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General George Washington's commitment to cross the Delaware River on Christmas 1776 foreshadowed the many hardships faced as well as the eventual victory of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. At first glance, the decision to transport 2,400 Continental soldiers across an icy river in one night, directly into a severe winter storm of sleet and snow seems irrational.

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/crossing-of-the-delaware/

https://archive.ph/imfZM

General George Washington's commitment to cross the Delaware River on Christmas 1776 foreshadowed the many hardships faced as well as the eventual victory of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. At first glance, the decision to transport 2,400 Continental soldiers across an icy river in one night, directly into a severe winter storm of sleet and snow seems irrational. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/crossing-of-the-delaware/ https://archive.ph/imfZM

(post is archived)

[–] • 11 pts

He knew the Hessians (German mercenaries) would still be drunk, because no one would be crazy enough to attack on Christmas Day, let alone in a winter storm.

[–] • 6 pts

Out-crazying your enemy is often a great way to surprise the shit out of them.

Shock them so badly, they don't even consider fighting.

These men just willingly went through an icy hell... to come get you and put a bayonet in your guts. I would not want to fight any of those men, especially drunk. All the variations of the story I heard, there was no fighting, just a surrender.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Shock them so badly, they don't even consider fighting

Got the wires connected and laying in the water

[–] • 11 pts

That’s when the vast majority of men weren’t infused with soy, feminism, get -in-touch-with-your-feelings,trust the government BULLSHIT!

[–] [deleted] • 10 pts

When men were men.

[–] • 4 pts

Women often married young and followed the men at the rear of the battle to cook and care for them.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

Oyyyyyy Veyyyy this is systemic anti semitism!!

[–] • 6 pts

Sounds almost superhuman. When my hands get cold I can't pull a trigger. I cannot imagine marching 10 miles in a cold rain, le alone a nor'easter.

[–] • 1 pt

More HISTORICAL LIES. Kind of like walking to school 10 miles in a snowstorm uphill BOTH ways isn't it?

[–] • 3 pts

Meh. I mean I haven't walked 10 miles without shoes in a winter storm but I have jogged 10 miles with dozens of blisters on my feet in freezing weather with 20 mile an hour winds.

People are capable of more than they usually think. This story isn't that far fetched.

[–] • 1 pt

NO shoes at ALL in the SNOW? No way. They'd be unable to walk in very short order let alone fight.

[–] • 0 pt

walking to school 10 miles in a snowstorm uphill BOTH ways

Hmmm.

[–] • 3 pts

While carrying an accordion .

[–] • 1 pt

I walked 10 miles to work. Then 10 miles back. Its not that hard.

[–] • 3 pts

shoeless? Really?

[–] • 2 pts

I have trouble believing this.

Frostbite would've taken them in a matter of hours. These men would become a liability, requiring someone to carry their asses.

More likely: there were some men in the Continental Army who didn't own shoes, when they arrived at Valley Forge. Most of them probably got a fucking pair of boots during the months spent training and reorganizing the army. Standardized uniforms and equipment were introduced, so these guys were almost certainly issued a pair of boots. If they "ran out of boots", the guys who didn't have them were probably left behind at camp or at Valley Forge- that's what you do to soldiers who are not properly equipped. The 2,400 men Washington crossed with were probably the best of the soldiers he had- all wearing newly standardized equipment, trained in the Prussian method, many of them veterans from smaller engagements earlier in the war, well-organized and well-led, and highly motivated (at this point, there was a "what do we have left to lose?" attitude prevalent among many of the colonists). I have to imagine that some of these men were lost in the crossing and subsequent march, getting separated or falling behind and dying to the unforgiving cold.

But the ones who pushed through, wearing fucking boots by now, were probably mostly Chads, led by giga-Chads. Remember that these men were volunteers- they enlisted in the army upon their own will, not because the King conscripted them. Guys who want to fight, who want to win a war, will be willing and able to do fucking incredible things, take unbelievable risks and come out the other side (sometimes) victorious.

[–] • 2 pts

I could see them doing a 10 mile march (not that far, honestly, even though it seems ridiculous to the modern sensibility) without shoes in winter. Their feet would be absolutely fucked once they arrived and probably would have lost some toes but it's doable certainly.

I used to walk 5 miles to work (obviously with shoes) every day and it didn't take me much more than an hour.

If the terrain didn't have too many obstacles to poke feet it wouldn't be the worst march ever.

[–] • 0 pt

What about the dozens upon dozens of miles they marched before they made their final trip to surprise the Hessians? Were they shoeless then, too?

I'm telling you, they'd all have lost their fucking feet. Army life is rough. Taking care of your feet is a goddamned art they taught in the US military. I'm not even joking, it's very serious. A soldier with a bad foot is a liability to all the soldiers with good feet more often than not, just like a bad shot is a liability to a rifle team. They'll get you fucking killed, man.

The men back then would know this, too. They don't want ol' clubfoot Kenny rushing in to bayonet drunken Hessians with them. They want Chad Thunderdick and his nice, polished boots and good diet and high motivation at their side. Washington would know this, he seemed to understand soldiers very well, knowing how to keep them motivated. I don't know if any other man could've kept the "continental Army" together for as long as he did, fleeing from the British for most of the war. Without a strong leader, men would desert in droves or become agents for the British and really fuck your shit up.

All because you couldn't provide them with fucking shoes, one of the most basic human necessities, especially for marching. Not even makeshift sandals? Wrapping your feet up in like frozen cloth boots? Come on due, the Romans figured this shit out millennia before this.

[–] • 0 pt

Some. One of many parallels, some obvious and some weird, to Texas' fight for independence. Santa Anna's generals led a whole bunch of underclothed and often unshot mexican peasants on a forced march up through a freak february snowstorm in south Texas to the Alamo.

[–] • 2 pts

Badass. I love reading about and learning about this stuff. Good call on the contribution here; appropriate, timely, and impactful.

I’ll try to contribute more to this.

[–] • 2 pts

Sounds like the dems need to start up a D25 Committee.

[–] • 2 pts
[–] • 1 pt

if that aint redneck I'll kiss your ass!

[–] • 1 pt

When Noreasters strike the barrier Peninsula of NY, Rockaway, the water is at least 5ft high on land. The Atlantic and Jamaica/Hudson bay become 1. There is huge ice chunks in the water, it's very dangerous, and very brutal. I've had to grab a few john boats floating by when I was a kid, just to get to the store.

[–] • 1 pt

Too bad we aren’t ganking commies tonight

[–] • 0 pt

2,400 Americans crossed an icy Delaware River during a Nor’easter, then marched…many of them shoeless…

…many of them shoeless…

Mind boggling..

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