November 25 1783 A troop of Continental Army soldiers their uniforms torn and ragged their boots worn through shoulder their muskets and form into ranks The officers mount up saddle leather creaking swords jangling against stirrup irons Their horses stomp and blow in the cold morning air They wait then snap to attention General Washington strides forward forward He swings up into his saddle and signals the troops just as he has done through all the eight long years of the Revolution leading this army of American colonists farmers and tradesmen blacksmiths and merchants into battle against the British empire 5
But now as the Americans march into New York City from the north the last British soldiers haul down their flag at the southern tip of Manhattan Island board ships and sail away Jubilation General Washington and the Continental Army have defeated the mighty British Army the greatest fighting force on Earth They have freed the Americans from the rule of England's KING Cannons thunder out a thirteen- gun salute and the citizens of New York flood into the streets cheering rushing toward the sound of marching feet straining for even one glimpse of General Washington 6
