Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 26, 2008 0:13:34 GMT -4
Generally considered the battle that saved the American Revolution it followed Washington's crossing of the Delaware River in 1776.
After a long series of defeats and retreats, this victory, and the one soon following it at Princeton, forced the British out of most of New Jersey and prevented the Patriot forces from disintegrating due to a total collapse in moral.
From Wikipedia:
>> The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather allowed Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief struggle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. The battle boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale, and inspired re-enlistments.
The Continental Army had previously suffered several defeats in New York and had been forced to retreat across New Jersey. Morale in the army was low; in an attempt to save the army and end the year on a positive note, George Washington—Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army—devised a plan to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surround the Hessian garrison. . . <<
The painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" (1851), Oil on canvas by Emanuel Leutze, is an American icon.
After a long series of defeats and retreats, this victory, and the one soon following it at Princeton, forced the British out of most of New Jersey and prevented the Patriot forces from disintegrating due to a total collapse in moral.
From Wikipedia:
>> The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather allowed Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief struggle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. The battle boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale, and inspired re-enlistments.
The Continental Army had previously suffered several defeats in New York and had been forced to retreat across New Jersey. Morale in the army was low; in an attempt to save the army and end the year on a positive note, George Washington—Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army—devised a plan to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night and surround the Hessian garrison. . . <<
The painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" (1851), Oil on canvas by Emanuel Leutze, is an American icon.
