A Christmas To Remember

The July 4th 1776 Declaration of Independence had real world consequences for the signers.  One of them, Benjamin Rush, recalled: “Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, one after the other, to the table of the President of Congress, to subscribe what was believed by many at the time to be our own death warrants?”

While independence was being celebrated in Philadelphia, 23,000 British soldiers and 10,000 Hessian mercenaries were being unloaded from ships in NYC Harbor, where George Washington, by order of the Continental Congress, had to defend the undefendable.

Eventually, the colonial army was completely driven out of New York and it retreated across New Jersey to Valley Forge Pennsylvania, where things became even more desperate.

The enlistments of the bulk of Washington’s army were due to expire and there was little hope of many reenlistments.  Not just because of the devastating defeat in New York but the army was undersupplied in almost every area; many soldiers had no shoes and had been wearing the same clothes – now rags - for months.  Food was scarce.  Defeatism ran through the army.

There is no record of Washington contemplating giving up.  Instead, he gained control over whatever negative emotions he had and formulated a plan, which led to the most important Christmas in American history.

On the early evening of December 25, 1776, in a freezing rainstorm that lasted all night, the Continental Army loaded onto boats and crossed the ice clogged Delaware River, in three groups.  The crossing was so treacherous that one group did not make it across and a second group made it across but turned around and went back.  Only Washington’s group was able to march to the attack.

Hours behind schedule, with one-third strength, the army arrived at their target, Trenton New Jersey. 

Officers reported to Washington that the ice storm had soaked the muskets and many could not fire because of wet powder.  These officers suggested that the attack be abandoned.  Washington’s reply was “fix bayonets”.

While the Hessian enemy was yawning and waking up, Washington attacked.  The Continental Army was in rags with long hair and matted beards coated in rain and mud; it looked like the army-from-hell had come screaming from the depths to kill the Hessians.  The battle was brief and the Hessians surrendered. 

In what was the potential breaking point of the Revolutionary war, when all hope seemed to be lost, Washington did not despair.  He never lost sight of his goal.  He and his army persevered and they eventually won.  They set an example that should live today; we’re Americans, we’d cross a frozen river on Christmas to defeat our country’s enemies. 

Luck certainly played a part in the successful American Revolution and at Trenton. 

The leader of the Hessians in Trenton was Colonel Rall, a man who had little respect for Washington and the colonials.  Rall’s spies had told him of Washington’s attack.  The Hessians knew Washington was coming!  Rall acted properly and increased the guard and had a reserve force ready to reinforce wherever he was attacked.

On Christmas afternoon, one of Rall’s sentry posts was attacked.  The Hessians sprang into action and the attackers quickly retreated after a brief and ineffective exchange of gunfire.  Rall so disrespected the colonials that he believed this was the attack he expected, so he relieved the guard and the reserve and he went to a Christmas party. 

Who attacked the sentry post?  It wasn’t Washington.  To this day, no one knows.  The best guess is some farmers had too much “Christmas cheer” and decided to harass the Hessians to make up for the harassment the farmers had received.  They fired a few shots and then went back to celebrating Christmas.   But because of this, Washington was able to enjoy complete surprise.

At times, God has been on our side. 

Of late, our forefathers have come under a lot of undeserved criticism.  All but forgotten is the immense personal courage that it took to sign the Declaration of Independence. As Americans, we have a lot to be thankful for at Christmas and those that risked their lives to gain us our freedom need to be honored, not denigrated.

One year ago, many were dejected and in a funk over politics.  Summoning the energy to continue the fight to preserve the Constitution seems beyond some people’s wills.  To them it would be easier to, in a very real sense, surrender to the likes of Alexandria Octavio-Cortez and tell her, “You win.  We give up.  Do with the USA what you will.”   

How wonderfully things have changed in less than a year. 

Winston Churchill gave what may be the greatest college commencement speech.  It was only nine words.  “Never give up.  NEVER GIVE UP.  NEVER GIVE UP!”

SCOPE did not give up.  We remembered that many of us took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  That oath had no expiration date! (If you didn’t take that oath, it’s not too late to commit yourself to that principle.) 

The battle to preserve our constitutional rights did not end with Trump’s election.  The Left is already counterattacking.

Thomas Paine wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.  The sunshine soldier and the summer patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country…”

Sunshine soldiers and summer patriots will find other excuses to occupy their time and let the Constitution be shredded by the forces of Socialism.  Is our current situation less winnable than it appeared on Christmas morning, 1776?  Or Christmas morning 2023?

Paine also wrote, “Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered.”

When we were born in the USA, we won the lottery!  It’s time to pay the price of that lottery ticket.  Our forefathers were willing to pay that price and we need to join with them. Stand up and fight for the USA: its Constitution; its traditions; its future; and your family?  The choice is clear - get engaged or surrender.