Recently watched "The Crossing" to learn more about why this image and event are so mythologized in our history. I welcome any historical corrections!
December 1776, Washington's troops had lost battle after battle, not a single victory. Had been pushed out of NYC, down across NJ, and into PA. The British army - actually highly trained soldiers-for-hire from Germany - camped out in NJ on the east side of the Delaware river. Waiting for the river to freeze so they could march across and take Philadelphia, the capital at the time. (The Americans had destroyed all boats on the NJ side.)
In addition to this seasonal-based deadline, the American soldiers' pay was set to run out at the end of the year. Congress was unable to commit to further compensation, since they had no victories to show for it. So GW NEEDED a victory, and he needed it NOW. Or face the end of our cause.
The plan was to row overnight BACK to NJ, on Christmas Eve, and attack the Germans while they slept. Slight delays led the action to occur in early daylight, but it was successful. German casualties numbered a dozen or so, while direct American casualties were zero. Total victory. GW sent the German commander's sword to Congress as a gift. Political and public opinion quickly shifted to the positive - we took out a contingent of the most feared soldiers of the era.
On the military side, a minor battle, but major in shifting morale.
Reports differ if GW did indeed utter the line, "IT'S HAPPENING" while fireworks crackled behind him.
Recently watched "The Crossing" to learn more about why this image and event are so mythologized in our history. I welcome any historical corrections!
December 1776, Washington's troops had lost battle after battle, not a single victory. Had been pushed out of NYC, down across NJ, and into PA. The British army - actually highly trained soldiers-for-hire from Germany - camped out in NJ on the east side of the Delaware river. Waiting for the river to freeze so they could march across and take Philadelphia, the capital at the time. (The Americans had destroyed all boats on the NJ side.)
In addition to this seasonal-based deadline, the American soldiers' pay was set to run out at the end of the year. Congress was unable to commit to further compensation, since they had no victories to show for it. So GW NEEDED a victory, and he needed it NOW. Or face the end of our cause.
The plan was to row overnight BACK to NJ, on Christmas Eve, and attack the Germans while they slept. Slight delays led the action to occur in early daylight, but it was successful. German casualties numbered a dozen or so, while direct American casualties were zero. Total victory. GW sent the German commander's sword to Congress as a gift. Political and public opinion quickly shifted to the positive - we took out a contingent of the most feared soldiers of the era. On the military side, a minor battle, but major in shifting morale.
Reports differ if GW did indeed utter the line, "IT'S HAPPENING" while fireworks crackled behind him.
interdasting