In December 1776, the nadir of the Revolution, Washington knew it was about all over for him, his ragtag troops, and the colonies. His patchwork army had almost been destroyed on Long Island, had been run out of New York, up and down the Hudson River, and across New Jersey by British Gen. William Howe and his vastly superior army, one of the best in the world, supplemented by Hessians mercenaries from what is now central Germany. Washington wrote his brother:
Washington knew he was on the verge of losing everything -- his army, the Revolution, his personal fortune, and probably his life when the British caught up with him and hung him as a traitor to the King. Anyone who’s been getting kicked to the ground in life, in business, or even at halftime of a football game knows the feeling.
Thomas Paine, who was with Washington’s army, wrote the following:
Somewhere deep down, Washington mustered the guts to take his little army on Christmas night 1776 -- in a driving sleet and snowstorm -- across the wide, ice-choked Delaware River with the password "Victory or Death" and, first thing the next morning, surprised the hired-gun German Hessian troops stationed at Trenton. Then, after having crossed back to safety in Pennsylvania, a few days later he led his soldiers back across the Delaware again and on to victory over the British regular troops at Princeton. The British, who controlled all of New Jersey in December, retreated to all the way to their base in New York City. It was a get-up-off-the-mat and slug your opponent in the gut move, completely surprising the British and a turning point – maybe the turning point -- in the Revolutionary War.
And despite the victories at Trenton and Princeton, the bleak winter for him and his "army" at Valley Forge -- and the even worse winter at Morristown two years later – still lay in the future
We are in a very disaffected part of the Province; and, between you and me, I think our affairs are in a very bad situation; . . . .
I have no doubt but that general Howe will still make an attempt upon Philadelphia this winter. I see nothing to oppose him a fortnight hence, as the time of all the troops, except those of Virginia reduced (almost to nothing,) and Smallwood's Regiment of Maryland, equally as bad, will expire in less than that time. In a word, my dear Sir, if every nerve is not strained to recruit the new army with all possible expedition, I think the game is pretty near up . . .
Washington knew he was on the verge of losing everything -- his army, the Revolution, his personal fortune, and probably his life when the British caught up with him and hung him as a traitor to the King. Anyone who’s been getting kicked to the ground in life, in business, or even at halftime of a football game knows the feeling.
Thomas Paine, who was with Washington’s army, wrote the following:
December 23, 1776
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. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Somewhere deep down, Washington mustered the guts to take his little army on Christmas night 1776 -- in a driving sleet and snowstorm -- across the wide, ice-choked Delaware River with the password "Victory or Death" and, first thing the next morning, surprised the hired-gun German Hessian troops stationed at Trenton. Then, after having crossed back to safety in Pennsylvania, a few days later he led his soldiers back across the Delaware again and on to victory over the British regular troops at Princeton. The British, who controlled all of New Jersey in December, retreated to all the way to their base in New York City. It was a get-up-off-the-mat and slug your opponent in the gut move, completely surprising the British and a turning point – maybe the turning point -- in the Revolutionary War.
And despite the victories at Trenton and Princeton, the bleak winter for him and his "army" at Valley Forge -- and the even worse winter at Morristown two years later – still lay in the future
