Facing Washington's Crossing: The Hessians and the Battle of Trenton

They crossed the ocean to fight in someone else's war. They came for glory, honor, and plunder. Instead, they became America's most famous captives.

In Steven Bier's groundbreaking book, Facing Washington's 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 Washington's 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. Elmo's 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 Leutze's iconic painting of Washington crossing the Delaware was created in a tavern.

The author traces the Hessian Prince's decision to hire out his army, the army's harrowing voyage across the Atlantic, and the numerous clashes leading up to Trenton. Washington's 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
Publisher: Westholme Publishing
Published: 09/30/2025
Pages: 356
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.38lbs
Size: 9.18h x 6.39w x 1.11d
ISBN: 9781594164439

About the Author
Steven Bier, MD, graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and currently attends at Saint Peters University Hospital and Jersey City Medical Center. He is author of many medical and scientific papers and received a Writing Fellowship from Columbia University. As an active public historian, he has long been fascinated with the American Revolution. Steven is also dedicated to philanthropic work and cofounded Popcorn for the People, a nonprofit organization that provides career opportunities for disabled people, with his son.