By
Jake MacAulay
December 28, 2016
NewsWithViews.com
The Battle of Trenton was fought early on the morning of December 26, 1776. Humiliating defeats pursued the Continental Army for 5 months and it appeared Washington’s ill-clothed, barely fed, and literally dying troops were near total annihilation.
It was then, as Americans celebrated the birth of our Savior, an act of Providence occurred which has forever changed the world. Washington’s men successfully crossed the freezing Delaware River in sleet and snow to Trenton, New Jersey, determined for victory. The boldness of General Washington exclaimed, "Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton."
Listen as I give the play by play of this night written by Institute on the Constitution’s Chapter Leader *Gary Porter as recounted by the defeated Friedrich von Gröthausen:
‘Twas
the night after Christmas, when through Trenton Town
Not a soldier was stirring, not even Corporal Baum;
The muskets were stacked by the doorway with care,
In case General Washington dared to come there;
The grenadiers were nestled, all warm in their beds;
While visions of lebkuechen danced in their heads;
Colonel Rall in his kerchief, and I, Lt. Friedrich von Gröthausen,
in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.
When
out on the outskirts there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away
to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The
moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to cannon below.
When
what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But an army of Continentals and eight ...enormous field guns, (must everything
rhyme?) With a tall, poised Commander, erect on his horse,
I knew in a moment ‘twas the General, of course.
More
rapid than eagles his forces they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
Now Mercer, now Moulder, now Morris and Tilghman!
On Haslet, on Johnson, on Chester and Gilman!
To the top of the hill! to the top of the wall!
Now fire away! fire away! fire away all!"
As smoke from their guns drifted up to the sky,
I wondered whether kegs of our powder had stayed dry.
Up at
King Street end, Washington’s force
Gave us volley upon volley, on foot and on horse.
And
then, in a twinkling, I heard on the street,
Prancing and pawing, dragoons beating feet.
As I
drew in my head, and was turning around,
In the doorway, General Washington came with a bound.
He was
dressed blue and buff, from his head to his foot,
Shoe buckles tarnished by powder and soot;
A gleaming long sword hung by his side,
And he looked, well, like a soldier, all beaming with pride.
His
eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His firm little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the hair of his wig was as white as the snow;
The sword at his side now came out of its sheath,
He circled it high, ... and knocked down a wreath;
He had a firm face and a slightly round belly
That looked like it held some of Martha’s grape jelly.
He was
tall and commanding, a distinguished old skate,
And I laughed, ... then I cried, ... as I considered my fate;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Emptied our wardrobes; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, out the doorway he goes;
He sprang to his horse, to his guards gave a whistle,
And away they all flew with a final dismissal.
But I heard him exclaim, so as not to confuse —
“Happy Christmas to you, von Gröthausen, but my men need these shoes.”
|
|
The present delivered that morning in Trenton has continued to bless Americans every Christmas. Let’s not forget in all the festivities to pass the knowledge of this gift to our future generations.
* Mr. Porter is Executive Director of the Constitution Leadership Initiative, a project to encourage a better understanding of the U.S. Constitution and other Founding documents among the American people.
Learn more about your Constitution with Jake MacAulay and his “Institute on the Constitution” and receive your free gift.
© 2016 Jake MacAulay - All Rights Reserved
Share
This Article
Jake MacAulay serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute on the Constitution (IOTC), an educational outreach that presents the founders’ “American View” of law and government. IOTC has produced thousands of graduates in all 50 states with a full understanding of the Biblical principles on which America’s founding documents are based.
The former co-host of the syndicated talk show, The Sons of Liberty, he is an ordained minister and has spoken to audiences nation-wide, and has established the American Club, a constitutional study group in public and private schools.
Jake has been seen on Yahoo News, Fox News, The Blaze, AP, CBS, NBC, The Weekly Standard, and more…
Contact:
Email:
Jake@TheAmericanView.com
Twitter: @constitutionjm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.m.macaulay
