Feb. 7, 2026 – As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, The Indispensables by Patrick O’Donnell is a must read. The book tells the story of how Gen. George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, and his men were able to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776 to surprise the British and Hessian soldiers in New Jersey at the Battle of Trenton. Little known before O’Donnell researched the daring maritime feat, he reveals to his readers that Washington relied on a diverse group (members of the Marblehead Regiment) of men – African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Caucasians – who had years of experience on the river to successfully transport 2,400 of his men across the icy waters of the Delaware River near Trenton.