In the fall of 1776, Washington and his men were camping out in New York City after the defeat they suffered in Long Island. The soldiers shivered around the campfires night after night without shoes, blankets, or winter uniforms. Washington knew that being surrounded by water left him and his 19,000 troops extremely vulnerable to the British with their naval mobility and larger forces.

On November 21, 1776 Washington moved his troops south joining the troops from Fort Lee. He then continued the journey into Newark, New Jersey and waited there for a militia to rally, but few showed up. The next leg of this journey would take them to New Brunswick, leaving on the 28th, just as the British were arriving in Newark. Then on December 1st, the British forces moved to New Brunswick and Washington repositioned his men to Princeton. On their way to Princeton, Washington had his men destroy all bridges and cut down trees behind them to delay the British who were in pursuit of the American army.

Once they had reached Princeton, the Americans fell back to Trenton along the Delaware River, which is the border with Pennsylvania. Then on December 2nd, two thousand Pennsylvania militiamen joi

Washington and his men ferried across the river at 3 A.M. Two of the other ferries that departed never made it across due to the harsh winter storm, leaving Washington with only 2400 men, their horses and 18 cannon across the icy river. Washington's troops did not get across until 4 am, well behind schedule for a predawn attack. They marched nine miles south to Trenton in two columns, one column lead by General John Sullivan and the other lead by General Nathanael Greene with Washington in control.

To the advantage of the Americans, that night the Hessian Major Dechow decided not to sent out the usual early morning patrol. This would allow the Americans to approach undetected.

Reaching the Delaware on the 8th, Howe positioned himself across the river. After the search for boats up and down the river failed, Howe decided to stop for the winter. The American army was virtually helpless at this point. The 2,400 men were worn out, discouraged, under trained, poorly equipped, and outnumbered.

The British forces had crossed the state almost unopposed. Most of the people were not in full support of the rebellion, which made it that much easier for the British. The Americans fight to freedom seemed to be diminishing and Washington began to wonder if he would have to submit to the British.

When the fighting ceased after about 45 minutes, Washington took 918 prisoners, 1,200 small arms, and many supplies. The Hessians suffered around 25 or 30 deaths while the Americans had only a handful wounded. The Hessians tried to escape to Princeton, buy they were blocked off and captured on every attempt.

When the battle ended, over 40 British men were either killed or wounded at Princeton and over 300 were taken prisoners. Washington, who had about 45 killed and wounded at Princeton. Washington had now driven the British from most of New Jersey, in what we now as “The Ten Crucial Days” from December 25th to January 3rd.

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