Book Review: The First 24 Hours of the American Revolution

April, 1775 was a pivotal time for Patriots in the American Colonies, who were seeking more freedom from Great Britain. No spoiler alert needed: You know how this story ends.

Jack Darrell Crowder chronicles The First 24 Hours of the American Revolution in this 2018 book, 129 pages from Genealogical.com. It's packed with history, personal drama, military maneuvers, and peeks over the shoulders of American and British participants.

Not only does Crowder set the stage with background on why and how local militias formed in the colonies, he also provides maps, portraits, illustrations, and little-known but interesting details about the sparks that touched off a revolution. 

The engaging narrative unfolds in the present tense, providing a "you are there" feeling about history that continues to reverberate today as we celebrate America 250 in 2026. Crowder uses the voices of people on both sides of the conflict to describe what happened hour by hour, based on research in letters, historical archives, and other sources.

The book includes a section showing how the British described the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Crowder calls this "propaganda" and the spin is that British troops were fatigued but fought mightily during an "unfortunate affair" that was caused by the "ruthless and imprudence of a few people who began firing on the troops at Lexington." (p. 108)

The author also devotes nearly 4 pages to listing the names (and a biographical sentence or two) of those who were killed during those first 24 hours. 

Good bibliography, good index, fascinating insights into a series of battles that led to the American Revolution and ultimately, independence from the Crown. This book is most definitely worth reading!

Note: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and the opinions in this post are entirely my own.