General George Washington crossed the Delaware with a division of his army. It was a treacherous crossing, a violent snowstorm was raging and the Delaware river was full of ice. But George Washington and the determined soldiers crossed the river. The weather changed and the storm turned to freezing sleet and rain but on the soldiers marched on to their destination which was the Hessian garrison at Trenton. The American forces under George Washington and Nathanael Greene surprised the German Hessians holding the roads leading inland from the town of Trenton.
A few horsemen escaped before John Stark could prevent them, but all of the fleeing German Hessian foot soldiers were killed or captured. Nearly Hessian prisoners were marched through Philadelphia. It was a significant victory for the Americans and a crushing defeat for the Hessian army. Washington was about to lead another American victory at the Battle of Princeton.
Facts about the Battle of Trenton Facts about who fought in the Battle of Trenton and who were the leaders of the conflict. Facts about where the Battle of Trenton was fought, the location of the battlefield. Facts and stats about the number of troops involved in the conflict and the numbers of those who were killed, wounded, missing in action or captured.
Interesting history and facts about the Battle of Trenton:. The following picture represents some of the early designs of the American flag. The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield and used as a rallying point for troops.
American Revolutionary war - The Battle of Trenton The American Revolutionary War , which included the Battle of Trenton, was the culmination of the political American Revolution, in which many of the American colonists rejected the legitimacy of the British Parliament to govern the 13 colonies without representation. Battle of Trenton This article on the Battle of Trenton provides facts and information about this conflict between the British and American forces during the Revolutionary War: What was the date of the Battle of Trenton?
George Washington at left on horseback points to the river as the troops embark across the river in rowboats on the evening of December 25, Washington realized that without a decisive action, the Continental Army was likely doomed, so he planned a daring assault on the Hessian garrison at Trenton.
In the end, neither Cadwalader nor Ewing were able to carry out their parts of the plan. As he approached the town, Washington divided his men, sending flanking columns under General Nathaniel Greene and General John Sullivan. Rall attempted to rally his troops but was never able to establish a defensive perimeter, and was shot from his horse and fatally wounded. The Hessians quickly surrendered. All told, 22 were killed, 92 wounded, captured and escaped in the Battle of Trenton.
The Americans suffered two frozen to death and five wounded. Realizing his men could not hold Trenton against British reinforcements, Washington withdrew across the Delaware. However, on December 30 he crossed back into New Jersey with an army of 2, Informed that 8, British troops under Generals Charles Cornwallis and James Grant were marching south from Princeton, Washington worked quickly to supplement his numbers, urging militiamen whose terms had expired to stay on for six weeks.
The next day Cornwallis arrived with an army 5, After skirmishes at the American lines and three attempts to cross the bridge at Assunpink Creek, Cornwallis relented for the day, assuming he had Washington trapped. That night, Washington deployed men to keep the campfires going while the rest of his troops made a nighttime march north to Princeton.
To keep their movement secret, torches were extinguished and wagon wheels muffled in heavy cloth. Washington sent a small force under General Hugh Mercer to destroy a bridge. Some state militiamen were among those unable to cross the Delaware. Washington hoped to attack before dawn, but the long and frigid march to Trenton lasted until about 8 a. Early into the trek, the force split: Gen. Nathanael Greene, joined by Washington, took his division south on interior roads.
Due to the wet conditions, soldiers on both sides had issues keeping their gunpowder dry. Artillery was known as the foul-weather weapon. It was much easier to keep powder dry for the artillery. Kidder estimated the two cannons under Capt. The Americans lost only two soldiers, who froze on the march to Trenton, and sustained a handful of battle casualties, including future President James Monroe, who was shot and survived a severed shoulder artery.
Johann Rall, was killed along with a reported 21 of his men. More than 80 Hessians were wounded and in all about captured, with the remainder escaping. Following the victory at Trenton, Washington and his exhausted troops returned to Pennsylvania with their Hessian prisoners to ponder the next move.
Washington soon gambled again, returning to Trenton — this time to engage the British. Craighead, the Washington Crossing park historian, said Washington first had to offer a Dec. On Jan. Throughout the day, the outmanned patriots delayed British troops from reaching the bridge by repeated skirmishes and retreats.
American artillery again saved the day, thwarting three British attempts to cross the Assunpink. With darkness upon them, the British waited until morning to resume the attack with their superior troop strength. But Washington outwitted them, leaving a small number of soldiers behind to tend campfires. The main army marched off as quietly as possible to surprise the enemy from behind, more than 12 miles away at Princeton.
Colonel John Haslet took command but was quickly killed. Neil to retreat.
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