Washington crosses the Delaware, and the battle of Trenton...

Item # 679897

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March 27, 1777

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, March 27, 1777 Considered by many historians as a turning point in the Revolutionary War, and certainly one of the more romanticized events from our quest for independence, this issue reports Washington's crossing of the Delaware and the ensuing surprise attack upon the British & Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey.
It was a focus of David McCullough's book "1776". Washington took almost 1000 prisoners while suffering only 6 casualties. This victory was a major morale booster for the revolutionary cause and began a string of American successes against the British that would culminate with the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and the signing of a treaty of peace shortly thereafter.
An inside page contains a terrific account of these historic events, with the full text shown in the photos. Portions include: "It was determined some days ago that our army should pass over to Jersey at three different places & attack the enemy; accordingly about 2500 men and 20 brass field pieces with his excellency Gen. Washington at their head...passed over on the night of Christmas and about three o'clock a.m. were on their march by two routes toward Trenton. The night was sleety and cold...it was day-break when we were two miles from Trenton but happily the enemy were not apprized of our design...we soon got two field pieces at play...the enemy consisting of about 1500 Hessians under Col. Rhol [Rall] formed & made some smart fires from their musquetry...as I came in full view of them from the back of the woods with his excellency general Washington, an officer informed him that one party had grounded their arms & surrendered provisions--the other soon followed their example...You may rejoice and be exceeding glad at this intelligence of our success..." with much more as seen in the photos. This report is signed in type by the secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson.
On the same page and preceding this historic report is another document being an: "Extract from the Minutes of the Congress, Dec., 1776" which is signed in type by John Hancock, President. And beyond this there are additional reports on the events of the Revolutionary War, but they pale in comparison to the great report on Washington crossing the Delaware and the battle of Trenton.
As one would image such reports in American newspapers are almost unobtainable today and command extremely high prices when available. Terrific to have this report in a London newspaper--the capital of the "other side" of this war--and with good mention of Washington and specific mention of the need to "..pass over to Jersey...and attack the enemy..." (crossing of the Delaware) and of the "...sleety and cold..." night, among other details.
Complete in 8 pages, 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches, very nice, clean condition.

Category: Revolutionary War