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Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia.

Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he led his men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trenton followed within days. The Americans held off a counterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind the enemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined.

Fischer's richly textured narrative reveals the crucial role of contingency in these events. We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. While British and German forces remained rigid and hierarchical, Americans evolved an open and flexible system that was fundamental to their success. The startling success of Washington and his compatriots not only saved the faltering American Revolution, but helped to give it new meaning.

564 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2003

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About the author

David Hackett Fischer

30 books425 followers
David Hackett Fischer is University Professor and Earl Warren Professor of History emeritus at Brandeis University. His major works have tackled everything from large macroeconomic and cultural trends (Albion's Seed, The Great Wave) to narrative histories of significant events (Paul Revere's Ride, Washington's Crossing) to explorations of historiography (Historians' Fallacies, in which he coined the term Historian's fallacy).
He is best known for his major study, Albion's Seed, which argued that core aspects of American culture stem from several different British folkways and regional cultures, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington's Crossing, a narrative of George Washington's leadership of the Continental Army during the winter of 1776-1777 during the American Revolutionary War.

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Profile Image for Matt.
966 reviews29.1k followers
April 26, 2016
Despite a great love of history, I’ve never been able to really connect to the American Revolution as a historical event. The reason, I think, is that the Revolutionary War is our creation myth. Like other creation myths, such as the Christmas Story (the one with Jesus, not the BB gun), historical veracity and the exact sequence of events is not as important as the fact that event happened at all. Rigorous analysis takes a backseat to emotional considerations. Objectivity is shrouded in the mists of symbolism. In the end, the American Revolution becomes an article of faith.

As with any faith, there are icons, and the iconography of the American Revolution is as visible today as it was in the late 18th century. Walk into an elementary school classroom and you will likely see a copy of Charles Peale’s portrait of George Washington. Walk into a courthouse and you will likely see Archibald MacNeal Willard’s The Spirit of ’76. Walk into my closet and you will see a print of John Trumbull’s Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown that my wife will not let me hang on the wall. (This has led to several arguments in which she claims that marriage constitutes an implied contract not to display any Revolutionary iconography, and in which I call her a damned Tory).

Of course, the most famous icon of the Revolution, and indeed, one of the most famous images in American history (up there with Joe Rosenthal’s picture of the flag raising at Iwo Jima), is Emanuel Leutze’s painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. I have no hesitation in saying that you have seen this painting. Everyone has. Heck, if you were anything like me as a child, you probably, at one point or another, found a tricorn hat, put on a bathrobe, made a boat out of chairs and blankets, and attempted to replicate this scene.

Fittingly, David Hackett Fischer’s Washington’s Crossing, begins with a description of Leutze’s work: its creation, composition, symbolism and preservation. (You also learn that contrary to the contrarians, Washington probably did stand up in the boat, since the bottom of the boats were full of icy water). But Fischer’s book is about so much more than the crossing of the Delaware River and Washington’s subsequent victory over the Hessians at Trenton. It is, actually, the best book I’ve read on the Revolutionary War.

The first few chapters of Washington’s Crossing carefully set the stage for what is to follow, by describing and comparing the three different armies at the heart of this story: the British, the Americans, and the Hessians. Fischer makes a distinction between the armies of liberty (the Americans) and the armies of order (the British and the Germans); however, he doesn’t come to the facile conclusion that one would expect (liberty = yay!; order = boo!). Instead, with restraint and judgment, he shows the relative strengths and weaknesses of both. I was especially engaged by Fischer’s chapter on the Hessians, and his ability to humanize them. While some were conscripts, Fischer shows how many of these troops were proud of their service, and were rewarded relatively generously. (As an aside, is there anything quite as terrifying as a German? They are cold, disciplined, tireless and efficient; when they turn those traits towards warfare, watch out! And I say this as a person who had a great German friend in college. I loved him as a boy might love a robot).

Once Fischer has created this context, we begin the journey towards December 25, 1776. This road starts in New York, with the invasion of that city by Lord William Howe (of whom Fischer has many laudatory things to say) and his brother Admiral Richard Howe (a third Howe brother, George, was killed during the French and Indian War; American colonists commissioned a statue in his honor, which is still located at Westminster Abbey). Lord Howe’s army crushes George Washington’s poorly-arrayed troops at the Battle of Long Island, forcing Washington to save his army by retreating to Brooklyn Heights and ferrying his army across the East River (while the Delaware crossing on Christmas night is Washington’s most famous amphibious operation, he replicated the act on several occasions, to great effect).

The Battle of Long Island heralded the dark season of the American Revolution. New York City fell to the British, as did Fort Washington. Washington kept retreating and the British, under Cornwallis, kept pursuing. The British launched an invasion of New Jersey by scaling the Palisades and crossed the entire State, nipping at Washington’s heels. With winter coming on, the British and Hessians halted at Trenton.

At the moment of the Revolution’s nadir, Washington conceived a brilliant and risky plan to capture the Hessian garrison under Colonel Rall at Trenton. On Christmas night, with the help of John Glover’s Marblehead men, Washington’s troops crossed the Delaware River. The crossing, ironically, was the easy part (and in the book is covered in a couple pages). The troops then had to make a forced march through a raging storm to reach Trenton before the garrison was alerted. The Continentals, helped immensely by the skill of Henry Knox and his artillery, soundly whipped the Germans.

Fischer’s writing is a seamless integration of narrative and analysis. His style is as open and engaging as the best popular historians, such as David McCullough; however, unlike some popular historians, his scholarship and judgments are impeccable. This is the rare kind of book that is not only a pleasure to read, but is also written with an analytical eye. The drama of the story never overtakes Fischer’s reasoned judgment, and vice versa.

Fischer never fails to remember that history is a story about people: their decisions, their actions, their triumphs and their mistakes. In brief sketches, he manages to humanize the leading personalities. He tells us how the humane Lord Howe wanted to avoid war with the Colonists; how the fatherless Washington treated his aides as sons; and how Cornwallis, known to Americans as the loser at Yorktown, bucked the conventions of his class to marry for love. This is not history written as a chronology; this is history forged moment-by-moment by fallible, recognizable humans. Fischer does what he can to conjure the reality – the sights and sounds – of a long-ago battle:

The American infantry were aiming at the Hessian officers and brought down four Lossberger captains. Colonel Rall was in the thick of it. As another junior officer went down, Rall turned to console him. Then the colonel himself was hit and ‘reeled in the saddle,’ shot twice in the side; both wounds were mortal. The dying German commander was helped off his horse, carried into the church, and laid upon a bench.

In the center of Trenton, the battle became a bedlam of sound. The streets echoed with the thunder of artillery, the crash of iron on brick and stone, the noise of splinter wood and shattering glass, shouts and curses, and the cries of wounded men. On the vast scale of human slaughter this eighteenth-century battle was nothing to compare with other wars, but its very close combat of cold steel, massed musketry, and cannon at point-blank range created a scene of horror beyond imagining.


I did not come into this book completely ignorant of the Battle of Trenton, but I still learned a lot. For instance, until now, I did not know about the high number of rapes committed by British soldiers. Further, I learned that the Americans actually had a really good supply of artillery, weapons, and ammunition, though they were endemically short of food and blankets.

There is also the popular conception of the Germanys partying hard on Christmas, and thereby suffering from a massive hangover during the battle. In fact, the Hessians were quite sober. The reason they were tired, and caught unprepared, was that Colonel Rall had had them up on alert the preceding nights, due to raids by New Jersey militia (operating independent of the Continental Army, to unplanned effects). On the day of battle, Washington was greatly abetted by a winter storm, which lulled the exhausted Germans into a false sense of security. (I probably should’ve have known that the Germans, with their rigid sense of duty, wouldn’t have been drunk. Now, if they had been Irish troops…).

Fischer’s text is greatly enhanced by 19 detailed maps. This is a big deal in a book like this, at least to me. My spatial imagination is horrible, and if I don’t have a good map for reference, all subsequent descriptions of troop movements is a waste of ink. In other words, I have the geographical sense of Christopher Columbus. The maps in Fischer’s books, created by Jeffery Ward, are wonderful. They show roads, landmarks, and troop positions, while also including a modern-day overlay, so you know exactly where events are taking place. Despite all this information, the maps are easy to follow.

I also appreciated the fact that this book’s illustrations are interspersed throughout the text, rather than clumsily bunched into a center-section, like a publisher’s afterthought. Illustrations should serve a purpose. In Washington’s Crossing, when Fischer introduces a character, there will be a portrait of that character on the page. It’s such a simple thing, yet so few history books do it.

Washington’s Crossing does not end with the Battle of Trenton. It goes on to discuss, at length, the little-known Second Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Princeton, and the so-called Forage Wars, where small bands of Continentals, aided by New Jersey militia, annoyed and harassed the British army. It’s a testament to Fischer’s abilities as an author that this material, which might seem anticlimactic, is possibly more thrilling than the Battle of Trenton.

I was especially pleased with Fischer’s treatment of the Battle of Princeton, which I would venture to guess most Americans have not heard of (and which I have seen some historians qualify as a draw). Militarily speaking, George Washington usually garners the most credit simply for keeping his army together. He saw the Revolution as a “war of posts,” and at Long Island, he nearly met with catastrophe trying to lure the British into another Bunker Hill. At Princeton, though, you see boldness, panache and brilliance. Faced off with Cornwallis, Washington managed to disengage from the enemy, steal a march, and strike unexpectedly at the British base.

Fischer ends his book with a concluding chapter. Here, he helpfully reminds you of everything you were supposed to learn. This is a bit pedagogic, but never condescending. Fischer also includes a number of fascinating appendices that hold forth on various topics including the British, Hessian, and American order of battle; a weather almanac; a note on the ice floes in the Delaware; casualty lists for each army in each battle; a time and distance analysis on the American march to Trenton; a discussion about dubious historical documents; and a section entitled “Historiography,” where Fischer describes how the Battle of Trenton has been written and interpreted from 1776 to the present day. All in all, it is trove of facts, figures, and erudite analysis.

Today, the American Revolution exists in a haze of jingoism, self-congratulations, and firework smoke. There isn’t a lot of time spent parsing its meanings and complexities. I mean, if you take a second to dig a little deeper, beyond catchphrases and loaded words, things get a bit uncomfortable. For instance, those taxes levied “without representation” were meant to pay for Britain’s defense of the Colonies during the French and Indian War. Without British help, we might all be speaking French right now. Mon Dieu!

The Revolutionary Era’s prominence in our modern age is as a cudgel used to beat political opponents and score cheap political points. Indeed, there is a burgeoning party – the Tea Party – named after a famous protest that occurred in Boston Harbor. One of the Tea Party’s stalwart leaders, Minnesota’s Michelle Bachmann, self-confessedly joined the conservative party after reading a Gore Vidal novel that “slandered” the Founding Fathers. There is even a well-regarded legal theory that wants to derive the meaning of the Constitution based on the societal beliefs and norms of the day it was signed. (This works out very well for white males of the landed gentry; not so well for blacks, Indians, Jews, Catholics, renters, or women).

(I mention this not as a political commentary, but rather a critique on using historical antecedents to shape current political thought. Using history in this way inevitably distorts that history).

Clearly, the American Revolution now carries a bit of baggage. Thus, throughout Washington’s Crossing, I paid close attention to whether Fischer had a particular point of view or axe to grind. He does not. Fischer makes a conscious effort to be objective and accurate. This doesn’t mean finding some false equivalence, but rather in presenting the facts as they are known. The British were well-led and professional, yet some British troops raped and pillaged across the countryside. The Americans were brave and motivated by high ideals, yet they also kept slaves. (And no, I don’t think slavery is something that can be blithely dismissed as a minor character flaw, such as posting half-naked pictures of yourself on Craigslist, or casting a leering eye at the page boy).

I mentioned above that it is hard to connect to the American Revolution. It is a creation myth; it is a political sword; it predates photography; and it is captured in stylized paintings. Nothing about it has concrete reality. There is no stark Matthew Brady-like photo of the dead.

Fischer’s achievement is to scour the subject so that it becomes something real. The thing is, once you strip away the mythology, and discover what really happened, you end up more impressed than you were before.
Profile Image for Michael Finocchiaro.
Author 3 books5,826 followers
November 19, 2019
Continuing my punctuated voyage down the road of Pulitzer-winning books, this one from Fischer published in 2004 was really good. Fischer does a great job explaining the dire situation of the Continental Army as they were obliged to leave New York and flee towards New Jersey. At one point, there was a real threat that the capital of the colonies, Philadelphia, would be taken as well. Without going too far down the road of sentimental nationalism too often, Fischer describes the courage of the "rabble" that Washington was able to form into a coherent fighting group and the against-all-odds victories at Trenton and Prince Town (now, Princeton). The descriptions of the actors in this historical drama are all quite interesting. I am reading 1776 by McCullough at the moment to see how he describes these same individuals and situations and found it wanting compared to this book by Fischer. It strikes me that it would be fascinating to read a version of this year from the English point of view...

My impression of George Washington is that among his most important qualities, he was confident enough in the men around him, even those that he did not like such as Lee, that he was able to learn from his mistakes and to listen to sage advice without feeling his ego over-shadowed. This is a rare quality even now in a leader, 250 years later. In Joseph Ellis' 2004 biography, His Excellency: George Washington (published the same year as this book coincidentally), we learn more about his life and the fact that, particularly after Newark, he could have easily become a dictator in the style of a Trujillo or a Stalin with absolutely no one able to oppose him. We as a Nation are so lucky that he took his model more from Cinninaticus than from Julius Caesar (or Nero for that matter). He was truly, despite his flaws, an exception leader and exactly the right person the US needed during that period.

Highly recommended for the way he reconstructs the battles and also the incredibly dense appendices where he gathers all the data on military strength and losses on both sides from the many fragmentary sources as well as a historical analysis on how the famous image of Washington Crossing the Delaware River has been perceived during history (worthy probably of its own standalone novel actually).
Profile Image for Max.
349 reviews404 followers
September 7, 2015
Washington’s Crossing is a real page turner. It is well researched and filled with detail yet never becomes tedious. An added bonus is the historiography at the end showing all the ways the same events have been interpreted over the years by historians and artists of different nations. For someone who is weary of constant references to American exceptionalism by the clearly unexceptional, Fischer’s genuine depiction of American revolutionary leaders who deserve the accolade is wonderfully refreshing. Standing out above the rest was George Washington.

Fischer depicts the American victories at Trenton and Princeton as a turning point in the war. The British had driven the Continental army out of New York. They along with their Hessian mercenaries occupied New Jersey in a display of overwhelming strength. Loyalists were emboldened and as the revolutionaries became disheartened, capitulation seemed possible. Instead the loyalists soon lost faith. Washington’s quick precision strikes at Trenton and Princeton showed the Americans could fight and the British could lose.

Cornwallis was forced to retreat settling into enclaves near New York as local militias supported by the Continental Army operated with guerilla tactics. While thoroughly professional, the British and Hessians were limited in imagination and flexibility due to their strict hierarchy. Their arrogance caused them to underestimate the fighting ability of their opposition making them vulnerable. Their troops were constantly harassed outside their bases and became dispirited as the death toll mounted. Support for the war in England suffered as its costs rose and the prospect of quick victory faded. General Howe exaggerated his wins and minimized his losses in his reports to Parliament. However, his requests for thousands of additional troops made many back in England realize they were not getting the straight story. All of these things make one instantly think of the Viet Nam War.

George Washington demonstrated remarkable leadership. He had the capacity to grow into the job and to learn from experience. His presence and his calmness under pressure enabled him to lead by example. His openness, the ability to draw out, to absorb new ideas and reach consensus made him highly effective. His brilliance was in his ability to recognize and adopt the best available ideas regardless of their origin. He was always mindful of public opinion. This coupled with his deep morality led him to minimize casualties and treat prisoners and loyalists humanely drawing a sharp distinction with the British and Hessians. Their widespread plundering turned the local population against them.

Washington adopted a mobile, flexible military strategy that looks thoroughly modern. He had a great sense of timing, of maintaining the initiative and keeping his opponents off balance. His tactic of concentrating his army on isolated elements of enemy positions was effective and well executed. Before the idea had a name he was clearly proficient in the use of force multipliers.

In this time when so many heroes seem tainted, here we have this highly credible account of the exploits of an American who deserves the title and our respect. George Washington was truly an exceptional leader and Fischer gives us an exceptionally vivid account. This is historical writing at its very best.
Profile Image for Lisa (Harmonybites).
1,834 reviews363 followers
January 13, 2013
Less than two weeks ago I read David McCullough's 1776, a history of the first year of the Continental Army under George Washington, its mixed success in Boston and disaster in New York City and culminating--after a night crossing of the Delaware River--in their victory in the Battle of Trenton. It was an engaging, well-told story of such suffering and such blunders I left that book amazed the American Revolution, the army and cause survived to triumph. This book covers much of the same territory, with a particular focus on the crossing of the Delaware on Christmas of 1776, the ensuing Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton less than a week later. The Editor's Note claims that: "No single day in history was more decisive for the creation of the United States than Christmas 1776. On that night a ragged army of 2,400 colonials crossed the ice-choked Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New York in the teeth of a nor'easter that lashed their boats and bodies with sleet and snow."

Given the overlap in material I thought this book was likely to suffer in comparison. That 1776 would likely make the stronger impression having been read first. McCullough is arguably the more engaging, more concise writer--but not only did Fischer have a different read, emphasis and details, but in the end Washington's Crossing is the stronger, more scholarly book, packed with notes, maps and illustrations. Although you'd have to enjoy not just history but military history. Fischer paints the crucial battles in a much more detailed way than McCullough did, not simply in terms of grand strategy but the more personal tragedies and individual casualties. And if McCullough's book arguably throws George Washington in sharper relief, Fischer is superb in depicting the various armies, their soldiers and officers. Fischer tells you of their training, their discipline, even about their drum calls. The British commanders, the brothers General and Admiral Howe, come across in a more complex, human way--the same is true of the Hessians and their officers. For one, Fischer explained that even in contemporary times, a British officer could say there was no British army--only a collection of "tribes" which is why the British army could never bring off a coup. You understand what that meant when Fischer details the very different customs and cultures of various regiments--the Scottish Highlanders going into battle in their kilts and determined not to let down their kin and clan fighting beside them. The Americans were varied as well. I had known blacks had served in the Revolutionary War--I hadn't known that in at least one Massachusetts regiment they served in integrated units--and that there were black officers, one of whom rose to the rank of colonel. The various folk ways of the different American regions, and the need to wield them together into a unified force that didn't conflict with the revolutionary ideals were a big part of the story.

I really liked 1776, and I'd recommend both books really. And probably 1776 with the more sweeping, less detailed overview is the one to read first. But if I were forced to choose only one book to read or keep on the bookshelf, it would be Washington's Crossing. I'd certainly be interested in reading more of Fischer in the future.
Profile Image for Theo Logos.
866 reviews146 followers
July 1, 2022
Washington's Crossing details the Winter Campaign of 1776-77 and it’s significance. It sets the stage, first with Washington’s assuming command of the Continental Army, then with its disastrous, nearly fatal defeat in New York, and its desperate retreat. Barely managing to keep his army intact in winter quarters, and fearing a killing blow from the British at any time, Washington conceived the campaign in an attempt to keep his army from dissolving. After achieving the improbable crossing of the Delaware, Washington and his troops found success in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, then commenced a forage war, skirmishes that rage through the end of the winter.

This winter campaign with its small victories is sometimes remembered as more symbolic than strategic. (It was particularly useful in Tom Paine’s propaganda, The Crisis.) The author argues that it had an outsized, major impact on the war, both by destroying the Howe brother's strategy of ending the Revolution through conciliation, and through reviving the spirits of the Americans to fight on.

Fischer examines the make up of the Colonial army, with its wide sectional and cultural differences, and examines the daunting task Washington had in forging it into an effective fighting force capable of fighting the world's most professional and successful army. He goes into some detail describing the make up and culture of the British army and the Hessian forces that the Americans faced, giving a context to the challenge.

Washington emerges from these pages as a genius simply for being able to adapt to the situation at hand and create and lead what became the Continental Army.
Fischer is vividly descriptive in his portraits of Washington and his officers, the Howe brothers and their principle officers, and the commanders of the Hessian forces. In addition, he provides the perspectives of common soldiers from all the armies, private citizens, members of the Continental Congress, and Tom Paine, the Revolution's propagandist who was pivotal in the success of the winter campaign.

Washington's Crossing is rich in illustrations and contains adequate and readable maps. It has copious notes, an excellent bibliography, and several fascinating and useful appendices that add many additional layers of information to the text.

This book is simply one of the best, well-written, and fascinating books that I have read on the American Revolution. It has my highest recommendation.
Profile Image for David.
193 reviews7 followers
November 22, 2008
Almost everyone knows the famous painting of General Washington standing heroically in a shallow boat, surrounded by soldiers in a variety of garb including James Madison holding an American flag, crossing the ice-choked Delaware river. The painting, done by a German artist 75 years after the fact, is a pretty romanticized depiction of the event. But there's no debating the significance of what happened on that Christmas Day 1776. This book, which won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for History, is a remarkable record of the events leading up to the crossing, the truth about the crossing itself, the rout of the Hessians in Trenton that followed, and the aftermath in the war for independence. He describes in great detail the British invasion of New York some months after the Declaration of Independence, and the dismal state of the American effort at that point. The impact of British and Hessian atrocities helped motivate the sluggish colonists; but Washington's character and leadership shine most brightly. I was newly fascinated by the vivid but very readable description of what Fischer believes to be the turning of the tide that led to American independence.
Profile Image for Gary Hoggatt.
98 reviews18 followers
May 18, 2012
I've been reading a lot of American Revolutionary history lately, and even so, David Hackett Fischer's 2003 volume Washington's Crossing, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history, stands out as excellent. Much like David McCullough's fantastic 1776, Washington's Crossing focuses in on a narrow portion of the Revolutionary War and brings it to vivid life.

Washington's Crossing is devoted to an in-depth look at the New Jersey campaign of the winter of 1776-1777. However, Fischer doesn't just dump you into the icy Delaware River without some background. He starts off by examining each of the three armies involved, the American, British, and Hessian, looking at where they came from, how they viewed the Revolution, how they operated, and what their goals were. This section is extremely interesting, and did a lot to enhance my understandings of all sides.

The challenges Washington faced with Continental troops from all over the colonies and militia only vaguely under his command, the plans of British commanders Admiral and General Howe to pacify the countryside and aide the surely-numerous Loyalists in keeping the colonies under the King, and the economic and historical reasons Hessians became excellent mercenaries, and more - all of this was illuminating. Finally, Fischer gives an overview of the disastrous routing of the Continental Army during the New York campaign, which lead to the dire straights the Cause found itself in by November 1776.

Once he turns to the New Jersey campaign, Fischer breaks the action down into four main parts - the Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Assunpink Creek, the Battle of Princeton, and the Forage Wars. The Battle of Trenton, of course, is where the title of the book - and the famous painting - comes from, and was the initial shock that stunned the British and Hessians. Fischer does a great job of setting the scene for just how big a gamble this was for Washington. He also dispels the common myth about the Hessians being drunk on Christmas, as instead explaining how their openness to attack was a combination of fatigue from being on watch for days on end for militia who had been harassing them and an assumption that no one could be crazy enough to attack in the intense blizzard that, in fact, served the American purpose excellently by covering their approach.

My favorite part of the book, in fact, may be the part detailing the Battle of Assunpink Creek (also known as the Second Battle of Trenton). I hadn't even heard of this battle before. It was the British counterstrike after their loss at Trenton, and the Americans were forced into defending the indefensible city they had just taken from the Hessians days before. Through a combination of bravery from the men, ingenious generalship from Washington, and a willingness to fight the way that worked, instead of the way the British expected them to, the Americans not only won the battle, they were able to slip away from under the British's very noses in the middle of the night and make their way to Princeton, surprising the British once again with the American ability to show up where they weren't expected.

What followed was the Battle of Princeton, where the Americans ran into reinforcements headed to Trenton and defeated the British in a pitched battle on open field - a first. In less than two weeks, the Americans had run up several victories against the British, and rallied a Cause they seemed nearly dead only a month before. But they weren't done yet. The rest of the winter was consumed by the Forage War, in which the Americans - mostly militia - harassed the British in their winter quarters and while they attempted to supply their army from the countryside. By the spring of 1777, the British had gone from assuming the war was nearly over to, among some major leaders and many of the men, believing it could not be won.

Fischer covers all the bases in Washington's Crossing. He explains the motivations of the people and forces involved, he compellingly describes the battles with a novelist's flair, and he clearly lays out the effect the events of this book had on the Revolution as it continued. He really leaves no angle unexplored in this thorough effort, and is entertaining all the while.

One detail that aided the book greatly was the care given to the visual aspect of history. Maps of all the major encounters are plentiful, as are portraits of the major players, and they all appear in the text when the person is introduced, and not sequestered in a glossy break in the narrative midway though the pages of the book. This may not seem a big deal, but so many histories and biographies manage to mess it up that it's refreshing when it's handled well as it is in Washington's Crossing.

Finally, a comparison, since I mentioned it at the beginning, to David McCullough's 1776. There is certainly overlap between the two books. 1776 mainly covers between the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Princeton. It does so quite well, and is fantastic at covering the American side of the story. Washington's Crossing covers from the Battle of Long Island to the Forage Wars, and gives more attention to the British and Hessian side of the story than does 1776. Both are excellent and I recommend them to any fan of American history. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Washington's Crossing, by the narrowest of margins.

British General Lord Cornwallis, known to Americans as the loser at Yorktown in 1781, was also involved in the New Jersey campaign, and told Washington after Yorktown, "When the illustrious part that your Excellency has borne in this long and arduous contest becomes a matter of history, fame will gather your brightest laurels rather from the banks of the Delaware than from those of the Chesapeake." Cornwallis was right - as important as the later battles of the war were, Washington saved the Revolution with the Continental victories in the New Jersey campaign. Washington's Crossing will show you why.

I highly recommend David Hackett Fischer's Washington's Crossing to any fan of American or military history. Fishcer's work is compelling, thorough, well-researched, and most of all enjoyable. History fans will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Sue.
328 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2021
I was at Washington's Crossing State Park in NJ for a staff meeting, and we were treated to a musket firing demo by one of the historians on staff, dressed up in period appropriate clothing. He debunked some of the common misconceptions surrounding the crossing and the battle at Trenton, and suggested this book. I don't generally read history books, but that piqued my interest. I work in Trenton and have seen the annual reenactment of the crossing on Christmas Day a number of times. I've been to Monmouth Battlefield (where we were treated to an interesting lecture on how they used metal detectors to locate ordnance and from that determine the exact position of the various troops during that battle), and I've driven past the Princeton Battlefield often. I know that the region where I live and work is full of important Revolutionary War sites, but I only have a superficial knowledge of the events of the war.

This book did not disappoint. It explained the key details in a way that was easy to understand, and included a lot of quotes from letters, journals and news stories from the period. I enjoyed the older style of English and the varying levels of mastery over the language depending on the education level of the writer.

This book is not just about the crossing of the Delaware. It starts with a thorough description of the armies in play: the American rebels (including the army and the various independent militias), the British Regulars, and the hired Hessians. The commanders of each and other notable persons were described, including their leadership style and approach to the war.

It then goes into the events leading up to crossing, from the disastrous defeat at New York (in which Washington and the American forces seemed to be completely disorganized and unable to defend against the more professional and larger British and Hessian forces) to the retreat across New Jersey. This was a dark time for the rebellion and the cause looked almost lost. The American forces were in tatters and the British and Hessians were in positions of relative strength.

But things were building to turn the tide. The occupation of New Jersey (and New York) wasn't winning over the local population despite orders from on high because the armies had to "forage", which often meant pillaging and raping. Thomas Paine published The American Crisis, which reignited support for independence. Washington's army, mainly camped in Pennsylvania, received some much needed supplies.

There was concern that the British would make it to Philadelphia. The crossing itself was concocted as a way to stop this advance. Washington's plan involved 3 separate crossings late on Christmas Day under the cover of night: the one we know was successful, but also one at Trenton itself (to seize a bridge at the Assunpink and prevent the Hessians in Trenton from retreating to the south; and one farther south to engage enemy troops garrisoned in Burlington and Mt. Holly, preventing them from coming to the aid of Trenton. Those other crossings failed due to river conditions.

The book describes the difficulty of a night crossing in the middle of winter. To make things worse, a Nor'Easter developed just as this was taking place. While that made the crossing more dangerous, it served as cover and allowed Washington's army to get across the river and almost all the way to Trenton unnoticed. The storm was probably one of the biggest contributors to the success of the Americans.

The first and second battles of Trenton were described in detail (and I now want to explore some of the sites in Trenton that were critical in these battles). The book debunks the idea that the Hessians were partying on Christmas, leading to their defeat. The Hessians had been harried by the militia under the command of James Ewing, were ordered to sleep in their clothing and be on alert at all times, and were even warned that an attack was imminent. They were not drunk, but they were exhausted. They responded quickly to the advance of the American army but were overwhelmed and outwitted by superior tactics.

I knew very little about the Trenton battles and the Princeton battle, so it was interesting to learn that at the second battle of Trenton, American forces held Trenton against a larger army (the British response to the fall of Trenton was to send the bulk of their force at Princeton to retake Trenton) by carefully choosing their location - they held the high ground on the southern side of the Assunpink and made sure the few crossing points were well defended. They also had superior artillery. This was only for a day. Had they fought a second day, they may have lost. But Washington, after a council with the various other leaders, decided to withdraw under the cover of night, circumvent the British forces at Trenton, and strike directly at the relatively unguarded Princeton. They hoped to capture much of the British army's supplies, but they were spotted by a group of British soldiers who were on their way to reinforce the troops at Trenton. Orders were sent back to Princeton quickly to evacuate the stores to a safer location. Still, the battle at Princeton was another win. The British lost much of the ground they had gained early in the war. Public support for the rebellion was reignited, and the British were put on the defensive. After Princeton, the various militias were inspired to spend the rest of the winter months harrying the British and Hessian troops throughout New Jersey in a series of small opportunistic skirmishes. The enemy suffered many losses during these months.

This book also starts and even ends with a discussion of the various ideas of liberty held by the colonists, and how American ideals such as the policy of humanity in war were formed and how they continue to shape our approach even to this day. It ended on a positive note about American values and how revisionists have tried to make our past seem darker than it is. That may be true when you are talking about "We the people" as free white men, but when you look at the treatment of the natives, the slaves, women, etc., it's fair to point out the problems. That said, another interesting tidbit I learned is that African slaves did serve in the army (both sides), mostly under the promise of earning their freedom. I also learned that a reason the American troops were in tatters compared to the British and Hessians is that, at least in the beginning, women were discouraged from service. The British and Hessian camps had many women and children who cooked and kept the camps and clothing mended.
Profile Image for Joe.
19 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2009
This book is so far, my personal favorite. I wasn't 10 pages into it when I realized I was really going to enjoy this book. David Fischer won the Pulitzer prize for History for it, and I can see why. The story unraveled like no other I have ever come across. Just like other reviewers have said, it should be required reading for anyone who is interested in learning about one of (if not thee) most important moment in American history.

This is a wonderful story... There is suspense, drama, impossible odds, and an underdog who is triumphant in the end as our hero. And it was all true. What else can you ask for?
Profile Image for Frank Stein.
1,024 reviews140 followers
January 12, 2013

A rare and impressive example of a modern academic doing military history, and doing it well.

Yet clearly part of the reason Fischer wrote this book was to provide a kind of on-the-ground justification for his earlier work of social and cultural history, "Albion's Seed," where he discovered four major "folkways" in America which he thought descended from four separate waves of migration. Sure enough, he finds similar divisions here, such as that between the "ordered liberty" of the New England regiments and the "levelling liberty" of the Pennsylvania Associators. Whats surprising perhaps is how convincingly he makes his case, describing how the Pennsylvanians, for example, elected their own officers and forbid sartorial displays of differing rank. He furthermore extends his social analysis to those on the British side like the fiercely independent Highland Foot regiments (one of whom fought a bloody battle in its own right to keep its kilts and tartans back in Scotland) and the infamous Hessians, who were sent over to the US as part of the Handelsoldieten (solider trade) in what some at the time called "the deal of the century" for the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who received millions in gold for his troubles.

Fischer also demonstrates the world-historical consequences of these social and military confrontations along the Delaware river in late 1776 and early 1777. The defeat of the Hessians at the first battle of Trenton caused Europe, inspired especially by an anonymous pamphleteer who was probably Ben Franklin, to react against the mercenary trade and helped end it on the continent. On the other hand, Washington is portrayed as one of the first to understand how to create a new American order out of distinctive and differing visions of liberty, namely, through negotiation and tolerance. His command foreshadowed later government recognition of differences and compromise, yet kept the army united enough to achieve victory.

Overall though, the book is mainly a well-wrought military history, describing the lay of the land and dispositions of regiments and how they clashed in battle. I haven't read anything like it in awhile, but I'm certainly glad I read this one.

Profile Image for Robert Snow.
259 reviews11 followers
July 15, 2015
Some books you read and you say... That was a good and enjoyable. Now "Washington's Crossing" is very different, it changed my way of thinking about who we are, where we came from and about our hopes and dreams. This is a powerful book about some of our darkest days and we've had a few since. This is more than a history book it can be a teaching book also... If you want it to be! Enjoy...
237 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2019
Excellent, engaging, interesting, and inspiring.
A few non-exhaustive notes:
• Washington: “A people unused to restraint must be led; they will not be drove.”
• Private Joseph Plumb Martin woke to the sight of 5 warships anchored in the East River near New York that were ready for battle. He remembered, “It was on a Sabbath morning, the day in which the British were always employed about their deviltry if possible.”
• Washington wept when he realized the disaster that befell his (2,800+) troops after he assented to the wishes of Gen. Nathaniel Greene to try to hold Fort Lee, in spite of his better judgment.
• Panics, in some cases, have their uses. In tough times, people begin to think anew. Paine’s An American Crisis captured the difficulty of the time and the resolve of the Americans.
• America’s great revival did not follow the battles of Trenton and Princeton; it preceded them and made those events possible, if not inevitable. The revival arose from many people, esp. the ordinary people in the valley of the Delaware (R.).
• Dr. Benjamin Rush thought that it was a national habit of the American people not to deal with a difficult problem until it was nearly impossible. “Our republics cannot exist long in prosperity. We require adversity, and appear to possess most of the republican spirit when most depressed.”
o For example, when Congress was forced to move from Philadelphia to Baltimore in humble circumstances, Samuel Adams noted that the circumstances improved the virtue of Congress and that Congress was able to accomplish more in 3 weeks than they had done in 6 months in Phil.a.
• During the winter campaigns of 1776-1777, there are many accounts of blood-tinged snow from the unshod or little-shod feet of the American troops. While the Americans had plenty of firearms, artillery, and ammunition, blankets and shoes were always in short supply during that difficult winter.
• During the battle of Trenton, James Monroe took over the head of a corps from an injured Capt. William Washington. In the melee, he was hit by a musket ball that severed an artery and he bled dangerously. Fortunately, a local New Jersey doctor who had joined Monroe’s Company as a volunteer the night before, saved his life by clamping the artery just in time to keep him from bleeding to death.
• Inhabitants, including at least one woman, shot from their homes in the battle of Trenton. One of the woman’s shots hit and mortally wounded a Hessian captain.
• After the Battle of Trenton, Washington ordered his men to treat the Hessians with humanity.
• A voluntary (private) drive was organized to help gather clothing and especially shoes for the Continental Army as an emergency measure.
• General Thomas Mifflin, who pledged his life and fortune to the American cause, persuaded his men to stay on in the cause of liberty for 6 weeks (and for $10) just before (and in the nick of time) their time of service was expiring. Most of them agreed to stay.
• Washington repeated this plea for troops to stay an extra month by appealing to their service to the cause of liberty and to their country, and to their sense of honor. Washington also addressed their material needs by authorizing $10 hard coin for those who agreed. Nearly all who were fit for duty (~200) agreed to stay on and serve. They knew the cost, and it was later determined that nearly half would be killed in the fighting or dead of disease soon after. A true sacrifice.
• Washington and his officers were keenly aware that the war was also a contest for popular opinion. While the esteem of others was somewhat important to some of the leaders, what was more important was their belief that they would win only if they deserved to win. Even in the most urgent times of the war, these men were concerned about the ethical questions in the Revolution.
• The American troops had a sense of their own strength, a confidence in one another, and a feeling that Providence was with them on the night of the Battle of Trenton.
• The weather proved to be a blessing from Providence many times during the War. One instance included the cold temps that came so quickly the night after the Battle of Trenton. As the Army proceeded to Princeton that night, the roads, which had been slushy and muddy the day before, froze within about 2 hours to provide for easier travel for the American troops.
• Some of the differences between Washington and the British generals include:
o Washington listened to his fellow officers and encouraged them to share their views freely.
o He listened more than he spoke.
o Later on, he worked more skillfully at the construction of consensus, as in a council.
o These skills resulted in a community of open discourse and a spirit of mutual forbearance.
o This also led to growing respect for Washington.
• Historian Gruuber (sp?) concluded that Trenton and Princeton were supremely important to destroy the illusion of British invincibility, making patriots of potential Loyalists, and spoiling the Howe brothers’ hopes to a quick end to the War and the start to a lasting reunion with the Crown.
• Americans became highly motivated by the cruel experience of oppression. Another strength was their religion—their faith sustained them in adversity. Another plus was that the free male population in America was among the most literate in the world. Also, the American economy generated higher income per capita than most European nations.
• Americans were also accustomed to govern themselves; by 1776, they had done so for 6 generations. In spite of the many failures, success came together in the winter of 1776. Why? A big reason was that the civil and military leaders were accountable to a free people through their representatives. Thus, military leaders spent much time to communicate with the people and their leaders.
• The victories at Trenton and Princeton added legitimacy and stability to the American Cause when most needed and helped the fragile invention that was America, grow into an American tradition.
• A new way of war-fighting was developed in America that reflected the nature of the citizenry. Free Americans in 1776 were a restless, striving, entrepreneurial people who routinely assumed risk for the sake of profit. They were a practical people who judged actions by results. Thus, they saw war differently than Europeans. They knew that wars may have to be fought from time to time to accomplish a particular purpose or goal. They fought not for the sake of fighting, but for the sake of winning. While war has been a continual part of America’s experience (at least one war fought each generation), Americans always saw war as an interruption in their lives and something that they wanted to get done quickly in order to return to the ordinary business of life.
• Some of the war-fighting differences were boldness and opportunism, initiative and tempo, speed and concentration, and intelligence. These differences came together in the winter battles of 1776-1777 and would define a new way of war that would continue to our time.
• During the winter campaigns of 1776-77, neither Washington nor his leaders denied quarter to the enemy, in spite of the fact that quarter was denied to many Americans by the British and Hessians.
• Note that 23% of the Hessians who fought in the War decided to remain in America after it ended.
• Thus, the Americans chose a policy of humanity that aligned the conduct of the War with the values of the Revolution. They set the standard high.
• Too many scholars in the late 20th century tried to make the American past into a record of crime and folly. Too many writers have told us that we are captors of our darker selves and helpless victims of our history. “It isn’t so, and never was.” The story of Washington’s Crossing tells us that Americans were (and are) capable of acting in a higher spirit.
Profile Image for Dean.
64 reviews
December 17, 2023
The first time I ever thought about Washington's crossing of the Delaware as an adult occurred in Fort Tryon Park (NYC) after visiting The Met Cloisters (great, underrated museum). I was sitting on a bench facing the Hudson River, reading, minding my own business, wearing a T-shirt gifted to me by my sister that read: "Wellesley College \\ Where no man has gone before". Those who have lived in New York can predict what happened next: A random stranger sat down on the bench next to me and just started talking.

This particular stranger had a rather strong Santa Claus presence to him - old, spherical, booming, spoke with an unintelligible North Pole accent, probably spent too much time with elves. No offense to any of my Greek readers here, but I believe he said he was from Athens.

He made his first inroad by saying that his relative went to Wellesley. After learning that I study physics, he enthusiastically claimed that he studied "astrognomie" (his spelling) at the University of Stockholm. He then launched into an hour-long seminar about how:

"Apollo pulls the Sun. You see the light through clouds? Apollo. Light from sky. See the clouds moving on this river? Hudson River. You know everyone thinks Washington crossed the Delaware river? Washington never did. He crossed Hudson. I know this. They teach you wrong. Apollo pulled the Sun so Washington could cross. No Delaware river. It's a myth! Apollo's pillar of light for Washington!"

I sat there through it all, wishing I could cross the Hudson to get away from this guy, maybe even make it past the Delaware. Instead, I had to wait for the sun to start setting for Apollo to pull his disciple away.

There are a few conclusions to draw from this story: 1) Don't talk to strangers. 2) Looks can be deceiving, so don't trust the Santa Claus types. They see you when you're sleeping, they know when you're awake. 3) Instead of getting history lessons from strangers, it is instead best to read some high quality history books, like this one.

---

P.S. I have a friend who never shuts up about Trenton and Princeton (won't name any names, don't want to dox anyone). For their sake, I will include a quote from the book about Trenton: "This town consists of about one hundred houses, of which many are mean and little."
Profile Image for Richard.
221 reviews44 followers
October 13, 2012
David Hackett Fischer has produced a highly readable and fact-filled account of the important battles of the Revolutionary War following the Declaration of Independence. This conflict required a young, self-made country to draw soldiers from among its colonies to go against the strongest army of the time without the knowledge of how or when the outcome would play out. I think the heart of the American War of independence was the people of all classes who joined regiments and went to war under sometimes terrible physical conditions, for pay, food and clothing which was meager when available, which was not often. The glue which held this together was the aristocratic George Washington, whose prior military experience several decades earlier in the French and Indian War was far from stellar. How all of this came together and led to ultimate victory is the driving force of the historical study of this war.

This story begins in the summer of 1776, after the new American commander, Washington, had driven the British from Boston. The Colonists were able to use the terrain around that city to make it unbearable for the occupying British to remain there. New York was a different story. General Howe landed a powerful army of British regulars and German "Hessians" on Staten Island. Washington's strategy quickly changed from stopping the invasion to moving his gradually disintegrating army from one disastrous defensive position to another. Fischer provides clear maps showing the defeats and retreats from Long Island to Harlem Heights to Fort Washington by Washington's army after being tactically outmaneuvered by the British Navy and Army.

Washington's only "successes" during these months consisted of brilliantly executed and lucky withdrawals of his forces while on the verge of being enveloped by the enemy on several occasions. After his retreat across New Jersey to Trenton, and then across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania, Washington was able to stop running, but most of his army was killed, captured or had deserted by then. The remnants were due to end their enlistments at the end of the year. It was entirely possible, by the winter of 1776, that the Revolution would run out of steam.

Washington made a daring plan to turn his fortunes around. He crossed the Delaware River during the evening of Christmas to attack the Hessian regiment which had taken up winter quarters in Trenton. He put his 2,400 men in boats and crossed the river at night in a strong ice and snow storm. Fischer's descriptions and maps show how the Americans were able to maneuver into position to defeat a force of professional soldiers. Not content to withdraw with his prisoners back to Pennsylvania and sit out the winter, Washington kept his forces in Trenton to face the British relief army of General Cornwallis at Trenton. The Americans skillfully withdrew back along the route the British marched from Princeton, and fought successfully against the British there. Unlike the two next disastrous winters when the American Army would almost starve and freeze to death in encampments, the 1776-77 winter would be spent by the Americans in New Jersey, carrying on a "forage war" of attacks which effectively kept the British main forces tied up in New York City until the following spring.

Fischer writes a history which describes one of the great military reversals of all time. The casual reader can find a wealth of interesting information in an enjoyable read, while the historian and scholar will be impressed by the depth of research used in writing the book. Fischer always, though, is focused on the General who was able to keep his army going under all challenges, and the people who he led. The American Army at this time could contain a collection of types such as: Virginia gentlemen, New England seamen, Scot immigrants, western frontiersmen, Pennsylvania and New Jersey farmers. Some were attired in their civilian clothing as part of militia regiments; some wore the uniforms of state regiments. Some were black (it is interesting that the novelty of a racially integrated army starting in 1948 was actually preceded by the Revolutionary War).

I didn't make up the preceding description of American types fighting with Washington. The list is actually from Fischer's critique of the iconic painting of "Washington's Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze. This American treasure in the Metropolitan Museum of Art was actually painted to inspire the 1848 European revolutionary movements by the artist, who had returned to Germany from America. It is interesting that the original 1850 painting remained in Germany and was destroyed by the bombing of Bremen in World War II; the famous painting in the Met is an exact Leutze copy of the original dated 1851.

Fischer ends his book with an examination of the historiography of the contribution Washington made to the Revolution through his victories at Trenton I and II and Princeton. I enjoyed reading his descriptions of the differing historical interpretations of these events by the Romantic Historians, Whigs, Nationalists, Debunkers, Multiculturalists and others. This section is a mini education on historical method. Fischer's position on the subject is that you can assign any motives you want to Washington and the Patriots, but the only fair conclusion of the cause they fought for is that they were trying to build a country according to the highest principles.

Two discoveries concerning the human condition were being put to the test here, not in academia but in a war for survival. The first was the principle that a society could be organized on the basis of liberty and freedom, and it could actually work. The other concerned the capacity of humans for order and discipline. These Enlightenment altruisms, not necessarily compatible with each other, were at work in 1776, when Washington had to lead an army of individualists who came from different colonies representing different sectional interests, many of whom joined up to preserve the idea of American independence from vasalege to the Mother Country. Nevertheless, these individualists needed to be trained to subvert their will and talents to the service of others, and to accept the military system of punishment and reward used to drill soldiers.

A last note on the importance of Leutz's painting. Fischer is aware of the debunkers who have trashed this painting because it contains numerous historical inaccuracies. Even the American flag dominating the center of the painting is incorrect, since it was not adopted until the following year. Fischer, however, chose to use the painting on his book cover because it is the greatest visual symbol of the spirit of the times. Leutz correctly portrays a boatload of soldiers facing great odds. The atmosphere of high drama and feelings of desperation portrayed here were no doubt clearly felt by the small force who just faced five months of disastrous defeats and now were operating with a sense of urgency to attempt one more, high-risk try to save a movement that they had devoted their lives to. America's greatest generation? It could very well be that.


506 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2020
The book makes a convincing case that the battles of Trenton and Princeton were the tipping point in the American Revolution. The Redcoats had swept into New York and routed the Americans, so the world, and all of the colonies, were surprised when Washington led his troops on a snowy Christmas Day and overwhelmed the Hessians at Trenton. I had long heard the Hessians were unprepared, but in fact they were fully ready and on high alert after days of American pressure--they simply didn't have enough troops to absorb the American assault. Washington comes off as a fine military leader. Apparently he made decisions with a group of advisors, while the British leaders made their own decisions and handed them down from on high. After the surprise at Trenton Washington precisely anticipated the British response-to march strait away from Princeton to Trenton where they met the entrenched Americans who could not be dislodged. And then Washington had them steal away at night to Princeton. Just great military leadership.

And while the British often slaughtered surrendering troops and maltreated prisoners, Washington gave explicit orders to treat prisoners well--he said they would go back (to England or Germany) and tell everyone back home about this new way of running a country. Just a great book, especially for a Jersey boy like myself who knows all the places they fought in New Jersey.
August 25, 2014
Simply browsing the title, table of contents, and some reviews potential readers may fall into the trap of thinking that this book is too similar to David McCullough’s 1776 to justify reading it. However, this assumption isn’t correct. While both stories follow Washington’s army through the fall of New York and conclude with the battles of Trenton and Princeton, Fischer’s focus is different than McCullough’s. McCullough’s main focus was on Washington’s army throughout the entire year of 1776 starting with a detailed description of the Boston siege. Fischer only in minor detail discusses the very end of the siege of Boston in setting the stage for the showdown in New York. Fischer focuses more on the dark days of November/December 1776 precluding Trenton/Princeton and what Washington did to revitalize his fleeting army and keep the American cause alive. Following through on this focus, Fischer can be guilty at times of hero worship regarding Washington. It almost seems that Fischer chooses to throw more light on the flaws of the British to smooth out Washington's wrinkles.
Fischer begins with a somewhat thorough overview of the key characters who would play major parts in the campaign of 1776: the Americans, the British, and the Hessians. Fischer is less descriptive of the Battle for New York than McCullough. The heart of the story lies in the account of the activities that took place in New Jersey immediately preceding Washington’s Christmas Day attack and its aftermath. Instead of focusing solely on Washington and his army, Fischer chooses to focus more on British loss of control of New Jersey as the true reason for Washington’s triumph. Fischer focuses on the rupture, insubordination, and sheer misjudgment of the British and Hessian chains of command and how events ruined William Howe’s plans for the pacification of New Jersey. Howe’s plans for peace instead ended in violence.
In the aftermath of his fumbling loss of New York, Washington quickly learned from his mistakes was able to utilize intelligence to his advantage, monitoring the enemy while buying time, strengthening, reforming his army, and consolidating his command. When he saw opportunities present themselves he acted by first doing what he could to disrupt the enemy and put them on edge before his official attack. While recounting the facts of Washington’s crossing and the events that followed, Fischer (in his unique way) is quick to debunk many myths and legends that surround the events. For instance, factual accounts prove that the Hessians were not drunk and engaged in their holiday festivities that night but had actually been quite alert all day and engaged in their regular guard duties. However, these soldiers were completely fatigued, warn out from the raids and uprisings that had kept them vigilant night and day for several weeks in December. The reason they were surprised is because of their own misjudgment had let their guard down thinking it impossible that the Americans would attack in a blinding snow storm.

The book can be a bit of a slog at times. Fischer wrote this book as part of an Oxford Press series that he coedited with James McPherson entitled Pivotal Moments in American History. Maybe being part of a series that seems to have been written more for those less familiar with history might explain why this books seemed to me as quite pedestrian. It seems as though that was Fischer's goal. This clearly isn't his best work, but I would still recommend giving it a look. There is some good information especially on the events that occurred in New Jersey during the British occupation of the colony such as the New Jersey risings which I have not read about elsewhere. For that I give it three stars.
Profile Image for Don.
58 reviews28 followers
February 18, 2008
Washington’s Crossing is one of those tomes that every American citizen should read. It’s very well paced with an inclusive narrative that places the reader squarely in the action. This book is so well written, I found myself under the mistaken impression that Fischer had actually interviewed the participants and their first generation relations. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. This is not only a good read for history buffs, it’s revealing of the subdural attitude, for better and worse, sets us apart globally.

It is fascinating to learn under what circumstances my country won it’s freedom from a largely egomaniacal oppressor. For instance, I had no idea that our military was completely made up of volunteers with no formal training. I had no idea that each soldier was under contract and once that contract ended, they were free to walk off the field. I had no idea that there were disparate units of militia acting on their own initiative and that a grand plan was very hard to execute.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War we truly sucked. England was rich with personnel and superior in every military sense. They enlisted the help of German troupes under a very lucrative contract. Both England and the Germans hated what the American Revolution stood for; democracy. We were driven and beaten back from the shores of New York to Pennsylvania and the situation was desperate. What seems to have saved us from ourselves were unbelievably bad weather conditions and an active disengagement from the rules of war. What I find most ironic is that we’ve become what we fought; a great and powerful nation that forcefully protects it’s global interest through highly organized and regimented military superiority. It worries me to think about a resourceful enemy besting us at our erstwhile game.

As I read this book, it was wintertime, albeit mild and sporadic, in Chicago. During the winter war of 1776-1777, our troops were walking through blinding snowstorms, walking through icy rivers, barely clothed and in many instances unshod. During this particular Chicago winter, I ride a foldable bicycle about a mile and a half from the train station to work. On particularly snowy days, the conditions are unfavorable for biking on the small wheels that deem my ride “portable” and I am given to walking. During by snowy walks, I couldn’t help but proudly and thankfully reflect on the tenacity of our forefathers while protected by my London Fog down and Dr. Martens.

Profile Image for Jason.
172 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2008
Part of the Oxford Pivotal Moments in American History series, Fischer's work is a cultural history surrounding the events that Washington's Revolutionary Army participated in from March of 1776 to March of 1777, with the middle of the book focusing on the pivotal turning point of the unlikely capture of the Hessian garrison in Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas of 1776, made famous by the painting featured on the cover of the book.

Fischer's book was published at nearly the same time as McCullough's 1776, which covers nearly the indentical time period, yet unlike McCullough's focus on the narratives and characters of the of the dark days of the American cause in 1776, Fischer's work is a close examination of cultural trends and mores that developed and moved the American Army, unlike no other movement in the world at the time. In short, McCullough's book would be best enjoyed by those looking for a tree-top level of the events of the day. It is an excellent book that will be read for years, and Fischer is complementary of it, but Washington's Crossing is an in-depth look at why the American cause took the course it did and what precisely that means for us today. It is most certainly not history-as-pageant-on-parade. Most importantly, Washington's Crossing does a wonderful job of de-mythologizing the American cause to American readers, while reintroducing the concepts of rare and unique combinations of leadership and service that actors such as Washington, Knox, Monroe and down to the yeoman citizen-militia were in world history. Something new was happening along the banks of the Delaware that December, when it was most unlikely to.
Profile Image for Brian Eshleman.
847 reviews111 followers
January 8, 2017
I'm not surprised to find out from the interview with the author at the end of the book that he is a professor of more than forty years experience. His lectures must be spellbinding. He can keep the main narrative moving in a straight line that is easy to follow. He can do this while finding the appropriate timing to comment on the forces of the larger culture at work. Then, he can compound his effectiveness by entering into the hearts and minds of the individual actors, charting maturation or the increasing bitterness of individual figures and the ways in which this development of individual psyches impacted the main storyline. If keeping these three aims in tandem were not mastery enough, he then helps the reader to connect them to trends which continue to our present day, to the American way of war in the ensuing two centuries, for instance.
Profile Image for Chris.
248 reviews4 followers
August 5, 2016
In Washington's Crossing, Fischer covers the New Jersey Campaign of December 1776 through the spring of 1777.  He also explains the lead-up to th the battles in New Jersey and the Continental Army's disastrous actions during 1776 and how and why control of the war shifted from the British to the Americans during the few months of December '76 through April '77.   This enlightening analysis of the war helped me to understand some of the reasons why the Americans ended up victorious in the conflict.  To be sure, the Continental Army had more trials to face in the later years of the war, but these few months showed that they could face the British and win battles against this mighty foe. I highly recommend this book to Revolutionary War History buffs.
Profile Image for Jonathan Hamel.
4 reviews6 followers
February 19, 2019
An essential read to fully grasp the leadership and greatness of General Washington. A detailed account of the New Jersey campaign (January 1777), rich in historical facts and analysis. The author gives a modern look to these events while accurately portraying the cultural differences between the protagonists (General Washington and the British Generals). There's a lot of takeaways and lessons from a personal and professional perspective. The reader interested in business/management will learn a lot from General Washington's approach to the New Jersey campaign. General Washington led the first army of free men. He treated his soldiers and his ennemies humanly, always in respect of the ideals of the Revolution : the quest for freedom and individual liberties.
96 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2009
The same story but not as well told as David McCullough's 1776.
Profile Image for Wanda .
69 reviews
February 16, 2016
Excellent report of the famous crossing of the Delaware. Shows you a very detailed account while also laying out tremendous groundwork for explaining why things happened as they did.
Profile Image for Jim.
136 reviews4 followers
August 31, 2015
In Washington’ Crossing, David Hackett Fischer has given us a fresh view of the events, motivations and consequences surrounding the New Jersey Campaign of 1776, pitting the British and Hessian army under General William Howe against the Continental Army and attached militia under General George Washington. Extremely well written and extensively documented, using numerous primary and secondary sources as well as many very helpful maps, Fischer has produced a book that, in my opinion, will be definitive on this subject for many, many years. Not only has he given us an extremely detailed and lucid account of the military maneuvers encompassed by this campaign, but he has also elucidated a cogent framework for understanding the motivations of the two armies, the leadership styles of the commanders on each side, particularly Howe and Washington, and the effect of this campaign on the future success of the American army. In addition, and most importantly for the accurate representation of historical events, Fischer has challenged many of the long held beliefs we have about certain aspects of this campaign and its participants.

The driving narrative of this work is the detailed description of the New Jersey Campaign of 1776. Contained in it are numerous corrections of long held beliefs about the campaign and its participants. Fischer begins with a description of the participating armies and their motivations, devoting one chapter each to the Americans, British regulars, and Hessians. Over the years stereotypical notions about the motivations of the British and Hessians have taken root. Our need for a villain in every story has led us to demonize not only the British and Hessian armies , which are thought of alternatively as a tool of a tyrannical dictator, and a brutish mercenary army, but also men such as Charles Cornwallis, William and Richard Howe, and Johann Rall. As Fischer makes clear, though flawed in many ways, these men were honorable and were trying to do their best to serve their countries. In many cases, particularly with the Howes and Cornwallis, British leaders sympathized with the Americans and were working not to defeat them utterly, but to bring them back to their loyalty to the crown.

It has become fashionable to denigrate the motivation of those fighting for American independence. For many, it is a trite cliché to say they were fighting for freedom and liberty, yet as Fischer shows, along with other factors, these notions were the primary motivator for most Americans. Fischer does an excellent job of not only describing the structure of each army, but also in taking an objective look at each of the participants, highlighting the positive and negative attributes of each.

As Fischer describes it, the British Army was not only “one of the finest ever seen,” but was also an army full of paradoxes.(Fischer, 33) As an institution and as its “regimental badges and colors proclaimed, it served the King. (Fischer, 33) Yet, it was actually a creation of Parliament, subject to re-authorization every twelve months. As occurred later in the United States, the British people were very proud of the accomplishments of their military, yet were distrustful of a standing army and “kept it on a short leash.” (Fischer, 33) In organizational terms, it was both bureaucratized and decentralized, more like an army of separate tribes, with their own rules and customs. Most importantly however according to Fischer, is the mistaken notion that the British army was simply the bludgeon by which King George III intended to defeat America. In reality, for the British army, like their American counterparts, the war “was a clash of principles in which they deeply believed.” (Fischer, 50) Primary among those beliefs was loyalty to the British monarchy. As Fischer points out British soldiers swore a personal oath “to be true to our Sovereign Lord King George.” (Fischer, 50) For these soldiers, this loyalty and the rituals that celebrated it represented Ideals of loyalty, fidelity, honor, duty, discipline, and service…” (Fischer, 50)

The motivation for the Hessian armies in America, though different from those of the British and Americans, was nevertheless quite different than the simpleminded pursuit if money that is ascribed to them by most people. While the army was paid handsomely for their services in America, this was not their prime motivation for agreeing to serve. In reality, the Hessian army was created as part of an enlightened culture that prized “reason and order, fidelity and loyalty, discipline and regularity.” (Fischer, 54) Friedrich Wilhelm II viewed his Hessian army as a school of discipline, and encouraged all able-bodied men to join, even those of aristocratic families. The result was the largest army in proportion to population in the world. And, while the average Hessian underwent far stricter discipline than their British and American counterparts, their motivation, according to Fischer were the values of “order and discipline…service and honor.” (Fischer, 61)

As noted above, it has become almost cliché to say that those fighting for American independence were doing so for freedom and liberty. It has become fashionable to ascribe motivations of greed and selfishness as the primary motivation for these soldiers. As Fischer makes very clear, this is simply not the case. He has marshaled an impressive array of primary evidence that clearly indicates that Americans were primarily fighting for their notions of freedom and liberty, first to regain their rights as Englishman, and later to gain their independence from Britain altogether. Fischer does not discount other inducements. For the soldiers from Marblehead, Massachusetts, for example, profit was most definitely on their mind in their desire to return home and join the privateers plundering British shipping. And, clearly, the depredations committed by many British and Hessian soldiers during the New Jersey campaign motivated thousands of men to join the militia. In addition to making a persuasive case that these notions of freedom and liberty were the driving motivations for most American soldiers, Fischer does an excellent job of describing how men from different parts of the country viewed those notions, and then tying that to a description of how George Washington was able to adapt to this and create an American way of fighting.

Notions of freedom and liberty in 1776, for which most Americans fought, was understood differently based largely on where one resided. From “the collective rights of New England, [to] the reciprocal rights of Philadelphia Associators, the individual rights of back country riflemen, and the hegemonic rights of the Fairfax men,” all viewed freedom as their primary motivator. (Fischer, 364) As Fischer ably demonstrates, George Washington, largely as a result of his experiences in the French and Indian War, was able to accommodate these different views and in so doing create an American way of “war-fighting,” characterized by the notion that all the American army had to do was to survive, by a willingness to take chances with success, with a prudence in risking the lives of the soldiers, a reliance on religion as a motivating factor, and most unique of all, a concern for popular opinion. It is this last, Fischer argues, which characterizes an army subservient to civilian authority.

At the center of this new way of fighting was George Washington. It was his ability to accommodate himself to its realities that made this new way successful in the end. This is evidenced by the way in which he took advantage of the New Jersey militia following the victory at Princeton; by submerging his moral distaste for the lack of discipline among the militia and allowing them to engage in the type of guerrilla war that brought success.This Forage War caused almost as many enemy casualties as did the New York and New Jersey campaigns combined. It was also evidenced, according to Fischer, by the style in which Washington conducted his councils of war. In contrast to Cornwallis’ which were characterized by extreme deference and a pre-ordained outcome dictated by Cornwallis himself, Washington’s reflected a “diversity of cultures…the pluralism of elites…a more open polity…a less stratified society, and especially by expanding ideas of liberty and freedom.” (Fischer, 315) In his councils, Washington encouraged a free exchange of ideas, listened more than he talked, and took freely from the ideas of others. The result was an enthusiastic consensus for the course of action, of which the decision to attack Princeton in an excellent example, and more importantly, a growing respect and admiration among the officers for George Washington as their leader.

The heart of Fischer’s book of course is the detailed narrative of the New Jersey campaign itself. It is often very easy to get lost in the description of battles and maneuvers, especially if one does not have a military background. However, Fischer was able to describe the campaign in a very detailed way that did not leave me totally confused. Important here were some very well placed battle maps which aided in the comprehension of the detailed narrative. In addition, Fischer was able to dispel some well established misconceptions about this campaign, and to illuminate some aspects of it that were overlooked. Most importantly as I described above, are the myths surrounding the motivations of the different participants. However, events such as the Second Battle of Trenton and the Forage War, almost universally ignored in other works, are described in detail here. The myth persists that the Hessians were nursing hangovers when Washington attacked. Fischer clearly demonstrates that this is not true, and in so doing elevates what the Americans accomplished, as well as dispelling the notion that the Hessians were incompetent. He also shows that the Americans did not lack ammunition, and in fact, were better armed in many ways than the Hessians. He also takes issue with those who mock the notion that Washington would be standing in the Durham boat as they crossed the Delaware River as depicted in Emmanuel Leutze’s painting, noting that had he been seated, it would have been in a puddle of frozen water. Finally, is the notion that Washington was more lucky than gifted. As Fischer makes clear, Washington learned from his mistakes in the New York campaign, and clearly out generaled his opposition.

He concludes his book with an excellent summary, along with a description of the importance of this campaign. Disputing the notion that these were symbolic victories, Fischer notes that the New Jersey campaign inflicted severe damage on the British and Hessian armies. It was also of course a shot in the arm for the American cause. As the result of these victories, Washington was able to force the British from New Jersey, cause British leaders to look to the defensive, and most importantly, it allowed Washington to recruit enough men to carry on the fight, It also instilled in the American public a new confidence in heir army and its leaders, particularly Washington, and it gave the army new confidence in themselves.

Fischer also includes an excellent section describing the humanity in which American leaders fought. It was not enough to win, but it was necessary to win “in a way that was consistent with the values of their society.” (Fischer, 375) In contrast to the attitudes of many British and Hessian leaders, this meant quarter would be granted to all who surrendered, and that prisoners would be treated humanely. While there were those who did not agree, Washington set the standard.

There is little to fault in this book. It is extremely well sourced, clearly written, and makes very persuasive, almost unassailable arguments. Fischer includes an exhaustive appendix that includes many details not found in the main narrative, and the index is one of the best I have seen.

Very highly recommended.
Profile Image for Czarny Pies.
2,608 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2024
"Washington's Crossing" is a strange hybrid creation. It is a work intended for the general public written by an academic who has conducted in-depth primary research. It has the weakness of pursuing too many objectives but makes some very important points.
The book covers the time period from April 1776 to March 1777 during which the British defeated George Washington's Continental Army in New York and then chased it through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. In a dramatic turnaround, on the night of December 25-26, Washington's army crossed the Delaware River separating Pennsylvania from New Jersey. Within the next 8 days, it would defeat in the British forces in at Trenton and Princeton. In the Forage War that followed over the next three months, various local militia defeated the British forces at multiple locations in New Jersey. The cause of the American Revolution which had appeared lost at the beginning of December 1776, had demonstrated that it was extremely viable by the end of March 1777. Enthusiasm for the cause increased tremendously in the 13 colonies and foreign powers realized that would likely be choosing the winning side if they chose to support the Americans. In simplest terms, "Washington's Crossing" is about an all important turning point.
Fischer chooses to downplay the remarkable role played by George Washington. He acknowledges that Washington was a highly charismatic leader, a brilliant battlefield commander and highly skilled politician who brilliantly maintained the support of the politicians of the Continental Congress. However, Fischer's main focus is to portray the war as being fought by two radically different cultural groups. The British army was led by aristocrats who obtained their posts because of their connections in England. The American army was composed of middle class individuals from America's commercial community who got their posts and promotions due to demonstrated competence. The British commanders wanted to fight with honour while the Americans wanted only to win. While Fischer's thesis can be pushed too far, he still does an excellent job at illustrating how the American War of Independence was at its heart a contest between an aristocratic and a liberal democratic society.
In Fischer's view, the British commanders began the war with the idea that the American revolt was like an Irish uprising; that it could be crushed with a simple show of force. The believed that the American people for the most part were loyal to the British crown and that the colonies could easily be returned to their previous state as loyal territories of the British empire. The British officers resolutely refused to even consider the policy proposed by the commanders of their Hessian mercenary forces of Shrecklichkeit (sack and burn) which was routinely practiced in Europe against hostile local populations.
One of the great strengths of the book is the detail and attention paid to the Hessian forces a faction of the British side with its own unique culture and values. The Hessians who constituted about one third of the British army during the time frame covered and did much to undermine the image of Great Britain in the eyes of the Americans. One major problem was looting. The Hessian regiments deducted a payment for food from their soldiers. This created a great incentive for the Hessian soldiers to loot, forego the regimental food they would have to pay and thus greatly increase the take home pay from their terms of service.
Fischer also spends a great deal of time analyzing the historiography and artistic depictions of the events. His comments on the painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware" (1851) by the German artist Emanuel Leutze are very good but I found that Fischer was much less successful with his analyses of the historical writing and other artistic representations.
I also found that there was a certain incoherency or muddle that resulted from Fischer's decision to combine a narrative history, cultural analysis and art criticism in a single work. This is not to say that "Washington's Crossing" is not a very fine book by a truly great historian. It is not nearly as good however as either "Paul Revere's Ride" or "Champlain's Dream."
Profile Image for Heather.
1,069 reviews7 followers
October 25, 2012
I liked this author. He does a good job of describing the context and events surrounding the famous painting Washington's Crossing, but I liked the beginning of the book the best. Towards the middle there were a few too many details for me, but ultimately it did help me understand more of the times, people, circumstances and turning points during the years of 1776 and 1777 in the American Revolution. I particularly enjoyed learning about General Washington and his leadership, how he worked together with others, and how it really was a team effort in so many ways that lead to an American victory. It was definitely not a sure fight. I'm always impressed by the courage of those who stood up for freedom and liberty in such an uncertain time. I liked how the author finished by reminding us of how history is made by the choices of individuals who decide to act and make a difference in the world.

I thought that an important and inspiring turning point was the council that met on the night of December 27. After their success at Trenton, NJ in the cold the last thing anyone wanted to do was to continue further in the cold the next day, but that's exactly what they all decided to do. They came together and recognized the importance of their efforts and sacrifices. The author points out that their initiative, tempo and speed were important in their ultimate victory. I'm impressed by their examples and grateful for their sacrifices. It so interesting to be reading a book like this when I feel like we live at another turning point in history. We must be responsible about the choices we make that do change the world.

A few inspiring quotes:
"[George Washington's creed he followed all his life] valued self-government, discipline, virtue, reason, and restraint....It was a philosophy of moral striving through virtuous action and right conduct, by powerful men who believed that their duty was to lead others in a changing world. Most of all, it was a way of combining power with responsibility, and liberty with discipline....A major part of this code of honor was an idea of courage...a gentleman would act with physical courage in the face of danger, pain, suffering, and death. They gave equal weight to moral courage in adversity, prosperity, trial, and temptation. For them, a vital part of leadership was the ability to persist in what one believed to be the right way (p. 12)."

"George Washington and the New England men slowly found a way to work together. Washington learned to listen, to reason, and to work through councils of war in which a majority of officers were Yankees. New Englanders learned that an army was not a town meeting, that somebody had to give orders, and that orders had to be obeyed. The result was an untidy and unstable compromise, which allowed an army of cantankerous Yankees to operate under a gentleman of Virginia (p. 21)."

"In 1776, Americans were less interested in pulling down a monarchy than in raising up a new republic. Washington's leadership was becoming a major part of that process within the army. Men who came from different parts of the continent were beginning to understand each other. And Washington was learning how to lead them....Slowly this army of free men was learning to work together. They were also coming to respect this extraordinary man who was their leader, but...Washington knew that they were about to meet some of the most formidable troops in the world, and the outcome was very much in doubt (p. 30)."


Nathan Hale's "gentle dignity" as he quotes Addison's Cato as he dies,
"How beautiful is death, when earn'd by virtue!
Who would not be that youth? What pity is it
That we can die but once to serve our country (p. 108)."


Watching a great loss from the Jersey Palisades across the Hudson River on November 16, 1776, "George Washington was shattered....He blamed no one else for what happened, took all the responsibility on his shoulders, and judged himself more severely than anyone else could judge him...he began to weep with the tenderness of a child. His aides did not know how to help, or ever if they should. Some were beginning to doubt that he could lead them....It was the lowest point of Washington's long career. In the agony of that moment he felt that he had lost everything: lost the war, lost the Cause, lost his own way. But then this extraordinary man reached deep into his last reserves or inner strength. Not much was left, but enough to shake off a terrible despair. He looked away from Fort Washington and rallied his aides around him. Together, they would try again (p. 113)."

"Thomas Paine wrote to Edmund Burke, 'I have seen enough of war and the miseries it inflicts to wish it might never more have an existence in the world, and that some other mode than destruction might take place to adjust and compose the differences that occasionally arise in the neighborhood of nations.' But in 1776, Paine had come to believe that some evils in the world were even worse than war, and one of them was the tyranny that British ministers were attempting to fasten on their frontier colonies (p. 141)."

"Everyone agreed that it was a perilous moment when things had gone deeply wrong for the American War of Independence. It was a pivotal moment when great issues of the Revolution were hanging in the balance. Most of all it was a moment of decision, when hard choices had to be made. Thanks in part to Thomas Paine, it became a time when many Americans resolved to act, in ways that made a difference in the world (p. 142)."

"Nobody thought that the enemy could attack in such weather (p. 205)."


Before enlistments were set to expire on December 31, Washington said, "My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than could be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with the fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty, and to your country, which you probably can never do under any other circumstances (p. 273)."

Alternatively, "Cornwallis introduced an air of complete confidence....went into council with his generals not to ask what should be done as Washington did, but to tell his subordinates what he meant to do (p. 291)."

"The Americans improvised a different system of command. It was forces upon them by a diversity of cultures in the country, by the plurality of elites, by a more open polity, by a less stratified society, and especially by expanding ideas of liberty and freedom. The man at the center was George Washington. From much hard-won experience in American politics and war he had learned to work closely with his subordinates. Washington met frequently with them in councils of war and encouraged a free exchange of views. He also listened more than he talked and drew freely from the best ideas that were put before him. In early councils he actually took a vote. Later he worked more skillfully by the construction of consensus. In that way he created a community of open discourse and a spirit of mutual forbearance (p. 316)."

"By the spring of 1777, many British officers had concluded that they could never win the war. At the same time, Americans recovered from their despair and were confident that they would not be defeated. That double transformation was truly a turning point of the war. We have seen how it happened: not in a single event, or even a chain of events, but in a great web of contingency. This book is mainly about contingency, in the sense of people making choices, and choices making a difference in the world (p. 363)."

"John Adams resolved that the guiding principles of the American Republic would always be what he called the policy of humanity. He wrote, 'I know of no policy, God is my witness, but this--Piety, Humanity and Honesty are the best Policy. Blasphemy, Cruelty and Villainy have prevailed and may again. But they won't prevail against America, in this Contest, because I find the more of them are employed, the less they succeed (p. 376)."

"They set a high example, and we have much to learn from them...The story of Washington's Crossing tells us that Americans in an earlier generation were capable of acting in a higher spirit--and so are we (p. 379)."
Profile Image for William Guerrant.
428 reviews19 followers
September 1, 2023
A truly extraordinary book. Maximum stars. One of the best books I have ever read.

The author combines impressive scholarship with an engaging and compelling writing style--a rare feat. His careful research, and careful reading of the sources, explodes some longstanding myths and compels a deep appreciation of the amazing events of late 1776 and early 1777 and the people who made them happen. He addresses not only the history, but the historiography. This is history at its best.

Of course, the book won the Pulitzer Prize so it's not as if I have discovered some hidden gem. I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading it.

Every part of this book is tremendous, but the final chapter and the 27 page essay on historiography are particularly great and merit multiple readings.

"The battles at Trenton and Princeton and the Forage War were not small symbolic victories, as many historians have regarded them. The winter campaign inflicted severe damage on British and Hessian forces... In the New Jersey campaign, American troops repeatedly defeated larger and better trained regular forces in many different types of warfare: special operations, a night river crossing, a bold assault on an urban garrison, a fighting retreat, a defensive battle in fixed positions, a night march into the enemy's rear, a meeting engagement, and a prolonged petite guerre. Professional observers judged that entire performance to be one of the most brilliant in military history."
598 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2020
"Washington's Crossing" tells the celebrated Revolutionary War history of Washington crossing the Delaware River at Christmas, 1776, to attack the Hessian and British troops in Trenton. Fischer corrects several inaccuracies in his telling, the foremost of which is that Washington's success is due to the Hessian/British soldiers sleeping soundly after drunken celebrations. In fact, the invading troops were very alert, with posted patrols and soldiers at the ready, with most of the others sleeping in their full battle attire. Fischer traces Washington's success to a good bit of luck, but primarily to good planning, daring to take the initiative, and having the ability to instill a fighting spirit in an Continental army that had suffered a string of defeats. After Trenton, Washington pushed his advantage to attack Princeton, convincing many British officers that the revolution was likely to succeed, or that it would take superhuman effort to put it down. Fischer's recounting of the story dives deeply into troop movements, not usually my favorite part of a war history, but he makes most of it interesting enough to read. The crossing of the Delaware River was truly the turning point of the American Revolution, though it would take several more years to bring things to a close.
Profile Image for Christopher.
1,161 reviews34 followers
January 26, 2020
A different kind of Army fighting a different kind of war.

Fischer's history is outstanding but inaccurately named. This work is more about the New York and New Jersey campaign from Summer 1776 to March 1777 than it is about Washington's crossing of the Delaware on Christmas night prior to the battle of Trenton. That's perfectly fine as Fischer does a wonderful job placing the crossing in proper historical context and helping illustrate its significance in damaging the British army's psyche and air of invulnerability it had held up to that point.

Filled with engaging details and direct sourcing, Fischer masterfully recounts the lead up to the crossing and the subsequent campaigns that followed as Washington constantly fought to maintain his ragtag Army, its momentum, and their supplies against the British, Congress, and his own Soldiers' unique and varied sense of "liberty."

It was these differing conceptions of freedom that is one of the most interesting aspects of the book. Washington's conception of what "liberty" meant, coming from his position of stoic landed Virginian gentry, was vastly different from his far more individualistic backwood Pennsylvanian troops had or even New Jersey volunteers. His ability to effectively command this collection against the most dominant Army in the world is nothing short of amazing and makes this a thoroughly engaging history of the early campaigns of the Revolutionary War.
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