If you haven’t had a chance to read it, David Hackett Fischer’s, “Washington’s Crossing” is, to me, a far better and more detailed history of the beginning of the revolutionary period than David McCollugh’s “1776.” McCollugh’s book is really a survey.

“Washington’s Crossing” is also by far, much better history in the sense that he broke new ground, and has whole sections of the book examining the “historiography” surrounding this crucial period in our history. I sense that high school kids would be fascinated by it.

One intriguing account to me — as I live in the general area — was the fascinating detail about that 8 1/2 mile march on Christmas Day night, including Washington’s single minded sense of purpose as he lead the troops, including a chapter about leading the troops across Jacob’s Creek. If you saw the terrain, including the steep banks on either side of the creek, you would know why.

According to a friend, one of the caretakers of the Washington Crossing Museum on the Pennsylvania side, Fischer showed up there and actually spent a lot of time with the “re-enactors, asking them questions, climbing into the boats, and at one point donned one of the uniforms, and made the actual march to Trenton during the winter. It is part of why his history is so vivid.

The descriptions of the state of mind of the populous are insightful, as well as the many serious conflicts Washington had to deal with in preparation for what Lord Corwallis himself would later acknowledge was a critical high point for the revolutionary military leadership of Washington — here along “the banks of the Delaware.”

Ed, terrific interview. I’ve often thought about the notion that blogging in our time has a real connection to the revolutionary committees of correspondence. The discussion about Sam Adam’s letters was great.

Sam was an interesting guy. And the more reflection we have on him and the other founding fathers (and mothers in the case of Abigail) the better.

And no prohibition of enjoying an ale while you do it.

Great reads and inspiration.

Sam Adams sounds like another one.

Let’s roll.

More than beer.

But a good beer.