America in Crisis
Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of.
“These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
- Thomas Paine, “The American Crisis”
The cause of American independence was in a severe state of crisis back in December 1776. Washington’s army had suffered a string of defeats, barely escaping from New York, retreating through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, and eventually encamping on the banks of the Delaware River.
It was there that General Washington decided to take the offensive. With enlistments set to expire, Washington attempted a treacherous icy river crossing on Christmas morning, attacking the Hessian garrison in Trenton and securing a desperately needed victory.
But the campaign didn’t end there. Washington recrossed back into Pennsylvania and then crossed the Delaware River again over the next week, fighting a delaying action at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and winning another incredible victory at the Battle of Princeton.
These “Ten Crucial Days,” from the crossing on December 25, 1776, to the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, not only changed the course of American Independence but world history.
The regiment that helped Washington stave off annihilation in New York by ferrying over 9,000 soldiers across the East River under cover of darkness, and later rowing his army across the Delaware River was the 14th Continental Regiment, known as the Marbleheaders - as they hailed from Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Fishermen by trade turned soldiers, the ranks of Glover’s Regiment sacrificed a great deal for the cause of American Independence.
Author Patrick K. O’Donnell highlights their incredible exploits and sacrifice within his must-read book, “The Indispensables.”
“The members of the Marblehead Regiment often fought for no monetary gain and became broken men—physically, economically, and mentally. Some paid the ultimate price, surrendering their very lives. They served honorably, against tremendous hardship, and did not desert their brothers in arms. The price to Marblehead was enormous in blood and treasure. By the end of the war, the town had 378 widows, 35 percent of the female population in the town, and 652 children would never see their fathers again.”
We don’t often hear about the sacrifices of ordinary Americans during that time, but it is worth noting, as today, many Americans aren’t asked for much in the service of their country. Instead, America’s disastrous forever wars have been fought by a select warrior class that is, unfortunately, and deliberately, being hollowed out by various woke initiatives within the U.S. military.
Similar to the situation faced by the American cause in 1776, present-day America is grappling with a profound crisis, where the very essence of its existence is being challenged by an ideological adversary committed to its demise.
The left’s project of “decolonization” has attacked the foundation of the nation itself, leading to the tearing down of monuments to its past, whether dedicated to reconciliation after America’s bloody Civil War, or even the founding fathers themselves.
What will the United States look like in a few short years when we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026? The answer to that question will rely less on politicians and more on the beliefs and actions of ordinary men and women, much as it did back in 1776, as we once again find ourselves in a fight for the very future of this nation.
Find solace in knowing that you belong to a lineage of patriots who responded to this call despite seemingly insurmountable challenges. Ordinary individuals, not just the founders, committed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to fight for their convictions. The sacrifices they made were substantial.
Today requires the same level of commitment to overcome the malevolent forces equally determined to destroy all that is good about our country and Western Civilization at large.
The words of Dr. Joseph Warren are as true today as they were during the early days of the American Revolution.
"Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful, but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."
As America and the West grapple with cultural and political upheaval, we once again metaphorically stand on the icy shores of the Delaware River. We can honor those who came before us by demonstrating ourselves worthy of their sacrifice, opting once more to cross the frozen river and persist, sometimes in the face of overwhelming odds, in the fight for what we hold dear.
Merry Christmas.