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WASHINGTON
CROSSES THE DELAWARE RIVER
December 1776 was a desperate time for George Washington and the American Revolution. The ragtag Continental Army was encamped along the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware River exhausted, demoralized and uncertain of its future.
The troubles had begun the previous August when British and Hessian troops invaded Long Island routing the colonial forces, forcing a desperate escape to the island of Manhattan. The British followed up their victory with an attack on Manhattan that compelled the Americans to again retreat, this time across the Hudson River to New Jersey.
The British followed in hot pursuit, chasing the Americans through New Jersey and by December had forced the Continental Army to abandon the state and cross the Delaware into Pennsylvania. With New Jersey in their firm control and Rhode Island successfully occupied, the British were confident that the Revolution had been crushed. The Continental Army appeared to be merely an annoyance soon to be swatted into oblivion like a bothersome bee at a picnic.
To compound Washington's problems, the enlistments of the majority of the militias under his command were due to expire at the end of the month and the troops return to their homes. Washington had to do something and quickly.
His decision was to attack the British. The target was the Hessian-held town of Trenton just across the Delaware River.
During the night of December 25, Washington led his troops across the ice-swollen Delaware about 9 miles north of Trenton. The weather was horrendous and the river treacherous. Raging winds combined with snow, sleet and rain to produce almost impossible conditions. To add to the difficulties, a significant number of Washington's force marched through the snow without shoes.
The next morning they attacked to the south, taking the Hessian garrison by surprise and over-running the town. After fierce fighting, and the loss of their commander, the Hessians surrendered.
Washington's victory was complete but his situation precarious. The violent weather continued - making a strike towards Princeton problematic. Washington and his commanding officers decided to retrace their steps across the Delaware taking their Hessian prisoners with them.
The news of the American victory spread rapidly through the colonies reinvigorating the failing spirit of the Revolution. The battle's outcome also gave Washington and his officers the confidence to mount another campaign. On December 30 they again crossed the Delaware, attacked and won another victory at Trenton on January 2, and then pushed on to Princeton defeating the British there on January 3.
Although not apparent at the time, these battles were a decisive turning point in the Revolution. The victories pulled the languishing Revolution out of the depths of despair, galvanized colonial support, shocked the British and convinced potential allies such as France, Holland and Spain, that the Continental Army was a force to be reckoned with.
Elisha Bostwick was a soldier in the Continental Army who took part in the battle and published his memoirs shortly after. We join his story as Washington (whom he refers to as "his Excellency") and his force begin to cross the Delaware:
"[Our] army passed through Bethleham and Moravian town and so on to the Delaware which we crossed 9 miles north of Trenton and encamped on the Pennsylvania side and there remained to the 24th December. [O]ur whole army was then set on motion and toward evening began to re-cross the Delaware but by obstructions of ice in the river did not all get across till quite late in the evening, and all the time a constant fall of snow with some rain, and finally our march began with the torches of our field pieces stuck in the, exhalters. [They] sparkled and blazed in the storm all night and about day light a halt was made at which time his Excellency and aids came near to the front on the side of the path where soldiers stood.
I heard his Excellency as he was coming on speaking to and encouraging the soldiers. The words he spoke as he passed by where I stood and in my hearing were these:
'Soldiers, keep by your officers. For God's sake, keep by your officers!' Spoke in a deep and solemn voice.
While passing a slanting, slippery bank his Excellency's horse's hind feet both slipped from under him, and he seized his horse's mane and the horse recovered.
Our horses were then unharnessed and the artillery men prepared. We marched on and it was not long before we heard the out sentries of the enemy both on the road we were in and the eastern road, and their out guards retreated firing, and our army, then with a quick step pushing on upon both roads, at the same time entered the town. Their artillery taken, they resigned with little opposition, about nine hundred, all Hessians, with 4 brass field pieces; the remainder crossing the bridge at the lower end of the town escaped....
Marched the next day with our prisoners back to an encampment. I here make a few remarks as to the personal appearance of the Hessians.
They are of a moderate stature, rather broad shoulders, their limbs not of equal proportion, light complexion with a bluish tinge, hair cued as tight to head as possible, sticking straight back like the handle of an iron skillet. Their uniform blue with black facings, brass drums which made a tinkling sound, their flag or standard of the richest black silk and the devices upon it and the lettering in gold leaf....
When crossing the Delaware with the prisoners in flat bottom boats the ice continually stuck to the boats, driving them down stream; the boatmen endeavoring to clear off the ice pounded the boat, and stamping with their feet, beckoned to the prisoners to do the same, and they all set to jumping at once with their cues flying up and down, soon shook off the ice from the boats, and the next day recrossed the Delaware again and returned back to Trenton, and there on the first of January 1777 our years service expired, and then by the pressing solicitation of his Excellency a part of those whose time was out consented on a ten dollar bounty to stay six weeks longer, and although desirous as others to return home, I engaged to stay that time and made every exertion in my power to make as many of the soldiers stay with me as I could, and quite a number did engage with me who otherwise would have went home. "
References:
Bostwick's account appears in Commager, Henry Steele and Robert B. Morris, The Spirit of 'Seventy Six (1958); Fischer, David Hackett, Washington's Crossing (2004).
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THE BATTLE
OF TRENTON
The Battle of Trenton was fought during the American Revolutionary war and it took place near Trenton, New Jersey. The battle was fought between the Americans against the Hessians and British troops after the Americans lost the battle in New York and were forced to retreat through New Jersey. The battle began on December 25, 1776 and ended on December 26, 1776
Armies and Commanders
In the battle of Trenton, the American army was led by General George Washington and his army had nearly 2,400 soldiers commanded by Major Generals John Sullivan and Nathanael Greene. The Hessian army was led by Colonel Johann Rall. Three regiments of Hessian troops were stationed at Trenton with a total of around 1,400 troops. A small British unit called 16th Dragoons was also there at Trenton.
Background
After a humiliating defeat in New York by the hands of the British and their Hessian auxiliaries, the American army led by General Washington was forced to retreat across New Jersey as the army of British commander Lord Cornwallis was in close pursuit. Washington’s army got temporary safety when they crossed Delaware River to enter Pennsylvania.
Their morale after the defeat was very low and nearly ninety-percent of the troops, who fought the battle of Long Island, left the army and went back. Soldiers felt that they were fighting for a losing cause, and General Washington faced a tough task of holding up the troops for the battles ahead. The enlistment terms of most of the soldiers were about to expire at the end of the year. At that time, three regiments of Hessian soldiers commanded by Colonel Rall were stationed at Trenton, a small town in New Jersey.
American Battle Preparations
Washington planned the attack on Trenton to revive the dying confidence in his troops with a victory over British. Washington chose to plan the battle in rough weather as the terms of most enlisted soldiers were to expire by the year’s end. Washington planned to attack the Hessian regiments stationed at Trenton from 3 directions simultaneously.
General Cadwalader was to launch a diversionary attack on the British garrison at Bordentown to block any reinforcements from the south. The main assault force comprised of 2,400 troops and was led by Sullivan and Greene. The army would cross the Delaware River near Trenton and would then split into two parts – one led by Greene and other by Sullivan. Greene would attack from the north and Sullivan from the south in a coordinated attack. Also, across the river, General James Ewing was placed at Trenton Ferry with 700 men to prevent Hessian soldiers from escaping. Washington planned also planned to carry out attack on Princeton and New Brunswick after a victory in Trenton.
Hessian Preparations
Hessians arrived at the town of Trenton on December 14th to form their winter quarters. Rall sensed the possibility of attack from the Continental Army. He asked for reinforcements from the British General James Grant but was denied since the British considered the American army to be in disarray and did not expect them to launch an attack. Trenton was a small town without any walls or fortifications. Colonel Rall’s officers suggested that they build fortifications for the town, but he ignored the suggestions which eventually cost him heavily. Also, there was evidence that Rall had been informed by spies about the American preparations of an attack. However, Rall took these suggestions lightly and failed to sufficiently prepare for the defense of Trenton.
The Battle of Trenton
Washington and his Continental Army planned to move on the Christmas night, but faced stormy weather on the way. By the time they reached the Delaware River, it started snowing and crossing the river became difficult. Due to bad weather, Cadwalader and Ewing were unable to join the attack. The tough weather took some toll on the soldiers, but Washington tried to keep up the morale of the troops by encouraging them throughout.
The army split up in two as per plan with Greene moving towards the north and Sullivan towards the south of Trenton. Washington moved from the north along with Greene and his troops, and they attacked the Hessian outpost, forcing the Hessian men to retreat to the higher grounds of North Trenton where they were joined by main Hessian army.
From the south of Trenton, Sullivan reached the Assunpink Creek and waited for the Greene’s unit to reach north while driving out the Hessian outpost. After a while, Sullivan attacked at the south, forcing many Hessian soldiers and to run away and swim across the creek. Both Greene and Sullivan’s column pushed into Trenton. Artillery and cannons from across the Delaware River were commissioned. The surprise attack and heavy fire took a substantial toll on Hessian army.
The American army took total control of the battle. All three Hessian regiments were isolated and were not able to coordinate. American soldiers took cover in houses and from there, fired freely. During the battle, Colonel Rall was fatally wounded. The Hessian troops were completely surrounded and were forced to surrender. Hessians suffered significant losses with 22 dead, 83 wounded, and nearly 1,100 troops captured. Americans only suffered 2 dead and 5 wounded.
Aftermath
As Cadwalader and Ewing were unable to join along with their 2,600 troops, Washington dropped the plan to advance further to Princeton and New Brunswick. After the battle, Washington and his troops moved back to Pennsylvania by crossing Delaware, taking back prisoners and captured supplies. This battle, despite its small scale, did wonders to the confidence level of Continental Army. They believed that they could defeat the European army, even after Hessians instilled fear in them during the battle of Long Island. It led to increased enlistment into the army.
British General Howe was surprised by the ease with which Americans won against Hessian troops. With the increased confidence of the Americans, the colonial effort was enthused and the morale advantage of British army was neutralized.
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