Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-276) and index.

"In Henry Knox, Mark Puls delivers a compelling portrait of the Revolutionary War general who played a key role in all of George Washington's battles. In the Siege of Boston, Knox's amazing 300-mile transport of 59 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga saved the city. Building upon his talent for logistics, Knox engineered Washington's famous Christmas night passage to safety across the Delaware River. Puls demonstrates the centrality of Knox's contributions throughout the war, up to the tactical success of his artillery units that made the final victory at Yorktown possible." "In the postwar years, as the fledgling country was in desperate need of strong leadership, Knox employed the signature organizational skills that had earned him Washington's admiration during the war. Knox became a major advocate of the U.S. Constitution and he served the nation well as the first Secretary of War. He championed both the formation of the U.S. Navy and the founding of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Knox's relentless pursuit of an effective defense of America shaped our military strategy today."--Jacket.