Elaine Marie Cooper Author

Historical Fiction That Grabs Your Heart and Feeds Your Soul

Battle of Saratoga

Wedding of Another Prince

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In celebration of Prince Harry’s wedding to an American, it seems an appropriate time to remember another British Prince who married an American—in 1779.

This wedding was far less well known, far less exotic, and, while this Prince was not in fact British royalty, his name was Prince. Daniel Prince.

Both men were veterans of war. Prince Harry served two deployments in Afghanistan. Daniel Prince sailed across the Atlantic to serve in the King’s Army and fought at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. Sadly, for Daniel Prince, he was on the losing side and became a prisoner of war. Taking matters into his own hands, he slipped out of the line of prisoners leaving for POW camp and escaped into the Massachusetts wilderness.

The details lie hidden in history concerning the circumstances of their first meeting. But somewhere in western Massachusetts, Daniel Prince met Mary Packard. And somewhere amidst the beautiful woods of that romantic countryside, love blossomed.

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Daniel and Mary married in far humbler circumstances and perhaps shrouded in fear, as the Revolutionary War raged on. Was the wedding held in secret? The King’s Army would have considered him a deserter. Did he try to hide his identity from some? Again, these details are hidden in history.

What is known is that Daniel and Mary remained married until death parted them. While they lived and loved, Mary birthed eight children. Her third pregnancy birthed twin sons, Daniel Jr. and James.

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While this marriage went unnoticed by most, in some ways it seems far more romantic to me. Perhaps because Daniel Prince was my 4th Great-Grandfather. I am descended from Daniel, Jr.

Although Mary passed away in 1816 and Daniel in 1828, there is an actual monument to them in Williamsburg, MA. I had the joy of visiting this monument in 2009.

It’s difficult to express the emotions I experienced when standing on the same ground trod by my ancestors. I suppose I can sum it up by saying, I felt like I’d come home.

Elaine&Rock

While I am happy for the upcoming nuptials of veteran Prince Harry, the wedding of the veteran Daniel Prince holds far more meaning to me. My Prince is also my Grandfather.

My first novel, Road to Deer Run, is loosely based on my ancestors, Daniel and Mary. It was a joy to write and, I hope, a joy for you to read.

Road to Deer Run - CoverTo read more about this book you can read the description at Amazon and purchase if you like. Click here.

The Surrender at Saratoga that Changed the World

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The battle continued to go poorly and rumors filtered through the hospital tent.

“We’re outnumbered. Our mates kept shootin,’ but they were shootin’ more.” Abigail’s patient gasped for air as she stitched the wound in his chest.

“Try to rest, Private. You are safe here in hospital.” Abigail gave the distraught soldier another drink of rum—just a sip with supplies so low.

More arrivals to the marquee carried similar tales of one defeat after another. Abigail overheard Mr. Braithwaite pause long enough in his duties to declare, “How can an undisciplined group of farmers defeat His Majesty’s finest? I never thought this possible.” He wiped his face with angry hands and returned to his tasks.

Everyone in the tent appeared stunned as this news spread rapidly.

Abigail’s mind was a battlefield of emotions, relieved at the American victory yet terrified about the outcome for William. Was he lost to her forever?

Excerpt from Saratoga Letters

 

On this date in 1777, October 17, the battle that changed history ended when British General John Burgoyne surrendered to American General Horatio Gates. This astonishing event was the first great victory for the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was dubbed the “Turning Point” of the Revolution. Because of this surrender, France joined forces with the Americans and helped the “undisciplined group of farmers” to defeat the best trained army in the world at that time. It was a victory that changed the course of history.

It also changed my family’s history as one of the British soldiers who was forced to surrender that day to became a prisoner of war was my ancestor, Daniel Prince. On his way to POW camp, my 4th great grandfather escaped the line of prisoners and made his way to western Massachusetts, where he met and married a young woman named Mary. As a child, I was terribly embarrassed that my ancestor was a British redcoat. Yet as I grew up, this story took on a glint of romance in my writer’s muse and I have featured the Battle of Saratoga in two of my historical romance novels. They are:

Saratoga Letters

 

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and

Road to Deer Run

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240th Anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga

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September 19, 1777: Saratoga, New York State

 

A dead soldier lay on top of him, but William was too weak to push him off.

Was the corpse an insurgent or his mate? The king’s soldier couldn’t discern regimental colors in the thick, black smoke.

And blood was blood—the smell sickened no matter the allegiance of its owner. The sticky fluid oozed from William’s own arm and leg too. Perhaps his chest. Was his life ebbing closer to eternity? He tried to inhale, but the weight of the body squeezed the air from his lungs.

Dizziness overtook him.

Is this the end?

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And so begins Saratoga Letters, the story of both William and Abigail, followed by Ian and Abby. This two-part historical romance covers two separate stories, interconnected through the generations. It is a tale of war and the commemoration of that war two hundred years after the event.

 

Today marks the 240th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga that became known as the turning point of the American Revolution. It was the first great victory for the American Continental Army and drew the allegiance of France in fighting with the Americans against the British. It was a massive victory of mostly farmers armed with muskets fighting against the best trained army in the world at that time. Few believed it could be done, yet history proved the doubters wrong.

 

For more information about the Battles of Saratoga, I recommend Richard Ketchum’s book entitled Saratoga.

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For two historical romance novels set in this war, you can read Saratoga Letters (click here to purchase) or Road to Deer Run (click here to purchase). Also available in kindle.

 

So what drew my interest in this particular battle? It was a young British redcoat named Daniel who fought in the 21st Regiment of Foot in that battle. He was taken prisoner after the defeat, escaped the line of prisoners, and ended up in Massachusetts where Daniel met and married a young woman named Mary. Daniel Prince was my 4th great grandfather.

Elaine&Rock

Benedict Arnold —From Hero to Traitor

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Many lovers of American history are well aware that Benedict Arnold was the infamous traitor of the American Revolution. But the fact that he started out as a hero during that same war still astonishes me.

That fact came home to me this past summer when I went on a research trip to Saratoga National Park and visited the battlefield in Stillwater, NY where the conflict took place. The area of the park is enormous and visitors need a vehicle of some sort to traverse the length and breadth of it. Bike riders can manage the trails as well.

One of the more memorable monuments there is the granite piece that is a memorial to Arnold. The caption reads this:

In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army who was desperately wounded on this spot, the sally port of Burgoyne’s Great Western Redoubt, 7 October 1777 winning for his countrymen the Decisive Battle of the American Revolution and for himself, the rank of Major General.

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It sounds like a marvelous endorsement, erected in 1887 by John Watts de Peyster, Maj Gen SNY, 2nd Vice President Saratoga Monument Association. Marvelous except for one thing not mentioned: The name of the “most brilliant soldier.” Arnold’s name is completely missing from the monument in his honor.

 

The opposite site of this marker is a boot, to acknowledge the severe injury Arnold received at this battle.

 

In Richard Ketchum’s book, Saratoga, he describes Arnold’s acts of courage in the midst of the battle:

 

“Most generals would have been satisfied to drive a defeated enemy from the field of battle, but Arnold had the killer instinct, and as long as those two redoubts stood and the British had a chance of escaping, there was no stopping him. … Charging in the face of heavy musket fire and grapeshot, his troops stormed through the abatis while Arnold, raging like one of the Furies, urged them on, shouting and waving his sword. … Arnold’s charge took the outnumbered Brunswickers completely by surprise. Riding around behind the redoubt, Arnold’s luck ran out. He was shot in his bad leg, his borrowed horse was killed, and the leg was broken when he was pinned to the ground beneath the animal.”

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He would have earned a Purple Heart today for such bravery and likely other awards as well. Yet following Arnold through the rest of the War, his pride seemed to become a factor, not to mention his demands for compensation for his war commitment. He is an interesting person to study as it shows someone’s inner motivations leading him down a path of disloyalty and eventually, becoming a turncoat.

By August 3, 1780, General Benedict Arnold was put in charge of the fort at West Point, New York. It was America’s most important fortification at the time. By August 30, 1780, Arnold determined he would betray America and surrender the fort to the British. It was a series of providential discoveries that revealed his plot to destroy the fledgling country of America.

 

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NIV)

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 21:1 NIV

 

Saratoga Letters by Elaine Marie Cooper. Purchase it here on Amazon. Also available in kindle

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Cover Reveal: “Saratoga Letters”

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I’ll not toy with your anticipation but rather, proudly share the cover for the soon-to-release, Saratoga Letters. But first, here is the back cover copy:

It is 1777. The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, encourages the American Continental Army with their first great victory. But there seemed little to celebrate for one patriotic woman forced to nurse wounded British soldiers right in their war camp. Thrust into deception by a cruel Loyalist uncle, Abigail is forced to lie in order to survive, all the while dealing with fears that challenge her faith. Danger stalks her everywhere, yet her salvation springs from an unexpected source.

Then…

 Two hundred years later, on the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event—including descendants from the war. One young American, Abby, meets another offspring of a British soldier. When her life is threatened, Abby turns to the only person she knows at the event—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way Loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps letters from long ago will reveal the truth.

So here is the cover for my newest novel releasing October 4!

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Soon, I’ll share some pictures from the photo shoot done last fall. But I couldn’t wait to show you the final cover with the design from my publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas!