Resources
Resources on the Battle of Princeton and the Ten Crucial Days
Discover a curated selection of the most insightful books, essays, and media exploring the Battle of Princeton, the Ten Crucial Days, and the broader American Revolutionary War. Whether you’re a scholar, student, or lifelong learner, these recommended readings and viewings offer powerful insights into the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped the birth of the United States.
If you are an educator we would be happy to assist in school visits to the battlefield or bringing living history into your classroom. Please send us your questions, and one of our volunteers will be in touch with you.
Books Focused on the Ten Crucial Days (December 25, 1776 – January 3, 1777)
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The Road to Assunpink Creek – David Price (Knox, 2019)
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Victory or Death: The Battles of Trenton and Princeton – Mark Maloy (Savas Beatie, 2018)
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Rescuing the Revolution – David Price (Knox, 2016)
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1776 – David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, 2006)
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Washington’s Crossing – David Hackett Fischer (Oxford, 2004)
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The Long Retreat: The Calamitous Defense of New Jersey, 1776 – Arthur S. Lefkowitz (Rutgers, 1998)
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The Day is Ours! – William M. Dwyer (Viking, 1983)
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The Winter Soldiers – Richard M. Ketchum (Doubleday, 1973)
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The Battle of Trenton / The Battle of Princeton: Two Studies – Samuel Stelle Smith (Philip Freneau, 1967)
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The Battles of Trenton and Princeton – William S. Stryker (Houghton Mifflin, 1898)
Note: Some older titles may be out of print and available through libraries or historical institutions.
Wider Context: Essays & Histories on the American Revolution in New Jersey
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New Jersey in the American Revolution – Barbara J. Mitnick, ed. (Rutgers, 2005)
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Trenton and Princeton 1776–77: Washington Crosses the Delaware – David Bonk (Osprey, 2010)
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A People Harassed and Exhausted – Larry Kidder (2013)
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The American Revolution in New Jersey – James J. Gigantino II, ed. (Rutgers, 2015)
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Fatal Sunday – Mark Edward Lender & Garry Wheeler Stone (University of Oklahoma, 2016)
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Crossroads of the Revolution: Trenton, 1774–1783 – Larry Kidder (Knox, 2017)
General Histories of the American Revolution
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The British Are Coming – Rick Atkinson (Holt, 2019)
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Theaters of the American Revolution – James Kirby Martin & David L. Preston, eds. (Westholme, 2017)
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Washington’s Immortals – Patrick K. O’Donnell (Grove, 2017)
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American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750–1804 – Alan Taylor (WW Norton, 2016)
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Band of Giants – Jack Kelly (Macmillan, 2014)
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The Men Who Lost America – Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy (Yale, 2013)
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Almost a Miracle – John Ferling (Oxford, 2007)
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The Glorious Cause – Robert Middlekauff (Oxford, 2007)
Books for Young Readers
Perfect for students learning about the American Revolution, listed by age group:
Ages 5–9
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Crossing the Delaware – Arian Dean
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When Washington Crossed the Delaware – Lynne Cheney
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Revolutionary War on Wednesday – Mary Pope Osborne
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The American Revolution for Kids – Janis Herbert
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If You Were a Kid During the American Revolution – Wil Mara
Ages 8–12
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The Crossing – Jim Murphy
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Crossing the Delaware: A History in Many Voices – Louise Peacock
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George Washington: The Crossing – Jack E. Levin & Mark R. Levin
Ages 12+
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Time Enough for Drums (Fiction) – Ann Rinaldi
Film and Television
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“Turn: Washington’s Spies” – AMC (www.amc.com/shows/turn)
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“Winter Patriots” – Produced by Mount Vernon (www.winterpatriots.com)
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“The Crossing” – A&E TV (2003)
Where to Find These Resources
Many of these titles are available at:
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Local bookstores and libraries
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The David Library of the American Revolution – 215-493-6776
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Old Barracks Museum Gift Shop – 609-396-1776
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Washington’s Crossing Historic Park – 215-493-4076
