‘Washington’ crosses the Delaware, with better weather
TITUSVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- George Washington made his Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River - with considerably better weather than the first time.
Re-enactors playing Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River in the 62nd re-enactment of Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river - the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War - between Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
As opposed to the severe weather - including snow and freezing temperatures - that Washington and his troops faced in 1776, the annual re-enactment was done under mostly sunny skies and 50-degree temperatures.
Hundreds of people lined both sides of the river to watch as re-enactors used four replica Durham boats like the ones Washington's troops used. The actor playing Washington boarded the final boat, and a cannon blasted as he reached the other side.
During the original crossing, boats ferried 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river. Washington's troops marched 8 miles downriver before battling Hessian mercenaries in the streets of Trenton.
Thirty Hessians were killed, and two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march, but none died in battle.