Ladies and gentlemen good evening, will come to the kansas city public library. To welcomeleasure you to the presentation of harry laver on the 240th anniversary of Washington Crossing the delaware. An extraordinary moment in American History. So harsh was that the general washington and his other senior commanders considered burning new york city. The Continental Congress forbade the burning of the new york city. The Current Congress would consider that. They faced the hessians, perhaps the most brutal soldiers at the time and the british army. Maybe the most literate. The least orderly and illequipped army in the world at the time, as George Washington himself said, as unaccustomed to undoubted freedom cannot keep her straight of government and an army. That army, through full retreat to new jersey, defended by Alexander Hamilton and his artillery who covered the retreat. That was before Alexander Hamilton learned to sing, by the way. They successfully retreated into pennsylvania and of course crossed the delaware and what Nathanael Greene said at the time was gods redeeming providence as they fought and won the battle of trenton and princeton. Princeton which the hessians had captured and which one haitian said, aessian officer wonderful library. Then they subsequently burned it. It is an extraordinary moment in American History this ragtag , army facing the most Successful Army in the world coming out of the seven years war. George washington as leader, who, although we know what a great commander he was today, at the time his greatest greatest experience, of course, they captured boston, about the time he got there they had already surrounded boston. His main experience of war had been the braddocks defeat and the defeat at fort bragg. This american who learned so much through failure was able to command a great victory. I want to quote from a great book about this great moment in American History. He said, much a recent historical writing has served this ill because too many scholars have tried to make the american past into a record of crime and folly. The story of Washingtons Crossing tells us that americans in early generations were capable of acting in a higher spirit and so are we. And so is dr. Harry laver who has himself a distinguished career as a historian. He has written about the art of command and edited a book and contributed it. He has written about the kentucky militia in the revolutionary and post revolutionary area revolutionary era. He has written about general grant and his art of command. He is a wonderful historian at the command school at fort leavenworth, which you know the library has a tremendous relationship with the history department. We are honored to have dr. Laver here tonight. First of all, i would like to thank everyone here at the kansas city public library. They have been fantastic supporting us as a college and having speakers down here to support this program. A credit to you coming out on a chilly night like this. As a number of you mentioned, it is harkening back to this kind of weather that general washington and his men faced, especially with saturday with the incoming snow. How many of you are familiar with this painting . The painting itself painted by a german artist emanuel leutze. He traveled to the United States, visited the United States and went back to germany where he put together this painting. The painting that we now have is in the metropolitan museum of art in new york city. Has anybody seen it . It is huge, 12 feet by 20 feet. The first version of this that l eutze did have some fire damage in the studio and then it went to a museum in germany. In 1942, the Royal Air Force in a bombing raid destroyed the painting. Fortunately he was working on another person in 1851 another version in 1851. We can note that he was trying to capture these weird of the revolution and the spirit of the United States. He does that extraordinarily well. When we look at the figure at the front, not the very front, but the one leading leaning towards us. On the opposite side of the boat, an africanamerican figure, and as you make your way back, there is a person in red just behind the flag. The speculation is that might actually be a woman. At the back of the boat, the band you see leaning back, a native american. Then, if you look closer, you can identify a few figures like the man holding the flag. President james monroe and there is general Nathanael Greene, one of washingtons commanders in the operation he has taken. There are few historical inaccuracies. Washington standing . Probably not. That would have made it a good painting. Additionally the number of men in this boat would have sent the boat to the Delaware River. They were large, 40 to 60 feet long. I do think it captures the spirit of what was happening. And of course the central figure, washington. With some of my students in debate about the role of individuals in history. History oral drive events driving collectively asked human race . Are there indispensable figures in the past . Truth is some of my colleagues would confirm historians dont like the idea of an individual that it any time an individual can alter the course of human history. Will admit i am one of those who dont like that idea at all. Is washington willing to make an exception be . Events. Ree eventse are two or three of that point to washington as being an indispensable figure. And this event we are talking about tonight, with the two and 40th anniversary with the 240th anniversary coming up, is one of those. Go back with me to december 25, 1776. The place were going to go is a small village called mcconkeys ferry on the Delaware River in pennsylvania. It is about 35 miles north of philadelphia, at the time, the capital of the United States. We are going there to join general washington standing on the banks of the river. At the time, general washington, commander and chief of the Continental Army of the United States of america, a country that had just declared its independence less than six months earlier. It is hard to imagine hot, steamy Independence Hall in philadelphia. Washington is having to undertake an operation that he does not want to do. As we stand there with washington, the weather is not very good. Christmas day has dawned bright and good. But as we got to late afternoon, rain began to fall and next with sleet. The wind began to pick up so the sleet would sting when it hit your face. As we stand with washington, were watching about 2500 men loaded onto those durham boats that i mentioned a few moments ago. Those soldiers along with artillery cannon pieces and horses getting on board. It became difficult to load as night was falling and the delaware current was running strong and there were ice flows coming down the river, always threatening to overturn those boats. And washington himself begin to board one of those boats. I have no historical evidence for what im about to take say, but i have to believe as a that moment, washingtons mind had a flashback, if only for a few seconds, to an event in his life more than 20 years earlier. In an event that was hauntingly similar to what he was experiencing now. The year was in 1753, the royal governor of virginia was concerned about what the french were doing in the western part of the british colonies. He was concerned about western virginia and western pennsylvania and decided he needed to find out what was going on out there. He selected a young virginia militia major by the name of George Washington to lead an expedition, to do some reconnaissance and communicate with the french about british concern. And on november 16, young major washington set out here on this expedition. Along the way, through Great Fortune, he picked up a small a member of his small party. The party was about six individuals and the individuals and the man he picked up was named christopher grist. Today he really rivals daniel boone in his frontier ability. As they make their way into western pennsylvania they pick up some indian allies. This was part of washingtons responsibilities. In about 10 days they were at the forks of the ohio. They joined to make the ohio river. Thatngton immediately saw this was key terrain that would be essential. But he found no french. He continued to the point where he got to the shores of lake yeary lake erie. They conveyed the message of governor of virginia. And then he set out to return to virginia. Washington saw it as an urgent task. The small party sets out. But then the weather starts to , then horses start to give out. So he finally decides the group is slowing him down. In command, second make camp, gather your strength, let the horses recover, and then make your way south as soon as you can. Cross country and get to the river to get back to virginia. Sheltered the next day they set out again. Washington was beginning to feel the rigors and demand. He was starting to feel a little bit weak. Then through another stroke of Great Fortune they offered to guide them on the shortest possible route. And so they set out. Washington agreed to let him do that. A little later they offer to carry the indians musket. Your suspicion is wellfounded. Washington declined to have him carry the musket. At this point he is becoming increasingly concerned about the indian guide they have stumbled upon. Meadow, ato a wide tree line on the opposite side. The indian has some distance out in front of the other two. In the sun breaks through the clouds. At this point he was able to get his bearings and realize the indian had been waiting well away from the river. From the allegheny river. At that moment, the indian reached the tree line spun around and fired his musket at the two men. Washington heres a gunshot, he awakens and sees Christopher Gist running after the indian as fast as he can go. Guest is trying to get to the indian who is trying to go through the loading process on a muzzleloading musket. He gets to the indian just before he can level his musket. Gist leveled his musket at the indians chest. He stops gist from murdering the indian. They let him go. Soon after that both men realized the indian is likely to return and to not by himself. They press on overnight and into the next day with no sleep and virtually no food, cold, freezing weather. Late the following day, they finally reached the allegheny river. Their hope is it is frozen over so they can quickly go across, but it is not. Some are on either side on some ice on either side of the river, but running down the middle of the river, a rapid current of ice flows. They cut down a number of trees, quickly craft together a pretty shoddy raft and shove off into the river. Each of them has a poll or stick they are trying to push themselves with across the river. The ice flows are putting up against this raft. Any moment they are about to go over. Washington net one point shows his stick into the bottom of the river and into the river washington goes. With just enough strength he hangs on to that raft. He ends up with a pretty severe case of frostbite when this is over. Helps haul washington back onto the raft. They end up on a small island where they spend the night. How these men survived, i have no idea. Washington especially had been in the river completely soaked in freezing temperatures. The following morning, i doubt they slept, when light comes, they see the river has frozen over. They cross and get to a trading post, get sustenance and warmth, recover and the following day washington sets out again for virginia. January 16, 1777, one month after departing from the meeting with the french, he delivers that message to the governor. 21 years old, he had shown extraordinary determination and strength of character. Not surprising, the governor recognized this and washington rose through the ranks of the virginia militia. Over the next couple of years, well beyond 10 years, he rises in the political world of virginia and the military world. Then came april 19, 1775, lexington and concorde takes place. Washington, in virginia, was a representative to the second Continental Congress where the delegates met to decide what to do about this bloodshed that occurred in massachusetts and very quickly they settled on selecting a commander and that commander was a George Washington. From there, washington headed up to boston or he took command of the army forces that were organizing their to battle with organizing there to battle with the british. Ever the next years, there are skirmishes and engagements, but the next time we pick up our story is in new york city where washington has the Continental Army to defend new york from British Forces arriving in the hundreds almost every day. In late august of 1776, washington escapes narrowly from the battle on long island. Over the next few months, washington and his continentals will battle the british. And with one exception every engagement is a near disaster. It is defeat followed by withdrawal. The british chase them outside of new york city, across the manhattan island, into new jersey and by november 1776, washington is seeking refuge. For washington, he had made some serious mistakes. He was not the general that we recognize today. And indeed some of his colleagues were very concerned about this man he was leaving this man who was leading their army. An officer in the army who was formally in the british army wrote to his colleague about the indecisiveness of mind that was plaguing the army. And even one of washingtons aids, referring to the indecisiveness of our commander. He had not shown great leadership. But washington was absolutely decisive, absolutely and fully committed and dedicated to the cause of american independence. He never wavered for a moment. There never was a question in his mind. To a general named william howe. By the time we get to mid november and early december, we decide hes done enough. To avent been able havent been able to stand against him. In the spring you pick up the battle again. All troops are going into garrison. And be done for the year. It was not a bad decision. Washingtons army as decrepit as it was. After all the general was the spring thaw would the corpse of the rebellion that had broken out. Washington has no idea general howell was going to call off the campaign season. Washington was concerned that was the delaware froze over, how would general howell would march into philadelphia, which with the disastrous for the United States. Washington says, i must do something, but what can i do . Two weeks left until the end of the year. Congress, fearful of a standing army, standing armies, the tool of oppressive governments that require an extraordinary amount of taxes. Congress did not like the idea of standing armies, so the only approved yearlong enlistments for washingtons soldiers. Congress referred much to rely on the militia, the citizen soldiers who defended their homes. Washington knew the militia had value, but he was not overly confident in them. In theyoint he says come in, you cannot tell how, they ask, you cannot tell where. Consume your provisions, exhaust your stores, and than at the last, leave you at a critical moment. But that was all he had. He does gather about 6000 men in middecember, knowing in two weeks on december 31, the enlistment of the great majority of them was going to expire, and his thinking was the same as general howe. My army is going to die over the toter unless i do something change the direction of this war. You look at what the british were doing, and what he saw is the british going into garrison, just as general howe had ordered. Down to philadelphia on the lower lefthand side of the map, any place you see those little red circles were garrisons of forces,or hessian hessians, the mercenaries, soldiers hired. Looking at the map, washington saw an opportunity. About in the middle of the map, there was a hessian horse of about 1500 soldiers. The hessians had a reputation as hard fighters and also as soldiers who treated very harshly civilians and their prisoners. But there washington saw a chance to change the direction and momentum of this war. What washington put together was audacious. Nisqually surpassed by the complexity of the plan that washington put together. Bring the army of four different units, the largest he would command himself. That would cross the Delaware River to the north of trenton, swing down and assault trenton from the north and the east. Another force of 600 would travel down the rest inside of the weather western side of the river with the purpose of blocking the hessiansmeans of escape to the south. Another force of 2000 would make their way even farther south, cross at where we see bordentown, where another hessian force was, and their job was to keep there was hessians from reinforcing the other hessians at trenton. The other small force was reinforcements. The plan was each of these columns would converge just before dawn, the day after christmas. Imagine in an era before cell phones, before radios, before any kind of communication beyond man and horse, how difficult this was going to be to coordinate all these elements. This would have been challenging for general howes army of professionals, let alone a group of militia parttime citizen soldiers. That is washingtons plan. On christmas eve, one of the revolutionary leaders named Benjamin Rush visited washington at his headquarters north of trenton. Rush recalled later that washington was nervous, fidgety, and understandably so. Before he left, rush looked down at the papers washington had on his desk and what he saw was the password for the centuries password for the sentries. The password was victory or death. Clearly washington was committed. The following morning was christmas. Clear, freezing, but then bad weather began. At this point we can rejoin it general washington on the banks of the delaware as he is g