Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze.
Posted on 12/26/2004 7:16:00 AM PST by XRdsRev
It's a great story. If the New York Times had been around at the time they would have criticized Washington for his "risky move".
I add one important fact to this account. The first chapter of Thomas Paine's The American Crisis was published in Philadelphia a week before the attack on Trenton. General Washington appreciated it so much that he ordered Paine to come to the camp and read this words aloud to the soldiers, just days before this attack:
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country. But he who stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman...."
Congressman Billybob
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Great post - and timely considering the world situation. I had never before learned the details of this great victory. It just goes to illustrate the resolve my folks had. "Just take one more step, and then one more step. Make them one step at a time and never quit. There is always one more step in each of us."
Frederick the Great considered Washington's crossing of the Delaware and his campaign that followed in New Jersey one of the most brilliant ever.
Washington had some flaws that keep him from the ranks of the all-time greatest generals (sometimes tried plans too complicated for his inexperienced troops, had problems selecting good subordinate generals, which really handicapped him) but he's among the best of the 18th Century.
I don't think Washington was a great strategerist like a Napoleon or Robert E. Lee but he understood what needed to be done in order to win the war.
Oh, I think he's easily the equal or better than Lee (who probably gets some Americentric overrating around here.)
The odds Washington faced were probably greater than Lee. And Lee had some pretty substantial screwups.
We are so blessed to have had Washington and these men of courage standing up for our Nation. The Germans were over celebrating the Catholic Mass of Hazeus Christos, and Washington was well aware of this blunder. In the movie "The Crossing" we become aware of the heroic price our Nation's soldiers were willing to pay to protect this Nation, that was in it's infantcy. May Yahweh, our Loving Heavenly Father, Continue to bless our precious homeland.
It's hard for us to imagine Washington as anything other than the father of our country. The fact that he was able to accomplish what he did considering the circumstances he faced is just incredible. A lot must also be said for those troops who made the crossing that night. Many in the Continental Army had fled after their defeat around New York and these few that remained saved our nation.
From Ye New Yorke Tymes, December 27, 1776:
4 WOUNDED, 3 FROZEN TO DEATH IN TRENTON
Washington refuses to answer questions about up-musketing, providing shoes for troops.
Of interest. The reenactment was cancelled this year because the Delaware was flowing too swiftly.
The Crossing reenactment was cancelled again this year. However, the Battle reenactments will still take place in Trenton on Sunday, January 2, 2005. There will be two battle reenactments and a memorial service for Colonel Rall. If anyone is interested, they should contact "The Old Barracks Museum" for information. I think the first battle starts at 10am in front of the New Jersey Statehouse.
Not all of Washington's soldiers had shoes and it was Rummy's fault.
...and they would be calling the revolution a "quagmire".
BTTT
They'd also tell us how the Americans don't want or can't handle democracy.
From Ye New Yorke Tymes, December 20, 1776:
General George Washington, the much criticized Commander of the Continental Army, may be planning a desperate surprise raid across the Delaware River on Christmas Night, say informed sources on condition of anonymity. The source stated that the raid's objective would likely be the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. The timing for the operation is said to be intended to take advantage of any possible laxness in Hessian security that may result from Holiday celebration.
General Washington's campaign has come under fire from critics, who charge that liberty and independence are not worth the length of the war to date or the casualties incurred, and that a negotiated settlement with the Crown would have been the much-preferred option.
British officials refused to comment on the report.
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