REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Early Battles
Battle of Trenton 1776
In the winter of 1776 troop morale was down and enlistments would soon be up at the end of the year. Washington needed a victory. Having Thomas Paine's The American Crisis read to his troops, Washington took the bold move to go on the attack.
On the night of December 24, 1776 Washington and his 2400 troops crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, marched throughout the night to the nearby city of Trenton, and launched an early morning attack against the German Hessians who had taken camp in the New Jersey city. Taking the mercenaries by surprise, American forces captured over 900 Hessians, giving Washington's troops the moral and supplies needed to sustain his struggling army.
In the winter of 1776 troop morale was down and enlistments would soon be up at the end of the year. Washington needed a victory. Having Thomas Paine's The American Crisis read to his troops, Washington took the bold move to go on the attack.
On the night of December 24, 1776 Washington and his 2400 troops crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey, marched throughout the night to the nearby city of Trenton, and launched an early morning attack against the German Hessians who had taken camp in the New Jersey city. Taking the mercenaries by surprise, American forces captured over 900 Hessians, giving Washington's troops the moral and supplies needed to sustain his struggling army.
Video: Movie scene "The Crossing"
|
Video: Battle of Trenton
|