Today in History

George Washington at the Battle of Princeton by Charles Wilson Peale

Today is the anniversary, in 1777, of the Battle of Princeton, in which Gen. Washington, following up on his post-Christmas Day victory over the Hessians at Trenton, made another suprise move against the forces of British Gen. Cornwallis. The battle did not mean all that much tactically, but in terms of strategic value, particularly for morale, it (along with Trenton), was of immense importance to the Americans.

I bring this up because I just finished David McCullough's 1776, which I found to be a good popular treatment of the first year of Washington's command of the Continental Army which, after starting with a surprise victory over the British at Boston, damn near ended in complete disaster for the cause of independence. McCullough makes no bones of the fact that much of the blame for the horrid American defeats in and around New York that summer and fall can be laid squarely at the feet of Washington's inexperience and indecision. What is truly remarkable was Washington's ability to rally and pull victory out of the jaws of defeat.

UPDATE: Speaking of McCullough's book, Peter Robinson just finished it to and started a bit of conversation over at the NRO Corner yesterday about why Washington did not fire on Boston after he captured Dorchester Heights in March, 1776. Click and scroll.

UPDATE DEUX: Today also happens to be the anniversary of the birth of some guy named J.R.R. Tolkien, of whom I've vaguely heard. Red has got it covered with some seriously interesting excerpts from his correspondence. Also, if you haven't been following the Tolkien Geek, what better day to start?