Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-12-25
America 5 Most
Nj honorable
Christmas.
j 81 RoBERTus LOVE

ECopyright. 1907. by Robertus Love.l
hWS HE most memorable Christmas
In American history was that of I
1776. the day on which Wash
ga ington crossed the Delaware.
his army crossed the Delaware four
times during that same month, but it
was the crossing on Christmag night I
that made vivid history. The picture
Of washington Crossing the Della
ware, framed as d co1ored chrome or
q black and white print, has been fall
miliar to two generations of Ameri-
cans. But how many Of us know just
why, how and where Washington
crossed the Delaware, what bearing
that movement had upon the destiny
/ OF America who painted the famous
picture from which the familiar
chromos are made and where the origi-
nal oil painting may be seen today
Driven from Long Island and New
York across the Jerseys, w ashing-
tons defeated and discouraged army
\ was pursued closely BY the British IN,
der CORVALLIS. Washington reached
Trenton Dec. 2 and began preparations
for crossing over into Pennsyl vania.1
Collecting all the boats he could fnd.s
sent his army across the river On;
ne. night of the 18th, following with
4 the rea1.s guard the next m rning. Just
as CORVALLIS. as the historian Losing
puts it, .scaine down. with great pomp,
4 and parade. TO the opposite shore. ~
Cornwallis expected to find boats and
cross the river, capture Philadelp hia,
/ the capital Of the strug gling colonies,
4 and end the rebellion in short order
But the willy washington had destroy
u ed all the boats which he could moi
hide On the Pennsylvania shore for his
4 own future use. The British general
therefore decided to wait until the riy-
er froze, so that he could cross on the
Ice. Mild weather prevailed for a fort
night. In the meantime Washington
had placed strong guards at several
fords and ferries up Oand down the
\ river, the enemy also posting detach-
ments at important points on the New
8 Jersey side Washington, with q por-
ton OF his army, was encamped at
& Newtown, d little northeast Of Bristol,
Pa. The British garrison at Trenton
consisted Of about 1900 Hessians and
come British light horse under COM
mand Of Colonel Rail, gallant Hes
sian officer.
The capture OF Philadelphia seemed
30 imminent that by advice of General
8 Putnam, In command there, the Con
tinental congress retired to Baltimore.
The situation was highly critical. The
q time Of service for which most Of
washington men had enlisted would
expire within ten days. and unless
money could be had for their payment
= few OF them would remain in the field.
& Many citizens who had espoused the
patriot cause BECAME discouraged and
went over to the enemy. CORVALLIS
was SO pop sure that the rebels" were
on their last legs and the war prac-
tfcally over that he went to New York
with the intention TO sail for sHngiand
on leave OF absence.
washington felt that some decisive
slow must be struck. The British must
ha shown that the Americans eth had
dght in them. Timid citizens In theil
BONES must be encouraged BY q dem,
onstration OF patriotic valor and n1ili
tary prowess. Accordingly Washing
ION planned attacks at several points
along the river, bat he could not in
tiuce some OF his subordinate com
manders to cooperate with HIM They
could not cross the river, they said
Rut washington could and did. Hs
proposed to go over and give the Hes
Mans 1T Trenton d Christmas after