Washington's Crossing
Encyclopedia
Washington's Crossing is a Pulitzer Prize winning book written by David Hackett Fischer
and part of the "Pivotal Moments in American History" series. The book is primarily about George Washington
's leadership during the 1776 campaign of the American Revolutionary War
, culminating with the famous crossing
of the Delaware River
and the subsequent campaign: Battle of Trenton
, the Second Battle of Trenton
and the Battle of Princeton
.
made possible by the success of the crossing and the brilliant exploitation. Fischer follows up with more than 180 pages divided into appendices, source citations and acknowledgements.
Using as his starting point, the famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware
" by Emmanuel Leutze, Fischer continues through the shift in momentum resulting from this campaign. He shows that before the crossing, the British were intent upon attacking and defeating the revolutionaries. After the crossing and subsequent campaign, the British were focused on being attacked. Fischer proceeds through the aftermath, finishing with a discussion of how a new, American way of fighting developed during the campaign surrounding the crossing. That way of fighting that includes an entrepreneurial spirit and a policy of humanity. The goal-oriented spirit guides America's warfare to this day: to win the war and return to every-day life with all dispatch. The policy of humanity was so attractive that large numbers of the Hessian enemy stayed in America and more returned with their families following the war.
.
David Hackett Fischer
David Hackett Fischer is University Professor and Earl Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University. Fischer's major works have tackled everything from large macroeconomic and cultural trends to narrative histories of significant events to explorations of...
and part of the "Pivotal Moments in American History" series. The book is primarily about George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's leadership during the 1776 campaign of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, culminating with the famous crossing
Washington's crossing of the Delaware
Washington's crossing of the Delaware River, which occurred on December 25, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, was the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against the Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey...
of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
and the subsequent campaign: Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
, the Second Battle of Trenton
Second Battle of Trenton
The Battle of the Assunpink Creek, also known as the Second Battle of Trenton, was a battle between American and British troops that took place in and around Trenton, New Jersey, on January 2, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, and resulted in an American victory.Following a surprise...
and the Battle of Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
.
Organization
Fischer's work concerns the historical context of the crossing, including the crossing's precursors, the intensity of effort required to make the crossing itself, the effects upon the outcome of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
made possible by the success of the crossing and the brilliant exploitation. Fischer follows up with more than 180 pages divided into appendices, source citations and acknowledgements.
Using as his starting point, the famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Washington Crossing the Delaware is an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by German American artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. It commemorates General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War...
" by Emmanuel Leutze, Fischer continues through the shift in momentum resulting from this campaign. He shows that before the crossing, the British were intent upon attacking and defeating the revolutionaries. After the crossing and subsequent campaign, the British were focused on being attacked. Fischer proceeds through the aftermath, finishing with a discussion of how a new, American way of fighting developed during the campaign surrounding the crossing. That way of fighting that includes an entrepreneurial spirit and a policy of humanity. The goal-oriented spirit guides America's warfare to this day: to win the war and return to every-day life with all dispatch. The policy of humanity was so attractive that large numbers of the Hessian enemy stayed in America and more returned with their families following the war.
Acclaim
Fischer's work is admired as one of the most comprehensive books on the critical and suspenseful turning point of the American War of Independence. The book was published in February 2004 and it won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for HistoryPulitzer Prize for History
The Pulitzer Prize for History has been awarded since 1917 for a distinguished book upon the history of the United States. Many history books have also been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography...
.