Newt Gingrich to Re-enact Washington Crossing the Delware -- On Twitter

Posted by Adele Stan, AlterNet at 5:00 PM on October 21, 2009.

In what he's calling a "Twitternactment," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., ever the visionary, will re-enact the American Revolution's Battle of Trenton via Twitter.

The Twitterstunt is all in the service of publicizing his latest book, To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom, which he co-authored with Bill Forstchen.  (Why am I always suspicious of co-authored novels?)

Gen. Washington, it seems, is eager to shed his Luddite reputation for that of a Twitterlutionary. Yup, the Father of Our Country now has an account of his own, and will be tweeting away as he braves icy waters and bitter winds to sneak up on the Hessians.

Here's how the Twattle of Twenton will work, according to the e-mail blast I received from the Newtster:

Beginning this Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4:30 ET, Bill Forstchen and I will bring General Washington and the other historical figures of To Try Men's Souls to life through twitter.

Twitter users can follow General George Washington (@genwashington76), Jonathan Van Dorn, (@pvtvandornNJ), and Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall (@colonelrall), in real time as we simulate the crossing of the Delaware River and the attack on Trenton the following morning.

Good times.

Tagged as: newt gingrich, twitternactment, battle of trenton reenact, to try men's souls, bill forstchen

Adele M. Stan is AlterNet's Washington editor.