We all know the story: How George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Bucks County in a blizzard on Christmas night 1776 to make a surprise attack on Hessian troops guarding Trenton for the British.
The American rebels captured 900 and marched them to Newtown under guard before leading them to Philadelphia for a rousing celebration. Ol’ George won a smashing victory, convincing King George III in London that the rebels just might win the American Revolution.
But what no one realized at the time was the enemy would strike back in a most unusual way: By unleashing the Hessian fly. The tiny insect would become infamous for destroying wheat crops throughout Bucks County and the newborn nation.