[December 26, 2015] It is said that sometimes it only takes a small victory to have great benefits. Such is the case at the Battle of Trenton when General George Washington crossed the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey and led the his men against Hessian soldiers garrisoned there. A very small battle, this tactical win was actually a significant morale boost for the Continental Army.
Today is the anniversary of that battle where Washington and only 2,400 men under his command marched 9 miles arriving at the southern part of Trenton around 8 a.m. The Hessians were quickly overwhelmed having been caught off guard. Apparently the Hessian garrison had both underestimated Washington and partied a little too much the day before. Washington’s force suffered minimal casualties.1
The revolution was in jeopardy as the result of numerous defeats at the hands of British forces. Washington’s army had been without sufficient supplies and morale was low. Desertions were common and his forces were dwindling every day; the Continental Army was about to collapse. The victory at Trenton was greater than the actual battle itself. It galvanized the Americans and overturned the psychological dominance achieved by the British.2
Today we offer our respect to those men who achieved the victory at the Battle of Trenton and to the ultimate victory over the British Empire where their freedom was won. This battle and others that were to later become etched into the minds of Americans for many generations, created a legacy that stands today as one of the greatest achievements in the history of what is now the United States of America.
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- One notable casualty was Lieutenant James Monroe who was struck in the shoulder by a musket ball. Fortunately he was saved by Doctor John Riker. Monroe was later to become the fifth President of the United States.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trenton#After_effect