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==The Battle==

==The Battle==

The General, in a last-ditch maneuver to provide the army a victory on which to recruit, decided to attack the 1560-man [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian force]] in Trenton, under the command of Colonel [[Johann Gottlieb Rahl]].  An attack was coordinated to surround the city of Trenton, crossing both north and south of the city, at daybreak on December 26, 1776, coordinating with a 600-man unit of New Jersey Militia intended to mount a [[diversion]] to distract the German force.  In a very risky move having the code name "Victory or Death," Washington began leading his men across the ice-filled Delaware River at five o'clock in the evening on [[Christmas]] Day.  

The General, in a last-ditch maneuver to provide the army a victory on which to recruit, decided to attack the 1560-man [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian force]] in Trenton, under the command of Colonel [[Johann Gottlieb Rahl]].  An attack was coordinated to surround the city of Trenton, crossing both north and south of the city, at daybreak on December 26, 1776, coordinating with a 600-man unit of New Jersey Militia intended to mount a [[diversion]] to distract the German force.  In a very risky move having the code name "Victory or Death," Washington began leading his men across the ice-filled Delaware River at five o'clock in the evening on [[Christmas]] Day. The crossing was extremely arduous, and not until 3:00 a.m. was the entire army across. A supporting force of Continentals and Pennsylvania militia, attempting to cross further downstream, could not make it because of the heavy ice, and the main body under Washington was compelled to attack alone.  

In the morning, Washington's troops caught the enemy by surprise and won a huge victory, quickly capturing nearly a thousand enemy troops.  There were some casualties, including the wounding of future president [[James Monroe]], but few deaths on the American side.

After several hours of marching through a severe winter storm, Washington's troops arrived on the northwest outskirts of Trenton at about 7:30 a.m. and launched their attack. Though the storm had delayed the American march and forced them to attack in daylight, rather than the predawn darkness Washington had initially hoped for, it had also led the Hessian garrison to let its guard down, believing there could be no major action in such weather. Therefore, the American assault caught the enemy by surprise and won a huge victory, quickly capturing nearly a thousand enemy troops.  There were some casualties, including the wounding of future president [[James Monroe]], but few deaths on the American side.

Two battles of Trenton are considered among the most decisive battles in the annals of military history.<ref>[http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/history/the_battle_of_trenton.html The Battle of Trenton]</ref>

Two battles of Trenton are considered among the most decisive battles in the annals of military history.<ref>[http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/history/the_battle_of_trenton.html The Battle of Trenton]</ref>

==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==

Colonel Rahl, the Hessian commander, was mortally wounded and died shortly after surrendering his forces. Although later sources would chalk the Hessian defeat up rampant drinking in the Hessian ranks, first-hand accounts by Americans suggest to the contrary. The battle was won by Washington's skill alone. Washington caught the enemy completely by surprise: Rahl had ignored several warnings that an American attack was likely, citing the horrendous weather, and mistook a light skirmish with a handful of [[patriot]]s as the promised battle.

Colonel Rahl, the Hessian commander, was mortally wounded and died shortly after surrendering his forces. Although later sources would attribute the Hessian defeat to rampant drinking in the Hessian ranks, first-hand accounts by Americans suggest the contrary. "I am willing to go on record," wrote John Greenwood, a fifer in one of the Continental regiments, "that I did not see even a solitary drunken soldier belonging to the enemy."<ref>John Greenwood, ''The Revolutionary Services of John Greenwood of Boston'', ed. Isaac J. Greenwood (New York, 1922), 82.</ref> The battle was won by Washington's skill alone. Washington caught the enemy completely by surprise: Rahl had ignored several warnings that an American attack was likely, citing the horrendous weather, and mistook a light skirmish with a handful of [[patriot]]s as the promised battle.

Washington used the victory to plead his soldiers into reenlisting. Washington promised reenlisting soldiers a share in the bounty of [[Trenton]], along with $10 (a monumental sum - their monthly salary, which few had received in months, was $6). After balking at first, a great deal of the soldiers reenlisted.  

Washington used the victory to plead his soldiers into reenlisting. Washington promised reenlisting soldiers a share in the bounty of [[Trenton]], along with $10 (a monumental sum - their monthly salary, which few had received in months, was $6). After balking at first, a great deal of the soldiers reenlisted.