December 1, 1776, was arguably the darkest day in the history of our republic. As that day approached the military “scorecard” of America’s revolt against its former mother country and currently most-powerful-nation-on-earth, Great Britain, was as follows:
General George Washington and the American colonists:
One victory — Bunker Hill
Four devastating defeats — Brooklyn Heights, Kipps Bay, White Plains, the battle of Fort Washington
One forfeit — Fort Lee, abandoned to the British without a fight
In baseball parlance, Washington’s record was 1-4 with a DNP (Did Not Play), and his army, which had begun the year as a potent force of about 20,000, was down to about 5,000, many of whom were too sick to fight.
And then on the fateful December day in question, the enlistments of 2,000 of those 5,000 men were up, meaning they were free to leave the army and go home.
Which most of them did.
Now America’s army was at just over 3,000 men and was in retreat from a British army in hot pursuit.
Adding to Washington’s burden, his remaining troops had not eaten in days nor been paid in months. Desertions were commonplace.
Meanwhile, the British were so confident of victory that British Admiral Lord Richard Howe, who commanded the Royal Navy in America, decided to issue an appeal to the colonists to end their senseless revolt.
He offered all who would swear an allegiance to King George III a “free and general pardon” and “preservation of their property, the restoration of their commerce, and the security of their most valuable rights.”
Like rats jumping the proverbial sinking ship — which Washington’s army looked to be — thousands of colonists in New York and New Jersey accepted Howe’s offer, further deflating the revolutionary zeal that had been so prevalent on July 4, 1776. Delighted at the success of this amnesty proclamation, General William Howe (Admiral Howe’s brother), who led the British army that was pursuing Washington and his bedraggled force, quickened the pace, hoping to catch and destroy Washington before 1776 was out.
At that point Washington decided to lead his remaining troops across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania, where he hoped to find safe haven. If the British decided to pursue him, Washington knew that his army — and America’s revolution — was probably doomed.
It was then that General William Howe made a surprising and fateful decision. He decided to lead his troops into winter quarters and suspend British military operations until spring. Washington was given a reprieve, which he used to carry out two successful surprise attacks against British outposts at Trenton and Princeton, N.J., that would change the course of the war.
After the darkest day in American history, brighter days were ahead.
Bruce G. Kauffmann’s e-mail address is bruce@historylessons.net.
Schools
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