Friday January 28, 2005 Washington's Crossing
Washington's Crossing - David Hackett Fischer (2004)
**** 1/2 (out of 5)
Late in 1776, the American Revolution was in dire straights. The American army was at a fraction of its former strength and the British occupied New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Pennsylvania was poised to follow as the British army was in striking distance of Philadelphia. Washington's Crossing is Fischer's account of George Washington's brilliant 1776 New Jersey campaign that served as a turning point in the war. Fischer's account of this campaign includes the crossing of the Delaware River, the two battles of Trenton, and the battle of Princeton. It also includes rarely chronicled information about 'The Forage War' - a petite guerre involving a series of American raids on British foragers.
Fischer's treatment of the operational, tactical, and strategic factors involved in the New Jersey campaign are exceptional. Impressive as well is Fischer's ability to place the campaign within a broader political and cultural context. Interesting issues receiving treatment include American civil-military relations, wherein military affairs are conducted by military officials with civil oversight; the "policy of humanity", the American ethic of warfare that favored humane treatment of defeated opponents; and the role of contingency, where decisions made by actors on both sides resulted in broad and lasting consequences.
Another interesting feature of Washington's Crossing is Fischer's attempt to dispel a number of old myths about the New Jersey campaign. Foremost among these are the myths that the Hessians defeated at Trenton were surprised by the American army after a night of drunken revelry and that the American army was woefully supplied with clothing, food, and arms.
Fischer's portraiture of the leadership and common soldiers of both sides of the conflict, his impressive research (extensive footnotes, appendices, and references are provided to support the material in the book), and his insightful analysis are truly compelling. The one negative aspect of the book worth mentioning, IMHO, is Fischer's tendency to overly generalize a few of his findings. I highly recommend this book, particularly to folks who share my passion for American history.
( Jan 28 2005, 11:55:54 AM PST )
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