Posted on 07/05/2013 3:32:18 PM PDT by neverdem
Jack Levins Fourth of July reminder of the courage that created America.
It was December, 1776.
George Washingtons army, encamped on the banks of the frozen Delaware River, was struggling and near death. As Jack E. Levin recounts in his New York Times bestseller, the famous story of George Washington: The Crossing (with a preface by his son Mark Levin) is riveting. A timely reminder on this Fourth of July 2013 237 years later of the sheer, raw courage it took to bring the United States of America to life as more than the ringing words written on the parchment that was the Declaration of Independence.
While 1776 is usually recalled as the year the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, launching the Fourth of July forever after as a national holiday celebrating freedom and independence, in fact Washington...
--snip--
These are the times that try mens souls: The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of his country: but he that stands 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....--snip--
Fifty big artillery horses balked at being led onto the boats. They snorted and stamped on the ground with their hooves, rearing up because they were nervous. Eighteen cannons, weighing a few hundred pounds each, had to be loaded and tied down so they wouldnt move once the boats started their journey across the ice-choked river. If a horse made a violent movement or a cannon broke loose from its mooring, the boat, which was overcrowded with troops, would capsize and all on board would perish because of the freezing water...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Ping
“The Crossing” was made into a “made-for-TV-movie” a few years ago, HBO I think - it was one of the best TV movies I had ever seen - they did a great job.
It was 2000 with Jeff Daniels, but based on a book by a different author.
One of the few to be seriously wounded was James Monroe. Took a bullet to the shoulder IIRC. That’s when you had to be a man to be President.
Glenn Beck, is a shameful show where he was pandering to blacks, said that little black guy that was squated down behind Washington on the boat crossing the Delaware was just as responsible for winning the war as Washington was. I knew then and there that Beck was officially a head-case.
The Crossing with Jeff Daniels portraying George Washington was excellent. But it wasnt HBO, it was an A&E production back when A&E actually meant Arts and Entertainment and not sleazy reality shows.
Great movie!
But on Thursday, Independence Day, lacking a DVD of “The Patriot”, we put in “Cromwell” with Richard Harris....
Totally awesome movie for freedom....well done.
That's the one (nice find) - looked for it at the library, but we know the publik library rarely carries anything of redeeming value....
(That grating sound would be Ben Franklin rolling over in his grave...)
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