1777

It was December 23^rd, 1777--just two days before Christmas. On this bitter morning a dejected George Washington surveyed his weakened army. That winter his plan had been for his men to remain safely hunkered down at Valley Forge while the enemy stayed across the Delaware River in their warm quarters at Philadelphia. His plan became hopeless when he received distressing news from his spies that General Cornwallis was preparing substantive preparations to launch a major assault in January once the waters of the Delaware River had frozen over. Washington had not anticipated this strange climatic event, it had not been predicted by his weather forecasters. The enemy’s new strategy was designed to completely destroy the remaining forces of the Continental Army, and thus bring to an end the insurrection. Two years before, a once-proud Washington had commanded a spirited force of 12,000, but by this day his army had been depleted to a force numbering less than 4000 wearied men. To make matters worse, many of their enlistments would expire by year’s end. These soldiers’ only aspirations were to remain alive in the extreme cold so they could make it back home as soon as their enlistments expired. In addition, there were no new recruits willing to come forward to reinforce the dwindling army. The Continental Congress could not provide for the funds to pay for their sacrificial efforts. Desertions had begun, and Washington knew the end was all but inevitable.
As a solemn General Washington surveyed the deteriorating conditions of his gallant army, a humbling realization overcame him. He reflected on how the valiant struggle of the Colonies to establish a new republic had rested upon his shoulders. But now he was powerless and about to fail. Never before had this once proud man felt so alone and exhausted. In 25 years of fighting against overpowering French and Indian, and British forces; he had many times miraculously escaped the grips of death. He knew he had been spared by God to fulfill some prepared destiny. On this bitter morning he was confused because he now realized that this great struggle for the cause of freedom was about to be lost forever. He and his men could go no further; and with no place on earth to turn, he decided to make a call to heaven. This decision ultimately proved to be the most important strategic decision he would ever make in his career. That morning he humbled himself and prayed. He gave to God everything he had once been unwilling to surrender in order to be able to seek God’s grace, mercy, and deliverance. That morning Washington acted upon this truth: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
To find a place of solitude Washington rode from the encampment and into the forest to do what he had never done before. From eyewitness accounts of those who observed him, General George Washington, the Commander of the American Continental Army, was seen to dismount his horse. He removed his cocked hat and his personal sword of battle and laid them down on now hallowed ground. By tradition when an officer and a gentleman gave up his personal weapon, it was an acknowledgment of his unconditional surrender, and on this dark morning this humbled man did just that. He got down on his bended knees to face his Holy God, and began to pray and beseech him for mercy and grace.

Based upon eyewitness accounts he was overheard addressing the God of the armies, beseeching Him for divine aid for the crisis ongoing in the country, in humanity, and in the world. This account is derived from a portion of Snowden’s Diary. It was not long before stirring news had filtered through the camp that General Washington had been that morning on his knees. Many other knees that day must have bent as the spirit of God moved to change the mind of an entire army. That night, while preparing his letter of resignation to the Continental Congress, Washington looked into the face of destiny. A knock came to the cabin door, and when it was opened his staff sergeants entered his quarters. In observing their solemn expressions, the General assumed he was going to hear the worst possible news--that his men had completely given up the struggle for the cause of freedom. To his amazement the staff sergeants informed him that the spirit of the army had transformed that afternoon. Every American soldier had committed to stay on and fight till the war was won, even if it meant giving up their very lives. This general who had humbled himself in the morning now realized his faithful God had heard his plea and by evening had answered his prayer. He knew now that God was working and also that little time was left before an eminent crushing defeat would be upon them. Something would have to be devised to prevent the soon surrender of the colonies.
That night he summoned his officers to prepare a new plan to do the impossible. The next night was Christmas Eve and 2400 of Washington’s men struggled for several hours in a raging blizzard just to get across an icy filled
Delaware River. They heard Colonel Knox's booming voice rising above the confusion, giving directions as to how the assembled 2400 troops, cannons and equines should be shuttled across the Delaware. Though many had become soaked, they marched south the remainder of the night to attack at sunrise a well-trained Hessian army quartered in Trenton, New Jersey. On the way, two of the freezing American soldiers died of exposure. General Washington was forever thankful for the commitment and sacrifices made at Valley Forge, and he could never forget the memory of that trail stained red by the blood soaked rags covering the frozen feet of his beloved men.
At sunrise on Christmas Day God delivered to the Continental Army their first victory of the war, when they totally surprised and decisively defeated an army of 1400 Hessian soldiers at Trenton. Washington’s men sustained only two wounded, while the Hessians incurred 100 casualties before surrendering unconditionally. Through the prayer of just one humbled leader, what the Colonies could not accomplish in two years of bitter struggle was gifted to them on Christmas morning by providence, by the hand of God himself. And moreover, Washington’s men received other gifts—critically-needed supplies of medicines, food stores, blankets, tents, clothing, shoes, and munitions that sustained them through the remainder of that bitter winter. They were barefoot no more, and the blessings that God bestowed upon them amazed the entire world that had been watching their cause for freedom!