Battle of Trenton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Trenton |
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| Part of the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
 Battle of Trenton, a 1975 portrait of the battle by H. Charles McBarron Jr. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Hesse-Kassel |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| George Washington Nathanael Greene John Sullivan |
Johann Rall † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2,400 | 1,500 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2 dead from exposure 5 wounded |
22 killed 83 wounded 800–900 captured |
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The Battle of Trenton was a very important battle during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on the morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey. General George Washington led his army, called the Continental Army, across the Delaware River the night before. They surprised a group of German soldiers, known as Hessians, who were fighting for the British.
The Hessians were stationed in Trenton. Washington's army attacked them by surprise. After a quick fight, most of the Hessians were captured. The Americans had very few losses. This victory greatly improved the spirits of the Continental Army. It also encouraged many soldiers to stay and fight.
Before this battle, the Continental Army had lost several fights. They had to retreat from New York through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. Many soldiers felt discouraged. To turn things around, General Washington planned a secret attack. He decided to cross the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, December 25-26, and surround the Hessians.
The river crossing was very difficult and dangerous due to the ice and bad weather. Some parts of Washington's army could not cross. This left him with only 2,400 men for the attack. The army then marched about 9 miles (14 km) to Trenton. The Hessians were not expecting an attack. They had few guards or patrols. Washington's forces caught them completely by surprise. After a short but strong fight, most Hessians surrendered. A small group managed to escape across Assunpink Creek.
Even though it was a small battle, this victory was a huge boost. It gave hope to Patriots and supporters of the new United States. Just a week before, many thought the war for independence was lost. This amazing win made soldiers believe they could still win. It also brought new people to join the army.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
In December 1776, the American soldiers were feeling very down. The British and their Hessian allies had pushed the Americans out of New York. The Continental Army had to retreat all the way through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. Many soldiers had left the army. They felt that the fight for independence was hopeless. General Washington, the leader of the army, even wrote that he thought the war was almost over.
At this time, Trenton, New Jersey, was a small town. About 1,400 Hessian soldiers were staying there. They were led by Colonel Johann Rall. General Washington's army had 2,400 men. Major Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan led the foot soldiers. Brigadier General Henry Knox was in charge of the cannons.
Planning the Surprise Attack
Gathering Information
General Washington used a spy named John Honeyman to get information. Honeyman pretended to be a Loyalist, someone who supported the British. He worked as a butcher and bartender in Trenton. This allowed him to talk to British and Hessian soldiers. He convinced them that the American army was too weak to attack.
Just before Christmas, Honeyman arranged to be "captured" by the Americans. He told Washington everything he learned. Then, he "escaped" back to Trenton. On Christmas Eve, Colonel Rall, the Hessian commander, was celebrating with his troops. He felt safe, not knowing Washington's army was getting ready for a surprise attack.
The American Plan
The American plan was to attack Trenton from three directions. Two other generals, John Cadwalader and James Ewing, were supposed to help. Cadwalader would create a distraction to stop British help from coming. Ewing would cross the river and block the Hessians' escape route.
Washington's main force of 2,400 men would cross the Delaware River north of Trenton. They would split into two groups. General Greene's group would attack from the north. General Sullivan's group would attack from the south. The goal was a surprise attack before dawn.
In the week before the battle, American soldiers ambushed enemy patrols. They captured messengers and attacked Hessian guards. This made the Hessians worried. However, their commander, Colonel Rall, did not take enough precautions.
Hessian Preparations
The Hessians arrived in Trenton on December 14, 1776, for their winter break. Trenton was a small town with about 100 houses. Colonel Rall was in charge. Some of his officers suggested building defenses around the town. They even drew up plans. But Rall refused, saying, "Let them come... We will go at them with the bayonet."
As Christmas got closer, some Loyalists warned the Hessians about an American attack. American soldiers who had left the army also told them that Washington was planning something. Rall publicly dismissed these warnings. But in private letters, he admitted he was worried. He asked for British troops to help defend the roads, but his request was denied.
The Hessians had 1,500 men, divided into three regiments. On the night of the attack, they did not send out patrols. The severe weather made them feel safe.
The Dangerous Crossing and March
Before leaving, General Washington wrote a note with the words: "Victory or Death." This became the secret password for the attack. Each soldier carried 60 rounds of ammunition and three days of food. When they reached the Delaware River, they were already behind schedule. Rain began to fall, then turned to sleet, and finally to snow.
The Americans crossed the icy river in large boats called Durham boats. Horses and cannons were carried on bigger ferries. It was a very difficult crossing. Several men fell into the freezing water, but no one died. All the cannons made it across safely.
The terrible weather delayed the landing in New Jersey until 3:00 AM. The plan was to finish by midnight. Washington knew a pre-dawn attack was now impossible. To make things worse, Generals Cadwalader and Ewing could not cross the river due to the weather. This meant Washington's army was alone.
At 4:00 AM, the soldiers began their march towards Trenton. Local volunteers helped guide them. The ground was slippery, but the march was steady. Many soldiers did not have boots. They wrapped rags around their feet. Some men's feet bled, staining the snow red. Two soldiers died from the cold during the march.
Washington rode along the line, encouraging his men. General Sullivan sent a message saying the gunpowder was getting wet. Washington famously replied, "Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton." About 2 miles (3 km) from Trenton, an American advance party accidentally attacked a Hessian outpost. Washington worried this would warn the Hessians. However, Colonel Rall thought it was just a small raid and did not expect another attack that day.
The Battle of Trenton
The American Attack Begins
At 8 AM on December 26, the Hessians had an outpost at a shop about a mile northwest of Trenton. Washington led the attack on this outpost. An American soldier fired, missing a Hessian officer. The officer immediately shouted, "The Enemy!" The Americans fired three times, and the Hessians fired back once. Washington sent soldiers to block the road to Princeton.
The Hessian soldiers at the outpost realized this was a major attack. They retreated, firing as they went. They joined other Hessian guards in Trenton. General Sullivan's column entered Trenton from the south. They blocked the bridge over the Assunpink Creek. This cut off the Hessians' escape route.
As the American columns moved into town, Washington went to a high spot to direct his troops. American cannons from across the Delaware River also began firing. This caused great damage to the Hessian positions.
Hessian Resistance Fails
The Hessian regiments quickly prepared for battle. Colonel Rall ordered his men to form up on King Street. Other regiments took positions on Queen Street. American cannons at the top of both streets began firing. Rall ordered his men to charge the cannons. The Hessians advanced, but American cannon fire and musket fire from houses quickly broke their lines. They fled.
Rall brought out his own cannons, but American fire quickly killed half of the Hessian gunners. The Americans captured these cannons and turned them on the Hessians. On Queen Street, all Hessian attempts to advance were stopped by American cannons. The Hessian regiments became separated. The Lossberg and Rall regiments fell back to a field outside town. They suffered heavy losses from cannon fire and muskets.
In the southern part of town, General Sullivan's men overwhelmed the Hessians. John Stark led a bayonet charge against the Knyphausen regiment. Their weapons would not fire, so their resistance broke. Sullivan's men surrounded them, blocking their escape across the creek.
Hessian Surrender
The Hessians in the field tried to regroup. They wanted to retake the town and escape. Colonel Rall shouted, "Forward! Advance! Advance!" The Hessians moved forward, with their band playing music to boost their spirits.
Washington saw the Hessians approaching. He moved his troops into position. The Hessians were caught in American fire from three directions. Some Americans fired from inside houses. Even some civilians joined the fight. Despite this, the Hessians pushed on and recaptured their cannons. But American soldiers quickly retook the cannons and fired them at the Hessians.
With many Hessian guns unable to fire, their attack stopped. Their formations broke, and they scattered. Colonel Rall was badly wounded. Washington led his troops forward, shouting, "March on, my brave fellows, after me!" Most Hessians retreated into an orchard. They were quickly surrounded and surrendered.
The remaining Knyphausen regiment marched in the wrong direction. They tried to escape across the bridge but found it blocked. Surrounded by Sullivan's men, they also surrendered. This happened just minutes after the rest of the Hessian army gave up.
Losses and Captures
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The Hessian forces lost 22 men killed, including their commander Colonel Johann Rall. 83 were wounded, and 896 were captured. This included the wounded. The Americans had only two deaths during the march from exposure. Five soldiers were wounded in battle. One of these was James Monroe, who later became a president of the United States. He was shot in the shoulder and badly bleeding, but a doctor saved his life.
The captured Hessians were sent to Philadelphia and then to Lancaster. Later, they were moved to Virginia. All four Hessian colonels in Trenton were killed in the battle. The Americans also captured about 1,000 weapons and much-needed ammunition. They took tons of food, clothing, and other supplies. These items were very important for the struggling Continental Army.
After the Battle
After the Hessians surrendered, Washington reportedly shook a young officer's hand. He said, "This is a glorious day for our country." Washington soon learned that the other American generals, Cadwalader and Ewing, had not been able to cross the river. This left his tired army of 2,400 men alone. Washington realized he did not have enough men to attack Princeton and New Brunswick right away.
By noon, Washington's army had crossed back over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. They took their prisoners and captured supplies with them. Washington continued his success a week later in the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and the Battle of Princeton. These victories helped secure the Patriot gains.
Lasting Impact
This small but important battle had a huge effect. The American victory gave the Continental Congress new confidence. It showed that colonial forces could defeat the British army. It also encouraged many soldiers to re-enlist in the Continental Army. The victory reduced the fear that the Hessians had caused earlier that year. The British commander, General Howe, was shocked that the Americans had surprised and defeated the Hessian soldiers so easily. Support for the American Revolution grew stronger.
Two important American officers were wounded during the charge down King Street. One was William Washington, a cousin of General Washington. The other was Lieutenant James Monroe, who later became a President of the United States. Monroe was shot in the shoulder, but a doctor saved his life.
The Trenton Battle Monument stands in Trenton today. It honors this important American victory. Every year, local people reenact the crossing of the Delaware River and the battle.
Famous Painting
In 1851, a German-American artist named Emanuel Leutze painted a famous picture. It is called Washington Crossing the Delaware. This painting is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. When it was first shown, it caused a sensation. People in Europe and the United States loved it. Leutze hoped it would inspire revolutionary feelings in Germany. The painting is still one of the most recognized artworks at the Metropolitan Museum. It is a very important part of American historical art.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Trenton para niños
- American Revolutionary War British New York counter-offensive. The 'Battle of Trenton' placed in overall sequence and strategic context.
- Battle of Bennington
- Battle of Iron Works Hill
- Battle of Princeton – fought the day after the Battle of the Assunpink Creek
- Battle of the Assunpink Creek – also known as the Second Battle of Trenton, fought one week later
- Battles of Saratoga
- Battle of Yorktown
- Siege of Fort Vincennes – the Trenton of the Western theater of the American Revolutionary War
- List of American Revolutionary War battles
- New Jersey in the American Revolution
