George Washington - Crossing the Delaware December 25, 1776

 After driving the British from Boston in March 1776, George Washington then faced the refurbished British in New York City and surrounding areas.  The continentals were handed several humiliating defeats and were then themselves forced to abandon the NYC area, seeking in neighboring New Jersey. 

Washington then devised a daring attack on Hessian mercenaries in winter camp in Trenton, New Jersey set to take place on Christmas day 1776.  The bold move paid off, and Washington's continental forces took the Hessians by surprise in the early morning, winning a resounding, morale boosting victory.

To pull off this attack, Washington's forces had to cross the Delaware River, overnight on Christmas Eve, so very much in winter conditions with ice flows crowding the river making the crossing all the more risky. This event has been dramatically depicted in several highly recognized pieces.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

While this painting strikingly shows this crossing, it suffers from many historical inaccuracies. Notably, the boat is of the wrong shape, the craft used were called "Durham" boats which are long, double ended, and canoe shaped.  (Visit the Washington Crossing Historic Park article titled "Where Did Washington Get the Durham Boats Used in the Crossing?" for more information on this type of craft.) The Stars and Strips flagged shown was not yet authorized by Congress. And Washington's cinematic pose would have been impractical given the icy conditions of the crossing.

Source: Museum of Fine Arts Boston

For Clark Kinnaird, the above painting, by Thomas Sully, produced in 1819, is a better representation of this stirring event. Several engravings have been made of this painting as well, shown below.

Source: Library of Congress

Source: Library Company of Philadelphia

Commemorative print after Thomas Sully's 1819 painting "Washington's Passage of the Delaware." Depicts General Washington astride his horse atop the barren bank of the Delaware River. He tips his hat and acknowledges his troops below, who cross the river by barge. To the left of Washington, white men soldiers move a cannon. In the right are several soldiers on horseback, including Prince Whipple, enslaved African American man and bodyguard to Washington Aide, General William Whipple.

George Washington - Mary Ball Washington

There are few primary resources for Mary Ball Washington so it is difficult to get a full sense of who she was and her character other than her motherhood of George Washington.  At best, she is remembered as a strong and independent woman as many recent biographers of her son have described her in much less flattering language. 

Source: New York Public Library

She married Augustine Washington in 1731 and was then widowed in 1743 with responsibility for 5 children and the management of Ferry Farm, Augustine's estate.  Simply said, she had to be strong and independent.

Mount Vernon Ladies Association produced this biographic video of Martha.

Recent biographers of Martha Ball Washington have been uncovered her story and life.  Mount Vernon recently hosted a discussion with these authors.

Martha did live to see George become the first President of the United States.  This engraving, done years later, depicts the last visit between the two of them. It credits George as saying:

All that I am I owe to my mother.

Source: New York Public Library

George Washington - Hero's Journey at 21

At the age of 21 George Washington was charged with delivering an important message to the French in the Ohio Valley from Robert Dinwiddie.  The French were encroaching on territory which the English claimed. Before a military excursion into this territory the English were compelled to warn the French of their claims and give the French an opportunity to withdraw peaceably.  

Washington and a team of 6 others, including Christopher Gist, a surveyor and woodsman familiar with the back country, made this dangerous journey in the late fall of 1753.  Gist has made previous trips in the Ohio Valley at the behest of the Ohio Company, so was well suited as a guide for the younger Washington. 

On this journey Washington encountered several Native American kings including Shingriss (of the Delawares), and the "Half-King" of the Six Nations.  He gained a first hand education on the intricacies of diplomacy with both Native Americans and the French. His message to the French, which was amicably received did not have the desired intent to cause the French to withdraw. This result necessitated a second journey into the Ohio country with greater numbers and a military aura. Washington kept a detailed journal of his experience which is and interesting view into his mindset and learnings.

After meeting with the French, to hasten their return to the Virginia colony, Gist and Washington separated from the other members of the expedition. Gist and Washington made a harrowing attempt at crossing the Allegheny river on a poorly made raft with ice flows and freezing temperatures. Washington was thrown from the raft into the icy waters and he and Gist ultimately sheltered on a small island in the middle of the river, continuing the next day after the river completely froze over.

These two pieces, done many years later, depict there harrowing attempt at the Allegheny River crossing. 

Source: New York Public Library

Source: Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

While returning, Washington found that he must also visit another important Native American leader, 

Queen Aliquippa, which is depicted in this engraving.

Sources:
Library of Congress
New York Public Library

Find out more about this hero's journey of George Washington and Christopher Gist at the Mount Vernon website.

Mount Vernon - Digital Encyclopedia - Allegheny Expedition
Mount Vernon - Digital Encyclopedia - Christopher Gist

Mount Vernon - Digital Encyclopedia - The Journal of Major George Washington

George Washington - First Cabinet

The U.S. Constitution did not stipulate that the President have a cabinet.  George Washington established the first cabinet upon taking office and realizing that he needed trusted advisors to support him in his new role and in the formation of the executive branch of government.

Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky discusses the formation of the first cabinet in this White House Historical Association produced video.

Source: Library of Congress

The above depiction was produced and published in 1876, and shows from left to right:

1. President, George Washington
2. Secretary of War, Henry Knox
3. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton
4. Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson
5. Attorney General, Edmund Randolph

An American historical painter, Alonzo Chappel, produced a painting of the first cabinet in 1879.  The picture below is from the Knox Museum, where it is on display.

Sources
Knox Museum Facebook Page
Museum of the City of New York

George Washington - Alexis Coe - You Never Forget Your First

Alexis Coe authored a re-examination of George Washington in the book titled "You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington". She surveyed recent biography of Washington and found that a fresh perspective was needed based on how the source material was interpreted and presented by the likes of Ron Chernow, Richard Brookhiser, Joseph Ellis and other male historians. Her book is meant for a wide audience and I have been enjoying listening to the audio book.

She participated in a talk about her book via a Mount Vernon live stream.

 

Find more background on Alexis Coe in this article from the newsmagazine of the American Historical Association.