Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1907-12-24

copyright 1897 by RobcrtUs Love,l
T\ HE most memorable Christmas
III American history WAS that o.
1876, the day Oh which Wash
ington crossed the Delaware
AS matter of fact, Washington and
his army crossed the Delaware four
times during that same month, but il
was the crossing on Christmas nigh
that made vivid history. The picture
of washington Crossing the Della
ware" framed as colored chrome o!
a black and white print, has been fa
miliar to two generations of Aiaeri
cans But how many of us know JUS
why. how and where Washington
crossed the Delaware, what bearing
that movement had upon the d2stln.
of America, who painted the famous
picture from which the familiar
chromos are made and where the OrlSi
nal oil painting may be seen today?
Driven from Long Island and New
York across 1.-The Jerseys, Washing
toms defeated and discouraged army
vas pursued closely by the British III
Ger CORVALLIS. Washington reached
Trenton Dec. and began preparations
for crossing over into Pennsylvania
collecting all the boats lie could hhd
he sent his army across the river on
tbe night of the 18th, following with
the rear guard the next morning, JUST
as CORVALLIS, as the historian LOSING
nuts it. "came down, with great ponp
and parade, to the opposite shore.
CORVALLIS expected to find boats ana
cross the river, capture Phlladeipnia'
the capital of the struggling colohles'
and end the rebellion in short ORDER
But the willy Washington had destroy,
ed ELL the boats which he could no'
hide on the Pennsylvania shore FOR his
own future use. The British general
therefore decided to wait until the rlN-
ar froze. SO that he could cross on the
;ce Mild weather prevailed for rort-
night. In the meantime washington
had placed strong guards at seVeral
fords and ferries up and down the
river the enemy also posting detach-
ments at important points on the Ne"
Jersey side. Washington, with por-
tion of his army, was encamped al
Novto,vu n little northeast OF Brlstol'
Tn. The British garrison at 1renton
consisted of about 1900 Hesslans anu
some British light horse under com
mond of Colonel Rail, a gallant hes
sian officer. .oou,od
The capture of Philadelphia seemed
50 imminent that by advice OF Generai
Y,,,t,,,m in command there, the Coa-
essential congress retired to Baltimore
TIC situation was highly critical. Inc
time Of service for which most ..
yyocbfnoton's men had enlisted Wouia
oxnira within ten days, and unless
money could be had for thelF pa! lnei,'
few of them would remain In the leiu'
AI,nv citizens who had espoused the
potr;ot oouse became discouraged anu
went over to the enemy. CornW'lllis
was so pop sure that the "repeis were
ON their last legs and the war prac-
tically over that he went TO Ne" 1~ n
with the Intention to sail for Lngiaho
on leave of absence.
Washington felt that some decisiN :
blow must be struck. The British mus D
no shown that the Americans sun ndo
fight in them. Timid citizens Ill tneli
homes must be encouraged by dem EN-
onstration of patriotic valor ana MN,
tary prowess. Accordingly Washins 8
ton planned attacks at several poinlS
along the river, but he could not HI
auce some of his subordinate com
monders to cooperate with him. the!
could not cross the river, tney saru
But Washington could and did. ~
proposed TO go over and give the Hes
slans at Trenton Chrissss NE