David McCullough’s 1776 is classic – both the author and the story. The founding of the United States of America is familiar, but McCullough flavors it with rich stories and exciting characters – George Washington, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and others. The best part is that it’s true. It’s true that penning the lofty aims of the Declaration of Independence meant little if we could not secure victory on the battlefield. The question is how relevant is this story, and the American founding, to our lives today?
Our shared American history is our spine. Unfortunately, our spine is weakening because too few people know the truth about it. McCullough seeks to remedy this by reminding us of our beginnings and why they matter today. He’s a historian, so he less focused on the philosophical meaning of the movement for independence than the actual events and the men who sacrificed everything to make their dream a reality. The story he tells spans from Lexington and Concord to Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill) to the Cannons of Dorchester Heights and a daring escape in New York. The Continental Army, led by General Washington was in bad shape. With careful detail, McCullough sets the stage as scene shifts to Trenton, New Jersey in December of 1776. That is the meat of the story.
“Darkest Hour”
The Continental Army was in retreat all the way to Trenton and crossed the Delaware River. The British knew it and pursued their enemy one last time. On Dec. 13, 1776, British General Howe decided to camp for winter. He did not chase the Continentals across the Delaware River, but instead let the bulk of his army return to New York. Just 1,500 Hessians remained to keep an eye on the Continental army over the winter. That same day, the British took prisoner one of the Continental Army’s best, General “Lighthorse” Harry Lee. The British thought the war was won after New York and taking General Lee. Philadelphia, the capital of the colonies, was almost at hand.
On Christmas night, 1776, there was a terrible storm, a northeaster according to McCullough. Rain, snow, wind, and ice blurred the night. Washington set up a three-prong attack – he would cross to the north with 2,400 men, another bunch would cross the river with 700 and another south with 1,000 troops, but only his men made it because the ice in the river was too thick.
All night they made their way across the Delaware River in absolute silence – moving equipment and men. Then they attacked the following morning, Dec. 26. It was a savage attack for 45 minutes in the town of Trenton. Only 4 Continentals were injured (and the only deaths were two who died by freezing to death). 21 Hessians were killed, 90 injured, 900 taken prisoner. It was a huge gamble and a huge victory. When the war was lost, Washington found a way to keep the effort alive. Days later, in response to Washington’s victory, Cornwallace impulsively sent men to pressure the Continentals at Princeton. By night, Washington moved his army to the rear and out flanked Cornwallace again, winning another battle.
From August until the last week of 1776 was “as dark a time as any in the history of the country. And suddenly, miraculously it seemed, that had changed because of a small band of determined men and their leader.” It was providential.
Why We Remember
Washington was the deliverer of independence. 1776 had its ups (the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Boston victories, Trenton and Princeton), but “sustained suffering, disease, hunger…fear” and many military defeats characterized the year. What’s remembered is the “phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to the country…Especially for those who had been with Washington and knew what a close call it was at the beginning – how often circumstances, storms, contrary winds, the additions or struggles of individual character had made the difference – the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.”
The courageous colonist were ordinary folks. They stood up to an oversized and overly intrusive government that taxed, dictated, and micromanaged the hearts and minds of its subjects. The subjugation by the sprawling British empire rubbed against human nature and God’s design, so the colonist did something about it. Individual freedom and personal responsibility were the watchwords of the time. 1776 reminds us that spirit lives in each of us and our national character.
What do we do with this story? Is it relevant today? Are we again divided into two opposing world views: patriots who believe in personal freedom versus loyalist who believe in a highly centralized, global superpower? These are just some of the questions we must ask as we move forward. If liberty, once again, is on the precipice of defeat today, then who among us is willing to fight for what is right as the Continentals did?
