The Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton
On December 26th, George Washington devised a perilous plan to cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessians. After a short battle, almost two-thirds of the Hessians were captured or killed. The battle of Trenton was not just a crucial win for the Patriots and George Washington but was also a tremendous confidence and morale boost for the Continental army and inspired reenlistments. This left the Loyalists in the dust.
The years for the army had not been going so well. George Washington’s men had suffered dreadful defeats at New York. The losses of Washington and Lee had put a heavy toll on the Patriots because they were in such desperate need of food and supplies with many men lacking shoes and still in their summer uniforms. Many of the troops were also taken as prisoners or killed. This caused the Patriots to retreat to New Jersey with the army of Lord Cornwallis who wanted to gain protection of the Delaware River. Washington was losing more than half of his army due to immense desertion, illness, and expiring enlistments. The Patriots found temporary safety by crossing the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. Since the British were close behind the boats that weren’t used for evacuation were demolished so the British couldn’t follow until ice was formed. Washington had made a camp and attempted to reinvigorate his shrinking army while he had time.
As winter came around, many thought the campaign and war were over. It would have been logical for both groups to go into winter quartering and resupply to get ready for the spring campaign. The British did and returned to New York and went to Pennsylvania for the winter leaving mainly Hessians alone. Washington feared that his army would not survive in its current state. His soldiers needed a morale boost badly so they were read the pamphlet “The Crisis” written by Thomas Pain. This inspired the men to have the phrase “Victory or Death”. With a morale army, Washington believed a daring
On December 26th, George Washington devised a perilous plan to cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessians. After a short battle, almost two-thirds of the Hessians were captured or killed. The battle of Trenton was not just a crucial win for the Patriots and George Washington but was also a tremendous confidence and morale boost for the Continental army and inspired reenlistments. This left the Loyalists in the dust.
The years for the army had not been going so well. George Washington’s men had suffered dreadful defeats at New York. The losses of Washington and Lee had put a heavy toll on the Patriots because they were in such desperate need of food and supplies with many men lacking shoes and still in their summer uniforms. Many of the troops were also taken as prisoners or killed. This caused the Patriots to retreat to New Jersey with the army of Lord Cornwallis who wanted to gain protection of the Delaware River. Washington was losing more than half of his army due to immense desertion, illness, and expiring enlistments. The Patriots found temporary safety by crossing the Delaware River to Pennsylvania. Since the British were close behind the boats that weren’t used for evacuation were demolished so the British couldn’t follow until ice was formed. Washington had made a camp and attempted to reinvigorate his shrinking army while he had time.
As winter came around, many thought the campaign and war were over. It would have been logical for both groups to go into winter quartering and resupply to get ready for the spring campaign. The British did and returned to New York and went to Pennsylvania for the winter leaving mainly Hessians alone. Washington feared that his army would not survive in its current state. His soldiers needed a morale boost badly so they were read the pamphlet “The Crisis” written by Thomas Pain. This inspired the men to have the phrase “Victory or Death”. With a morale army, Washington believed a daring