Facts About the Battle of Trenton

The Battle of Trenton was one of the pivotal moments of the Revolutionary War. Although 1776 opened with the recapture of Boston, the summer and autumn had brought nothing but defeat and retreat. If General George Washington had not chosen to make this bold counterattack against the British Army, or had he lost, the result would very likely have been the disintegration of the Continental Army and the loss the war.

Background

1776 had been a year of failure and defeat for the Continental Army operating under the command of General George Washington. Although their siege of Boston had resulted in the British being forced to abandon the city, the rematch that took place in New York that August bordered on military disaster. Washington was chased from Long Island and Manhattan, and was lucky to escape without part or all of his army being destroyed. They were then pursued through New Jersey, being forced to cross the Delaware and abandon a large part of that colony to the British as well. Morale in the Army was in a pitiful state. Noted Revolutionary propagandist Thomas Paine described this by writing "These are the times that try men's souls," and the Continental Congress had so little confidence in the situation that much of the membership abandoned the capital, Philadelphia.

The Plan

Washington was keenly aware that his men needed a victory soon if his army was to be kept from disintegrating over the winter through desertion and expired enlistments. Its numbers had already declined to roughly 5,000. To have stood pat would have almost certainly led to the failure of the Revolution. However, this victory had to be on terms his weakened force could handle. Washington decided on a plan that was typical of his early generalship: bold, but overly complicated. Two diversionary attacks were to be made elsewhere in New Jersey, while Washington himself would lead the main force of 2,400 men against the British garrison of Trenton, New Jersey. The diversionary forces would then link up with Washington, and move on to attack other targets in New Jersey if the opportunity presented itself.

Crossing the Delaware

The British in New Jersey had been kept busy by severe raiding in early December, but just before Washington's plan was set to begin, the weather turned abominable. Neither of the diversionary attacks were made due to the awful conditions. Washington pressed on, crossing the Delaware late on Christmas night and in the early hours of the morning of the 26th. However, he was forced to abandon his plan of a pre-dawn attack due to the weather-imposed delays. Two columns under his command made their way to Trenton, placing the town in a pincer. The northern column was under the command General Nathaniel Greene, and the southern column was under General John Sullivan. The weather continued to be a severe handicap, and two men died due to exposure on the march towards town. General Sullivan even expressed concern that the muskets would not fire in the wet, freezing conditions. Washington made his resolve plain by saying the men would attack with bayonets, if necessary.

The Attack

Trenton was garrisoned by three regiments of mercenary Hessians, roughly 1,500 strong. The American surprise was almost complete, and the Hessian force was trapped in the town. The Germans fought bravely and tried to break out, but failed. Surrounded and outnumbered, they surrendered. They suffered 22 killed, 83 wounded, and almost 900 captured. The Continental Army lost only five wounded, plus the two men who had died on the road from the cold.

Aftermath

The victory had the desired effect, galvanizing Washington's men and the larger war effort. However, with only 2,400 men and lacking the reinforcements he had been counting on from the reunion with his diversionary forces, Washington was very exposed and lacked the strength to attempt to exploit his victory. He had to retreat back across the Delaware and into Pennsylvania, but would regroup and return to hit the British again on January 2nd, 1777 at Princeton.

Resources

• Trenton Battle Monument