The Springdale news., 1908-12-18

times during that same month, Dut II was the crossing on Christmas night that made vivid history. The picture of "Washi9gtdn Crossing the Della ware" framed as colored chromo or a black and white print. has been fa miiar to two generations of AHeri- cans But how many of us know inst why. how and where Washingtoa 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" Washing tons defeated and discouraged ar:.9e was pursued closely by the British un der Cornwallis. Washington reached Trenton Dec and began preparations for crossing over into PennSylvania Collecting all the boats he could find. he sent his army across the river on the night of the 7th, following with the rear guard the next morning. jnsf as Cornwallis. as the historian Tossing puts it. "came down. with great pomp and parade to the opposite shore,
 Cornwallis expected to find boats and cross the river. capture Philadelphia. the capital of the struggling colonies. and end the rebellion in short order But the willy Washington had destroy cd all the boats which he could not hide on the Pennsylvania shore for his own future use The British general therefore decided to wait until the riv- CT froze, so that he could cross on the Ice. Mild weather prevailed for fort night In the meantime Washington had placed strong guards at several lords and ferries up and down the river, the enemy also posting detaCh ments at important points on the New Jersey side. Washington. with DOT ton of his army. was encamped at Newtown, T little northeast of Bristol, Pa. The British garrison at Trentou consisted of about 1.500 Hessians and some British light horse under com mand of Colonel Rall. gallant Hes. sian officer
 The capture of Philadelphia seemed so imminent that by advice of General Putnam, in command there. the Con tinental congress retired to Baltimore The situation was highly critical. The time of service for which most of Washington's men had enlisted would expire within ten days, and unless money could be had for their payment few of them would remain in the fie Many citizens who had espoused the patriot cause became discouraged and went over to the enemy. Cornwallis was so pop sure that the "rebels" were on their last legs and the war prac tically over that he went to New Yorf with the intention to sail for England on leave of absence.
 Washington felt that some decisive blow must be struck. The British must be shown that the Americans still had fight in them. Timid citizens in their homes must be encouraged by a dem onstration of patriotic yalor and mIli- tary prowess Accordingly Washing ton planned attacks at several points along the river. but he could not in duce some of his subordinate com manders to cooperate with him, They could not cross the river, they sail BSt Washington could and did He proposed te go over and give the Hes sians at Trenton Christmas after math in tue way of a daylight surprise the morning after Christmas. knoUiu@ that the jolly Germans would be nort or less demoralized hy their hibulae manner of celebrating the anniyersar
 Washingt0ns troops at Newtos were chiefly New Englanders He h about 2.4ee men and twenty pieces ot artillery The weather had turned much colder toward Christmas. and oo the afternoon Of that day chin storm of snow and sleet began, lasti0e through the night Washington's troo marched To MeGonkey,s ferry in lie snowstorm. MeGenkey's was rive side inn on the New Jersey bank cE the Delaware about nine miles above Trenton The boats previously hidd,n by the Americans were collected at ths point, opposite MeGonkey's house. anu at dusk the soldiers began crossiue Everybody knows. Of course, that "tas river was full of floating ice" bu5 Colonel Glover and his fishermen sei diers from Marblehead did not mins that. They knew how 10 guide boa amid cakes of ice. These Massacllu setts fishermen were placed in chara, of the boats.
 The plan of Washington was to reaci Trenton by o'clock in the morning and catch the HessfanS sleeping olf their Christmas potations. He counted upon getting the whole army across h midnight. Owing to the delay caused by the ice and the storm it was . o'clock ill the morning when the la | boat load Of patroits reached the Ier sey shore. By f o'clock the force was formed ready for the march upon Trenton. Colonel Henry Knox had brought over his cannon on the fraii flathoats. with horses to pull the pieces along the road.
 General Washington crossed the rv- CT a little before midnight The in. mates of McConkes : house were aStil