By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON CROSSING, N.J. (AP) — George Washington has made his annual Christmas Day ride across the Delaware River.
Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. The 61st reenactment of it was staged Wednesday.
Hundreds of people gather each year to hear Washington's stand-in deliver stirring words to the troops and watch three boats make the crossing from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.
During the original crossing, boats ferried 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river. The troops marched 8 miles downriver before battling Hessian mercenaries in the streets of Trenton.
Thirty Hessians were killed. Two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march, but none died in battle.
Below, some photos from the reenactment:
Gen. George Washington, played by John Godzieba, center, walks with his troops across a bridge after the group of re-enactors successfully crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey during the 61st annual re-enactment of Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river, the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, in Washington Crossing, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
George Washington, played by John Godzieba, left, walks onto land on the New Jersey side after a crew of re-enactors crossed the Delaware River on a boat from Pennsylvania during the 61st annual re-enactment of Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river, the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, in Washington Crossing, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A boat containing George Washington, played by John Godzieba, approaches the riverbank on the New Jersey side after a crew of re-enactors crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania during the 61st annual re-enactment of Washington's daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river, the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, in Washington Crossing, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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