Description

They crossed the ocean to fight in someone elses war. They came for glory, honor, and plunder. Instead, they became Americas most famous captives.

In Steven Biers groundbreaking book, Facing Washingtons Crossing: The Hessians at the Battle of Trenton, old stereotypes are shattered and new information emerges. Using newly translated documents, rare hard-to-find material, and obscure nearly-forgotten sources, Facing Washingtons Crossing rewrites our understanding of the Battle of Trenton.

Bier maintains a gripping narrative, following the military exploits of a Hessian Brigade through six brutal battles. From their crushing victories in New York to the shocking reversal in the snow-covered village of Trenton, witness how professional European soldiers faced an enemy unlike any they had encountered.

Bier offers a fresh perspective by narrating the story through Hessian eyes, presenting fascinating details: shipboard cockfights, St. Elmos fires, how the militaristic Hessians were influenced by the peaceful philosopher Voltaire, when the Royal Navy accidentally landed the Hessians on a deserted island, and how Emanuel Leutzes iconic painting of Washington crossing the Delaware was created in a tavern.

The author traces the Hessian Princes decision to hire out his army, the armys harrowing voyage across the Atlantic, and the numerous clashes leading up to Trenton. Washingtons Crossing and the subsequent battle itself are fully recounted, providing a much-needed understanding of the Hessian experience.

For 250 years, the story has been told mostly from one side. Now the essential counterpoint is finally revealed.

Author: Steven Bier
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Westholme Publishing
Published: 09/30/2025
Pages: 356
Weight: 1.38lbs
Size: 9.18h x 6.39w x 1.11d
ISBN: 9781594164439
Language: English