Colonial Campaigns Club (CCC)

BARRACKS HISTORY: First Battle of Trenton



The above map shows the key points in the Battle of Trenton which took place on Dec. 26, 1776.

1. General Greene leads the main American force along Pennington Road.
2. General Sullivan leads the rest along River Road.
3. The American army lines up with the apex of the road as its center.
4. The first attack on the Hessians goes up King (Warren) Street.
5. The second wave goes up Queen (Broad) Street.
6. The Hessians surrender in an orchard.
7. About a third of the Hessians, however, escape over this bridge.

It is not true, as many people believe, that the Hessians were too drunk from celebrating Christmas to fight. If anything, they were over-prepared and certainly on the alert. However, on Dec. 26, 1776, a crucial decision was made not to send out a patrol along the river because the weather conditions were too bad for Washington to cross. As Washington and his 2600 men did cross, he achieved a complete surprise against the Hessians.

Generals Greene and Sullivan arrived at the same instant, about 8 a.m. Greene lined up along the top of the hill at the junction of (today's) Broad and Warren Streets where he could dominate the town. Sullivan marched in on the lower part of the town on the Hessian's flank. The Americans had 18 artillery (cannon) pieces dominating the town. In the damp weather, their muskets did not work very well, but artillery could be fired in any weather.

Despite the noise of the battle, the Hessians had trouble waking up their commander, Colonel Johann Rall. When he finally joined the battle he tried marching his troops up King Street (Warren). This was repulsed by the Americans. The Hessians reformed and tried attacking up Queen Street (Broad). Facing the American guns, this attack also failed. The German commandant and his lieutenant were both mortally wounded. Lt. James Monroe, later to be president of the United States, was wounded in an heroic attack on the Hessian guns. The Hessians tried retreating off to the American left but were surrounded. They eventually surrendered. The battle lasted about two hours.

The Americans achieved rewards for the battle out of proportion to the number of men engaged and the military results achieved. After numerous defeats in New York, they had finally achieved a victory over a supposedly invincible enemy. They captured over 900 men and many stores. The Hessians pulled back from their post in Burlington and other western New Jersey towns. However, the Americans were still outnumbered by British troops in the area and crossed back over the river with their prisoners that afternoon.

Earlier, General Ewing saw the condition of the river and did not even make an attempt to cross. Acting General Cadwalader managed to get some of his troops across, but not his guns. He decided that conditions were so bad that Washington could not cross either. He crossed his troops back to the Pennsylvania side and then heard the guns of the Battle. After some vacillation, he recrossed the river again. He heard that Washington had gone back to Pennsylvania and wanted to cross back over again, but his troops -- after crossing three times -- would not let him.

After a hesitant advance, he found Burlington and Trenton abandoned by the British. He sent word to Washington and on Dec. 28, Washington started crossing his troops back over the Delaware and occupied Trenton.

Also again I will note that the French were bought into service of the United States, not by money per say, but by goods and services and trade. His Most Christian King would not come to the aid of such rebels otherwise, yet sadly he would pay with his own blood.