Less celebrated spirits of the American Revolution marched
through New Hope on Saturday and were hard to ignore, especially with
their cannon.Dozens of historical re-enactors — some black, others women, and a handful with physical disabilities — celebrated the other historic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776.
New Hope hosted the 27th annual Lt. James Monroe Crossing the Delaware Parade. Monroe led a contingent across the Delaware six hours ahead of the main force led by George Washington in the Battle of Trenton.
Cannon fire rang out from a small park on East Ferry Street in the borough.
Among the re-enactors, Jim Anderson of Springfield, N.J., said he represented the Corps of Invalids, which also fought for American independence.
“People often ask me: Did anyone really look like you during the Revolution?” said Anderson, who was born with just one leg. “There was a Corps of Invalid. These were men who could no longer fight but did important functions for the Continental Army.
“The Corps of the Invalid would be clerks, hospital guards, drivers of wagons,” Anderson continued. “They did do some fighting, but not all that much, depending on the severity of disability. It’s really not in the text books, and unless you’re disabled, as in my case, you have an interest to learn about those that were taking part.”
Revolutionary War records of the Pennsylvania State Archives contain references to a “Corps of Invalids” in the Pennsylvania Line. Such men were found capable of light garrison duty and transferred to a special continental regiment, records suggest.
Re-enactor James Howard of Lambertville said he was not there portraying any one person, though he could have represented any one of the many free blacks to cross the Delaware in 1776, according to historical sources.
The iconic painting of Washington’s Crossing shows at least one black soldier helping to steer the boat.
However, that painting also shows Lt. Monroe in that same boat as Washington for the Christmas crossing. Monroe’s presence in that boat, along with other discrepancies, is most often chalked up to artistic interpretation.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission offers a comprehensive look at the many discrepancies between historical sources and the painting composed in 1851. Artist Emmanuel Leutze, who was German, used the Rhine River in Germany as his model for an icy waterway.
The painting clearly shows troops crossing the river in daylight when the attack is largely believed to have occurred late at night and in driving snow.
Monroe and Washington are clearly shown standing together in the boat, while most others remain seated. However, the type of Durham boats used during the crossing contained no seats, according to the museum commission.
Monroe is also shown holding a version of the American flag created by Betsy Ross. And, historians doubt such a flag would have been available to Continental troops at that time in history.
Monroe was indeed present for the Battle of Trenton and was severely injured during the fighting, according to the Library of Congress.
He later went on to become the fifth U.S. president in 1816 and was re-elected in 1820. Monroe is also one of three Founding Fathers said to have died on July 4. Monroe passed away on July 4, 1858. Fellow American Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died July 4, 1826.
Re-enactor Mitch Davis said he’s amazed that so few Americans know these stories. Most never progress beyond what they learn in high school textbooks, he said.
“There are many foreigners who come here and they know more about the Revolution than Americans do,” said Davis, a machinist and fencing instructor from Lambertville.
Howard said he couldn’t live near the site of Washington’s Crossing and not study it.
“This area is so full of history, and, if you love history, then you’re just sort of get drawn into it,” he said. “You read the correspondence and the personal letters of the different people, soldiers to their families, and you get a whole different sense of how important it all was.
“It’s about being more than a visitor and just a sightseer,” continued Howard. “This is a national shrine.”
