Learn about George Washington's crossing the Delaware, winter at Valley Forge, and victory at Yorktown
Dramatization of scenes from George Washington's service in the American Revolutionary War, including crossing the Delaware, spending the winter at Valley Forge, and defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Transcript
GEORGE WASHINGTON: Fortunately, we were able to surprise the British at Boston, but there were five more years of war. Several times the American cause met with near disaster.
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: But you had your victories . . .
[Music in]
GEORGE WASHINGTON: Ah yes, we did! It was the darkest hour of the war--December 1776. Cold and our defeats were beginning to wear on my men. We needed a victory. Christmas night we set out, hoping to catch the British off guard. We moved quickly across the partially frozen Delaware River, marched on to Trenton. Cold was tremendous, my men had the courage to match it. We surrounded the enemy camp and caught them completely off guard. The Hessians surrendered and we didn't lose a single man. Later, we won a similar battle at Princeton. These victories gave the Americans new hope and sent recruits flocking to camp next spring.
[Music out]
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: What about Valley Forge the following year?
GEORGE WASHINGTON: My army, twice beaten, without proper food and clothing, were forced to set up winter quarters. The first two months were bitter and miserable.
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: Was it your alliance with France that changed the face of the war?
GEORGE WASHINGTON: We needed aid and assistance from France and men like Lafayette were a godsend. Unfortunately [music in], communications were bad since I didn't speak French, most of their officers didn't speak English. But we managed to rally together at Yorktown, and I saw my chance to win the war. We moved swiftly. Speed was everything. We attacked Cornwallis, who never received his anticipated reinforcements, and he was forced to surrender. War was virtually over.
[Music out]
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: But you had your victories . . .
[Music in]
GEORGE WASHINGTON: Ah yes, we did! It was the darkest hour of the war--December 1776. Cold and our defeats were beginning to wear on my men. We needed a victory. Christmas night we set out, hoping to catch the British off guard. We moved quickly across the partially frozen Delaware River, marched on to Trenton. Cold was tremendous, my men had the courage to match it. We surrounded the enemy camp and caught them completely off guard. The Hessians surrendered and we didn't lose a single man. Later, we won a similar battle at Princeton. These victories gave the Americans new hope and sent recruits flocking to camp next spring.
[Music out]
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: What about Valley Forge the following year?
GEORGE WASHINGTON: My army, twice beaten, without proper food and clothing, were forced to set up winter quarters. The first two months were bitter and miserable.
ARCHIBALD ROBERTSON: Was it your alliance with France that changed the face of the war?
GEORGE WASHINGTON: We needed aid and assistance from France and men like Lafayette were a godsend. Unfortunately [music in], communications were bad since I didn't speak French, most of their officers didn't speak English. But we managed to rally together at Yorktown, and I saw my chance to win the war. We moved swiftly. Speed was everything. We attacked Cornwallis, who never received his anticipated reinforcements, and he was forced to surrender. War was virtually over.
[Music out]
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