| − | The General, in a last-ditch maneuver to provide the army a victory on which to recruit, decided to attack the 1560-man 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 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. |
| | 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. | | 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. |