You know
that famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware? It’s inaccurate. He
crossed the Delaware, but the painting is of the Rhine River. The painting by
19th century American Painter, German-born Emanuel Leutze was actually painted
in Dusseldorf, Germany and the Rhine River was used as a model.
Even
allowing for artistic license the painting has its share of errors. The
American flag in the painting shows thirteen stars and stripes. George crossed
the Delaware the day after Christmas in 1776. The flag design was not adopted
until 1777.
Leutze's
painting also shows Washington in a rather small boat. Actually Durham boats
were used. They were 40 to 60 foot long flat bottom boats used to transport
freight on America’s Northeast rivers.
The
painting could not show what George did after he cross the river. The enemy was
encamped at Trenton. The Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall was snug in his
headquarters. Christmas was celebrated with cheer and some card playing.
Colonel
Rall told his aides – no interruptions. When a loyalist spy rushed into camp
with word that Washington had crossed the Delaware, the aides made him write it
down on a piece of paper. A porter brought it to the Colonel. He stuffed it in
his pocket and went back to his cards.
Hours
later Washington’s forces open fire on the surprised enemy camp. The battle was
short. The entire Hessian army encampment surrendered. Colonel Rall was
mortally wounded. The note still stuffed in his pocket.
No comments:
Post a Comment