Washington Crossed the Delaware... Three Times!

On the bitterly cold night of December 25, 1776, Gen. George Washington led his Continental Army across the icy Delaware River from Bucks County, PA to Mercer County, NJ. Washington and his troops then marched to Trenton, where they surprised the Hessian soldiers housed there. The Battle of Trenton ensued, with the Continental Army losing just three men with another six wounded while the Hessians lost 22 men and had another 98 wounded.

Following the surprise attack and overwhelming victory, Washington and his troops crossed back into Pennsylvania with their plunder, which included nearly 1,000 prisoners as well as muskets, drums, gunpowder, and artillery pieces.

Ironically, just a week earlier, Thomas Paine had published a pamphlet titled The American Crisis. Paine, who also wrote and published Common Sense in 1775, penned the following words to describe the desperate situation facing Washington and his beleaguered army…

“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.”

Buoyed by his victory at Trenton, Washington was also concerned because many of his men’s enlistments were due to expire on December 31st. And so, he took two bold steps. First, he petitioned Congress to issue bonuses to soldiers who re-enlisted for another six weeks and second, he ordered a third crossing of the Delaware River followed by an attack on Princeton. The Battle of Princeton was a small but decisive victory for the Continental Army that helped lift their spirits as they spent the winter in nearby Morristown. It also drew new recruits to the revolutionary cause once the spring thaw arrived.

My friend, this Christmas, I am challenging you and me to do several things. First, to remember God’s faithfulness that led to past spiritual victories. Second, to re-enlist in His service, not for another six weeks but for the rest of our earthly lives. And third, to remember that the ultimate victory was already won at Calvary by our Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry CHRISTmas!

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18 (NIV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President