On Christmas Eve, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River, and changed the course of the American Revolution. While Washington and his men mounted their attack against the enemy in Trenton, a band of secret friends risked their lives to ensure Washington s success. Led by a mouse named George, these heroes braved harsh weather and enemies of their own; sparing absolutely nothing in dedication to their beliefs and their homes."
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.
"This is the story that I tell my grandchildren at Christmas. I hope that this book will bring the tradition of sharing history to families all across America." -- Lynne Cheney Christmas night, 1776, was a troubled time for our young country. In the six months since the Declaration of Independence had been signed, General George Washington and his troops had suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the British. It looked as though our struggle for independence might be doomed, when Washington made a bold decision. He would lead the main body of his army across the Delaware River and launch a surprise attack on enemy forces. Washington and his men were going against the odds. It seemed impossible that the ragtag Americans could succeed against the mightiest power in the world. But the men who started across the icy Delaware loved their country and their leader. Under his command they would turn the tide of battle and change the course of history. Best-selling author Lynne Cheney tells the dramatic story of the military campaign that began on Christmas night in 1776. When Washington Crossed the Delaware will teach the young about the heroism, persistence, and patriotism of those who came before them.
Thrust into a war she did not choose, Sarah Fanum yearns for simpler times. Times when all she had to worry about were bad crops or bad weather. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Set in 1776, my short story, A Christmas Crossing describes the night that changed the course of the Revolutionary War. It is not your typical Christmas story, but one that has affected every fabric of our lives as an American. I was inspired to write A Christmas Crossing after visiting Yorktown, VA. I have always been enamored by the Revolutionary War and wanted to share my love for history with my love for Christmas. I hope you enjoy it.
A novel about George Washington’s trip across the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Spartacus. Immortalized on canvas by Emanuel Leutze, Washington’s journey across the Delaware River is one of the most celebrated moments in American history. But the true story of the crossing, and of what came after, is often lost in the legend. In The Crossing, Howard Fast, author of The Immigrants and April Morning, writes with striking historical detail and relentless narrative drive about Washington’s surprise attack, leading the Continental Army to its Revolutionary War victory against the one thousand Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey—a momentous occasion in American history. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Howard Fast including rare photos from the author’s estate.
Five Mile Bridge has been closed for years. It is all Joshua Kendall can think about, staring at Kallie's casket, remembering a December night and a roaring train. A return trip to the bridge, lost in the Ohio fields west of Bowling Green and Bryan, washes Joshua backward in time and memory, giving him the chance to rediscover parts of his life he thought long gone ' and maybe to keep from losing them in the first place. But as he pries those memories loose like fossils from shale, Joshua realizes his actions are rippling through the paths of time backward as well as forward, and as his mind wrestles with pasts he cannot remember, roads which have never existed are suddenly real.
Crossing the Stage brings together for the first time essays which explore cross-dressing in theatre, cabaret, opera and dance. The volume contains seminal pieces which have become standard texts in the field, as well as new work especially commissioned from leading writers on performance. Crossing the Stage is an indispensable sourcebook on theatrical cross-dressing. It will be essential reading for all those interested in performance and the representation of gender.
Kagin's Crossing is a collection of eponymous weekly religious columns written for small town newspapers. It is designed to be picked up and read wherever God leads you to read it, depending on the topic you are interested in for the day. The columns encompass all areas of life, encouraging the reader to view topics from a biblical perspective. This book brings the Bible to life and will inspire and challenge the reader to truly live a Christian lifestyle.
A concise look at the American Revolution in 1776, the year George Washington and his army experienced numerous defeats, forcing them to retreat from New Jersey to Pennsylvania by December. The demoralised troops lacked food and clothing, and Washington realised a victory was needed to keep the revolution alive. On the morning of December 26, he led his troops across the icy Delaware River, from the site of the historic park, and attacked the unsuspecting Hessians at Trenton. The victory aroused a new spirit in the army and changed the course of the war.