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In Washington's Christmas Night crossing of the Delaware.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:112.00 USD Estimated At:225.00 - 300.00 USD
In Washington's Christmas Night crossing of the Delaware.
Pay order to Revolutionary War Capt. Benjamin Durkee, Connecticut, 1784, partly printed, 5 1/4 x 6 1/2 , (unsigned by him). A veteran of Valley Forge, earlier accompanying Washington on the famously-painted crossing of the Delaware on Christmas evening 1776, surprising and capturing over a thousand of the caroling (and inebriated) Hessians, in the Battle of Trenton. "...The extremely arduous crossing was made despite swift currents, floating ice, bitter cold, and a storm of wind, hail, rain, and snow...The story of ragged, shoeless men leaving bloody footprints in the snow...The 1,200-man Hessian garrison was blissfully unaware of their fate when the shooting started at about 8 A.M. 'the morning of Dec. 26]...Some of (Washington's) troops had been engaged for as long as 50 hours...It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a...time with greater...lasting results upon the history of the world..."--various historians in Boatner. Durkee was then a 2nd Lt. in the 20th Continental, its titular top officer Benedict Arnold, though he never assumed command. Enlisted on First Call following Lexington; commanded Provisional Regt. Co. of Matrosses (special artillery). Signed by two additional officers present at Valley Forge: Eleazer Wales and (Jedidiah) Huntington (see biographical details in following lots), together with Sam. Wyllys, commander of a regiment at Siege of Boston, Col. in Connecticut Line from 1776 til end of war, and future Gov. of Conn. Light wear, else fine. Documents with matross or Christmas crossing association are scarce. A splendid item.