By December 1776, the prospects of victory for the Continental Army seemed remote. The British had driven General Washington from New York to retreat to Pennsylvania. The annual enlistments of American soldiers were expiring at the end of the year, and funds and morale were low. If there was ever a need for a Christmas miracle, it was needed in 1776.
In this bleak setting on Christmas Day, General Washington made a daring move to attack the enemy, crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey. The day after Christmas, Washington caught the Hessians by surprise and won the Battle of Trenton. That victory boosted the morale of the Continentals and spurred the troops to continue fighting and eventually win the war.
During the darkest days of the American Revolution, George Washington made a bold move on Christmas Day in 1776 by crossing the Delaware River.
Yes, that was a very pivotal time in our fledgling attempt at trying to pull together an army to fight the British who hired the Hessians to do their dirty work for them. If the French had not come to our aid as well, the outcome of the war may have been the same, but taken much longer.
I just watched Ken Burns's 12 hour, The American Revolution. Gave me a whole new perspective of that war and the sacrifice that settlers made by rejecting their loyalty to the king. Quite a few myths were dealt with, too.
I just watched Ken Burns's 12 hour, The American Revolution. Gave me a whole new perspective of that war and the sacrifice that settlers made by rejecting their loyalty to the king. Quite a few myths were dealt with, too.
Ron