Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-27
CROSSING DELAWARE
WAS OF GREAT IMPORT
Victory Later At Trenton
Marked Dramatic Turning of
Fortune for Colonists.
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
The state of New Jersey is negotiat-
ing just at present for the purchase
of Il 1.0oo-acre farm six miles from
Trenton. The farm is that on which
Washington and his men landed tha.
| Christmas eve in 1916 after the MEM
ofablc crossing OF the Delaware. To
most of us who are past school age.
washington crossing the Delaware
brings up q picture of a man in a
three-cornered hat standing i'm the bow
of a boat and scanning with eagle
eye the surrounding dcsolation of wa
ter and Floating cakes of ice. And
then we nave a vague recollection that
me licked the British. and there was
IL glorious victory.
As a matter of fact. the victory
which followed the crossing of the
Delaware was much more than the
winning of an engagement. 1t was a
thrilling. dramatic event that stirred
mems imaSinations, raised their spir-
it's and made it possible for the Revo-
luton to continue. And the far-see-
Ing Washington realized in advance
all the dramatic possibilities and the
crying necessity for a successful
'grandstand play"
Dark for the Colonies.
The last weeks of 1916 We're gloomy
enough from AN American standpoint.
Washington and his army had been
'tlNcIt Sut oI New YORK: the ports on
the Hudson had been taken. and many
British Officers OF Lord Howe's army
were already Boosting that the revolt
OF the colonies was over. Some Of
these officers. 1t is said. had already
sent their trunks aboard ship. conf
dent that i'm Il little while the order
would come to return to England.
Washington had retreated with his
army across New Jersey in December.
and the English troops. following
ieisurelN. had taken possession of the
country. The town of Trenton was
IN the hands of IA garrison of 1000 He's
slams. the hired German troops who
reused $" much American hostility.
ReSond the Delaware lay Washing
ton with Il shivering army of about
1000 poorly cad, their shoes worn out.
provisions none too plentiful. Worse
than that. under the system of short
time enlistmcnts which the continental
congress had instituted. his army after
.le rev Year would be reduced to
ABOUT l.5oO by the expiration of terms
OF enlistment. The residents of Phil
adelph'a We're already preparing ia
ieaNc their homes: everybody felt that
inc Revolution was rushed. If ever
there WAS II time when a ramat
victory was needed to inspire conf
uence 1t was i'm December. l776. So
washington resolved to fight.
~ was bitter cold in December of
loo; N Christmas eve Il snow began
~ W. IdClJlk IN CIOol0a mast
inc soldiers when the crossing Of the
delaware was begun about IN o'clock
me river, all afloat with drifting ice.
WIN the current swift and ugly. was
N" small obstacle itself in the GOODNESS
ana the dark. One needed to be on
1he lookout against the swtrling floes.
ana IL was not easy to look far in
the blackness and driving snow.
The Hessians ignored a WARNING.
But finally the soldiers got across
at 4 O'Clock in the morning the
nlarcn on Trenton was begun. BY that
a.ne the nov had turned into sleet
and the wine was driving down more
bitterly than ever. The town of Tren-
TON lay In darkness and inside their
barracks the German mercenaries were
snoring heavily; sleeping off the effects
lof a Christmas eve debauch In which
they all had taken part. There had
peeh of wine and punch
ana singing of songs: even the sentries
mad been called in. for ON such a night.
Who would be likely to venture out?
americans who had been driven across
the state in such a dismal retreat.
somebody brought a message of an
attack planned by Washington, but no.
nody cared to heed his jests. and the
'Hessian commander, Rahl. laughed at
the report.
So it happened that when the foot
sore followers of Washington crept
down the dark and silent streets in
the gray OF the morning. they found the
enemy totally unprepared. The Amer
lean forces were in two divisions. one
under Greene. one under Sullivan. Be
Tore the six mile journey to the town
was covered Sullivan had sent word
that the muskets of his men were use
iess-the powder was wet. And Wash
lnRtOn sent back word:
Tell your men to use the bayonet
Tor the town must be taken"
Ihe were used. The He's
slams. tumbled out OF bed and half
asleep. were rolled back in confusion
before the fierce thrusting Of the Con-
tinentals; Rail-. rushing from his quar-
ters 10 learn all this hubbub was
about. was shot n fell mortally
m The stupeied Germans.
somewhat from the first
snock OF their amazement, gathered in
ragged formation and tried to retreat
along ne Brunswick. There they were
cut on by Hands riflemen. In less
tnan an hour 1t was all over. About
IOo liessians escaped: 30 were Killed
ana more than 800 gave themselves I'm
with all their arms. ammunition and
supplies. IT was no small blow to the
British to lose 1000 men at one stroke:
Dut tne moral effect of the stroke was
Vastly greater. The ragged men OF
Washington felt now that they were
the equals Of any fighters who might
De sent again them. Many Of them
VINO had planned to return home made
up theif minds to re-enlist az soon as
their terms OF service should expire.
n 800 Hessians were marched Urn
down in triumphal procession
through the streets of PHILADELPHIA.
slider IN advisability OF swearing al
Iegfance to the king NJ EpoIond -