three o'clock
`` Congress is too frightened itself -- '' began Baylor , but a touch on his arm from the commander-in-chief checked the indiscreet speech . Departure had been taken from the Pennsylvania shore before ten ; but ice , wind , and current made the crossing so laborious and slow that a landing of the first detachment was not effected till nearly twelve . Then the boats were sent back for their second load , the advance meanwhile huddling together wherever there was the slightest shelter from the blast and the hail that was now cutting mercilessly . Not till three o'clock did the second division land , and another hour was lost in the formation of the column . At last , however , the order to march could be given , and the twenty-four hundred weary , besoaked , and wellnigh frozen men set off through the blinding storm on the nine-mile march to Trenton . At Yardley 's Ferry the force divided , Sullivan 's division keeping to the river turnpike , intending to enter Trenton from the south , while the main division took the cross-road , so as to come out to the north of the town , the plan being to place the enemy thus betwixt two fires . Owing to the delay in crossing the river , it was daylight when the outskirts of the town were reached , but the falling snow veiled the advance , and here the column was halted temporarily to permit of a reconnoissance .