No picture for this one, just a quick reminder of what happened on this day 238 years ago.
Coming up to December 1776 the American Revolution was teetering on the edge of dissolution. The thrill of the war and the realty had set in. The euphoria from victories earlier in the year were all but wiped out with the debacle in New York and the long retreat through New Jersey (stay tuned for more of these details at a later date).
General Washington knew that he had to take action or the cause would spin totally out of control. So he did what no one expected and planned an attack. From the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River he would lead the remainder of the Continental Army in a daring and secret invasion of New Jersey, his target being the Hessian mercenary camp in Trenton. The British were spread thin in New Jersey, but with winter howling around them figured the campaign season was over for the year, so felt being spread out was not that much of a risk and the letting the Germans man the front lines, meant the regular British troops would be stationed in the interior.
Washington planned a three prong invasion and had been in contact with several units of the New Jersey militia that would support his attacked. Undercover of a winter storm at 11pm on Christmas Day the invasion was launched. We have all seen the famous painting by Emanuel Leutze that depicts the noble Washington standing in a row-boat as the river was being breached. Not quite the reality, but not a bad way to remember it.
The Attack on Trenton was a rousing success. The Hessian’s lost 22 killed, 98 wounded and almost 1,000 captured. The Americans, three killed and six wounded. Not bad day’s work.
The victory at Trenton was an offensive win for the cause and reinvigorated the rebels, giving them the strength to continue the fight into 1777, a very important year in the Revolution. Sometimes though a couple of things get left behind in the telling of the story.
The victory at Trenton led immediately to a second battle at Princeton where Washington and his army successfully defeated the rear guard of the British reinforcements sent to Trenton under General Cornwallis. A second win in as many days not only invigorated the Americans, but it caused the British to rethink their strategy in the middle colonies. General Howe, the overall British commander was cautious, but after this he became almost leaden.
Remember when I said that Washington planned for three columns to take part in the assault? Well, two of them ended up late to the party and found themselves several days later in New Jersey with no orders. Rather than cross back over the river, they worked with local militias and made life so unbearable for the British using the guerrilla tactics of the frontier that eventually over the next several weeks the British were forced to shrink their defensive lines until the majority of New Jersey was free of occupation, at least by regular forces.
The war was far from over, but General Washington’s little Christmas trip kept the fight going. So if tonight about 11PM you feel like making a toast to the General, it would be well deserved. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday.