Battle of Trenton

26 December 1776

Continental Victory

After the retreat from New York, General George Washington and his Continental Army fell back from New Jersey into Pennsylvania. Casualties, disease, desertion, and expiring enlistments brought his strength to only about 3,000 men. With the cause of independence at an all-time low, Washington resolved on one bold stroke. American troops crossed the dangerous, ice-choked Delaware River on Christmas night. The Army then marched nine miles south to strike at Hessian-held Trenton, New Jersey, taking them by surprise. In heavy street fighting, Continentals outmaneuvered the Hessians. They swept up nearly 900 prisoners as they captured Trenton. This shocking victory ignited the spirit of the Continental Army and the nascent nation.

After the Battle of Trenton, Washington expected a strong British counterattack. He established a solid defensive position south of Assunpink Creek as British Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis led about 5,000 Crown troops south toward Trenton. American skirmishers slowed the enemy advance. When Cornwallis arrived at Trenton, he launched three attacks but they failed to break the strong American defensive works each time. Late on the evening of 2 January Cornwallis held a council of war to determine if he should continue the attack that evening or give his men rest and resume the offensive in the morning. Cornwallis said that he had the “old fox,” referring to Washington, bagged and that they would collect him in the morning. A few British commanders disagreed and suggested that Washington would be gone by then. They were correct. By the morning, Washington and his Army had slipped away and were marching on Princeton, frustrating Cornwallis.

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