El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-23

n AOST memorable Christmas day
MI in American can. history hi tory was to,
of the day on which George Washing
battle of Trenton. On that Christmas
night the Father of His Country made
his immortal crossing of the Della
ware On one side of the river, en-
camped in the town of Trenton, were
the German marcenaries of the Brit
ish army. On the other rested the
American command, defeated discour-
aged and hungry, and on the even Of
dissolution. News of British victories
of Christmas day in the American
camp. Moreover, Cen Lee, despite
Washington's orders, was advancing in
but half-hearted fashion against the
Redcoats.
The G erman Christmas
Then came the rift in the gloom Of
that cherries festal day. Washington
determined on a gold stroke. Across
the river the Hessian troops had been
feasting and carousing in their camp
all day long. In direct contrast to the
desolation and despair in the American
lines, Christmas ran high. AS the
shades of the starless and stormy
night closed down, the hilarious Red
coats, worn out from their carousals
thew themselves on their pallets, ex-
hausted, and dreamed pleasant dreams
OF chasing the ragged .Continentals
over hill and dale. The befuddled sem
tries slept on their outposts. The camp
fires burned low through lack of nurs-
ing With the icepacked. swiftly flow
ing Delaware between them and their
enemies, the British camp felt secure
in it's slumbers.
But they had reckoned without the
indomitable spirit of the American
leader. Cautiously and in silence the
American army was assembled on
the opposite shore. Through the ice
and storm. in eril of life and Ilmb
with every stroke of the muffled
cars the American army embarked
in small boats and landed on the Brit
ish side OF the river. Gen Sullivan
had reached the American camp late
on Christmas day with recruits from
Pennsylvania. In all, Gen. Washington
had some 5000 troops. But, of this
number, only one division under the
command of Washington and Sullivan,
effect landing on the enemy's
ground.
Full of Pudding and Wine.
AT o'clock in the morning the freeZ-
ing, nearly exhausted American SOL
ton The surprise was complete. Col.
Rail- commander of the Hessians. had
his Christmas revelries, which he was
prolonging with his favorite officers.
rudely Interrupted by the rattle of
musketry- Dashing his wine cup to
the floor and seizing his sword he
rushed out to his panic stricken men
The Americans had manned them in
on all sides and were pouring upon
them a devastating fire. The British
officer, a man of courage and determi-
nation, tried his utmost to form his be-
wildered troops for action. But in
vain Hundreds of the boastful Hes
slams threw down their arms. Many
others, along with the British cavalry,
wildly sought safety in flight. Colo
mel Rail himself was mortally wound
ed striving vvaliantly to rally his
troops.
The American victory was over 4
whelming Feeling certain that he
could not hald the town against the
British forces that would assemble
on the morrow. determined
to wipe out their disgra ceful defeat,
recrosised the raging river.
More than that, he took with him
hundreds of prisoners and many boat 7
loads of the spoils of the British camp.
His victory cost him but four men. two
of whom were shot and the other two
frozen to death in crossing the Della
ware. Thus aside from the immortal
heroism of the Americans, it was the
Grman joy in celebrating Christmas
day that gave the continental army
its inspiration to continue the war at
a time when all seemed lost
VALLEY Fcrge
The next Christmas day was the
IL n y;
tory WASHINGTON at Valley Forge
What need 20 recall s~ain the terrible
gloom and suffering Of that ueriod
The memory OF II lives 70 the present
day and will live as long as the stars
and stripes are given TO the winds Of
heaven.
One bathing defeat after another
had reduced the American army TO de-
spair. Men were dying through thesl
camp each, day from starvation and
cold. They slept with nothing be-
tween them and the frozen ground but
their ragged clothes ShoeIess and
balf-naked, some 1000 Of them were
unable TO even lift musket. Never
in all American historv. has there been
such a 'sheerle~s Christmas eve as the
one that closed down on those suf-
fering heroes at Valley Forge-the eve
too. when all the earth is supposed to
r0SOu1Q WIFI the JOYOUS paeOn. and
praise of ''reace on earth Bood will
-o-ard men,"
Especially hby contrast the Christ
mas of a dozen wears later must have
been one of, untold joy It was the
first Christina slide of the first presi-
lent ot the United States7and that
president was. Of course the same
Tashin gton who bore the brunt of the
errible Writer ut Valle.- Forge. On
hat happy day the home of the pres
dent was thrown open TO the populace /
and Mrs Washington ehrseIf saw to
heir entertainment. There was 10 dis
olay, no lavish expenditure. TO intern
)era tie hflarity-simplv whole-~ouled
lard-won rejoicing over the fruits Of
leroism and victory
Those Stern Pilgrims
Going back to the early history of
he nation in a search for historic
one comes upon the first
Christmas of the pilgrim fathers al
Mass They landed Decem- !
Der q, 1620-just four DAYS before
Christmas The great day itself /
brought forth no reyelry nor gayety. |
IN fact. there was no observance of
he Natal Day of the Sayious what |
ever The stern pilgrims regarded |
apV observance of fhe dav aS sinful