Battle of Trenton
After a string of catastrophic defeats in New York through August–November 1776 — Long Island, Kip's Bay, White Plains, the loss of Fort Washington and Fort Lee — Washington's army had shrunk to roughly 2,400 effective men, retreating across New Jersey with the British in pursuit. Continental enlistments were expiring on 31 December; without a victory, the army would dissolve. On the night of 25–26 December 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware River in sleet and ice with 2,400 men and nine artillery pieces — the crossing itself took nine hours — and at dawn launched a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton under Colonel Johann Rall. The Hessians, approximately 1,400 men who had been celebrating Christmas, were caught entirely off-guard. The entire garrison was captured or killed at a cost of five American wounded (two others froze to death during the crossing). Washington followed the victory with another at Princeton on 3 January 1777, driving the British back to New Brunswick and recovering much of New Jersey.
- Year: 1776 CE
- Category: Military
