Happy Washington Crossing Day!

Happy Washington Crossing Day! On December 25, 1776, General George Washington led his small army across the Delaware River against the Hessian troops stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. Washington and his men crossed the river at McConkey's Ferry in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, what is now known as Washington Crossing State Park. Each year, the park celebrates the anniversary of Washington's crossing with a live reenactment. Three different units crossed the Delaware River that night, but the division led by General Washington was the only one to reach the meeting point at the appointed time. • While the victory was not hugely significant strategically, it helped raise the spirits of the Americans. • There are several historical inconsistencies with the painting of the crossing by Emanuel Leutze. For instance, Leutze's river was modeled after the Rhine River in Germany, rather than the actual Delaware River, and the flag depicted in the painting is known as the "Betsy Ross" flag, which the Army would not have carried at the time of the crossing. • Future President James Monroe and Chief Justice John Marshall were both part of the Continental Army at the time of the crossing. Monroe is depicted holding the flag in Leutze's painting.