Jane Hampton Cook's Blog

Dec. 27, 1776 George Washington writes the Continental Congress about the victory in Trenton the previous day. “I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success of an enterprise, which I had formed against a detachment of the enemy lying at Trenton, and which was executed yesterday morning . . . Providence seemed to have smiled upon every part of this enterprise.” revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eFgs7

Dec. 25-26, 1776. Henry Knox writes his wife about crossing the Delaware River under George Washington’s orders. “Accordingly a part of the army, consisting of about 2,500 or 3,000 passed the river on Christmas night, with almost infinite difficulty, with 18 field-pieces. The floating ice in the river made the labor almost incredible . . . However, perseverance accomplished what at first seemed impossible . . . We entered the town with them pell-mell.” revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eFgaF

Dec. 25-26, 1776. With most of his 6,000 men’s enlistments set to expire Dec. 31, George Washington needs a moral victory to convince them to stay in the army. He orders 2,500 of them to cross the Delaware River and conduct a surprise attack at the British outpost at Trenton guarded by hired Hessian or German soldiers. Crossing the Delaware River takes longer than George Washington expects. “But the quantity of ice, made that night, impeded the passage of the boats so much, that it was three o’clock before the artillery could all be got over; and near four before the troops took up their line of march,” Washington writes. http://ow.ly/i/eFg0V

Dec. 23, 1776 Thomas Paine’s pamphlet The Crisis is read aloud to George Washington’s troops revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eFdg9

Dec. 19, 1776 Thomas Paine, the anonymous author of the 1776 bestseller Common Sense that called for independence, publishes The American Crisis for the first time in the Pennsylvania Journal. Paine knew first hand that the army and independence were in crisis. “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” http://ow.ly/i/eFcsc

Dec. 18, 1776. George Washington worries about his army’s continuance in a letter to his brother. “Between you and me, I think our affairs are in a very bad situation . . . if every nerve is not strained to recruit the new army with all possible expedition, I think the game is pretty near up.” Between September and December, 11,000 military volunteers had given up the fight and returned home. Washington needed something to motivate his remaining men to stay. “However, under a full persuasion of the justice of our cause, I cannot entertain an Idea, that it will finally sink, tho’ it may remain for some time under a cloud.” http://ow.ly/i/eFfFe

Dec. 13, 1776. In New Jersey American Gen. Charles Lee imprudently leaves his troops in the morning and travels three miles to a tavern to enjoy a relaxing breakfast. A local Tory tips off the enemy to Lee’s whereabouts. British scouts track, surprise, and capture him. He later reflects, “The Jerseys; it was really in the hands of the enemy before my arrival.” revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eF2H8

Dec. 1776. “I am going into the Jerseys for the salvation of America,” American Gen. Charles Lee proclaimed rashly proclaims. Seeking George Washington’s job and glory for himself, Lee stalls his half of the Continental Army in New Jersey and takes his time to meet up with George Washington, who leads the other half. #TBT Throwback Thursday http://www.revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eF2rC

Nov. 29, 1776, On this day Samuel Adams notifies his wife Betsy that he is on the king’s most-wanted list. “I am told that Lord Howe has lately issued a proclamation offering a general pardon with the exception of only four persons: viz Dr Franklin, Col Richard Henry Lee, Mr John Adams & myself. . . If it be a fact I am greatly obliged to his Lordship for the flattering opinion he has given me of myself as being a person obnoxious to those who are desolating a once happy country for the sake of extinguishing the remaining lamp of liberty . . and for the singular honor he does me in ranking me with men so eminently patriotic.” revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eEY0w

On this day Nov. 28, 1776 British General Charles Cornwallis and his army take Newark, New Jersey, and pursue George Washington and his army to New Brunswick. “However, we were lucky enough to gain the bridge before them; by which means we saved all our men, but were obliged to leave some hundred barrels of flour, most of our cannon, and a considerable parcel of tents and baggage.” revolution240.com http://ow.ly/i/eEXHt