In this virtual presentation on December 15 at 1:30, Jack Kelly, author of Valcour, recounts the wild and suspenseful story of one of the most crucial and least known campaigns of the Revolutionary War. The program is co-hosted by the Community Senior Center and the Richmond Historical Society. During this period in 1776, our independence hung in the balance. Most historians agree two events turned the tide: Washington's bold attack on Trenton and the audacious fight at Valcour Island. Kelly focuses not only on the battle, but on the people behind the victory. The notorious Benedict Arnold, the underrated Philip Schuyler, and the ambitious former British officer Horatio Gates. In addition to details about the generals and their personalities, the author also describes the military culture of the times, the self-defeating politics of the Continental Congress, and the design, operation and tactical problems of ships fighting on lakes versus the ocean.

Jack Kelly is a public scholar, a historian and a novelist. A New York Foundation for the Arts fellow, the award-winning author has appeared on NPR, PBS, and The History Channel, and has written for national publications including the Wall Street Journal and American Heritage.

For the link email jane@cscvt.org

Dec 5, 2024, 5 to 6 PM

Dec 6, 2024, 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Dec 7, 2024, 4 to 7 PM