Pivotal moments on Christmas
Historical events around the holiday helped shape our modern nation
As Hampton Roads celebrates this Christmas with friends and family, many will mark the occasion with religious observances, while others will enjoy more secular holiday traditions.
The nation is fortunate to have the luxury to choose, rights that are enshrined in our Constitution and given voice by the Declaration of Independence.
There were times in our history when those rights were far from secure, moments that tested the nation’s character and commitment. It is fitting that in this, a season of miracles, that we recall two of those occasions — both of which transpired on Christmas.
In the winter of 1776 the American revolution against the English crown was in peril. Though the rebellion was still in its infancy, a string of disastrous defeats sapped the Continental Army’s morale and left colonial leaders despondent.
Continental Army commander Gen. George Washington had, until that point, struggled to distinguish himself as a military tactician. His war record before his commission was hardly laudable and his forces were routed in New York, losing the city to the British. Washington himself credited “providence” when thousands of Continental soldiers managed to escape capture or death in their retreat.
That Christmas, however, Washington led an operation that changed perception of him and the war effort as a whole.
Under the cover of darkness the general ordered about 2,400 American troops to move from Pennsylvania to New Jersey by crossing the icy Delaware River north of Trenton. Two other groups of soldiers were supposed to cross elsewhere but
were unable to due to the poor conditions.
Washington’s forces made the treacherous crossing, assembling on the west bank and the next day surprising an encampment of about 1,000 German Hessian soldiers aligned with the British. Capturing about 900 prisoners along with a large cache of weapons and supplies, Washington then ordered his army back across the river to safety.
The victory — the first notable military accomplishment by the Continental forces
— marked a turning point in the war. It was the beginning of a 10-day campaign that culminated with the British defeat in the Battle of Princeton and gave confidence to soldiers and civilians alike, inspiring the belief that the rebellion could succeed.
Though the revolution would continue for years, ultimately ending after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, the audacious river crossing on Christmas made clear that the Americans could prevail.
Some 88 years later another American commander marked a momentous victory that changed the nation’s course.
After embarking on his brutal and destructive “March to the Sea,” Union Maj. Gen. William Sherman, captured Savannah, Georgia, on Dec. 22, 1864. He sent a telegram to President Abraham Lincoln that said, “I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah …”
Christmas wasn’t yet a national holiday; that would come in 1870. But Lincoln recognized the value in finding common bonds among a population torn apart by war, and used both Thanksgiving and Christmas as occasions to bind the nation’s wounds.
As such, his reply to Sherman, dated Dec. 26, said the victory “brings those who sat in darkness to see a great light,” a nod to the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth being a light in the darkness for the world.
The capture of Savannah, amid a string of Union victories, provided hope that the end of the war was coming soon.
In four months’ time Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses Grant, effectively concluding major hostilities. Lincoln would not live to see another Christmas.
It is emblematic of our nation that our modern American celebration of Christmas stems from and relies on a variety of cultural and religious traditions. But it is also worth considering that these two historical moments, which took place at Christmas, helped shape the modern nation we are today.
As we join with friends and family to mark the holiday, we should be grateful for those who persevered and sacrificed for all that we today enjoy.