George Washington is an American icon for many important reasons. As the Continental Army’s commander-in-chief and the country’s first president, Washington exercised leadership with intelligence, humility, and bravery during the long struggle for independence from the British. Without victory at the Battle of Trenton, however, Washington’s story, and that of the United States, may be completely different today. Supported by effective subordinate commanders including Horatio Gates and Henry Knox, Washington may not have won the American Revolutionary War without successful execution of the Christmas assault on Trenton.
American Revolutionary War Before the Battle of Trenton
The American Revolutionary War in April 1775 with the “shot heard round the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Just two months later, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army and named George Washington as commander-in-chief. As an experienced surveyor and lieutenant colonel in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War, Washington was a wise pick to lead inexperienced colonial troops, but early battles of the war were not favorable to the revolutionaries.
Despite forcing the British to withdraw from Boston in March 1776 and formally declaring independence on July 4, 1776, the Continentals faced challenging defeats in the summer and fall. The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, was America’s first battle following the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The action, however, resulted in a commanding victory for General William Howe and the British. Two months later, Howe once again defeated Washington at the Battle of White Plains, forcing the American commander to retreat north along the Hudson River.
Just one month before Washington led his troops towards the surprise attack at the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army endured its worst loss of the New York Campaign. In November 1776, a British offensive captured Fort Washington from American defenders, taking approximately 3,000 colonial prisoners on Manhattan Island. With the winter approaching, Washington and his fellow commanders were determined to retake the initiative after being on the back foot.
Where Was the Battle of Trenton?
After facing substantial losses in New York, Washington led his troops to New Jersey, where he strategically recouped and planned the army’s next moves. The regions of New York and New Jersey represented key terrain during the war. New York City, which the British maintained as their headquarters for most of the war, was the most important city in North America and was a crucial hub for transportation of troops and supplies. New Jersey, on the other hand, was a key location between New York City and Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress. The Continental Army frequently encamped there during the cold winter months.
Prior to the Battle of Trenton, Washington and the Continentals camped on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. There, Washington devised a courageous plan to surprise the Hessian troops stationed in Trenton by crossing the icy river on Christmas night, marching to meet the unaware Hessians on the morning of December 26, 1776. To accomplish this feat, however, the Continental Army needed to transport its soldiers, weapons, and supplies across the Delaware River. Washington ordered his Chief of Artillery, Colonel Henry Knox, to lead the army’s most guns across the waterway. The crossing proved to be an ambitious, yet resounding, success. After deliberately taking a few hours to rest, Washington and his troops marched nearly ten miles south towards Trenton, launching their attack at dawn.
Who Won the Battle of Trenton?
Thanks to the bold strategy of Washington and effective command by his fellow leaders, the Continental Army won a decisive victory at the Battle of Trenton despite spending hours in the snow, sleet, and icy winds. The surprising nature of the raid proved vital to the victory, but Washington’s effective tactics also helped achieve success.
Upon reaching Trenton, the Continental Army divided its 2,400 men into two distinct fighting columns. The first, led by Major General Nathanael Greene, cordoned off the Hessian outpost from the north. The other, commanded by Major General John Sullivan, penetrated German defenses from the west. Concentrated artillery fire from Colonel Knox’s troops provided additional firepower needed to block off the adversary’s retreat. The winter flooding and snowmelt provided natural barriers to Hessian escape routes south towards Assunpink Creek.
This comprehensive battle plan resulted in a rapid victory for Washington. Although the Hessians fought valiantly, German commander Colonel Johann Rall, who was mortally wounded in the battle, surrendered to Washington after recognizing that his men were surrounded. In all, nearly 1,000 Hessians were killed, wounded, and captured. In contrast, the Continental Army suffered two deaths from exposure and a handful of troops wounded. The Battle of Trenton marked the Continental Army’s most significant success of the American Revolutionary War to date.
Battle of Trenton Significance
The Battle of Trenton was significant because Washington and his troops achieved victory at a time when the British armed forces seemed destined to crush the revolutionaries. After suffering a series of defeats in 1776, Washington successfully regained the initiative and used the momentum to win further victories in early 1777.
After victory in Trenton, Washington kept his units active in New Jersey, holding defensive positions in the former Hessian outpost. By January 2, 1777, Washington expected a British counterattack to retake the lost ground. Instead of letting the enemy take the fight to newly confident Americans, Washington ordered several men to keep fires going to maintain the illusion that the Continental Army was still encamped in Trenton. Moving towards Princeton, however, Washington marched towards British General Cornwallis. At the resulting Battle of Princeton on January 3, the Continental Army once again secured victory against an unsuspecting enemy force.
The British, after enduring back-to-back decisive American victories, retreated to their base at New York City. For the remainder of the war, New Jersey, now known as the “crossroads of the American Revolution,” was a strategic stronghold for the Continental Army. Washington stayed in Morristown, New Jersey, for a significant portion of the winter of 1779, returning to his headquarters of Wayne, New Jersey, in 1780 during the final winter before the ultimate victory in the Yorktown Campaign. Without victory at Trenton and Princeton, the Continental Army would have lost this strategically pivotal state.
Impact on the Outcome of the American Revolutionary War
Aside from holding New Jersey, Washington’s victory at the Battle of Trenton strengthened the cause of American independence at a time when many Patriots were beginning to lose hope. Following the battle, Hessian prisoners of war were paraded through Pennsylvanian streets, serving as tangible proof that the Continental Army was turning the tide of the war. As a result, Washington’s army flourished with new recruits and more resources at a critical time of the war.
Victory at the Battle of Trenton provided Washington’s troops with vital supplies including muskets, ammunition, bayonets, and artillery. Many of these assets, along with those captured at the Battle of Princeton, helped to support the Continental Army’s operations throughout 1777 until shortages plagued the camp at Valley Forge. Politically, the Battle of Trenton proved to the Continental Congress that full support of the Continental Army was a worthy investment, a crucial factor in the fragile months following formally declaring independence from Britain.
With increased domestic support, Washington was able to strengthen his intelligence network, secure increased funding from Congress, and recruit more troops. Increased morale in the ranks also increased the confidence of Washington’s subordinate commanders. Washington’s victories encouraged Congress to seek international support from France, Spain, and the Netherlands, although these allies did not officially back the Continental Army until an even more decisive victory at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.
George Washington After the Battle of Trenton
After the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Washington led the Continental Army through hard-fought defeats by the British at the 1777 battles of Brandywine and Germantown in Pennsylvania. Undeterred, Washington returned to New Jersey in June 1778 after surviving the winter encampment at Valley Forge. There, his troops participated in the Battle of Monmouth. While neither side won a clear victory, the battle demonstrated the unrelenting will of the Continental Army.
Washington’s strategic prowess was further illustrated in the Siege of Yorktown. Prior to surrounding the British, Washington and his fellow commanders planned to trap Cornwallis in the Yorktown Peninsula with French naval support at sea and overwhelming artillery presence on land. A master of deception, Washington set conditions for the capture of Yorktown by feigning an attack on New York City before marching over 400 miles from New York to Virginia in six weeks. Upon arrival at Yorktown, Washington’s troops immediately began the weeks-long bombardment of British defenses. Out of options, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington on October 19, 1781, ending the American Revolutionary War.
Aside from his military leadership, Washington is fondly remembered as the first president of the United States. The commander-in-chief’s two terms were defined by the codification of formal American government, neutrality, and the peaceful transition of power. After his presidency, Washington returned to a tranquil life with his wife, Martha, at his Mount Vernon estate where he passed away in 1799. Washington’s victory at Trenton remains one of his most significant steps in achieving American independence.
