General George Washington walked into his headquarters a discouraged man. His mostly teenage army with amateur officers had been driven all the way across and out of New Jersey, leaving the British Army warm, well fed and in control of New York and the war. The game was up. In one week, his young army would simply melt away. The soldiers had enlisted to serve only until the end of the year and would go home on New Year's Day, broken and beaten; with the dream of a democratic republic based on liberty gone for good. For all of it's inexperience, it was a good little army. Henry Knox, a fat book seller from Boston who had read about using artillery would later become the first Secretary of War. John Marshall would become Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Future President of the United States James Monroe would be wounded in battle the next day, while another future president, James Madison would avoid injury. The job of writing orders and delivering them went to the general's two brilliant young officers, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr... What decision could George Washington make that would be worthy of such young men? The brand new nation, the "United States of America" as Jefferson had called it in July, was hanging by a thread. He sat down at his desk; pulled out his diary and wrote three words, "Victory or Death." That night, using the same Massachusetts fishermen who had helped his army escape from New York, George Washington and his Continental Army crossed the Delaware River back into New Jersey and attacked the Hessian forces (German mercenaries) at Trenton. His overwhelming victory shocked the entire world. The British, both in London and in New York had thought the war was over. Their only fear had been that there would be "no American army left to surrender." The very idea that an American army could appear out of nowhere, cross a major river, in a snow storm, at night and victoriously attack a large garrison was thought to be impossible...but Washington had done it. He had done the impossible. On New Year's Day, most of the army reenlisted, as thousands of more young men, inspired by this amazing victory, north and south, rallied to the cause of liberty. The new nation survived and would never again be that close to total extinction; and it happened on Christmas Day, 234 years ago today. Thank you Mr. Washington...
What an incredibly fascinating expression of what happened! Thank you, Jim. With your permission (and appropriate credit), I would like to share this story as you have written it.
:idea: Thanks guys. Anyone who wants to pass my history posts along is welcome to do so. They're word-for-word from the U.S. History class that I teach.
Couldn't agree more Krebsie....I'm living my dream to be a history teacher vicariously through JO'Co....speaking of which....Santa brought me some good stuff to read in front of the fire.... 1) Washingon by Ron Chernow - imo, one of our most gifted biographical history authors....along with David McCollough. His books on Hamilton, Morgan and Rockefeller were outstanding. 2) Winston's War - Churchill 1940-1945 by Max Hastings - not as familiar with this guy, but I'm a glutton for anything Churchill....he and I share a common heritage but somebody on my side of the family was cast aside long ago no doubt for conduct unbecoming.....in any event a big fan of Sir Winston....
I'm jealous! You got Chernow's Washington and I didn't! BUT!... I have one more shot at it. My birthday is in three weeks and maybe the history fairy will leave it under my pillow. If she doesn't, then I'll have to share the pain and buy it meself as an income tax deduction...heh...heh...