Washington Crosses the Delaware - Christmas 1776 - The Beginning of Victory

In the closing days of 1776, America was in bad need of victory.

The excitement of the summer had quickly faded.

In the wake of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, the continental army had seen a surge of new recruits added to their numbers.

In just a few short weeks, George Washington’s army had grown to over 30,000 men serving on a 6-month contract.

After a surprising victory in Boston, Washington’s army lost battle after battle for the next several months.

By December, the future of the Revolution seems to be doomed to inevitable failure.

Due to death, capture, and desertion, the army had dwindled to less than 2,500 men.

Many of these men had contracts expiring in the next few weeks.

It seemed unlikely that very many of them would be re-enlisting for another tour.

Morale couldn’t have been lower.

The New England cold is bitter even when properly equipped.

Over half of Washington’s men don’t even have shoes.

They walked through the cold with burlap wrapped around their feet or barefoot.

Public support among the colonies was waning as the Continental army seemed incapable of winning a victory.

If the revolution fizzles, there is no going back to normal life for Washington and his commanders.

All of them will either be rounded up and killed or they will have to go on the run and live the rest of their lives as fugitives.

Washington understood that he desperately needs a victory.

Anything to improve moral.

Anything to give people hope and confidence in their cause.

Anything to bring back some of those who had abandoned the army.

Washington becomes aware of a somewhat isolated garrison of Hessian troops.

Hessians were professional soldiers that had been hired by the British.

Hessians were primarily German.

There were about 1400 of them stationed a few miles away across the river from Washington’s camp.

This gave Washington the size advantage, even with his dwindled numbers.

But, Hessians still had the advantage.

Higher morale.

Better equipped.

Fixed position.

More experience.

Washington, though, begins to hold talks with his commanders about a surprise attack on Trenton.

There is a cultural difference between the Americans and the Europeans.

Americans at this point in their history are a very hardy group of people.

They are somewhat wild and uncivilized.

There wasn’t a whole lot of time at this point for big elaborate celebrations.

Chores have to be done whether it’s Christmas or not.

Europeans though, especially Germans, make a big deal out of Christmas.

These Hessians should be preoccupied by their celebrations and susceptible to attack.

If Washington can surprise them, they should be able to get a victory.

Surprise depends on secrecy.

It was decided that Christmas night would give them the best chance.

Unfortunately, secrecy would be impossible to maintain.

There was a spy in Washington’s inner circle, who to this day remains unknown.

This spy informed the British of the plans being drawn up for the attack.

The British General then informed Hessian Col. Johann Roll of the attack.

Roll responded in a dismissive manner saying, “Let them come… Why defenses? We will go at them with the bayonet.”

Christmas night came and Washington put his plan into action.

The plan was to cross with two other divisions.

Col. Cadwalader would lead his 1800 troops across.

Washington would take his 2,400.

Gen. Ewing would cross with his 800.

Col. John Fitzgerald wrote extensively about the night in his diary.

"Christmas, 6 P.M….It is fearfully cold and raw and a snow-storm setting in. The wind is northeast and beats in the faces of the men. It will be a terrible night for the soldiers who have no shoes. Some of them have tied old rags around their feet, but I have not heard a man complain….I have never seen Washington so determined as he is now….He stands on the bank of the stream, wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops. He is calm and collected, but very determined. The storm is changing to sleet and cuts like a knife….

In the end, Washington is the only one who makes it across successfully.

Even he contemplates turning back.

This was because of the heavy snowstorm moved in to make the crossing even more challenging.

Though Washington enlisted a highly experienced team of boatmen, the Delaware river was a dangerous crossing.

300 yards across but packed with ice flows.

The boats ranged between 40-60 feet in length.

The men mostly stood because the bottoms of the boat filled with ice cold water.

Miraculously, no one falls overboard, though 3 soldiers fell into the water and died on the trip back.

As they crossed, Washington had Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis read aloud in the boats.

Do you know how “The American Crisis” begins?

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 their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

By the time Washington’s men made it over, they were already 3 hours behind schedule.

The fisherman who had clawed the boats across the river have to go back and get the artillery.

When the artillery make it across, the men begin the 10 mile hike towards Trenton.

This is a difficult hike with ravines through which the men must tow the artillery safely down and back up the other side.

In the still dark, early hours of the morning, Washington and his exhausted men come upon a small detachment of American militia men.

Washington discovers that these men have been skirmishing with the Hessians all during the Christmas day.

The general is furious because he just knows that these militiamen have ruined their chance at surprise.

The Hessians will certainly be on alert now expecting more attacks to take place.

In reality, these militiamen have inadvertently lulled the Hessians into an even deeper sense of complacency than they had been in before.

Remember, Col. Rall had been given notice that Washington was going to try something on Christmas Day.

He had seen the weather, it was horrible.

When the militiamen started firing on the town, it didn’t take long to realize that they didn’t pose a serious risk.

Rall assumed that the weather had hampered Washington’s plans and these few shots were all that the inept colonials had been able to muster.

As the morning dawned, Washington’s army reached the outskirts of Trenton.

Col. Fitzgerald writes in his diary, “when we came to a house where a man was chopping wood. He was very much surprised when he saw us. 'Can you tell me where the Hessian picket is?' Washington asked. The man hesitated, but I said, 'You need not be frightened, it is General Washington who asks the question.' His face brightened, and he pointed toward the house of Mr. Howell.”

After easily overcoming the Hessian picket line, Washington’s men moved towards the town meeting hall which was being used as Hessian HQ.

As they approach, Col Fitzgerald wrote, “We could see a great commotion down toward the meetinghouse, men running here and there, officers swinging their swords, artillerymen harnessing their horses. Captain Forrest unlimbered his guns. Washington gave the order to advance, and we rushed on to the junction of King and Queen streets. Forrest wheeled six of his cannon into position to sweep both streets. The riflemen under Colonel Hand and Scott's and Lawson's battalions went upon the run through the fields on the left to gain possession of the Princeton Road. The Hessians were just ready to open fire with two of their cannon when Captain [William] Washington and Lieutenant [James] Monroe with their men rushed forward and captured them.”

We saw [Colonel Johann] Rall [commander of the Hessians] riding up the street from his headquarters, which were at Stacy Potts' house. We could hear him shouting in Dutch, 'My brave soldiers, advance.' His men were frightened and confused, for our men were firing upon them from fences and houses and they were falling fast. Instead of advancing they ran into an apple orchard. The officers tried to rally them, but our men kept advancing and picking off the officers. It was not long before Rall tumbled from his horse and his soldiers threw down their guns and gave themselves up as prisoners….

In the end, after a day of fighting and chasing the enemy, the Colonists capture nearly 900 Hessian troops.

Col. Fitzgerald is with Washington as he goes to visit the mortally wounded Hessian commander at 9 o’clock that night.

“I have just been with General Washington and [Nathanael] Greene to see Rall. He will not live through the night. He asked that his men might be kindly treated. Washington promised that he would see they were well cared for."

But there is no time to rest.

Because Washington was the only part of the force that actually made it across the river, he is undermanned to be able to hold the city.

Washington orders his soldiers and their prisoners to immediately march back to the river so that they may safely escape.

The Hessian soldiers were treated very well by the Colonists.

Washington had declared that they were not the enemy.

After a few weeks, the Hessians were essentially allowed to go free in VA

After the war up to 40% of the hessians stayed in America and became farmers.

News of the victory, travels fast, partly because of the Hessians who are marched through different cities on their way to the south.

This first battle of Trenton marked the beginning of a series of victories that marked a turning in the war with England.

Less than a week later, Washington and his men crossed the river again to join one of the missing armies that had finally made it and were camped outside of the now British-occupied Trenton.

The Americans won a second battle in Trenton partly due to the information they had received from the captured Hessians.

Washington then moves his army to Princeton where the British pursue after him.

The Colonists won another victory here.

Almost overnight, Washington has gone from perpetual loser, to celebrated national hero.

It all started with the Christmas miracle on the Delaware.

You know, I’ve always looked at Christmas as the event that marked the turning of the tide in the cosmic struggle between God and sin.

It is the death and resurrection of Christ that saves us, right?

You don’t get there without his birth first.

Before Jesus’ birth, things sure looked hopeless for humanity.

After his birth though, we can see that it was then just a matter of time before final victory was finally realized.