Washington’s Crossing Still Remembered By Losers

Yesterday was not only the annual Pagan Tree Festival, it was also the anniversary of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware, where he braved icy conditions (and piranhas) to go to Trenton, where he was shot. But then he recovered and killed the Hessians, German mercenaries who were, apparently, incompetent.

One thing they weren’t, though, was drunk, as the Courier Times pointed out yesterday. The Hessians weren’t drunk, but they sure were good people!

Fischer writes that the Hessians also were not mercenaries per se. Rulers of small principalities in Europe often hired out their well-trained armies to other nations.

The soldiers had a profit motive as well, making money not just from their regular pay, but from whatever they could plunder.

Hessian officers “despised the American language of liberty and freedom as the cant of cowards, traitors and poltroons . . . These were men of courage and honor who believed in service to their prince, and they lived and died by a warrior’s creed,” Fischer wrote.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s re-enactment of the crossing of the Delaware held up to the example of courage set by George Washington when it was cancelled due to strong currents.

“Tonight we cross back into Jersey,” said [Ronald] Rinaldi, speaking in the role of Washington to troops assembled along the shores of the Delaware. “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct that you show … I am resolved that by dawn both Trenton and victory shall be ours.”

After boarding the boats, Rinaldi and the crews of two other boats waited to cross, and watched as the first boat attempting the short voyage got carried downstream. A rescue craft stationed in the river snared the boat and returned it to the Pennsylvania shore. About 25 re-enactors were aboard.

I believe Washington had a rescue boat help him out, too — isn’t that who did that painting?