Chrismas Miracles in history - George Washington's Crossing

This Christmas American history continues to amaze me.

Personally, I hold the belief that on December 25, 1776, George Washington

was inspired by Divine Providence.

A Let's Write sesonal history - Published in the book Christmas Miracles: True Stories to Warm Your Heart

Christmas Crossing - After a string of defeats, General George Washington secured a seemingly miraculous victory that raised American spirits.

Starving, cold and thoroughtly miserable, George Washington's soldiers weren't feeling too confident of a Patriot victory in the winter of 1776. The Revolutionaries had suffered a number of crushing losses in the previous months, and camping out in below-freezing weather wasn't helping.  

Frunstrated with his lack of progress, Washington realized he would have to be bold if he wanted to give his men a much-needed win in the final days of 1776, or their quest for freedom might be stamped out by the British.  In a letter to governor Trumbull, Washington said that a "lucky blow" against the British forces would "most certainly rouse the spirits of the people, which are quite sunk by our misfortunes. 

That opportunity came on the waning hours of Christmas Day.  Washington believed the Hessians, Hesse-Kassel troops hired by British soldiers would be recovering from celebrating the holidy at their camp in Trenton, New Jersey. That would be the perfect time to strike.

Three hours behind schedule, around 11 p.m. on Christmas night, the bedraggled Patrioiots began launching their boats across the Delaware River at three separate points. As if on cue, a major storm, a fierce mix of sleet and wind, roared to life. Washington had to make a quick decision- turn back and risk being attacked by the British in the morning after the river had frozen over or press on despite the life-threatening conditions.

"...As I was certain there was no making a retreat without being discovered, and harassed on repassing the River, I determined to push on at all Events", George Washington later told John Hancock.  

Only the 2,400 soldiers in Washington's group managed to make it across the river, the other two groups had to hang back and try crossing in the subsequent days.  It took approximately four hours to cross the Delaware River and the following walk to Trentn took much longer than expected. 

In his journals, excerpted in American History by David McCullough, Continental Army soldier John Greenwood wrote about the march toward Trenton from the Delaware River. Washington's force halted many times over the course of the march due to the intense wind and cold.  "I recollect very well that at one time, when we halted on the road, I sat down on the stump of a tree and was so be-numbed with cold that I wanted to go to sleep. Had I been passed unnoticed I shoul have frozen to death without knowing it."

The storm was tough to weather, however it untimately becaue a Christmas blessing for Washington and his me.  The storm covered up the noise the soldiers made as they crossed the river, which ensured they had the element of surprise.  At 8 a.m., on December 26, 1776, while the Hessians were still groggy with sleep, Washington attacked with his troops, coming awary with a mora-boosting victory and taking 1,000 Hessians prisoner. Best of all, th elosses on Washington's side were next to nil. Four Americans perished in battle in addition to two who died of bitter cold.

Hailed as one of the Revolution's finest generals, Washington inspired great loyalty in his men, earned through bold tactical decisions, like the Christmas crossing. 

Only Washington co

uld see the bright side of this winter storm, and as word of his victory spread across the colonies,  it raised morale among those who were starting to believe the Patriots couldn't possibly beat the British Empire.  

This small miracle changed the tide in favor of the scrappy Revolutionaries, who were now motivated to finish and win- the fight for their freedom. 

Washington Crossing the Delaware is an 1851 oil-on-canvas painting by the German-American artist Emanuel Leutze. It commemorates General George Washington during his famous crossing of the Delaware River with the Continental Army on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War.

Maine Writer Let's Write post script - A gift from George Washington was his account about this history changing decision given in first person accounts in writing, oral history and in art.