Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution
by Robert H. Patton
Published by Pantheon (May release)
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Reviewed by Brent and Jamie Driggers
When you think about the Revolutionary War and the men who won it, you might think of George Washington, John Paul Jones, and the brave militiamen who fought in hand-to-hand combat. Few people would rattle off “pirates” in their short list.
Pirates, you say? Yes, pirates–the privateers whose job and joy it was to take down the British ships, not only racing through the blockades, but capturing and plundering the British merchant and supply ships to disrupt and frustrate British trade. Privateers are “legal” almost like a navy. Because England didn’t recognize us as a country, they wouldn’t consider them privateers, but pirates. Acting against the government of England.
Who were these men that financed this lesser-known aspect of the Revolutionary War? How were they convinced to go about this unsavory task? And frankly, is there anything more American than fighting for your country while making a nice profit?
Robert H. Patton paints a vivid picture of Revolutionary privateering. He comes out of the blocks with nearly laugh-out-loud humor. You’ve got to respect a man who admits upfront that he was always more interested in the Civil War than the Revolutionary War. Engaging and energetic, he tells this story of history in very readable prose. And though many readers might not be familiar with the privateers, Patton does an excellent job of telling their stories while tying them back to the people and events of the Revolutionary War that are more commonly known.
Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at our country’s long-ago history.