Today is Wednesday, December 25th, 2013; Karen's Korner #2723
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Christmas Day 1776
(Something emailed to me earlier this week - in part)
"On numerous occasions, George Washington openly testified of God's protection over him. He recognized that his life existed only as a result of ' the miraculous care of Providence'. He also understood that the important part he had played in America's formation was by the direction of God, acknowledging 'I have only been an instrument in hand of Providence'.
"Washington's bravery in the face of death and his trust that his life was in the hands of God are especially seen on Christmas night 1776. His military campaign of 1776, which began well with the British evacuation of Boston, had turned into a disaster. His untrained, undisciplined army was quickly defeated by the professional British forces and the ruthless Hessian (German) mercenaries on Long Island and Mount Washington. In the retreat from Manhattan and during various skirmishes, he had lost New York, practically all of New Jersey and thousands of troops. By the time Washington's army escaped across the Delaware River into Bucks County, Pennsylvania, his army had declined from 28,000 to 2,400 on Christmas Day and was literally in rags and near starving. American morale was very low, desertion rated had been high with a prevailing sentiment that the cause was already dashed. On New Year's Eve, almost every soldier's term of service would expire and Washington would be left with an army of approximately 1,200.
"This was Washington's reality; he had to do something bold. He determined he must attack and defeat the 1,400 Hessian soldiers posted in Trenton on the eastern bank of the Delaware, or he would die. He purposed to cross the quarter mile of the Delaware River about nine miles above Trenton on Christmas Day. 'Victory or Death' was the password for the surprise attack.
"It was an increasingly dangerous plan. Transporting eighteen field cannon, 350 tons of ammunition, draft horses, and 2,400 men across the river in the black of night through and unrelenting sleet and snowstorm ended up taking 14 hours. By the time the army was across and ready to march the nine miles to Trenton, it was 4 a.m. -- too late to launch the planned predawn surprise attack. But to retreat would be even more dangerous. If the troops were discovered mid-river, they would be easy targets for British marksmen. There was no turning back.
"Many of Washington's bedraggled soldiers did not have boots. Some used burlap bags or rags toweled around their feet. Providentially, the snowstorm was so strong that the German troops believed no one would be out in such horrible conditions on Christmas night, so they didn't send out any night patrols or post a dawn sentry. When Washington's troops arrive at 8 a.m. to storm the town of Trenton, the Germans were caught completely off guard. In the battle that ensued, over 100 Hessians were killed or wounded and 918 captured, with several hundred more who managed to escape.
"At the same time, the Americans suffered two fatalities and five wounded. At noon, Washington's victorious army marched out of Trenton through slushy roads to the river crossing with their prisoners, six brass cannon, approximately 1,000 arms, and much-needed ammunition.
"It took them 12 hours to recross the Delaware. When the Continental troops finally collapsed into their tents, they had gone 48 hours without food, almost as long without sleep, and had marched 25 miles in frightful weather. They had won an extraordinary critical victory for independence. The effect of the Battle of Trenton was out of all proportion to the numbers involved and the casualties as it galvanized the colonial effort. For the first time, Washington's forces had defeated a regular British army in the field. Within 2 weeks, 15,000 volunteers showed up and Washington began to drive the British across New Jersey. The Revolution had been saved.
"Christmas Day 1776 helps us all remember the sacrifices that others gave on our behalf for our freedom. The same picture of 'sacrifice for freedom' is shown through the death of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Son of God, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. God's heart....His desire is to save us from the tyranny of sin and deliver us into true and complete freedom. This is why we embrace the gift of Christmas where our Father demonstrated His love for us that He would send His one and only Son into a dark world...to save us. God is constant in His heart and in His desire for a world, individually and collectively, to yield our hearts and to turn our focus to Him. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who stands at the door of our hearts and knocks."
*****
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