[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

On this night in 1776, future president General George Washington leads his small and bedraggled army in a daring raid on British and Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolution.

Just prior to launching boats from McKonkey’s Ferry across the Delaware River, Washington had an excerpt from Thomas Paine’s inspirational pamphlet The Crisis–published two days earlier–read aloud to the army. The pamphlet began:

“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.” ...

... Washington’s daring attack, after a string of demoralizing retreats, gave a desperately needed boost to the flagging spirits of the Continental Army.

Merry Christmas!

[Vaquero]

Why did he stand up? If he sat they would have given him an oar.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[mountainlion]

There are at least two legends of who owned the boat and rowed Washington across the Delaware. One was that a guy named Mershon owned the boat and the other was a guy named Hussong. They are both in my family so either way I am proud of this county and my heritage.

Merry Christmas and God Bless America.

[pinkandgreenmom]

I grew up near Washington’s Crossing, NJ. So sad that we never went to one of the re-enactments.

Merry Christmas to all!

[BamaBelle]

The last Q post on 8chan referenced this pic making me wonder what Trump has planned for tonight. Hopefully a nice Christmas present for the U.S.

[mairdie]

The Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia) Jan.4, 1777

[mairdie]

Washington's own report 2 days later. Right-click View Image for more readable copy. Purdue's Virginia Gazette, Friday, January 10, 1777.

[JerryBlackwell]

Thanks for the info. I always thought of this phase of the war as more guerilla than conventional. Nothing like a sneak attack at dawn in a snowstorm after a night of heavy drinking.

[Ancesthntr]

Yeah, cross into Jersey with arms today and get yourself arrested by latter-day Hessians working for the “King” of that dark and fascist People’s Repubik.

I am SO glad to have escaped there, and to have arrived in Texas, Free America 17 years ago TODAY!

[NonValueAdded]

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list.

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Recessional of the Sons of the American Revolution:

“Until we meet again, let us remember our obligations to our
forefathers who gave us our Constitution, the Bill of Rights,
an independent Supreme Court and a nation of free men.”

Dr. Benjamin Franklin, when asked if we had a republic or a monarchy, replied "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Can we???

[catnipman]

“The victory was not particularly significant from a strategic point of view, but news of Washington’s initiative raised the spirits of the American colonists, who previously feared that the Continental Army was incapable of victory.”

as well as to give Benjamin Franklin in Paris a positive talking point in trying to get the French to go to war against the British on the side of the Patriots, which they eventually did.

[SteveH]

the ten days that changed the world, washington’s crossing the delaware

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF-Y7s_YIAU

[ConservaTeen]

Merry Christmas to all of us DeplorableAmerican1776...