Current prevents Delaware River crossing
WASHINGTON CROSSING, N.J. (AP) - December 25, 2007 But a strong current on Tuesday kept Rinaldi from completing his
mission.
Rinaldi played Washington in the 55th annual re-enactment of the
military leader's daring Christmas crossing which led to a rout of
British-led forces in Trenton and is credited with reviving the
downtrodden Continental forces.
"Tonight we cross back into Jersey," said Rinaldi, speaking in
the role of Washington to troops assembled along the shores of the
Delaware. "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God,
on the courage and conduct that you show ... I am resolved that by
dawn both Trenton and victory shall be ours."
After boarding the boats, Rinaldi and the crews of two other
boats waited to cross, and watched as the first boat attempting the
short voyage got carried downstream. A rescue craft stationed in
the river snared the boat and returned it to the Pennsylvania
shore. About 25 re-enactors were aboard.
The rowing portion of the event is scrapped if the river is
running too fast or it is too windy, but the current apparently
caught organizers by surprise.
Hilary Krueger, director of Pennsylvania's Washington Crossing
Historic Park which hosts the re-enactment, said safety is usually
the first priority in determining whether the crossing can go
forward.
"We're kind of at the mercy of the river," she said.
Three boats trained to cross the river this year, and dozens of
re-enactors took part. Usually about 5,000 spectators line the
shores to watch the spectacle, in what has become a Christmas Day
tradition for many families.
"It wouldn't be a Christmas Day without going down there,"
said Rinaldi.
Peter Tucci, 47, of New Hope, Pa., attended the re-enactment
with his two daughters and two friends visiting from France - which
threw their support to the Revolutionary forces partly based on
Washington's success at Trenton.
"I'm a big history buff, and I wanted to show it to my
daughters and friends," Tucci said. "I think it's
under-appreciated how important this victory was."
In the Dec. 25, 1776 crossing some 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses
and 18 cannons ferried across the cold Delaware River. The
Continental soldiers, many ill-prepared for the cold weather and
poorly trained compared to the troops they were about to face, then
marched eight miles downriver.
The re-enactors Tuesday wore an assortment of uniforms
reflecting the ragtag feel of Washington's troops, and a number had
wrapped rags around their feet - as the actual soldiers had done to
protect themselves against the blizzard-like conditions.
Washington's troops soundly beat the German mercenary soldiers
based in Trenton, capturing 1,000 prisoners, killing 30 troops and
only losing two Continental soldiers - and both of them froze to
death.
The event was a turning point for the bedraggled Revolutionary
forces, showing the mighty British that they were a military force
to be reckoned with, giving hope to civilians, and boosting morale
with Continental soldiers readying to go home.
"If they didn't win this battle, that would have been the end
of the American Revolution," Krueger said.
The actual crossing bears little resemblance to the painting by
Emanuel Leutze, a glorified depiction of the event that hangs in
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Leutze's painting shows a daytime crossing. In truth, the bulk
of the troops were moved at night. A majestic Washington stands at
the bow of a boat, an unlikely occurrence considering the freezing
temperatures should he fall in the water.
Rinaldi, 45, of Branchburg, was chosen by a panel of three
experts on the crossing and will serve for two years. Prospective
George Washingtons are judged on their knowledge of the military
leader and the crossing, must possess a uniform resembling
Washington's and be able to recite the first two passages from
Thomas Paine's stirring tract calling for independence.
Rinaldi, who works as a Middlesex County crime scene
investigator, became interested in Revolutionary War history after
taking part in the 1976 crossing when he was 14.
"I remember I was fascinated by the muskets and the rifles and
the uniforms that the soldiers had," he said.
Rinaldi volunteered as a guide at the park, worked at the Valley
Forge National Historical Park, earned an bachelor's degree in
American history from George Washington University in Washington,
and a master's in military history from Duke University.
Over the years Rinaldi been joined by his father, and his
10-year-old son Ronald was to be in his boat this year as a drummer
boy.
"I never thought when I was growing up that I'd be doing this
with my son, much less doing Washington," Rinaldi said.
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On the Net:
Washington Crossing State/Historic Park:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/crossing/page1.asp