Battles of Trenton and Princeton

1
Battles of Trenton and Princeton

• 1776 - 177712/25/76 and 01/03/77

2
The Plot more

• GW is depressed and badly in need of a victory
• defecting soldiers
• soldiers are either fresh, but untrained or
  experienced but exhausted
• hasnt won battles since Boston last June
• term for enlistment is up 12/31/76if they all
  go, numbers will fall from 20,000 to 3,000
• Washington and his army retreat from losses (in
  Canada, in NYwhere the Brits would maintain
  control for the next 7 years)
• GW writes to his brother I think the game is
  pretty near up but still has courage and
  dedication I will not ask any man go further
  than I do. I will fight so long as I have a leg
  or an arm.
• GW pushes on, hoping for a victory before the end
  of Dec

3
Plot (cont.)

• At Trenton
• GW crosses the Delaware River in the middle of
  the night. Get to Trenton 8 am, the morning
  after Christmas.
• Hessians are hung over from celebrating the day
  before. Colonel Rahl had received a warning note
  from a Tory but hadnt read it.
• Cont soldiers surrounded their camp, and Hessians
  surrendered.
• 900 prisoners taken, 100 Brits killed. Only 2
  Americans die from the cold.

4
Plot (cont.)

• At Princeton
• GW took the soldiers out on what could be their
  last night with him Dec 30
• Cornwallis had been pursuing GW. Stops on one
  side of the river, decided to bag the old fox in
  the morning
• Cont were camped across a river from the Brits
• GW left some soldiers in camp to make noises,
  stoke the fires, etc.
• The rest of the Cont soldiers snuck around them
  in the night and attacked in the morning

5
Key People and Groups

• Colonists
• Gen. George Wash. commander of the continental
  army
• Thomas Paine author of The Crisis which is
  ordered read to the troops. "These are the times
  that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the
  sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink
  from the service of their country but he that
  stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of
  man and woman.
• British
• General Howe had NY victory ordered
  Cornwallis down to stop Americans
• Gen. Lord Cornwallis commander of Brit soldiers
  at Princeton
• Hessians professional German soldiers hired by
  English to help them fight. 1200 of them
  protected Trenton.

6
Historical Importance/Significance

• Up to this point, the British are winning the
  war.
• The victories bolster American confidence,
  morale, and hope.
• Term for enlistment was coming up and this
  encouraged people to re-enlist
• French are starting to believe that the Colonists
  might win
• They occupy all of New Jersey as recruiting
  ground.

7
Washington crossing the Delaware River
8
Outcome

• Trenton 12/26/76
• Battle lasted about an hour
• 900 prisoners taken, about 100 killed
• Only 2 Americans die from cold
• Valuable supplies taken
• Almost pursued Hessians, but bad weather and
  casks of rum prevailed

9
Outcome

• Princeton 01/03/77
• 200 British soldiers taken prisoner, 86 killed
• 40 Americans killed
• Transformed George Washington into a legend