Friday, December 26, 2014

Yesterday was the 62nd re-enactment of Washington’s daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the Delaware River


In case you missed it...

Via Minneapolis Star Tribune
George Washington made his Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River — with considerably better weather than the first time.
Re-enactors playing Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River in the 62nd re-enactment of Washington’s daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river — the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War — between Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
As opposed to the severe weather — including snow and freezing temperatures — that Washington and his troops faced in 1776, the annual re-enactment was done under mostly sunny skies and 50-degree temperatures.
Hundreds of people lined both sides of the river to watch as re-enactors used four replica Durham boats like the ones Washington’s troops used. The actor playing Washington boarded the final boat, and a cannon blasted as he reached the other side.
During the original crossing, boats ferried 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river. Washington’s troops marched 8 miles downriver before battling Hessian mercenaries in the streets of Trenton.
Thirty Hessians were killed, and two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march, but none died in battle.

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