David Smith

An in-depth look at the battle that saw the American Overmountain Men come together and defeat the British Loyalist army, turning the tide of the war. By 1780, the British strategy of subduing the South by mobilizing Loyalist forces appeared to be working following the capture of Charleston and the destruction of General Gates' Grand Army at Camden. Major Patrick Ferguson was appointed to raise forces and soon amassed a small army of more than 4,000 men, with which the South Carolina backcountry was cowed. It appeared Britain had a firm grip on South Carolina and Georgia, prompting a move into North Carolina. Ferguson, commanding only a fraction of his Loyalists, was given the job of screening the advance of the main British army under Cornwallis, but his actions in the backcountry caught the attention of the fiercely independent "Overmountain Men." Roused into action by a handful of charismatic leaders, the Overmountain Men joined forces with Patriot militia and set off to find the Loyalists. After a grueling march of more than 300 miles, they caught up to them at Kings Mountain and annihilated Ferguson's command. With detailed maps, diagrams, and illustrations, this well-researched book by expert author David Smith dives into Britain's plans for the area, the events that drove the Overmountain Men to band together and the final battle that saw the Loyalists defeated.

This fascinating book covers one hundred classic toys that have enchanted, captivated and enthralled generations of children. From the simplest building blocks to the most sophisticated robots, each toy included is still being manufactured or is easily available through sites like eBay. Why do some toys become classic? There are many reasons why particular toys stood out from their competitors. Perhaps the limitless creative possibilities of the LEGO brick, the timeless appeal of the dolls' house or the comforting presence of a favourite bear--whatever the secret, these toys and games have earned a special place in the hearts of millions of children (and former children). The author presents the background on how each toy was created and explains why it has become a classic. He also provides information about the manufacturer and how to find the toy--even in cases where it might not still be in production. Anybody flicking through the pages of 100 Classic Toys for Generations will be able to see a toy and say, "I used to have one of those!" This is a book for toy collectors, for parents and grandparents, for anyone who has ever played with a toy!