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1) It was Christmas night, 1776. Snowing. Cold.
2) George Washington's remnant of the Continental Army, beaten in several consecutive engagements, was on the run.
2) George Washington's remnant of the Continental Army, beaten in several consecutive engagements, was on the run.
3) Chased through New Jersey, Washington's force--20,000 strong at Long Island--was now down to about 4,000-6,000 men . . . but almost 1/3 were not fit to fight.
4) They crossed out of New Jersey into Pennsylvania and received another 2,000 solid reinforcements.
4) They crossed out of New Jersey into Pennsylvania and received another 2,000 solid reinforcements.
5) Equally bad, Washington had lost many of his supplies in the evacuations and retreat. On the 24th, much needed blankets arrived.
6) Washington was itching for an attack on his foe. He he run enough.
6) Washington was itching for an attack on his foe. He he run enough.
7) He planned a bold move above Trenton, crossing the river with the main force, while a smaller force was to cross at Dunk's Ferry as a diversion, and a third group was to hold Assunpink Creek.
8) Washington intended to have his men ready to attack Trenton by sun up, including his artillery pieces. But despite heroic rowing of the Durham boats by John Glover's seamen, the Marbelehead regiment from Massachusetts, they did not even form up for the 9 mile march til 4 am.
9) That battle was shockingly short. Washington split his forces into two columns, one overlooking the city (the Hessians who were in Trenton were sitting ducks with their barracks lined up for Patriot artillery) & one body from the flank.
10) Hessian Col. Rall was mortally wounded. Washington refused to accept the surrender, deeming mercenaries as not fit to be soldiers. Rall surrendered to a subordinate.
11) Only 3 Americans died; 22 Hessians were killed, 98 wounded . . . and 1,000 surrendered.
11) Only 3 Americans died; 22 Hessians were killed, 98 wounded . . . and 1,000 surrendered.
12) Under the military code of the day, if you could not care for prisoners you made them swear never to take up arms again---then you let them go!
13) Washington would do that---but first he marched ALL of his own men back NINE MILES to the Delaware River and recrossed.
13) Washington would do that---but first he marched ALL of his own men back NINE MILES to the Delaware River and recrossed.
14) Washington, his 6,000 men, and 1,000 Hessians re-crossed the Delaware. Not long after Washington took the Hessian oaths that they would not be combatants again. He let them go.
MOST settled in the US & became American citizens!
14) The crossing back was worse than the first
MOST settled in the US & became American citizens!
14) The crossing back was worse than the first
15) The snow gave way to plummeting temperatures & extreme cold. Many men got frost bite.
16) Nevertheless, Washington had his first major victory of the war, a decisive defeat of the hated Hessians, & soon re-crossed the Delaware a third time for another battle . . .
16) Nevertheless, Washington had his first major victory of the war, a decisive defeat of the hated Hessians, & soon re-crossed the Delaware a third time for another battle . . .
17) . . . at Princeton. This time, it was an open field affair with the British regulars against the Continentals.
18) This time, Washington's subordinates found themselves engaged before the General had his men up. The Americans started to break.
18) This time, Washington's subordinates found themselves engaged before the General had his men up. The Americans started to break.
19) A handful of miraculous reinforcements steadied the line, but it started to break again; then American artillery (some seized from the Hessians earlier) began to push the Brits back; but the Americans started to break again.
20) Then the General rode up on his white horse, all 6/4" of him. Impossible to miss. He rode right into the fleeing troops shouting
"Parade with us my brave fellows! There is but a handful of the enemy and we shall have them directly!"
"Parade with us my brave fellows! There is but a handful of the enemy and we shall have them directly!"
21) As he said this, the Americans formed up into a giant volley line . . . not even 100 yards from the British lines. Washington, all 6'4" of him on his big white horse . . .
was right in the middle of the battlefield, alone.
was right in the middle of the battlefield, alone.
22) Both sides opened fire. Washington later found musket ball holes in his hat and his coat . . . but none touched him or his horse, and the British ran.
23) In two Christmas battles, the American Republic was saved.
23) In two Christmas battles, the American Republic was saved.
