General Washington Crossing the Delaware

In December of 1776, things looked bad for the Continental Army. A series of defeats at the hands of the British had driven the Americans out of New York and then New Jersey and forced Washington to retreat with his army across the Delaware river into Pennsylvania. Furthermore, Washington faced the possibility of losing many of his men within the month when their enlistments were due to expire. Washington realized that if he did not attack soon, he would find himself without an army when the British left their winter quarters in the Spring. Therefore, he decided to attack.

On Christmas Day, 1776, General Washington ordered his men to get as many boats as they could find and ready them for a crossing that night. Washington planned to cross nine miles north of Trenton, New Jersey which he planned to attack. The weather was bitter cold and the river was swollen with ice, but all of the boats made it across safely. In all, some 2,500 men crossed with Washington.

The next morning, Washington marched his men south (many of them without shoes) and attacked the Hessian (German mercenaries) garrison at Trenton. The Hessians were caught completely by surprise and many of them were hung-over from their Christmas revelries the day before. The Hessians resisted, but surrendered after losing their commander. The Americans lost four men killed and eight wounded to the 900 Hessians killed, wounded, or captured.

Ill weather forced Washington to retreat back across the Delaware to Pennsylvania without attacking Princeton, but he returned to Trenton on December 30th and defeated another British Force. On January 3rd, the Americans moved on to Princeton were they won again.

Washington’s gamble paid off and proved the turning point in the war. As news of the victory spread, it renewed the confidence of many patriots that they could and would defeat the British. The success convinced many of Washington’s soldiers to stay after their enlistments expired and demonstrated to potential European allies that the American colonies could win against the British. This was essential in securing vital French support late in the war.