"How Did They Cross: Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River, December 25-26," Bill Welsch
Pre-Guest Speaker Notes:
ARRT-R’s next
meeting is scheduled for 1/15/20 at Heilman Dining Center at the University of Richmond – dinner service begins at 5:30
p.m. – the speaking program begins at 6:30 p.m.
ARRT-R’s featured
speaker on 1/15/20 will be Christian McBurney, of the George Washington ARRT at
Mount Vernon, who will speak on his forthcoming book George Washington’s Nemesis: The Outrageous Treason and Unfair Court
Martial of Major General Charles Lee during the American Revolution.
Guest Speaker – Bill Welsch – President –
American Revolution Round Table of Richmond
Washington’s plan
involved three crossings, with the main effort being an attack on Trenton. The
second crossing would be led by Colonel Cadwalader and would create a diversion
to the south of Trenton. The third
crossing would be led by General Ewing who was tasked with crossing at Trenton
Ferry and holding the bridge at Assunpink Creek, in order to prevent the Hessian
force from retreating south.
Preparations for
the attack involved hiding boats behind Taylor Island at McKonkey’s Ferry. The boats
collected included large ferry vessels and a large number of Durham boats. These boats where designed to carry heavy
loads for the Durham Iron Works and featured high sides and a shallow
draft. The Durham boats could be poled
across the river.
The boats where
crewed by both civilians and soldiers including members of Colonel John Glover’s
14th Continental Regiment.
The famous regiment was recruited from the area around Marblehead,
Massachusetts.
On the evening of
the 25th Washington began assembling his force at McKonkey’s Ferry.
Weather
conditions on the evening of the 25th grew progressively worse as rain
turned into sleet and snow. The weather
conditions and the amount of ice in the river slowed the crossing.
Weather
conditions prevented the 2 other planned crossings from taking place.
Today the
Pennsylvania launch site and the New Jersey landing site are part of the Washington Crossing Historic Park.
--Noah Rogers
