The Other Crossing of the Delaware

By Silence Dogood

On Christmas night, 1776, George Washington led the famous and daring surprise attack on the Hessian soldiers fighting for the British Army in Trenton, New Jersey, by crossing the frozen Delaware River in the middle of the night.

This epic moment in American history was forever immortalized by Emanuel Leutze in his famous painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Lucky for us in Rockaway, all you need to do to see this massive 12.5-by-21.3-foot painting is head into Manhattan and visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the artwork resides.

As the painting’s name suggests, George Washington is the main subject. But just behind the first commander-in-chief, clutching an American flag, is another future president: a young Lieutenant James Monroe, who would go on to become the fifth President of the United States.

Monroe’s role in that day’s events did not unfold quite the way the painting depicts. In reality, his actions involved even more bravery and heroics.

By December 25, 1776, the Continental Army was in a bad way. After being driven from New York, General Washington and his men were essentially on the run. Supplies were running low, enlistments were set to expire in just a few days at the end of the year, and overall morale was dangerously low.

Even with everything going against him (or maybe because of it), Washington decided it was time to attack. Just across the Delaware River in Trenton, New Jersey, sat a garrison of Hessian troops. These were professional German mercenaries paid by the British to fight in the war. Hoping to use the element of surprise to his advantage, Washington chose Christmas night for his strike.

Washington needed two advance parties to cross the river ahead of the rest and secure the routes that the larger army would eventually take. Captain William Washington, a distant cousin of the general, volunteered to lead one of these parties. Captain Washington was in need of additional officers for the mission, but none of the officers in his company were healthy enough. That’s when 18-year-old James Monroe, a young lieutenant in the Continental Army, volunteered for the job.

Once Monroe and the other members of the advance detachment successfully crossed the Delaware into New Jersey, they began securing the roads and intersections they would need. They were also under orders to detain anyone found in the streets that cold Christmas night.

As the men moved across the area, they came across one house where dogs began barking. The noise woke the owner, who came outside to scold the men, believing they were British mercenaries like those in Trenton. Monroe ordered the man back into his house or threatened to arrest him. After hearing Monroe’s southern accent and realizing the soldiers were American troops, the man, Dr. John Riker, grabbed his musket and doctor’s bag and told the troops he was joining them, whatever their mission might be.

Captain Washington, Monroe, and the rest of the men held their positions throughout the night in the freezing cold. As day began to break, they finally saw that General Washington and the rest of the army had successfully crossed the Delaware. It was time for the full advance on Trenton.

Shortly after the Continental Army stepped off, a Hessian soldier was spotted and immediately fired upon. The battle had begun.

The gunfire awoke any remaining sleeping Hessians, and the alarm was sounded. Though caught off guard, the Hessians were a disciplined and formidable fighting force. Even against the element of surprise, they quickly rallied to the defense, some still in their nightshirts.

At one point in the battle, even amidst all the chaos, it appeared as if the always professional Hessians were going to be able to bring their artillery into position against the Americans. These field cannons would be devastating to the advancing Continental Army at close range as well as an issue for the American artillery guns just on the outskirts of town commanded by Henry Knox. If the Hessians got their artillery into position, the battle could quickly turn in their favor.

Captain William Washington led a charge against the Hessian artillery to stop this from happening. As he and his men advanced—including Monroe—Captain Washington was struck by gunfire injuring both hands. The fall of their leader could have ended the charge right there.

But Lieutenant Monroe, seeing that Washington was not mortally wounded, ordered men to carry him to safety and took his place at the head of the attack.

As Monroe rallied the men and pressed forward, a musket ball tore through his upper chest and shoulder. He began to lose a tremendous amount of blood. The shot had hit an artery.

Still with the men was Dr. John Riker, whom they had encountered earlier that morning. Acting quickly, he used his instruments to clamp the wound and stop the bleeding, saving Monroe’s life. Monroe was then transported to a makeshift field hospital, where he was treated further.

Because of the wound’s location, the musket ball was never removed. It would remain lodged in Monroe’s shoulder for the rest of his life.

The fighting was over that day for Captain Washington and Lieutenant Monroe. In fact, they were two of only four Continental soldiers wounded. There were no American deaths at the Battle of Trenton.

Though Monroe did not know it at the time, the charge against the Hessian artillery had been successful. Eventually, after continued fighting and the death of their commander, the remaining Hessians surrendered. The battle was won.

When the dust settled, twenty-one Hessians were killed, more than ninety were wounded, and over 900 were captured. The battle was a smashing success for General Washington and the Continental Army.

Though the war was still in its early stages, this victory marked a crucial turning point and helped establish the Continental Army as a legitimate fighting force.

For his bravery, James Monroe was promoted to the rank of Captain. Because of his injuries, he would be forced to spend several months recovering before rejoining the fight with another regiment at his new rank.

After the war, Monroe would go on to compile one of the most impressive résumés in American history. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as a U.S. senator, and as a diplomat to both France and Great Britain. He later held the roles of Secretary of War and Secretary of State before succeeding his friend James Madison as President of the United States.

As president, Monroe played a key role in the nation’s expansion by acquiring Florida from Spain, overseeing the Missouri Compromise, and, most famously, issuing the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted American influence over the Western Hemisphere.

At just 18 years old, no one could have known what history had in store for James Monroe. If that musket ball had traveled just inches in another direction—or if Dr. Riker had not been there to save him—this American experiment might have turned out very differently with the absence of James Monroe.