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Summary: Movingly told history of the Revolution?s darkest hours.
Review: "The Winter Soldiers" is the second book about the American Revolution written by historian Richard M. Ketchum. I found it a compelling and often moving story of the darkest hours in America's war for independence, and the two battles - Trenton and Princeton - which reversed the American army's increasingly bleak fortunes in the second winter of the war.Ketchum traces the war's pivotal events in 1776 and early 1777. This is the time when General George Washington leads his dwindling army in a desperate attempt to hold off British advances in and around New York City; of the great American defeats at Long Island, and Forts Lee and Washington in New York; and the pursuit of the American army across New Jersey by the numerically superior and better equipped British army under General William Howe and Lord Cornwallis. It is also the time when the strategic and tactical skills, the iron will, and the sheer audacity of George Washington come to the forefront, resulting in the American army's crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776, and, against all odds, the astonishing American victories at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. As he did in his earlier book "Decisive Day," the author combines outstanding scholarship and a clear and concise writing style to create a powerful and often eloquent narrative of the events of 1776-1777. For readers of American history, this is a book not to be missed!
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Summary: Remarkable History Remarkably Told.
Review: A better tale of daring exploits will be difficult to find, no matter if it's in the History section of the fiction section. Mr. Ketchum can really tell the story, especially when he has such great material to work with. This book gives you the feel for not just the battle but the campaign, the politics, and the impact that all the events at the end of 1775 had on all involved. It is hard for me to imagine that men can be so committed to a cause that they can withstand the hardships that they did. Mr. Ketchum gives you all that you need to understand this, feel this, and to almost live pure patriotism. A truely remarkable story what these men did, and all for generations that they did not know. Mr. Ketchum's writing is of the highest quality, never boring, and wonderfully instructive, without teaching or preaching. This is my 2nd of his books, and I am proud to say that I have his books. You cannot go wrong reading this book. You will be entertained and taught at the same time. Once again, I wish this was my text book at any level of education. Thank you sir for a great book. For all those who want a great historical read, this is the book. Read and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent account of very human soldiers
Review: A fascinating description of a few short months of fighting. Reading the book, the reader gets a very strong sense of the human failings of the principle actors - their limited competence, scanty information, politically restricted sphere of action, and an unusual amount of back-biting and stupidity on the American side (along with unbelievable heroism). Particularly interesting is the conflict between Washington and his would-be replacement General Lee. The book has really excellent portraits of the idiosyncratic characters on both sides (of course, the plentiful documentation from letters lets the characters speak in their own voice), even for minor characters such as General Sullivan. And it movingly conveys the abundant confusion, cowardice, incompetence, and bravery of battle. Although the book doesn't focus exclusively on Washington, one gets a strong sense of the man. Washington's nearly fatal indecision (quite understandable in light of his weak political situation) in reigning in the independent Lee is striking. Washington's political instincts and leadership come through strongly, as does his limited ability in matters military. Here's a guy who lost nearly every battle he was in from an early age, spent most of his time running away, and often had only a handful of ill equipped, ill disciplined soldiers. Yet he won the war. This book helps explain why.
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Summary: Now I Get It
Review: Every school child knows that Washington crossed the Delaware and it was a big deal. Not many know why. Including me, until I read the book. Now I understand why he is so revered. This book is well written and inspiring.
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Summary: Read this book to understand the romance of patriotism
Review: George Washington may not have heaved a silver dollar across the Potomac, but as Ketchum illustrates in "The Winter Soldiers", the General earned most of the other heroic tales and descriptions attached to his name: Father of our Country, the Indispensible Man, the glue who held the army together. This account of our revolution during its darkest and most forlorn hours is riveting and well researched. Ketchum brings to life the battles of Trenton and Princeton - which arguably were the most timely and important victories of the war. What fascinates, and underscores the pedestal we have built under Washington, is how much he shouldered the burdens of the cause alone -- and how he made critical and bold decisions that kept the flame of independence from burning out in the hearts of his countrymen. This is my second Ketchum book. I read Saratoga this past summer and also enjoyed it very much. Readers who like "Civil War" style writing with unit descriptions and first person sources from the soldiers who fought won't be disappointed. Read this book and you'll come away with a love and appreciation of the greatness of George Washington and an understanding of the heroic trials our forefathers undertook earning our liberties and independence.
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Summary: Ketchum's Best
Review: I am not much of a war buff so I had doubts about reading a book about war. The main reason I read it was because I was born and raised in New Jersey and love George Washington. Ketchum satisfied both aspects - he explained the entire 1776 retreat through NJ and the subsequent attacks on Trenton and Princeton, while at the same time conveying the predicaments that faced George Washington and, in turn, his ability to overcome the continuously difficult situations he was in. At first, I thought the book would only discuss the battles, but Ketchum provides excellent insight into the main characters of the battles with interesting footnotes that inform the reader of where many individuals find themselves in the future. The book is both expansive and readable - a fabulous combination.
Rating:
Summary: Great Writing - Great Story!
Review: I am not much of a war buff so I had doubts about reading a book about war. The main reason I read it was because I was born and raised in New Jersey and love George Washington. Ketchum satisfied both aspects - he explained the entire 1776 retreat through NJ and the subsequent attacks on Trenton and Princeton, while at the same time conveying the predicaments that faced George Washington and, in turn, his ability to overcome the continuously difficult situations he was in. At first, I thought the book would only discuss the battles, but Ketchum provides excellent insight into the main characters of the battles with interesting footnotes that inform the reader of where many individuals find themselves in the future. The book is both expansive and readable - a fabulous combination.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best; New Jersey battles only part of the book
Review: This is the second of the three of Richard Ketchum's Revolutionary War books that I've read and it's also the worse of the two. In "Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill," Ketchum wrote an excellent history, peppering the narritive with anecdotes, short histories and footnotes, personality profiles, etc., making the work a true masterpiece of Revolutionary War histories. Unfortunately, that formula didn't work as well on "Winter Soldiers." The title of the book is "Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton." Thus, one would tend to believe that the book is about those two battles. That, unfortunately isn't true. The first third of the book is about the "big picture" of the war (why Americans decided to rebel, "no taxation without representation," etc.) and about British political reaction to the war. The second third of the book is about the successful British campaign against New York. The final third of the book is about George Washington's attacks on Trenton and Princeton. The scope of this book was too broad for Ketchum to re-create the same literary success that he achieved in "Decisive Day;" there were too many people, places, points of view, etc. to really draw the reader in. The information contained in the book was good and accurate. It is written better than most Revolutionary War books I've read, and I suppose I had expected a lot from Ketchum since reading his other book, but I can't help but feel let down by this one. Recommended, but just barely.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best; New Jersey battles only part of the book
Review: This is the second of the three of Richard Ketchum's Revolutionary War books that I've read and it's also the worse of the two. In "Decisive Day: The Battle for Bunker Hill," Ketchum wrote an excellent history, peppering the narritive with anecdotes, short histories and footnotes, personality profiles, etc., making the work a true masterpiece of Revolutionary War histories. Unfortunately, that formula didn't work as well on "Winter Soldiers." The title of the book is "Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton." Thus, one would tend to believe that the book is about those two battles. That, unfortunately isn't true. The first third of the book is about the "big picture" of the war (why Americans decided to rebel, "no taxation without representation," etc.) and about British political reaction to the war. The second third of the book is about the successful British campaign against New York. The final third of the book is about George Washington's attacks on Trenton and Princeton. The scope of this book was too broad for Ketchum to re-create the same literary success that he achieved in "Decisive Day;" there were too many people, places, points of view, etc. to really draw the reader in. The information contained in the book was good and accurate. It is written better than most Revolutionary War books I've read, and I suppose I had expected a lot from Ketchum since reading his other book, but I can't help but feel let down by this one. Recommended, but just barely.
Rating:
Summary: You Could Track Them...by the Blood of Their Feet...
Review: Trenton and Princeton were so critical to the success of the Revolution that the password for the Trenton operation was 'Victory or Death.' Author and historian Richard Ketchum has captured this desperation in his excellent narrative of the campaign, along with the anguish, heartbreak, and jubilation that usually accompany military operations and battles lost and won. A careful, methodical historian, Ketchum's books are all interesting and need to be read and reread. This one is no exception. Both sides are covered completely and fairly, and the personalities abound for us to ponder, shoake our heads at, or admire. Washington was near-peerless in this campaign, from his battlefield leadership at Princeton, where his aide-de-camp shielded his eyes at what he thought was his chief's impending death, to the careful, almost desperate, planning for the daring river crossing of the ice-choked Delaware and the march to Trenton. It is easy to dismiss or take for granted the Father of our Country over two hundred years later, but he was a towering figure to his peers, countrymen, and enemies. This book, and its author, give him his due as a soldier, patriot, and leader of men. This book is a good read, it's historically accurate, and it is a valuable addition to the literature of both the Revolution and the Continental Army that won it.
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