The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati is pleased to announce that the 2026 Society of the Cincinnati Prize has been presented to Michael C. Harris for his book Fighting for Philadelphia: Forts Mercer and Mifflin, the Battle of Whitemarsh, and the Road to Valley Forge, October 5–December 19, 1777, published in 2025 by Savas Beatie.
Fighting for Philadelphia: Forts Mercer and Mifflin, the Battle of Whitemarsh, and the Road to Valley Forge, October 5-December 19, 1777 by Michael C. Harris, Imprint: Savas Beatie
Fighting for Philadelphia examines the critical military events that followed the British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777. Focusing on the defense of the Delaware River, the fighting at Forts Mercer and Mifflin, and the Battle of Whitemarsh, Harris argues that the contest for Philadelphia did not end with the British capture of the city. Instead, he demonstrates that control of the Delaware River and the survival of the Continental Army remained central to the course of the war during the difficult months between Germantown and Valley Forge.
Drawing on extensive archival research, firsthand accounts, and years of experience in public history and battlefield interpretation, Harris reconstructs the experiences of soldiers and civilians involved in these events while bringing greater attention to engagements that have often received less notice than the major battles of 1777. His work illuminates the human, military, and political dimensions of the conflict while revealing the contested landscape that emerged after the British occupation of the city.
“Michael Harris brings new attention to a crucial but often overlooked phase of the Philadelphia campaign,” said Andy Morse, executive director of the Society of the Cincinnati. “Fighting for Philadelphia demonstrates that the British capture of Philadelphia did not end the conflict or decide the war. By examining control of the Delaware River and the survival of the Continental Army before Valley Forge, Harris reveals how uncertain the outcome of the Revolution remained in late 1777.”
The Society of the Cincinnati Prize is the premier award for scholarship bestowed by the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, Inc. It is presented annually to the author of an outstanding book that advances understanding of the American Revolution and its legacy. Established in 1989 as a triennial award, the prize is now presented annually. Honorees have included leading historians as well as rising scholars in the field. The prize was made possible by a gift from the family of the late H. Bartholomew Cox, Ph.D., and has been presented since 1989.