December 25, 1776: Washington assembles enough troops to attempt an attack on the British, days before the enlistments of most of his remaining soldiers expire.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Washington's Crossing, by David Hackett Fischer
Online Recommendation of the Week: Washington's Crossing State Park: www.washingtoncrossingpark.org
In late December 1776, General Washington sends a small force into New Jersey to harass the Hessian garrisons. The force under Colonel Samuel Griffin engages the Hessians under Colonel Carl Von Donop. The fighting on Iron Works Hill causes Von Donop to redeploy his Hessians to Mount Holly New Jersey. This leaves the smaller Hessian garrison at Trenton isolated over Christmas.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution, by David Head due to be released Dec. 3, 2019
Online Recommendation of the Week: revolutionarywar.us
As the Continental Army struggle to keep itself alive at the end of 1776, Thomas Paine writes The American Crisis to rally Americans to fight the British and Hessians.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Thomas Paine: Collected Writings: Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason / Pamphlets, Articles, and Letters, by Eric Foner (ed)
Online Recommendation of the Week: Project Gutenberg's "The Writings of Thomas Paine" https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31270/31270-h/31270-h.htm
Over the winter of 1776-77, Patriots attempt to capture Fort Cumberland and bring Nova Scotia into the rebellion. Also, the British capture Newport Rhode Island to use as a winter port for the navy. Generals Clinton and Percy return to Britain.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Siege of Fort Cumberland, 1776: An Episode in the American Revolution, by Ernest Clarke
Online Recommendation of the Week: Memoir of Jonathan Eddy on Archive.org.
As the British Army sweeps across New Jersey, it captures Signer Richard Stockton and General Charles Lee.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Charles Lee: Self Before Country, by Dominick Mazzagetti
Online Recommendation of the Week: Facebook Group American History Fanatics: https://www.facebook.com/groups/887419261386444
Washington completes his retreat to Pennsylvania by early December 1776. The British slowly force the march but do not attempt to capture the Continentals. Washington's subordinate generals fail to come to his assistance. He discovers his own personal aid has lost faith in his leadership.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Long Retreat: The Calamitous Defense of New Jersey, 1776 by Arthur S Lefkowitz.
Online Recommendation of the Week: Correspondence of Charles, first Marquis Cornwallis, Vol. 1 By Charles Ross (ed).
James Aitken, a petty criminal in Britain, schemes to burn down all of the Naval portyards in England to cripple the British Navy. He hopes to become a hero of the American cause.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: John the Painter: Terrorist of the American Revolution, by Jessica Warner
Online Recommendation of the Week: The Life of James Aitken Commonly Called John the Painter, by John Wilkes.
The Continental Congress makes no real progress approving Articles of Confederation and has trouble supporting its own army. It sends a delegation to France to get an alliance with France. Congress sends Benjamin Franklin to join Arthur Lee and Silas Deane in France, with all three receiving official commissions. Before the commissions arrive, Deane has great difficulty getting any French aid to America. Lee's interference even raises doubts in the French government about whether Deane has any legitimate authority at all to negotiate on behalf of Congress.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: A Diplomatic History of the American Revolution, by Jonathan Dull
Online Recommendation of the Week: The Crossing and Ten Crucial Days - The Musical https://www.thecrossingmusical.com
A British and Hessian force led by Lord Cornwallis storms Fort Lee in New Jersey, forcing the Continental Army led by George Washington to flee further south. The two armies spend days moving through cold rain and muddy roads. The Continentals continue to retreat back toward Philadelphia as the British take Newark.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Day is Ours by William Dwyer
Online Recommendation of the Week: Revolutionary War New Jersey, https://RevolutionaryWarNewJersey
General Washington ignores British General Howe's repeated hints that he needs to evacuate Fort Washington. Instead, he leaves the decision up to General Nathanael Greene. The British capture the Fort along with 3000 officers and men, the Continental Army's greatest loss in the first part of the war.
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Book Recommendation of the Week: Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution, by Terry Golway
Online Recommendation of the Week: The British History Podcast https://www.thebritishhistorypodcast.com
