battle small pivotal battle american revolutionary war took place morning december new_jersey general george_washington crossing north previous night washington led main body continental_army soldiers garrisoned brief battle nearly entire force captured losses americans battle significantly boosted continental_army morale inspired continental_army previously suffered defeats new_york forced retreat new_jersey pennsylvania morale army low end year positive note george_washington commander chief continental_army devised plan cross night december surround garrison river weather severe crossing proved dangerous detachments unable cross river leaving washington men command assault army marched miles south lowered guard thinking safe american army long distance outposts patrols washington forces caught guard short fierce resistance surrendered thirds man garrison captured troops escaped despite battle small numbers american victory inspired rebels colonies success revolution doubt week earlier army verge collapse dramatic victory inspired soldiers serve longer attracted new recruits ranks background early december american morale low americans ousted new_york british continental_army forced retreat new_jersey ninety percent continental_army soldiers served long_island gone men deserted feeling cause independence lost washington commander chief continental_army expressed doubts writing cousin virginia think game pretty near time small town new_jersey occupied regiments soldiers commanded colonel numbering men washington force comprised men infantry divisions commanded artillery direction brigadier general prelude intelligence washington stationed spy named posing served quebec battle plains september trouble establishing credentials butcher traded british enabled gather intelligence convince continental_army low state morale attack shortly christmas arranged captured continental_army orders bring washington unharmed questioned washington imprisoned small tried morning small fire broke nearby enabling escape american plan american plan relied launching coordinated attacks directions general launch attack british garrison new_jersey block reinforcements south general militia river ferry seize bridge creek prevent enemy troops escaping main assault force men cross river north split groups sullivan launch pre dawn attack sullivan attack town south north depending success operation americans possibly follow separate attacks princeton new_brunswick week battle american advance parties began ambush enemy cavalry patrols capturing dispatch riders attacking commander emphasize danger men sent infantry artillery detachment deliver letter british commander princeton washington ordered pennsylvania militia try gain information movements technology instead successful raids river december attacked outpost 21st set fire houses washington constant watches possible crossings near continental_army delaware believed launch attack north philadelphia river december troops led general sullivan arrived washington camp command moving slowly northern new_jersey lee captured day additional troops arrived command moves december arrived establish winter quarters time small town houses main streets king warren street queen broad street superior marched south december deal resistance new_jersey clashed new_jersey militia december despised reluctant command known loud english language year soldier great deal battle experience request reinforcements turned british commander general american rebels thought poor soldiers despite experience admire commander believed nice ruthless successful officers complained love life great thought came settle firm decision avoided hard work little concern troops comfort lacked city walls fortifications typical american settlements officers advised town engineers advised constructed upper end town fortifications built river engineers went far draw plans disagreed urged town replied let come bayonet christmas approached loyalists came report americans planning action american told rations prepared advance river publicly dismissed talk nonsense privately letters superiors said worried imminent attack wrote liable attacked moment said asked british troops establish garrison close help defend roads americans request denied americans disrupted supply lines officers started share fears wrote slept night peace came place december spy reported grant washington called council war grant told guard main force men divided regiments night send patrols severe weather crossing march washington troops left came cheer general saw note washington written saying victory death words surprise attack soldier carried rounds ammunition days rations army arrived shores delaware schedule clouds began form began rain air temperature dropped rain changed snow americans began cross river command men went durham boats horses artillery went large ferries 14th manned boats crossing men fell overboard including colonel quickly pulled water died crossing artillery pieces good condition small detachments infantry men ordered ahead main columns set ahead main army prisoner came left town groups sent north sent block ran terrible weather conditions delayed landings new_jersey plan supposed completed washington realized impossible launch pre dawn attack setback occurred americans generals unable join attack weather conditions soldiers began march way civilians joined volunteers led guides captain knowledge terrain marching miles winding roads wind reached turned right ground slippery level making easier horses artillery began better time soon reached difficulty americans groups stayed reached birmingham split apart soon reached house family offered food drink washington point signs daylight began appear troops boots forced wear feet men feet turning snow dark red men died trip marched washington rode line encouraging men continue general sullivan sent tell washington weather men gunpowder washington responded tell general sullivan use bayonet resolved miles outside town main columns reunited advance parties sudden appearance armed men american led known plan attack attacked outpost washington feared guard shouted stephen sir sir ruined plans having guard despite washington ordered advance continue event thought raid attack grant warned action day battle american attack outpost set cooper shop road mile north west washington led assault riding soldiers commander outpost lieutenant left shop american fired missed shouted der enemy came americans fired returned washington ordered battalion german speaking infantry block road led princeton attacked outpost soon realized raiding party seeing retreating outpost led men detachments organized firing fell high ground north end joined duty company engaged americans retreating slowly keeping continuous fire houses cover gained covering fire guard companies outskirts town guard company nearer rushed east aid leaving open washington ordered escape route princeton cut sending infantry battle formation block artillery formed head king queen streets leading southern american column general sullivan entered abandoned river road blocked crossing creek cut escape sullivan briefly held advance sure division time drive outposts north soon continued advance attacking home command lieutenant stationed lieutenant brought action advanced guard advanced yards saw column americans advancing pulling barracks joined rest exchange volley turned ran trying swim creek escaped bridge cut fled sullivan columns pushed town washington moved high ground north king queens streets action direct troops time american artillery came action devastating positions sounding alarm regiments began prepare battle regiment formed lower king street formed lower end queen street brigade adjutant commander found rebels taken main streets town engineers recommended building ordered regiment form lower end king street regiment prepare advance queen street regiment stand reserve advance king street american cannon stationed head main streets soon came action reply directed regiment supported companies regiment clear guns formed ranks began advance street formations quickly broken american guns fire men taken houses left street breaking ranks fled ordered pound cannon action getting rounds minutes half manning guns killed american cannon men fled cover houses fences cannon taken americans following capture cannon men command advanced king street queen street attempts advance street repulsed guns command firing rounds guns action broken axle separated regiments fell field outside town taking heavy losses musket fire southern town americans command sullivan began led bayonet charge regiment resistance broke weapons fire sullivan led column men block escape troops creek resistance collapses field attempted attempt retake town breakout decided attack american flank heights north town forward advance advance began brigade band playing drums help spirit washington high ground saw approaching american flank moved troops assume battle formation enemy regiments began marching king street caught american fire came directions americans taken defensive positions inside houses reducing exposure civilians joined fight despite continued push cannon head king street saw cannon ordered troops men ran brief struggle seized cannon turning unable fire guns attack stalled formations broke began mortally wounded washington led troops high ground march brave retreated orchard americans close pursuit quickly surrounded offered terms surrender agreed ordered join remains mistakenly marched opposite direction tried escape bridge found taken americans quickly swept defeating attempt break lines surrounded sullivan men regiment surrendered minutes rest brigade casualties capture forces lost killed action wounded captured americans suffered deaths bare feet causing wounded battle including near fatal wound future president losses incurred patriots exhaustion exposure illness following days raised losses captured sent philadelphia later lancaster moved virginia mortally wounded died later day headquarters killed battle regiment effectively removed british forces parts regiment escaped south sullivan captured additional men regiment cannon supplies captured approximately arms needed ammunition capture entire store provisions tons flour dried shoes boots clothing things needed continental forces weapons horses drinking officer washington staff wrote battle great deal christmas germany doubt drink great deal beer dance night morning popular history commonly portrays drunk christmas celebrations historian quotes fought battle supervised afterward wrote certain drop liquor drunk night piece bread eaten military historian wrote germans tired truth legend claiming drunk effect surrender washington reported shook hand young officer said glorious day country december general washington interviewed lieutenant later colonel detailed failures preparation washington soon learned unable complete crossing leaving worn army men isolated men washington realized forces attack princeton new_brunswick small decisive battle later battle effect size colonial effort americans overturned psychological dominance achieved british government troops previous months howe stunned patriots easily surprised overwhelmed garrison contrary fischer argues changing attitudes writings additional successful actions aftermath legacy noon washington force moved delaware pennsylvania taking prisoners captured supplies battle gave new confidence proved colonial forces defeat regulars increased continental_army forces defeating european army reduced fear caused earlier year fighting new_york notable american officers wounded cousin general lieutenant future president united_states monroe carried field bleeding badly struck left shoulder musket ball severed doctor preventing bleeding death hours battle served inspiration painting washington crossing delaware german american artist image painting washington stands majestic boat crosses generally believed symbolic historically accurate waters river flag monroe holds created months battle addition contrary painting crossing occurred dawn hand fischer argues crossing took place storm people stood avoid sitting water boats emotional content painting icon american history erected points stands tribute american victory crossing delaware battle local enthusiasts year weather severe river current units currently active regular army artillery battalion 5th derived american units participated thirty current units colonial roots
Battle of Trenton