What Was Significant About Washington Crossing The Delaware?
Military History
By Christmas Eve of 1776, the American Revolution was, in essence, over. The Americans were losing badly.
Moreover, George Washington was running out of options.
Washington’s army, down to only a few thousand, had lost seven battles in a row and was freezing on the west bank of the Delaware River awaiting the end.
The British, on the other hand had 33,000 soldiers, well over a hundred ships and were partying in New York City and preparing for the final surrender.
Most of the American troops kept their fighting spirit and resolve, but they had lost hope that England could ever become truly defeated.
Half of Washington’s army – 1,500 men, were quitting that week and going home because their enlistments were up. Washington decided on one last offensive.
The Continental Army was in a difficult position at the time, having suffered a series of defeats and facing low morale and desertions.
Washington needed to move his entire Continental Army from Pennsylvania to New Jersey for the attack.
He gathered the same fishermen who had helped him retreat in August from New York and had his beleaguered troops ferried across the half frozen Delaware at midnight on Christmas Eve.
The crossing was a logistical feat!
The Continental Army had to transport itself and its equipment across the icy and turbulent Delaware River in the dead of winter, with the threat of enemy attack looming.
Just before they boarded the boats, the General prayed, and had the American Crisis, the challenge by Thomas Payne, read to his men:
“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 that stands 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 is too cheap, we esteem too lightly:
‘Tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to set a proper price upon its goods and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article s freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has right {not only to tax} to bind us in all cases whatsoever’ and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon the earth. Even the expression of impious, for so unlimited power can belong only to God.”
Washington landed near Trenton in a blinding snow and hailstorm that served as a cover for his crossing and approach.
Christmas morning, his men quickly surprised a detachment of 1,200 Hessians. Colonel Rhal and his men had been partying and drinking with a pompous, false sense of security late into the night.
When Washington attacked in the early morning almost all were captured and Rhal was mortally wounded. That day, Washington re-crossed the river with over 1,000 prisoners, and only five casualties of his own. As was his custom, he did not mistreat his prisoners.
in conclusion, the crossing is important because it was a turning point in the war. The Continental Army was able to win a series of victories in the weeks and months following the crossing. Which helped to establish American independence and pave the way for the eventual end of the Revolutionary War.
For further reading: Battle of Trenton
