Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1907-12-17
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practically all night, brewing big jo-
runs of hot and steaming punch, which
the cold and weary Continental officers
drank with eager zest. 1t is related
that early in the morning hours Wash
ington himself stepped into the inn
and found some of his young officers
inclined to loiter by the ere and in
dulge in extra potations. There was
more serious work on hand Washing
ton, it is said, drank just one stout
"snifterv and ordered his officers to be
about their business. McConkey's house
still stands, and the place is known
now as Washington's Crossing.
Washington divided his forces into
two bodies, one to march down the
river road and attack the enemy from
the west, the other to enter the town
from the north. The commander In
structed all his officers to set their
watches by his, so that the attack
might be made simultaneously at every
point 1t was o'clock when the en-
emy's outposts were encountered and
driven in, firing from behind trees and
fences as they ran.
Colonel Rail had been up all night,
with other officers, carousing and play
ing cards Mt the house of a Tory.
Though the attack Was made three
hours later than had been intended,
it was still practically surprise. Rail
buckled on his sword and CALAMITY
tried to rally his demoralized forces,
but it was too late. Already the light
horse and 500 Hessians had taken flight
and escaped Knox had planted his
cannon to sweep the principal streets,
and the attack from all points was
furious. Colonel Rail- fell MORALLY
wounded. and little later he sur
rendered his sword to Washington.
The American commander took nearly
a thousand prisoners. with many stands
of arms, cannon and other equipment.
The victory was complete. CORVALLIS
deferred his trip to England, remain
ing here to surrender to Washington at
Yorktown five years later.
The next day Washington's army re-
crossed the river, taking the Hessian
prisoners to Newtown. On the Goth,
his forces having been increased by the
arrival of other troops, he made the
passage of the Delaware for the fourth
time in a month, reoccupying Trenton
until forced to retire to Princeton by
the maneuvers of Corvallis In cross
ing and recrossing the river and fight
ing the battle of Trenton Washington
lost only seven men. Two were killed,
four were wounded and one frozen to
death.
The famous picture washington
Crossing the Delaware" was painted in
1851 by Emanuel Leutze, who was
born in Wurttemberg in 1916 and died
at Washington in 1868, having settled
permanently in America. Leutze paint
ed several other American historical
scenes. The Washington picture. an
immense canvas to which no printed
reproduction can do justice. now hangs
in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York city, where it may be seen
free of charge by any American patriot
or by any Hessian or British visitor
for that matter. The great painting
was presented to the museum ten
years ago by John S. Kennedy. 1t is
matter of congratulation that this ar
tistic representation of an Inspiring in
cident connected with Americas most
historic Christmas now belongs prac-
ticaily to the people of America, one
and all.