Peter Connolly utilizes the latest historical evidence from excavations of major fortifications to create a detailed and fascinating portrait of typical Roman forts and of the soldiers who maintained them along Hadrian's Wall and other Roman boundaries for more than 350 years. He begins with the actual construction of roads and forts, using cross-sections and cutaways that show the actual building techniques the Romans used. Next he turns to the soldiers and the forts they maintained. We look into their barracks to see how they slept, cooked their food, what they did for relaxation, how the plumbing worked, and how they prepared for battle.
The Forts of Colonial North America - British, Dutch and Swedish colonies
The second in a two-volume study of forts in colonial North America, this title offers a detailed look at various types of fortifications built between the times of the earliest British settlements in North America in the late 16th century until the end of the Seven Years War, when France ceded New France to Britain. With photographs of these sites as they are today, specially-commissioned artwork depicting the forts in their original uses and detailed maps, author Rene Chartrand also provides readers a valuable look back at early American colonial life.
As American troops in Fort McHenry successfully fended off attacks from the British navy during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," a poem that eventually formed the lyrics of the American national anthem. Fort McHenry's vibrant presentation and highlighted primary sources illustrate the fort's vital role in the War of 1812, providing the context for the nation's most famous song and explaining the importance of the fort as a national monument.