John Maass
Passionate about American and military history, parishioner John Maass has spent much of his life studying, writing, and speaking about these subjects. His interest in history began while growing up in rural Virginia, outside Lexington, and has continued to flourish throughout his life and career as a historian and author.
In his seventh book, The Battles of Spencer’s Ordinary and Green Spring, 1781, John brings to light two often-overlooked but historically significant engagements that reveal an important dimension of the Yorktown campaign.
In late June 1781, British commander John Graves Simcoe was surprised near a crossroads tavern—known at the time as an “ordinary”—not far from Williamsburg, Virginia. Simcoe skillfully defended his small force against the American troops commanded by the Marquis de Lafayette, holding them off long enough for his men to withdraw safely and rejoin Cornwallis’s larger army. Just ten days later, on July 6, the British turned the tables, surprising General Anthony Wayne near Green Spring Plantation. Wayne and his troops mounted a spirited defense until Lafayette’s main force could arrive, allowing the Americans to make a successful retreat.
Rich in historical detail and populated by many of the remarkable figures who shaped the Revolutionary era, John’s book offers the most comprehensive account to date of these two important engagements. More broadly, it reminds us that the American Revolution was shaped not only by its great and famous battles, but also by the smaller encounters in which courage, leadership, and perseverance often proved decisive.
During the week, John is a historian at The National Museum of the US Army at Fort Belvior. John is a valued member of our Emmanuel community and can often be found attending or serving as a reader at our 8:00 a.m. Sunday service. We are grateful for the many ways he shares his gifts, knowledge, and love of history with us and with the wider community.