Believed by William Guthman to be one of three such horns carried by soldiers when Washington crossed the Delaware and surprised the Hessians at Trenton, Christmas night, 1776, inscribed "JONATHAN . CRUTTENDEN. / HIS HORN MADE IN / PENNSYLVANIA . 1776" (identified with Jonathan Cruttenden, 1754-1810, a member of the 19th Continental Regt. from New Haven Co., Ct., documented as a private in Capt. Bostwick's company) with fragmentary inscription, "BATTLE . W . P..." (a reference to the action at White Plains, NY, a defeat for the Americans the previous October, which drove them across the Delaware to the Pennsylvania shore), decorated all around with various imagery, including a large profile of a soldier standing with his right arm raised, another soldier in similar pose holding up a sword, watching a scene of dogs chasing deer; cow's horn, with wooden butt cap centering a rose-head nail, 10 3/4 in. L.
Provenance: From the estate of a Maryland collector. Purchased from William Guthman, March, 1991, and cited by him in his DRUMS A'BEATING (Hartford, Ct.: 1993) pp.204-206. Accompanied by copies of relevant research and documentation.

Horn shortened by about an inch during period of use, leaving only the edge of a decorative border band. Considerable damage from horn worms, mostly affecting the last inscription line and the adjacent soldier. Other spots of wear, with traces of old doodles and designs. Mouth with chips and losses