Today is a story of place, courage and culture – and how those traits are passed down through the generations – and of what was sacrificed for our freedom.
The picture you see above is the view of the Delaware River from the front lawn of my grandfather and step-grandmother’s home – a historic home built in 1857, called Chestnutwood – the place I spent one or two months of most summers between my mid- 20’s until one year ago when my grandfather, concert pianist Jerold Frederic, died at the age of 105. A place tied in with the founding history of our country.
Every morning I was there, I used to go down to the front porch with my coffee and wait for the sun to rise, so I could step out onto the vast lawn that you see below and capture the colors of the sun and clouds on the water.
It was so peaceful, but it wasn’t always that way, not in the early history of our country, one of whose most famous battles during the Revolutionary War, the war that secured our freedom from Great Britain, was fought less than 1/2 hour from this exact place.
I’m speaking about the story of George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware during America’s Revolutionary War on the night of December 25-26th, 1776, Christmas Day. On that day, General George Washington and a small army of 2400 men, separated from their families, crossed the icy Delaware River at McKonkey’s Ferry, Pennsylvania on their way to a surprise attack on the British army. The crossing, and subsequent attack, not expected by the opposing forces on Christmas Day, gave George Washington’s men new hope and, along with his stirring speech to his worn out, cold, tired, hungry and miserable men, rallied them until they could win the battle.
We often forget, I think, that even though the piece of paper called the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776, 6 months before this famous battle was fought, that many more battles were fought, lives lost and sacrifices made before the Revolutionary War was over and the United States actually became independent from Great Britain with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3rd, 1783, 6 years after the Declaration of Independence had been drafted and signed.
And, it wasn’t until May 12, 1784 that the Treaty of Paris was ratified by all parties involved and, even then, the news that the war was over did not reach many Americans living in the countryside for some time, due to the lack of speedy communication.
That would not happen today, would it?
This battle, Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware, is often called the *turning point of the Revolution* because it gave renewed courage to the Continental Army, Congress and the general population.
The famous painting below, Washington Crossing the Delaware, hangs now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art today.
When I look at this painting and realize they crossed the Delaware River in these conditions, it gives me pause because who would have the courage to do this today? Who would have the courage to cross a frozen river in this type of small boat, knowing that they were going to almost certain death, all in the name of securing the freedom of others for future generations? I am sure there are men and women who do have the courage, though, and I salute them.
The only way we can ever repay their sacrifice is to never forget them.
“These are the times that try men’s souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
I hope today’s officers still read Thomas Paine’s famous words from his opus COMMON SENSE, to the men and women serving our country today and I hope you, Hadley Court readers, will read it to your children.
The first article in it, The American Crisis, shown below, was read out loud by George Washington 238 years ago now to his men – to give them the fortitude to carry forth. It is said that without this famous treatise, exhorting the citizens of the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain and to be brave in fighting for that most precious of values, FREEDOM, that the Revolutionary War would never have gotten off the ground.
To all those serving our country today, thank you, you will never be forgotten. This is for you.
Grandpa, thank you for teaching me about and showing me the places that impacted the history of our country, about courage and about culture, through the example of your long lived and very happy life.
I know George Washington and his men, if they were still here, would be exchanging stories with Grandpa for hours and days where his music and soul { and mine, too } were fed every morning for years by the slow moving, peaceful Delaware River.
And I know for sure they would have been his honored guests to watch the fireworks over the Delaware, as shown below, this coming Friday, the Fourth of July.
And Hadley Court readers, if you are looking today for a summer vacation destination that would be interesting and fun for both you and your children, may I suggest a trip to the historical and charming art and gardening enclave, New Hope, Pennsylvania in Bucks County? Washington Crossing National Park is very nearby. I spent many happy days wandering around New Hope in my late 20’s 30’s and 40’s, and the history lessons I learned have stayed with me to this day, as they might for your children, too.
Let us help them to never forget.
for
Leslie Hendrix Wood
Decorator
Chancellor Interiors
Midland, Texas
Founder, Editor In Chief
Hadley Court
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Gracious Living. Timeless Design. Family Traditions.
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