Posts Tagged ‘George Washington’

1776: Victory, or Death? 2010: Just Plain Victory!

Canada Free Press – By Jim O’Neill  Monday, February 1, 2010

“Posterity (to all future generations) you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” —John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) Sixth President of the United States

“The [Revolutionary] war was a longer, far more arduous, and more painful struggle than later generations would understand or sufficiently appreciate.” —David McCullough

The scene by the Delaware river was illuminated by flickering wood fires started by the men;  a few lanterns, and a scattering of storm-tossed torch-light.

George Washington sat on his horse, with his back turned to the wind and sleet.  It was 3:00 a.m. the morning after Christmas, 1776.  He and his ragged band of soldiers had just crossed the Delaware river into New Jersey from Pennsylvania.  They were gathering for an assault on German mercenaries—the Hessians—hired by Great Britain to help stamp out the revolt in their American colonies.  The Hessians were stationed about ten snow-covered miles away, in Trenton, New Jersey.

The crossing of the Delaware had been more difficult than anticipated, and Washington and his force were now three hours behind schedule.  They were one tine of a planned three pronged attack on Trenton, and Washington knew that his force would no longer be able to meet up with the other two forces on time.  He had to decide, quickly, whether or not to go ahead with the attack.. Read more: “These Are The Times That Try Men’s Souls”. “Tyranny, Like Hell, Is Not Easily Conquered”