it leaves the reader scratching his head, wondering if he’s understood the meaning correctly. More than a few times I found myself wishing the author had just summarized those passages.

Finally, I read an uncorrected, advance proof provided by the publisher, Atlantic Monthly Press, through Netgalley, the Kindle-specific version of which I downloaded onto my Kindle. I found the formatting to be confusing in many places. Specifically, I had problems differentiating between the main text and footnotes. Lots of times, I couldn't tell which was which. I know this was an uncorrected proof, but still, for advance readers to be able to be fair to the author, that’s something that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Because of that, I will not be posting this review, or any part thereof, until after "The Indispensables" has been finalized and published.

My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read what I’m sure will be a very fine work.

The author presents a monumental work of historical research based on events occurring during the American war of independence against Great Britan 1776 through 1783.It is a thorough search into a little known segment of the conflict with painstaking investigation of a great deal of written documents, letters, diaries, written explanations for someone. Material available is plentiful with the chore being the labor putting it together As hostilities began small skirmishes took place between the colonists unhappy with the regulations imposed by Great Britan and enforced by a military presence. The first two major battles took place in the towns of Lexington and Concord with the drawing in of people in favor of freeing themselves from British rule. One of the groups joining the colonists were residents of Marblehead, Massachusetts. These were men whose livelihoods for ages consisted of fishing, hauling freight by water and other activities tied to a maritime oriented life. Mr. O'Donnell has come up with information about this group which is not readily known. The group was one of the first to be completely integrated with negroes, and native Americans working side by side with whites.
The group from Marblehead were instrumental in saving the newly formed Continental army several times thereby allowing the fight for freedom to continue. In monumental feats they ferried troops across the river into Manhattan after dark allowing them to continue fighting. They later allowed George Washington to come up with a plan to score a major victory by sneaking behind the British army via a well depicted night crossing on the Delaware river on Christmas eve. The Marblehead sailors accomplished this Herculean task allowing a major victory to take place. The group responded to a request by Washington for personal protection by setting up an arrangement that evolved into the present day Secret Service the group that is charged with U.S. presidential protection. They are also credited by the author of pioneering a style of sneak military attack that was very effective against the stilted parade ground methods used by most European armies and gave rise to present day operations of U.S. special forces. Last but certainly not least Marblehead men formed the nucleus of a navy that fought on their own against enemies of the U.S.
Unlike books that are turned into historical novels via the author interspersing conversation that he or she supposes could have happened there is none of this. Again, the book is made enjoyable for someone interested in learning about a segment of history told via the tying together of actual written documents with character analysis supposed by the author.