Name:
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Date:
Part I Describe Emanuel Leutze’s 1851 painting of George Washington Crossing the Delaware River on
December 25 th
, 1776. What do you notice? What is interesting? Are there features that stand out to you? Be descriptive!
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Part II Use the primary sources provided to determine the accuracy of Leutze’s painting. Fill out the chart below based on the readings.
Washington’s Manuscripts Diary of Colonel John Fitzgerald
Author: Author:
Date:
How does Washington describe the conditions of the crossing? What made the journey difficult?
Date:
What weather conditions did the Continental Army face when crossing the river? Is this reflected in
Leutze’s painting? Why or why not?

Journals of the Continental Congress, “Flag
Resolution”
Author:
Date:
Describe the appearance of the American Flag passed by Congress. Why is the date important as to when this resolution is passed in relation to
Washington’s crossing?
The Wartime Services of John Greenwood
Author:
Date:
Describe the boat used in the crossing? Does it appear in Leutze’s painting? What else was transported across the river besides soldiers according to Greenwood?
Part III Based on what you have read, how accurate is Emanuel Leutze’s painting. Explain fully any inaccuracies that exist. Why do you suppose Leutze painted the image the way he did?
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The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript
Sources
Head Quarters, Newton, December 27, 1776.
Sir, I have the pleasure of congratulating you upon the success of a mission which I formed against the enemy lying in Trenton, and which was executed yesterday morning. The Evening of the 25th I ordered the troops to go behind of McKonkey's Ferry, so they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark, imagining we should be able to throw them all over, with the necessary weapons, by midnight, and that we might easily arrive at Trenton by five in the morning, the distance being about nine miles. But the quantity of ice sheets impeded the passage of the boats so much, that it was three o'clock before the artillery and weapons could all get over, and near four, before the troops took up their line of march.
Excerpts from the diary of Colonel John Fitzgerald, 40-43.
"Christmas, 6 P.M....It is fearfully cold and raw and a snow-storm setting in. The wind is northeast and beats in the faces of the men.
It will be a terrible night for the soldiers who have no shoes. Some of them have tied old rags around their feet, but I have not heard a man complain....I have never seen Washington so determined as he is now....He stands on the bank of the stream, wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops. He is calm and collected, but very determined. The storm is changing to sleet and cuts like a knife....
[3 A.M.] I am writing in the ferry house. The troops are all over, and the boats have gone back for the artillery. We are three hours behind the set time...[the fishermen directing the boats] have had a hard time to force the boats through the floating ice with the snow drifting in their faces....

The Wartime Services of John Greenwood: A Young Patriot in the
American Revolution, pp. 80 -81
Over the river we then went in a flat-bottomed scow, and as I was with first that crossed, we had to wait for the rest and so began to pull down the fences and make fires to warm ourselves, for the storm was increasing rapidly. After a while it rained, hailed, snowed, and froze, and at the same time blew a perfect hurricane; so much so that I perfectly recollect, after putting the rails on to burn, the wind and the fire would cut them in two in a moment, and when I turned my face toward the fire my back would be freezing. However, as my usual acuteness had not forsaken me, by turning round and round I kept myself from perishing before the large bonfire.
The noise of the soldiers coming over and clearing away the ice, the rattling of the cannon wheels on the frozen ground, and the cheerfulness of my fellow-comrades as I acknowledge myself to be, I felt great pleasure, more that I now do in writing about it. After our men had all crossed, as I could see, more 200 of us, we began an apparent march, not advancing faster than a child ten years old could walk, and stopping frequently, though for what purpose I know not. During the whole night it alternately hailed, rained, snowed, and blew tremendously. I recollect very well that at one time, when we halted on the road, I sat down on the stump of a tree and was so benumbed with cold that I wanted to go to sleep; had I been passed unnoticed I should have frozen to death without knowing it; but as good luck always attended me, Sergeant Madden came and, rousing me up, made me walk about. We then began to march again, just in the old slow way, until the dawn of day, about half-past seven in the morning.

Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 8, page 464.
“Flag resolution” of 14 June 1777
Resolved, that the Marine Committee be empowered to give such directions respecting the Continental ships of war in the Delaware River as they think proper, in case the enemy succeeds in attacking the river.
Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes alternating red and white: that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.
The council of the State of Massachusetts Bay having represented be letter to the president of Congress, that
Captain John Roach, some time since appointed to command the Continental ship of war Ranger is a person of doubtful character, and ought not to be entrusted with such command