December 24, 2024 • 10 mins
On this episode of Our American Stories, it's called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Brian Benjamin shares the story from his book, Christmas, 1776.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
And we continue with our American stories and more of
our Christmas storytelling, which we're doing all month long. It's
called the First American Christmas because the Declaration of Independence
was created the previous summer, essentially divorcing America from England
and declaring our country as an independent nation. Here is
(00:32):
the story of Christmas seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
My name's Brian Benjamin.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I recently wrote a children's book entitled Christmas seventeen seventy
six that I'll be reading for you today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It covers the Revolutionary War.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
And follows George Washington and the Continental Army in the
late months of seventeen seventy six as they were fighting
and mostly losing to the British for American independence. It
of course culminates in the famous crossing of the Delaware
River on Christmas Night seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This book, I was actually.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Reading a biography of George Washington, and I got to
the part where the Continental Army is in Pennsylvania, Christmas
is approaching and the war is looking really bleak, and
you know they planned the crossing of the Delaware River.
The two things that struck me were one I didn't
realize how bleak the picture was for the Americans.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
At this point during the war.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
We were really getting kicked around by the British, and
heading into that winter of seventeen seventy six, the cause
of American independence did not look well. And the other
thing that struck me was how history really turned on
a dime with this attack. But this really saved America's cause,
(01:56):
And so I tried to put that in the book.
You know, it is a children's books, but try to
get across both the America was an underdog and was
it was not looking good, and also that contingency of
things could have gone different in their cases where America
doesn't come through this. But with the brave actions of
these men, led by George Washington, they saved American independence
(02:17):
starting on Christmas night, So without further ado, Christmas seventeen
seventy six, the year was seventeen seventy six, America faced
a crisis to fix British taxation without representation angered Americans
of every station. They sought the freedom to make their
(02:39):
own laws, the right to liberty their sacred cause. American
patriots took up their arms, They left their homes, their
shops their farms. These farm boys had grit, but little training.
The experience they lacked they would soon be gaining. General
George Washington would lead them to fight Britain's oppressive imperial might.
(03:04):
George Washington was an American born and bred, taller than
most men by a head. With six brothers three sisters,
he grew up strong. The start of his adventures did
not take long. He fought in the French and Indian War,
and by the end he'd entered American loar. When the
Revolutionary War broke out, America needed a leader no one
(03:27):
could doubt. They turned to their only living legend. Barely
another name was mentioned. George Washington would lead them in
this war to take on all the British had in store.
They'd face British regulars, skillfully taught, perfectly disciplined. Before they fought,
the Brits had a few other friends. They'd brought some
(03:49):
German soldiers whose support they'd bought, and all these troops
would cross the sea aboard the world's best navy. General
Washington and his new army prepared to defend New York City.
This coveted crown jewel of the colonies stood especially vulnerable
to attack by sea. The Americans worked to fortify their
(04:13):
shore before the Brits arrived to kick off the war.
The British came with one hundred ships or more and
three times the men, or maybe four. The Americans tried
to stand their ground, but the bridge showed up and
beat them sound from Long Island. They were displaced from Manhattan.
They were quickly chased from the banks of the Hudson.
(04:36):
They were erased and into New Jersey. They ran, disgraced.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
To the Delaware River.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
They anxiously fled. They crossed to safety, but were filled
with dread. The war was less than two years old
and the Americans were stranded in the cold, their greatest
city conquered, lost their treasury, wiped doubt by the cost.
Many Americans began to doubt and feared they faced a
(05:05):
certain route. The Brits pursued all the way to the river,
then looked across and saw their enemies shiver. With winter
coming December. Here, the Redcoats felt they'd had a good year.
They retreated to conquered Nyc, to warm beds and Tory hospitality.
They left behind their German dogs of war to guard
(05:28):
the Delawares Jersey shore. With American hopes plainly fading and
British troops relaxing celebrating, Washington knew he must take bold
action for the revolution to regain some traction. He gathered
his men to plan and plot how to grab the
victory they so desperately sought. They decided on a holy
(05:55):
night to begin their brave and noble fight. On Christmas night,
they would embark and cross the river in the dark,
then march ten miles to surprise their foes, and arrived
to attack just as the sun rose. Awaiting their final orders,
the men held their breath. George Washington stated gravely, victory
(06:20):
or death. With the plan all set now just to wait.
They must keep the plan a secret and their heads
on straight. They braved a tense Christmas Eve and mourn,
then approached the ships on which they'd be borne.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
In a light rain.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
General Washington crossed first. The river was choppy with ice interspersed.
When the sun fell on that Christmas day, the weather
turned and their plan gave way in an army with
men of every station, twas the fishermen that rose to
this occasion. These expert sailors guided boat after boat across
(07:01):
nature's deadly makeshift mote. The rain had shifted to snow
and hail, but these brave men refused to fail. They
moved twenty four hundred men across, and not a single
soul was lost. But the vicious weather had another cost.
Three hours against the plan were lost. Finally, by four am,
(07:27):
their march began, and they braved the elements to a man,
They marched ten miles in hail and snow to meet
their skilled.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And rested foe.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
They arrived well after the morning sun, not sure if
by their lateness they'd been undone, these brave men charged
from the woods at a run, and the German mercenaries
were simply stunned. How could an army arrive ready to
fight after the terrible weather of the previous night. General
Washington led from the front on horseback and rebuffed every
(08:01):
German counterattack. American cannons fired with precision, guided by Alexander Hamilton,
they raced through the town, took prisoners galore. They shocked
the mercenaries pressing for more. The Germans lost almost one
thousand men, the Americans lost less than ten. After battling
(08:26):
the weather all through the night, it took less than
an hour to finish the fight. The next ten days
were a complete whirlwind. They crossed the river back and again,
first to deposit their prisoners in booty, then returning to
continue their tour of duty. They stimied a British assault
at Trenton, then launched a surprise attack at Princeton. At Princeton,
(08:50):
the fame British regulars were beat and the world was
astounded by this colonial feat. In the space of ten days,
they'd secured two victories. In the space of ten days,
they'd changed the course of history. On Christmas Eve, the
American cause had been dead, but now Britain was back
on its heels instead. The morale of the troops and
(09:14):
colonists soared. They again believed in what they were marching toward,
towards life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, to secure
their rights and to crush British haughtiness. America's birth was
never a certainty, but it was filled with men that
would fight for it fervently. These brave men volunteered to
(09:36):
fight and die, not knowing what their sacrifices might buy.
But we know the eventual success of their plan and
the day America's future began, the day their deeds left
the world Transfixed Christmas seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And a terrific job on the production and editing by
our own Craig Hangler, and a special thanks to Brian Benjamin.
Is beautifully illustrated book Christmas seventeen seventy six is available
wherever you buy your books, head over to Amazon or
the usual suspects. And what a story he tells, and
(10:15):
what a great way to share it with a child
or a grandchild. And we try to tell every kind
of story but also in every kind of way. And
my goodness to hear the Battle of Christmas seventeen seventy
six reduced to rhyming poem, while it's just spectacular the
story of Christmas seventeen seventy six as told in rhyming
(10:38):
verse by Brian Benjamin. Here on our American Stories
And we continue with our American stories and more of
our Christmas storytelling, which we're doing all month long. It's
called the First American Christmas because the Declaration of Independence
was created the previous summer, essentially divorcing America from England
and declaring our country as an independent nation. Here is
(00:32):
the story of Christmas seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
My name's Brian Benjamin.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I recently wrote a children's book entitled Christmas seventeen seventy
six that I'll be reading for you today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
It covers the Revolutionary War.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
And follows George Washington and the Continental Army in the
late months of seventeen seventy six as they were fighting
and mostly losing to the British for American independence. It
of course culminates in the famous crossing of the Delaware
River on Christmas Night seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
This book, I was actually.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Reading a biography of George Washington, and I got to
the part where the Continental Army is in Pennsylvania, Christmas
is approaching and the war is looking really bleak, and
you know they planned the crossing of the Delaware River.
The two things that struck me were one I didn't
realize how bleak the picture was for the Americans.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
At this point during the war.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
We were really getting kicked around by the British, and
heading into that winter of seventeen seventy six, the cause
of American independence did not look well. And the other
thing that struck me was how history really turned on
a dime with this attack. But this really saved America's cause,
(01:56):
And so I tried to put that in the book.
You know, it is a children's books, but try to
get across both the America was an underdog and was
it was not looking good, and also that contingency of
things could have gone different in their cases where America
doesn't come through this. But with the brave actions of
these men, led by George Washington, they saved American independence
(02:17):
starting on Christmas night, So without further ado, Christmas seventeen
seventy six, the year was seventeen seventy six, America faced
a crisis to fix British taxation without representation angered Americans
of every station. They sought the freedom to make their
(02:39):
own laws, the right to liberty their sacred cause. American
patriots took up their arms, They left their homes, their
shops their farms. These farm boys had grit, but little training.
The experience they lacked they would soon be gaining. General
George Washington would lead them to fight Britain's oppressive imperial might.
(03:04):
George Washington was an American born and bred, taller than
most men by a head. With six brothers three sisters,
he grew up strong. The start of his adventures did
not take long. He fought in the French and Indian War,
and by the end he'd entered American loar. When the
Revolutionary War broke out, America needed a leader no one
(03:27):
could doubt. They turned to their only living legend. Barely
another name was mentioned. George Washington would lead them in
this war to take on all the British had in store.
They'd face British regulars, skillfully taught, perfectly disciplined. Before they fought,
the Brits had a few other friends. They'd brought some
(03:49):
German soldiers whose support they'd bought, and all these troops
would cross the sea aboard the world's best navy. General
Washington and his new army prepared to defend New York City.
This coveted crown jewel of the colonies stood especially vulnerable
to attack by sea. The Americans worked to fortify their
(04:13):
shore before the Brits arrived to kick off the war.
The British came with one hundred ships or more and
three times the men, or maybe four. The Americans tried
to stand their ground, but the bridge showed up and
beat them sound from Long Island. They were displaced from Manhattan.
They were quickly chased from the banks of the Hudson.
(04:36):
They were erased and into New Jersey. They ran, disgraced.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
To the Delaware River.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
They anxiously fled. They crossed to safety, but were filled
with dread. The war was less than two years old
and the Americans were stranded in the cold, their greatest
city conquered, lost their treasury, wiped doubt by the cost.
Many Americans began to doubt and feared they faced a
(05:05):
certain route. The Brits pursued all the way to the river,
then looked across and saw their enemies shiver. With winter
coming December. Here, the Redcoats felt they'd had a good year.
They retreated to conquered Nyc, to warm beds and Tory hospitality.
They left behind their German dogs of war to guard
(05:28):
the Delawares Jersey shore. With American hopes plainly fading and
British troops relaxing celebrating, Washington knew he must take bold
action for the revolution to regain some traction. He gathered
his men to plan and plot how to grab the
victory they so desperately sought. They decided on a holy
(05:55):
night to begin their brave and noble fight. On Christmas night,
they would embark and cross the river in the dark,
then march ten miles to surprise their foes, and arrived
to attack just as the sun rose. Awaiting their final orders,
the men held their breath. George Washington stated gravely, victory
(06:20):
or death. With the plan all set now just to wait.
They must keep the plan a secret and their heads
on straight. They braved a tense Christmas Eve and mourn,
then approached the ships on which they'd be borne.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
In a light rain.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
General Washington crossed first. The river was choppy with ice interspersed.
When the sun fell on that Christmas day, the weather
turned and their plan gave way in an army with
men of every station, twas the fishermen that rose to
this occasion. These expert sailors guided boat after boat across
(07:01):
nature's deadly makeshift mote. The rain had shifted to snow
and hail, but these brave men refused to fail. They
moved twenty four hundred men across, and not a single
soul was lost. But the vicious weather had another cost.
Three hours against the plan were lost. Finally, by four am,
(07:27):
their march began, and they braved the elements to a man,
They marched ten miles in hail and snow to meet
their skilled.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And rested foe.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
They arrived well after the morning sun, not sure if
by their lateness they'd been undone, these brave men charged
from the woods at a run, and the German mercenaries
were simply stunned. How could an army arrive ready to
fight after the terrible weather of the previous night. General
Washington led from the front on horseback and rebuffed every
(08:01):
German counterattack. American cannons fired with precision, guided by Alexander Hamilton,
they raced through the town, took prisoners galore. They shocked
the mercenaries pressing for more. The Germans lost almost one
thousand men, the Americans lost less than ten. After battling
(08:26):
the weather all through the night, it took less than
an hour to finish the fight. The next ten days
were a complete whirlwind. They crossed the river back and again,
first to deposit their prisoners in booty, then returning to
continue their tour of duty. They stimied a British assault
at Trenton, then launched a surprise attack at Princeton. At Princeton,
(08:50):
the fame British regulars were beat and the world was
astounded by this colonial feat. In the space of ten days,
they'd secured two victories. In the space of ten days,
they'd changed the course of history. On Christmas Eve, the
American cause had been dead, but now Britain was back
on its heels instead. The morale of the troops and
(09:14):
colonists soared. They again believed in what they were marching toward,
towards life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, to secure
their rights and to crush British haughtiness. America's birth was
never a certainty, but it was filled with men that
would fight for it fervently. These brave men volunteered to
(09:36):
fight and die, not knowing what their sacrifices might buy.
But we know the eventual success of their plan and
the day America's future began, the day their deeds left
the world Transfixed Christmas seventeen seventy six.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
And a terrific job on the production and editing by
our own Craig Hangler, and a special thanks to Brian Benjamin.
Is beautifully illustrated book Christmas seventeen seventy six is available
wherever you buy your books, head over to Amazon or
the usual suspects. And what a story he tells, and
(10:15):
what a great way to share it with a child
or a grandchild. And we try to tell every kind
of story but also in every kind of way. And
my goodness to hear the Battle of Christmas seventeen seventy
six reduced to rhyming poem, while it's just spectacular the
story of Christmas seventeen seventy six as told in rhyming
(10:38):
verse by Brian Benjamin. Here on our American Stories
Host
Lee Habeeb
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