The Campaign of Trenton 1776-77

A battered Continental Army and the decisions of its commander stand at the center of Samuel Adams Drake's account of the campaign of 1776 and early 1777. Beginning with the shift of British operations toward New York, the narrative examines how shortages, weak discipline, sickness and inexperienced leadership placed Washington's forces under growing pressure. Its chapters follow the fighting around New York, the retreat through New Jersey, and the operations at Trenton and Princeton.

Drake combines a chronological military narrative with judgments about strategy and character. Drake considers General Lee's capture and his strained relationship with Washington, showing how disagreements among commanders affected an already divided army. Footnotes and quotations from contemporary participants add other voices to the account. Readers interested in the American Revolution will find a study of the practical difficulties of building an army, alongside Drake's strongly admiring portrait of Washington under pressure.