Merry Christmas! This rendering of George Washington Crossing the Delaware is from the imagination of the artist. It is his fantasy of what it looked like. There was no cable news in the 1850s when this painting was created by German-American artist Emanuel Leutze. It is a political statement.
I can’t comprehend how Washington and these men kept going. I live not too far from Valley Forge. This morning I stood in front of my sliding glass door and put jackets on my dogs because it’s too cold to go out without them. How does a person cross an icy river, march 9 miles without shoes and win a battle? I would cry if I had to walk across my back yard with no shoes! It just boggles the mind.
Thank you, Santa Steve, for such a lovely gift. It was the first I received this frosty Christmas morning and husband is still sleeping. Outdoors it is now 17 degrees where I live north of Atlanta. I was surprised to learn in my elder years that an ancestor had served during the Revolutionary War. (He was the first of my Webb family, born 1753 in this country.) This news sparked my interest in tracking his service, which I was able to do with Fold3. What a history lesson I had, learning about Valley Forge. I had assumed that Valley Forge was a battle, but learned it was a struggle for survival during a winter encampment. Those who did survive the disease and harsh conditions received appropriate military training, so they were better able to fight the British. I read about relatives and citizens from what later was known as Portland, Maine gathering much needed clothing for their men at Valley Forge. There are millions of Americans who can boast of their ancestors, if they want, but really this goes far beyond pride. It took real guts to march away from their families and homes to defend, and what I feel is gratitude. That and a spark of fury, given what we have faced and are facing these days. But this is Christmas Day and I will finish wrapping presents and create a meal to be remembered. We are blessed.
Steve knows how to tell a story. I know the painting of course as do you. But if you can tell a good story as Steve does here, you can feel the cold in your face, your frigid unshod feet. Maybe you can sense the fear and determination. I got it all from this story. Just incredibly well presented. So, I sent it on to my kids and friends. Thanks Steve and Merry Christmas to you and all your readers.
Your essay should be read at every table each Christmas Day to remind us that we owe those men every effort to preserve and improve what they suffered and fought to give us!
Thank you Steve (and Merry Christmas all) for reminding us that the impossible can be done. We can defeat foes: it's determination and planning. We can build the vision we have for the future. Risks yes, but doing nothing is an even worse risk.
Steve, this week listening to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people’s struggle to obtain the freedom we have obtained because of our forefathers efforts, underscored how thankful I am that our freedom still stands after Jan 6th!
Steven, the way you wrote the story of that night was so riveting I felt like I was there. Thank you for being a great storyteller. As we closed the year I want to tell you how I look forward to your newsletter everyday. The thing I most love about your writing is that are a Jersey boy. I am Jersey girl and we in Jersey say it like it is. Happy Christmas and New Year.
Thank you Steve for this very appropriate account today on Christmas. Every year around this time I think of it and this year i wondered if you were going to mention it. Thank you! May some of those virtues rub off on us Americans today as we work to preserve our freedoms and our democratic republic.
Thank you reminding us of Washington's bravery and for the quiz. I did not know the answers so I had to look them up but loved learning a bit more history. Merry Christmas Steve.
I just read Ukraine General Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s interview by The Economist. He reminds me a lot about George Washington. For the first time I am able to relate to the above battle scene realistically, thank you for explaining. Merry Christmas!
I can’t comprehend how Washington and these men kept going. I live not too far from Valley Forge. This morning I stood in front of my sliding glass door and put jackets on my dogs because it’s too cold to go out without them. How does a person cross an icy river, march 9 miles without shoes and win a battle? I would cry if I had to walk across my back yard with no shoes! It just boggles the mind.
Thank you, Santa Steve, for such a lovely gift. It was the first I received this frosty Christmas morning and husband is still sleeping. Outdoors it is now 17 degrees where I live north of Atlanta. I was surprised to learn in my elder years that an ancestor had served during the Revolutionary War. (He was the first of my Webb family, born 1753 in this country.) This news sparked my interest in tracking his service, which I was able to do with Fold3. What a history lesson I had, learning about Valley Forge. I had assumed that Valley Forge was a battle, but learned it was a struggle for survival during a winter encampment. Those who did survive the disease and harsh conditions received appropriate military training, so they were better able to fight the British. I read about relatives and citizens from what later was known as Portland, Maine gathering much needed clothing for their men at Valley Forge. There are millions of Americans who can boast of their ancestors, if they want, but really this goes far beyond pride. It took real guts to march away from their families and homes to defend, and what I feel is gratitude. That and a spark of fury, given what we have faced and are facing these days. But this is Christmas Day and I will finish wrapping presents and create a meal to be remembered. We are blessed.
Steve knows how to tell a story. I know the painting of course as do you. But if you can tell a good story as Steve does here, you can feel the cold in your face, your frigid unshod feet. Maybe you can sense the fear and determination. I got it all from this story. Just incredibly well presented. So, I sent it on to my kids and friends. Thanks Steve and Merry Christmas to you and all your readers.
Merry Christmas all! David McCullough writes beautifully about this harrowing event in his book 1776. I reread it every few years on July 4th.
Your essay should be read at every table each Christmas Day to remind us that we owe those men every effort to preserve and improve what they suffered and fought to give us!
Thank you!
Merry Christmas to you too Steve and to everyone here (and belated happy Hanukkah to all Jewish friends).
I love these inspired and eloquent retellings of the finest moments of American history. THANK YOU.
Wishing everyone a happy New Year / Now-Here, filled with peace, joy, and gratitude for the miracle of existence
I think it's James Monroe because he opposed the Constitution's ratification, but I think only because it didn't have a bill of rights.
Merry Christmas, Steve! Your beautiful writing and explanations are real gift to us.
Thank you Steve (and Merry Christmas all) for reminding us that the impossible can be done. We can defeat foes: it's determination and planning. We can build the vision we have for the future. Risks yes, but doing nothing is an even worse risk.
Those who would destroy our democracy should be forced to make the same trek in blizzard conditions, starting with Trump.
Steve, this week listening to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people’s struggle to obtain the freedom we have obtained because of our forefathers efforts, underscored how thankful I am that our freedom still stands after Jan 6th!
Steven, the way you wrote the story of that night was so riveting I felt like I was there. Thank you for being a great storyteller. As we closed the year I want to tell you how I look forward to your newsletter everyday. The thing I most love about your writing is that are a Jersey boy. I am Jersey girl and we in Jersey say it like it is. Happy Christmas and New Year.
Thank you Steve for this very appropriate account today on Christmas. Every year around this time I think of it and this year i wondered if you were going to mention it. Thank you! May some of those virtues rub off on us Americans today as we work to preserve our freedoms and our democratic republic.
I hope you’ve had a Christmas full of laughter and rest with those you love Steve. Thank you for your sincerity and your resolve.
I guessed James Monroe correctly by process of elimination. To learn the rest I used the google machine because I needed to know.
The bits of our history you impart are among the best of your posts.
Happy Hannukah, Steve!
Thank you reminding us of Washington's bravery and for the quiz. I did not know the answers so I had to look them up but loved learning a bit more history. Merry Christmas Steve.
I just read Ukraine General Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s interview by The Economist. He reminds me a lot about George Washington. For the first time I am able to relate to the above battle scene realistically, thank you for explaining. Merry Christmas!