THE LUCK OF 1776

NY Post ^ | July 3, 2005 | GEORGE F. WILL

[TASMANIANRED]

Thank God, it was Bush's fault.

[Texas Songwriter]

The book indicates the American army at and by the battle of Trenton had never seen more than 35,000. Many of the conscripts had signed on for a year or for months. When their obligation was up by date, they walked home. Remember that at Brooklyn several thousand were captured. There was a natural attrition. Many were too sick to fight..plagued by hepatitis, dysentery, et.al.

When the march was ordered by Washington on Dec.24, he had seen General Greene 12 miles south of Trenton to cross with 2500 men who never got across. Also 800 men had been dispatched to move south of Trenton, but the weather had made firing their weapons useless..so they were ordered to bayonette the enemy...They guys never got to the battlesite before it was over. The battle at Trenton only took 30 minutes to effect surrender by the Hessions.

It is true that Howe had at his disposal about 35,000 British troops and some 15,000 mercenaries. But as winter was coming on fast, Howe had taken most of his troops back to New York. Cornwallis, who had just replaced General Clinton who had been sent south. Cornwallis was a very capable general, but he left the Hessians to man Trent. Remember there were only 1500 Hessians at Trent. They were great fighters, but the element of surprise was with the Americans and we won. Most of the British army had pulled back with Cornwallis and his commander Sir Howe.

What held them together? From history lessons we know that the idea of Freedom was compelling. "Common Sense" by Paine, had yet to be widly dispersed in the summer of 1776. But remember this, the idea of Freedom, though in the minds of our founders, was far from the regular enlisted man. We were initially fighting oppression by George III with his burdonsom taxes.After "Common Sense" was widely dispersed, it became the rallying cry for the Americans. What held them together? General George Washington, the indispensible man. His gravitas among his countrymen was legendary. Though he was extrememly demoralized, he never let his men see that aspect of his concern.

General Washington had orders which he repeated that any man who cut and ran would be shot for a coward. Now that did not mean that under orders they retreated. After Boston, that is about all that they did do was retreat. Once Long Island had been lost they were scattered and on the run until Trenton.

After Princeton, the war was on. The British began to respect Washington, Greene, Knox. These Americans, were not professional soldiers, but they had a steep learning curve which allowed them to survive and better command.

[rlmorel]

Hehe, FOR ONCE!

[TADSLOS]

Washington's secret luck chant

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Speaking of Washington...the famous painting of Washington crossing the Deleware was actually done in Geremany in 1851 by Emanuel Leutz, who used tourists as models and patterned the river after the Rhine. The actual attack consisted of 2,400 men and 18 cannons that were ferried across the river by a regiment of Massachusetts fishermen. The Hessians had been conviced that the Americans wouldn't attack. A Tory tried to warn them, but their commander was too busy playing cards to listen. As a result the attack took them by complete surprise. More than 100 Hessians were killed or wounded and nearly 1,000 taken prisoner. No American lives were lost.

Also, the painting we know today is the second version. The original hung in Berman, Germany, until it was destroyed during an Allied bombing raid in 1942.

[Ciexyz]

People of faith believe that God sent the fog that allowed Washington's troops to escape.

[Ciexyz]

It's well worth making a pilgrimmage to Valley Forge, to walk on that hallowed ground.

They also have a great gift shop, from what I remember. I loaded up on a lot of books on that period of history.

[loveliberty2]

The Founders did not call it "luck." They called it Divine Providence.

President Washington, in his First Inaugural, stated it well:

"It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.

"No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of man more than those of the United States. Every step by which we have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token providential agency…."

Of course, President Washington did not have to contend with those who, today, ignorant of the Source of their liberty, claim that such public acknowledgement of God violates some constitutional principle.

[monkapotamus]

I'd like to see more film portrayals of revolutionary war events. There are so many possibilities. The production of course would have to be in the right hands. (Hey Mel Gibson - care to orchestrate and fund something like that?)

[neverdem]

Thanks for the quote!

[strategofr]

Thanks. Very interesting stuff.