Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History)

If there were more stars than 5 to give, this book by this finest of historians, David Hacket Fischer, would receive them....because in my love for reading all history (early American history always the one that keeps me up often into the wee hours of the morning,) there are few like this that, for me, seemed near to taking me into the very history Mr Fischer is telling us about. I can speak a lot on James Flexner's Washington bio and a number of things about Jefferson besides the great Dumas Malone...Walter Isaacson on Franklin....BUT, back to the book reviewed here....I cannot recall reading any early American history that so took me as this story.Perhaps the best way I can describe it is that Mr Fischer has written this book in such a manner that avid readers who dream they will get their hands on that rare kind of book(s) that "take you there", well, they will have their dream fulfilled here......& if it could be made into a movie and made exactly the way this story is told, it would be a blockbuster never forgotten...and be a great contribution to our history. I have bought and given out copies of this book and I had to go back and re-read it a few months later for it stuck so in my mind. I simple cannot say enough about this story of the times when things were so bad for us, it appearing that General Howe would soon be wrapping up a victory for King George...but all at once, in the dead of winter, an exceptionally horribly cold winters night in December of 1776, Fischer tells in detail the whole story and paints a picture in the minds eye of all that transpired in the preparation and the step by step of these amazing men who slogged through the cold, across the Deleware in those huge cumbersome boats with animals and weaponry while ice flows begin to make it near impossible for them to ever get across....and then nearly impossible for any reader to conceive of this happening...they do get across, unload, every minute so crucial before daylight or there will be no surprise attack...then they surprise the Hessians and capture all the men, the big stores of food, ammunition, weapons, etc. So effectively is this whole story told from first to last that I "felt the cold,"I am with the men and can imagine what they felt as best as I could...they are cold, bone tired, some with rags wrapped around their feet for often they did not have proper clothing and their weapons were wet and unable to fire if needed.Comrades in arms would try and keep their fellow soldiers awake, some were so tired and just for a few minutes of rest some did lie down, only to never get up...exhausted they died in the cold.The book has near exhausted me at this point, especially "going with the soldiers over the river, mentally it is so moving and one feels as if you even want to have been there and be awake and alert and help that soldier who needed rest but death was the consequence of not staying awake....for in a while they will be where it is warm, there is food, drink, rest!I should be better prepared for this review, I am not a writer though I wished I would have been, esp one like Mr David Hacket Fischer. All I can say is get a copy of this book that reads similar to Philbricks "Mayflower" story or Captain Cooks stories of exploration. You will NOT be disappointed with this book, one of the very best I ever read.There is so much you will think of re our country then just after declaring independence from the "mother country."You will think of something that was happening back in the 18th century that is lost now, ie, people helping people, more then than now I think, a lot of hard work and people happy to be just safe, have a decent place for family to live in, food and clothing, a few good books (or more books so to learn and have some education.) I am sure that after Teddy Roosevelts time is when the real push of greed and big business and the rich/poor gap came on and now has built up so much that the ones you read of...leaders and/or the common man then...if here now seeing how America is, they would be shocked to say the least and some sort of revolution would come I suppose.Even before Teddy R, things were getting bad...always the wealthy cannot be wealthy enough and many who have much do not even give thought of the common person, the poor or middle class person. This book, after reading all that it is about has a lot more to say to us because of who we are reading about and how they treated one another...so this is not just the best and most exciting and enlightening thing I ever read on Washinton's crossing the Deleware alone......it is about what Americans were like and what they were about...I hope, pray that our greed and power will not take us down one day and that when we see what America was back then, all they held dear and strived for (decent and fair shake, etc)...I hope it is not too late and now that we are for some time the "American Empire" just as the U.K. once was and we the ones working with (or at times alone as well) to dominate or take over other nations...that it is not too late to stop that course we are on.I simply end by saying there is the main story here but whether on purpose or not, Mr Fischer has given me much knowledge of how different America was then in all her ways and the goals to build a nation for all the people was held by most...we have deviated from that now by both national parties. In the 1970's or late 70's I believe is when the Democratic Party merged with the Republicans and the current Democrats are in a moderate to right place and the Republicans are gone...or simply off the map to the right...soon the small amount of moderates will be gone unless true Progressives can ban together and change things....it is not anywhere near David H Fischer's America, nothing like it at all.

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.

This book really added context to the crossing. How the Whigs and Torries felt on both sides of the Atlantic regarding the question of Independence from Britain, the different attitudes toward our military here in the Colonies, what the military situation itself was and weather conditions all are seamlessly interwoven to create a thoughtful look at the event itself, the time when it occurred and the consequences that followed.

This is so unputdownable that I read it in two days.

As a British national, I’m proud of the empire and her achievements. I was torn between cheering for the British forces and admiring the rebels in this first American civil war. The author does an excellent job in explaining both sides in an equitable manner. I now need to find another book that continues the story ....... even if the good guys lost ;-)

The Revolutionary War began in 1775 and ended in 1783, but in this Pulitzer Prize winning 2004 history, author David Hackett Fischer makes a very compelling case as to why the winter of 1776-77 was probably the most crucial period of the war, a time when boldness, courage and wise leadership turned the tide for the revolutionaries from almost certain defeat to ultimate victory. In the course of doing so, Fischer guides the reader through this period in such a manner as to make one feel as if he or she is present with the armies, experiencing what they experienced. Readers will come away with a better understanding of what it must have felt like for the rank and file soldiers during that bitter winter campaign. Fischer has a tremendous gift for making the reader feel as if he or she is experiencing history, rather than simply reading about it.In 1776, following the Declaration of Independence, three armies converged in New York: the British, the Hessians and the Continental Army. In the first part of the book, Fischer introduces us to all of them. We learn who they are, from privates to generals, where they come from, who their leaders are and how well trained and equipped they are. All have different styles of fighting, strategizing and understanding of the rules of war. When they meet in New York and the Continentals are driven out, it appears a foregone conclusion that the insurrection will be short-lived and that the stronger, professional armies from Europe will prevail. As the Continentals retreat into New Jersey and Pennsylvania, all appears lost for them, with declines prevalent in morale, recruitment and confidence in their leadership.A series of bold moves on the part of the Continentals bring about a reversal of their fortunes, with a bold attack on the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey under formidable logistical conditions. Fischer tells the story of the first and second Battles of Trenton, the Battle of Princeton and the "Forage War", all of which ultimately undermine the confidence of the Europeans and embolden the Americans.Fischer writes on every aspect of this conflict, including the conditions which the soldiers endured, their clothing, weapons, food, supplies, marches, and morale. He also tells of such things as care of the wounded, the atrocities of war, soldiers endurance on little sleep in cold conditions with poor footwear, the role of loyalists, oaths of allegiance demanded by both sides, how civilians were affected, how armies moved and numerous other details. He does so in a manner that is interesting, and never tedious. It is as if the reader is present observing these events in real time.Most fascinating to me was the story of the leaders of both sides and the differing councils of war. The European meetings were very much a top down affair, offering little input from subordinates. Conversely, Fischer describes George Washington's practice of listening and learning, of getting input from all before deciding. A picture of Washington emerges as someone who had multiple strengths. He is what professional baseball analysts would call "a five tool player". Washington was a brilliant military tactician, a masterful politician, an inspirational motivator, personally courageous in battle and someone who was able to establish a personal connection with his soldiers. He made mistakes, as evidenced by his military losses in New York, but he was able to learn from those mistakes and grow personally and professionally.Fischer writes an excellent account of a critical period, covering a wide variety of aspects and subjects superbly. His analysis at the end of the book of this crucial period and of its importance not only at the time, but today as well, is brilliant. This is history written at its finest by an author possessed of great intellectual insight, coupled with a wonderful ability to communicate it to the reader.

Nein, die deutsche Garnison feierte nicht volltrunken Weihnachten als sie von Washingtons kleiner Armee überrascht wurden. Und der Übergang über den Delaware sah in der Wirklichkeit auch anders aus als auf dem berühmten Bild von Emmanuel Leutze. Der Doyen der amerikanischen Historiker, David Hackett Fischer, hat sich die ersten Siege von Washingtons Armee bei Trenton und Princeton als Thema genommen. Nicht dass dies wirklich bedeutende Schlachten des Unabhängigkeitskrieges gewesen sind, Saratoga wäre das, vielleicht sogar das Gefecht von Cowpens. Aber sie sind, wie der Reihentitel sagt "Pivotal Moments in American History". Sie sind psychologisch von ungeheurer Bedeutung und geben der zusammengewürfelten Armee und ihrem Oberkommandierenden Selbstvertrauen. Fischer hat alle Figuren dieses Dramas aus den Archiven geholt (der 200-seitige Appendix macht diese Leistung deutlich), von General Howe bis zum kleinen hessischen Soldaten, und hat sie zum Leben erweckt. Nicht nur das Militär, auch die Zivilbevölkerung wird vor unseren Augen wieder lebendig. Es gelingt dem Autor, uns das Geschehen so plastisch zu vermitteln, dass wir als Leser das Gefühl bekommen, an der Jahreswende 1776 zu 1777 hier dabeigewesen zu sein. Aber so exzellent das Buch ist, es fehlt ihm das letzte Flair. Barbara Tuchmann schreibt in "The First Salute" aufregender (obgleich ihre Leistung als Historikerin da nicht so groß ist) und auch Christopher Hibbert ist spannender. Das liegt wahrscheinlich daran, dass Fischer kein Militärhistoriker ist. In diesem Fall hätte es ihm nicht geschadet, wenn er etwas weniger in Archiven gewühlt hätte und etwas mehr vom englischen Meister der "military history", John Keegan, gelernt hätte. Und manchmal sind auch bedeutende Historiker betriebsblind. Wenn Fischer von einem Studenten namens Seume in hessischen Diensten berichtet, dann hat man nicht das Gefühl, dass er weiß, wer dieser J.G. Seume wirklich ist. Aber trotz dieser Mäkeleien bleibt es ein 5 Sterne Buch. Und wenn der Leser vielleicht den ganzen wissenschaftlichen Apparat nicht lesen mag, die Teile über das Ereignis in der bildenden Kunst sollte er unbedingt lesen.

Well written!!