Victory at Trenton and Princeton

Hello, American Historyteeller listeners. I have an exciting announcement. I'm going on tour and coming to a theater near you. This live show is a thrilling evening of history, storytelling, and music, with a full band accompanying me as we look back to explore the days that made America And they aren't the days that you might think. Sure, everyone knows july fourth, seventeen seventy six. We'll be hearing a lot about that date this year But there are many other days that are maybe even more influential. So come out to see me live. More shows to be announced soon. So for information on tickets and upcoming dates, go to Americanhistorylive. com. That's Americanhistorylive dot comot Come see my Days that Made America tour live on stage. goo to Americanhistorylive dot com Imagine it's july seventeen seventy six and you're at home in Lower Manhattan, peering out a window as rebel soldiers with the Continental Army march down your street. You jump at the sound of a heavy knock on the front door Push past a servant to open it yourself Continental Army officer stands on your doorstep, sweat beating on his forehead beneath his tricorn hat you straighten your back and meet his gaze Yes, may I help you Good afternoon, ma'am. I've come to inform you that your home is being sequestered for the quartering of Continental Army officers You and your family will remove yourselves at once a stab of fear runs through you, and your hand twitches on the door handle Well, my husband is out at the moment. Wh don't you gentlemen come back later? He'll be back this evening. Actually ma'am, I'm afraid your husband won't be coming home at all. He's been arrested for aiding and abetting the enemy. What do you mean? Where have you taken him? Ma'am, my orders are to secure this residence. Well what right do you have to kick me out of my own house? My orders are explicit Your eldest daughter appears by your side, and the officer flicks his gaze in her direction Take whatever belongings you can carry and the rest will be confiscated. Where are we supposed to go? Makes no difference to me. You might as well join the rest of the Tories comeum running off to Staten Island. Bact is, I don't care where you go, but you need to get out of this house And what if I refuse? That would be unwise Your daughter grips your arm tightly. You lean down and place your hand on her shoulder. All right, go upstairs and start gathering your things. Go now. As your daughter runs off, you turn back to the officer. You men are criminals. The true patriots are those who swear their allegiance to the king and respect the rule of law. Ma'am, stand aside The officer ushers his men through the door and you stumble back. With your heart hammering in your chest, you hike up your skirt and run upstairs to retrieve your children, sick with the feeling that your home is no longer yours With a Spark Cash plus card from Capital One, you earn an unlimited two percent cashback on every purchase. and you get big purchasing power. So your business can spend more and earn more. Whether you' exploring your fascinations or discovering new ones, Oawa has stories that will introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. Know how true the latest blockbuster movie stayed to the sci fi story it was based on, or find unexpected reveals through an exclusive trrue Crime podcast However you listen, Audible keeps you fascinated, so you can be just as fascinating. Select any audio book every month, plus exclusive podcasts. pllans now start at eightllars ninety nineents Audible. be fascinated, be fascinating Multle Originals, I'm Lindsy Graham, and this is American History Tellers. Our history, your story In july seventeen seventy six, New York City became the strategic battleground of the American Revolution As Continental Army soldiers poured into the city, hundreds of loyalists were driven from their homes, branded as traitors to the newly independent United States Just days after Congress declared independence, the new American nation faced an ominous threat to its young existence Britain had dispatched the largest armada to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean, bent on crushing the rebellion with a decisive strike against New York and as British ships filled New York Harbor. General George Washington faced the impossible challenge of preparing his motley army for the biggest battle of the Revolutionary War And in the months that followed, faith in the cause began to waver, and many wondered if Washington had what it took to lead the Patriots to victory he refused to give up until he had pushed his soldiers to their very limits This is episode three. timimes that triime and souls On june twenty ninth, seventeen seventy six, American lookouts stationed on Staten Island spotted white sails on the horizon forty five British warships were sailing toward New York Harbor, heralding the start of a massive invasion Three days later, just as the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Iependence, British Commander in Chief General William Howe began landing soldiers on New York's Staten Island. only a few miles across the harbor from Manhattan from this Staten Island base, he awaited the arrival of more than four hundred ships carrying thirty two thousand soldiers, ten thousand sailors and twelve hundred cannons. It was the largest attacking force to ever sail from European waters And the sight of this British fleet sparked panic in New York City Colonel Henry Knox described the scene in a letter to his brother, writing, My God, you can scarcely conceive of the distress and anxiety, the city in an uproar, the alarm guns firing, the troops repairing to their posts After evacuating Boston, four months earlier, the British had decided to shift their focus to New York because of its vital port and central location Both sides understood New York's strategic importance As John Adams explained, New York was the neexus of the Northern and southern colonies. and kind of key to the whole continent Whoever controlled New York controlled the Hudson River, the gateway to Canada and the interior of the continent The British hoped that if they could seize New York, they could cut off New England from the rest of the colonies, isolating what they considered to be the hotbed of the rebellion They also believe they could accomplish it without much effort. One British officer predicted, we shall soon be done with these scoundrels, for one only dirties one's fingers by meddling with them. Another official affirmed that American soldiers were raw, undisciplined, cowardly men, who would collapse under a simple show of force. The British were also counting on support from New York's large loyalist population The city was home to a cosmopolitan merchant community and a powerful Anglican church, both closely tied to Britain. By the summer of seventeen seventy six, the revolution had torn the city apart. For several weeks, patriot mombs had flooded the streets Sxuspected loyalists were beaten, burned and tarred and feathered, and dozens were hauled off to a makeshift prison in an old Connecticut copper mine, seventy feet below the earth. But despite this chaos and the fact that thousands of loyalists had already fled Manhattan, Staten Island remained a loyalist stronghold Crowds of supporters cheered the British forces as they stepped ashore Meanwhile, George Washington faced the problem of defending New York from the British invaders. Since April, his army of nineteen thousand men had worked day and night building defenses in Manhattan and in neighboring Brooklyn Heights But Washington had no warships to confront the Royal Navy and only a small number of cannons He knew his army was outmatched, admitting to his brother, We expect a very bloody summer at New York I'm sorry to say that we are not either in men or arms prepared for it. Making matters worse, Washington had no idea when or where the British would strike Both the British and American armies relied on spies and informants to gather intelligence on the enemy, but that summer, Washington struggled to gather reliable reports on General Howe and his brother, Admiral Richard Howe, commander of the British fleet And without good intelligence, he could only rely on rumor and his own intuition But his questions were finally answered on august twenty second, seventeen seventy six when the British made their move Under the cover of naval guns, they landed the first of twenty thousand British soldiers and Hessian mercenaries at Graveshend Bay on Long Island only five miles south of the American fortifications at Brooklyn Heights. These Hessian troops, with their towering brass plated headgeear and fearsome reputations, served as a powerful propaganda tool. Some Americans even believe them' capable of cannibalism But Washington urged his troops to fight with courage, declaring the hour is fast approaching on which the safety of our bleeding country depends. and suspecting that the landing on Long Island was only a diversion Washington divided his army. Leaving half of his troops in Manhattan, he posted just ten thousand men on Long Island on defenses stretching across Kanass Heights to the south and Brooklyn Heights to the north But after Washington's trusted General Nathaniel Green fell ill Cand pass to another officer who made the critical mistake of leaving Jamaica Pass on the left edge of Guana's heights unguarded Local loyalists noticed the gap in the American defenses. pass the information to General How So on the night of august twenty sixth, with the help of three loyoyalist guides, ten thousand British and Hesssian troops quietly slipped through Jamaica Pass and positioned themselves at the American rear. Battle of Long Island began early the following morning. With four thousand British and Hessian troops attacking the Continental Army head on The Americans managed to hold their own, but this frontal attack was only a distraction Soon, the other column of ten thousand British soldiers struck from behind A sea of redcoats collapsed the Patriot lines and sent the inexperienced Americans fleeing for their lives As the Patriots retreated to their defenses on Brooklyn Heights, roughly four hundred Maryland soldiers launched repeated bayonet charges to cover their escape. Most were killed or captured But their sacrifice helped their comrades reach safety One German chaplain who witnessed the battle wrote The slaughter was horrible I went over the battlefield among the dead, who mostly had been hacked and shot all to pieces. Washington too watched the fighting from a spy glass on Brooklyn Heights. Wringing his hands, he cried out, Whatat brave fellows must I lose this day And by noon the blood bath was over The largest battle of the Revolutionary War had left two thousand Americans killed, wounded or captured compared to only four hundred casualties on the British side. One British officer called the battle a cheap and complete victory All that remained was to finish the job by destroying what was left of Washington's defeated army. Imagine it's the night of august twenty seventh, seventeen seventy six on Long Island You are a British Amy officer, and you're walking through a hallway in the home serving as General William Howe's headquarters He knocks softly on the open door of House's study, where he sits alone in a high back chair, a glass of wine in his hand Good evening, generenal. May I speak freely Hal looks up with an expression of mild surprise what is it takeake a seat in the chair opposite him by the fire Well, to start, I must congratulate you on today's victory Hal raises his glass in gratitude. Thankkfully, who was not too dearly bought. That's just it, sir We're so close to accomplishing our goals, we have the Americans surrounded with the East River to their backs They're crowded inside their defenses with nowhere to go. I believe it's time we press our advantage. Let's storm the American lines on Brooklyn Heights and be done with it No No, I won't sacrifice any more of my men than absolutely necessary I won't subject this army to another bunker hill. What do you mean, sir? Do you suggest we sit back? Give them time to rebuild their strength? I simply don't see any reason to hurry, given how well today went You shake your head, How almost never sees reason to hurry. I'm afraid I don't understand. Patience. I have Washington right where I want him. All we must do now is wait for my brother to move his warships behind their position to prevent their escape across the river. We' wear them down with a siege, not slaughter. But sir, we are losing the chance to demolish the rebels in one final stroke No. If I cause unnecessary bloodshed in the American ranks, the rebellious colonies will never accept the authority of the crrown. Don't you see? We will lose them forever But sir, if we don't finish the job Our men who died today will have died in vain Hal drains his wine glass and you feel the heat of his steely gaze I will not initiate a massacre if I don't have to Besides any day now, the Americans will see their error Begin to negotiate They'll realize they can't go on like this You rise from your chair, working hard to contain your frustration Very well, sir. I will take my leave You step back into the hall, furious with how for refusing to end this war now Your mind drifts to the American camps, and the thought that every moment that How hesitates, victory slips further from your grasp. After the Battle of Long Island, the Patriots were trapped on Brooklyn Heights with their backs to the East river, which separated Brooklyn from Manhattan But General William Howe, remembering the cost of the victory at Bunker Hill, failed to press the attack One Cental Army officer declared General Howe was either our friend or no general. He had our whole army in his power Instead, Howe stood down just as a storm blew in on august twenty eighth and kept the British fleet from entering the East Rriver The drenching rain gave Washington time to orchestrate a daring evacuation The following night, under the cover of thick fog Boats crewed by a regiment of fishermen, smugglers, and seamen from Marblehead, Massachusetts, began ferrying nine thousand soldiers across the East Rriver to Manhattan Washington himself was the last to leave And when dawn broke, the British discovered that the Americans had vanished. Despite their crushing defeat Washington had pulled off a miraculous retreat and his army lived to fight another day The next two weeks brought a lull in the fighting, during which General Hal hoped the Americans would come to their senses and negotiate a peace. to that end on september eleventh His brother Admiral Richard Howe, invited Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge to meet with him at the home of the Staten Island Loyalist. over a meal of mutton, ham and wine The admiral offered a truce, insisting, If America should fail, I should feel and lament it like the loss of her brother. With a wry grin, Franklin replied We will do our utmost endeavors to save your lordship that mortification The talks broke down when the Americans insisted on a full recognition of United States sovereignty. House Secretary summariz the day by writing They met, they talked, they parted, and now nothing remains but to fight it out Then, four days after this fruitless meeting The British renewed their offensive, landing thousands of troops at Kipps Bay on Manhattan Island As the British seized control, panic spread through the continontinental arrmy. Hire regiments threw down their muskets in the face of the British invaders. Washington tried and failed to get his troops to make a stand, even swatting at passing soldiers with his sword, a futile attempt to stop them from fleeing He cried out, Good God. Haven' I got such troops as these But facing this chaotic retreat, Washington withdrew his army north to Harlem Heights, where his soldiers rallied and drove back a British detachment, a minor clash, but a badly needed morale boost. Meanwhile, as the British took over New York City Patriots fled and loyalists poured back in from the surrounding countryside. Soon, hundreds of loyalists signed oaths, affirming their allegiance to the king And for the rest of the war, New York became Britain's primary stronghold in America But just days after the British occupation, a massive nighttime fire destroyed a quarter of the city No one knew the cause, but British officials suspected rebel arsonists Soldiers captured and executed suspects on the spot as thousands of residents fled the burning city Those who remained faced a devastating housing and food crisis But for now, the main theater of the war shifted away from New York British chased Washington's battered army across the Hudson to New Jersey. And after Washington's poor showing in Manhattan A new rival emerged a challenge to the general's leadership promising to rescue the Continental Army from the jaws of defeat I'm Leon Nefo best known as the co creator of Slowburn and Fiasco I had of course heard of O fans, but always with a distant and quiet skepticism a silent judgment, you might say Who is actually using this platform? U I am I'm Oly Fans creator and comedian, Gracie Canan. I work from home now. I'm on Oly fans. and But in case you guys don't know, it only fans is ask your husband My journalistic curiosity got the best of me when I found out that my own sister had started an only Fans account. I'm not a sister, just to clarify. It turns out, a lot of what I thought I knew about O fans was wrong I felt like I wasted three point five years for something that wasn't real What happens when connection comes with a price tag? Listen to Only Fantasy wherever you get your podcasts, or binge all episodes of Only Fantasy ad free right now, only on Audible. Start your Audible subscription in the Audible app or on Apple podcasts Hello, I'm Matt Ford. And I'm Alice Levine. And we're the hosts of British Scandal. Yes we are, and our new series starts with a loud, lovable woman from Bermondsey who becomes one of the most famous people in Britain. This is the story of Jade Goody, the reality TV star who built a fortune just by being herself. and then lost everything in one of the most public racism scandals Britain has ever seen. It's a story of fame? and a change of the conversation around cervical cancer forever Follow British scandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad free on Audible In the summer of seventeen seventy six, while most of the Continental Army was facing the British in New York City Benedict Arnold was upstate, tasked with building the first United States Naval fleet Following their disastrous loss in Quebec the previous winter, Arnold's men retreated to Fort Ticonderoga on the southern end of Lake Champlain This lake, stretching one hundred and twenty miles down from the Canadian border toward the Hudson River, was a strategic route between British held Canada and America Knowing that a British advance down the lake was all but inevitable, Arnold would have to transform the tiny American fleet, then just four ships into a force capable of challenging the British Royal Navy Arnold, now a brigadier general, was still limping from a leg wound suffered in Quebec smallallpx and other diseases had ravaged Ticonderoga. so that only half of the eleven thousand Americans manning the fort were fit for duty and Arnold faced severe shortages of iron, guns, skilled shipbuilders, and experienced sailors He complained, We have a wretched motley crew in the fleet. The Marines are the refuse of every regiment, and the seamen, few of them ever wet with salt water But somehow, Arnold overcame these obstacles and managed to have sixteen ships ready by October when a much larger British fleet sailed down Lake Champlain from the Canadian border And on october eleventh, the British found Arnold's fleet lurking in the waters behind Valkur Island And a fierce cannon battle began By nightfall, several American ships were crippled or sinking, but the rest managed to slip away under the cover of darkness But as they retreated over the next two days, a British pursuit forced Arnold's sailors to burn nearly all their remaining ships rather than let them fall into British hands Americans managed to escape overland, but were forced to leave Lake Champlain under British control. But despite this loss, the American resistance disrupted the British advance from Canada British leaders decided to delay plans to seize control of the Hudson River Valley until the following spring, buying the continental Army much needed time to gather strength. Meanwhile, two hundred miles to the south, George Washington was facing questions about his leadership after his army's catastrophic defeat on Long Island Misjudging his enemy's intentions, Washington had divided his already outnumbered forces between Manhattan and Brooklyn, a move contrary to conventional military wisdom. And he had failed to secure Jamaica passass, allowing the British to march to his rear John Adams, leader of the Congressional Committee in Chge of War operations, put it succinctly. In general, our generals were out genereraled And then at the end of october seventeen seventy six, Washington suffered another defeat at White Plains, New York, when the British forced the Americans to retreat across the Hudson River to New Jersey But Washington refused to abandon Fort Washington, the last American stronghold on Manhattan Island. He ordered General Nathaniel Greene to hold the fort for as long as he could On november sixteenth thousand British and Hesssian troops overwhelmed Green's three thousand defenders It was the final loss of Washington's disastrous New York campaign. He confessed his feelings of despair in a letter to his brother, writing This has given me great mortification I'm wearied almost to death with the retrograde motion of things. Washington's poor performance had earned him many critics, and the loudest was also his new second in command. General Charles Lee, a rough mannered veteran of the French and Indian War He was known for his long hooked nose and his hot temper. So much so that Mohawk Indians named him boiling water gained praise for defending Charleston, South Carolina after British forces tried to attack the city in june seventeen seventy six And he resented that Congress had passed him over for leadership of the Continental Army in favor of the less experienced Washington. So that fall, when Lee learned about the loss of Fort Washington, he reportedly became so angry that he tore out some of his own hair In a letter to a member of Congress and fellow critic of Washington, Lee angled for command of the army himself. wrriting, I must entreat that you will keep what I say to yourself, but I foresaw, predicted all that has happened. H I the powers do you much good But while Patriot leaders fought amongst themselves, the British crossed the Hudson River into New Jersey and began marching six miles south towards their next target, Fort Lee, named after Charles Lee himself. Nathaniel Greene organized a hasty evacuation, surrendering the fort without a fight, so his troops could not be trapped by the superior British force The next day, Washington wrote to General Lee, urging him to bring his troops to New Jersey so they could join forces to stop the British advance But Lee ignored the request So the retreat continued, but soldiers were not the only ones caught in the chaos as Washington's army fled across New Jersey. The women who kept it functioning were swept up in the danger as well During the American Revolution, thousands of women, mostly soldiers' wives, kept the army functioning by handling essential tasks such as cooking, cleaning, mending clothes, and caring for the sick and wounded in the camps Washington often resented the burden of feeding camp followers, calling them a clog in the army's efficiency, especially when they were pregnant or traveling with children But he also recognized their vital contributions to morale boosting morale was more critical than ever in the fall of seventeen seventy six. Between August and November, consecutive defeats and widespread desertion had depleted the Continental Army, reducing Washington's command from nineteen thousand soldiers to roughly three thousand five hundred So to fill the ranks, he issued calls for militia reinforcements from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but his appeals were met with silence. Washington and his officers complained that the part time volunteers were unreliable, with General Green declaring, militia men who come and go every month retain all the tender feelings of domestic life are thus not sufficiently fortified to stand the shocking scenes of war Washington hoped to turn the tide with another major battle But with his army rapidly dwindling General Howe saw no reason to engage him. One British officer gloated, Their army is broken all to pieces, and the spirit of their leaders and their abettors is all broken One may venture to pronounce that it is well nigh over with them And at the end of November, the British capitalized on the near collapse of the Continental Army by taking steps to restore the crrown's rule in New Jersey. They offered residents a free and general pardon if they swore allegiance to the king within sixty days More than three thousand New Jersey residents took the oath and hundreds joined looyalist forces to fight alongside the British. And as the British tighten their grip on New Jersey Patriot government there fled the state In their wake, British troops harassed and terrorized civilians, plundering homes for food and supplies and sexually assaulting local women Patriot militias fought back with violence of their own, prompting a Hessian officer to write, The rascal peasants meet our men and shoot them in the head quickly hide their rifles and pretend they know nothing Meanwhile, Washington's troops continued to melt away, and Charles Lee continued ignoring repeated requests for aid. To save his diminishing army, and escape the pursuing British. On december eighth, Washington led the battered remnants of his army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania Aware that the British would follow, he ordered his soldiers to round up all boats on the New Jersey side, attempting to cut off their pursuit with the British drawing closer to Pennsylvania Congress decided to flee Philadelphia for Baltimore It was not until the second week of December that General Charles Lee finally began leading his force across New Jersey to join up with Washington Despite the frustrating delay, Washington was deeply relieved by the news, writing, General Lee is on his march to join me. if he can affect this junction Our army will again make a respectable appearance and disappoint the enemy in their plan on Philadelphia. Washington was counting on Lee to come through But Lee was in no mood to rush and chose to spend the night of december twelfth at an isolated tavern away from his troops decision, he would soon regret. Imagine it's the morning of december thirteenth, seventeen seventy six in the upstairs room of a tavern near Valtown, New Jersey You're an aide to General Charles Lee, and you're busy packing his trunk while he lingers over breakfast in his old blue dressing gown and slippers For the last half hour, he's been writing a letter to a fellow officer about George Washington. He holds it up to read aloud How does this sound? A certain great man is damnly difficult. In short, unless something changes, we are lost. You look up from folding socks and knot. Quite right, sir, everyveryone can see that Washington is to blame for our troubles But at the sound of horses outside, you move to the window and catch sight of a company of British dragons in green uniforms approaching Oh generenal, you better come and look The dragoons reach the front of the tavern, and their commanding officer waves his saber in the air her packed from the window dropping out of sight. Sir, the British cavalry are here. But Lee's attention is still fixed on his letter She signs this name with a flourish I'm sorry, what was that Sir, the cavalry are here and they have us surround it You peer back over the windowsill just as one of the dragoons raises his saber and hacks through the arm of Lee's guard standing at the entrance to the tavern The commanding officer scans the windows as several of his men raise their rifles. Sir, they must know you are here. They've got their rifles aimed right at us. Lee looks at you in panic. What am I to do You glance out the window and are horrified by what you see My God, they're readying torches. Sir, they mean to set fire to the building turn to Lee and you've never seen him so scared Surely, they won't go through with it. Do you really want to take the chance I think you'd better give yourself up, sir. There's no way out Damn it, veryer well. I won't be shot at like a rat in a corner You nod and return to the window, your knees shaking as you open it. Hold your fire. The general's coming out turnurn to face Lee, who stands in a corner, pale and rigid Even as you offer him a grim nod of encouragement, you're terrified about what will become of you now that your fate rests in the hands of the British On the morning of december thirteenth, seventeen seventy six, General Charles Lee was in a New Jersey tavern, finishing a letter criticizing Washington as damnably deficient when he heard musket balls striking the building A local loyalist had discovered Lee's location tipped off the British cavalry with no means of escape. L went outside and surrendered while still in his dressing gown and slippers British were elated They considered Lee to be America's best general and an unforgivable traitor to the crown His capture sparked raucous celebrations in the British camps Washington called the loss of Lee a severe blow. Still privately, he expressed frustrations at Lee for being foolish enough to spend the night away from his army, alone and vulnerable But what was worse without Lee's reinforcements who remained on the march in New Jersey Washington was left with only three thousand men under his command Congress was on the run, and confidence in the Patriot caause was dwindling with the Continental Army on the verge of disintegration Washington knew that his next move could decide whether the revolution lived or died Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Audible has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy Romantasy series. Become your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to sccreen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated, so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app, with plans now starting at eightll ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audio books and podcasts, including trending bestestsellers Hotest new releases and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else. Sign up now to become a member and get any audiobo book every month plus exclusive podcasts. Plans now start at eightll ninety nineents Be fascinated, be fascinating Whether you're exploring your current fascinations or discovering new ones, Aawell has all the stories that'll introduce you to your most fascinating self. Tap into a whole new world of heated conversations with a saucy romantasy series. beccome your friend group's sci fi expert on the latest blockbuster book to screen adaptation Or find unexpected reveals through the exclusive episodes of a viral true crime podcast. However you choose to listen, Audible keeps you fascinated, so you can be just as fascinating. All in one easy app, with plans now starting at eight doll ninety nine cents, you'll get access to over one million audioobooks and podcasts, including trending bestsellers Hottest new releases and exclusive podcasts you won't find anywhere else. Sign up now to become a member and get any audio book every month plus exclusive podcasts. Plans now start at eightll ninety nine cents. Be fascinated, be fascinating As the year seventeen seventy six drew to a close Continental arrmy teetered on the brink of collapse George Washington's ragged troops camped along the western banks of the Delaware River in threadbeare uniforms In a letter to his cousin, Washington confessed, Your imagination can scarce extend to a situation more distressing than mine Most pressing of all, Washington's army was set to dissolve in a matter of days B trained soldiers belong to Continental Regiments from New England who'd signed up for one year enlistments the previous January Once their terms expired on New Year's Eve Washington expected they would follow the pattern of other regiments and return home, leaving him with just twelve hundred men In The previous month, Washington has sent out appeals for more men. There have been little response Then, slowly, scattered soldiers and militamen began arriving from as far away as Fort Ticonderoga, as did two thousand troops who had served under the captured Charles Lee As these surprise reinforcements trickled into the camps, they raised the number of men fit for duty to six thousand Another critical boost came from Thomas Payne, author of the bestselling pamphlet Common Sense Panaine had joined the Continental Army as a volunteer civilian aid to General Nathaniel Greene, and the pair bonded over their shared love of literature and political philosophy So every night as the Army retreated across New Jersey, Payne worked on a new essay titled The American Crisis It began These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country He that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman Tyranny, like hell is not easily conquered. Yet we have this conolation with us the harder the conflict The more glorious the triumph in the days leading up to Christmas. Copies of the American crisis were printed and distributed throughout the ranks Officers read it aloud to harden their soldiers' resolve and remind them what they were fighting for But despite Painne's powerful words Washington knew that patriotic appeals alone would not be enough to encourage troops to re enlist He needed a victory on the field of battle So he planned a bold gamble, a surprise attack on an enemy garrison in Trenton, New Jersey, manned by fifteen hundred Hessian soldiers By this time in late December, with the weather getting colder and Congress in flight. British Commander General Howowe had decided to follow the common eighteenth century practice of retiring until spring to avoid the hardships of winter campaigning confident he could finish off Washington's weakened army the following year Hal retired most of his army in New York. But he had left Hessian mercenaries to guard a string of garrisons across New Jersey to hold the ground they'd gained, including this one in Trenton. So to take it, Washington planned three simultaneous crossings of the Iicy Delaware River on Christmas night Two smaller columns would cross downriver, while Washington himself would lead the main attacking force of twenty four hundred men After arriving in New Jersey, Washington would then march them nine miles to surprise the Hessians at Trenton at dawn His goal with this bold attack was not to regain territory. restore faith in the cause of independence by proving that his army could still win a fight So that Christmas night in seventeen seventy six, Washington's soldiers prepared to cross the ice clogged Delaware Rriver Even though the point of crossing was only three hundred yards wide The arrmy faced a daunting challenge Goleral Henry Knx who had brought the Ticonderoga cannons to Boston the previous year, oversaw logistics, while the same Massachusetts sailors and fishermen who had rescued the army after the Battle of Long Island tasked with navigating the treacherous icy waters Snow, freezing rain, and fierce winds lashed the soldiers as they dodged chunks of floating ice Washington planned to complete the crossing by midnight, but it wasn't until three AM that all two four hundred soldiers managed to reach the eastern bank, along with one hundred horses and eighteen cannons Although a handful of soldiers fell into the icy waters, not a single man had died the troops were freezing and exhausted Trenton was still nine miles away Imagine it's three o'clock in the morning on the eastern banks of the Delaware River in New Jersey You're the chief Artillery officer in the Continental Army, and falling sleet clds your vision as you trudge through the snow to speak with General George Washington He sits on a crate beside a small campfire, pulling his coat tight across his chest Crouch beside him, hoping the fire will warm you Well, we've made it, sir. notot a single man lost. They're bringing the last Cidate across the river now And I'm afraid we're running three hours behind schedule Washington nods, his mouth set in a grim line It's not surprising, given the conditions. I've never seen such a violent storm. Who could have predicted this? Yes, and I must admit, sir, I'm worried about our chances. By the time we get going, it's going to be nearly four in the morning. far too late to surprise the Hessians with a pre dawn attack Our plans hinge on the element of surprise. Would it not be safer to call it off and withdraw? Withdraw. How can we? A retreat would be too dangerous. If the Hessians catch the troops midriver, they'll be easy targets for the marksmen on the banks. Yes, but if we continue these men, they face nine miles of marching on roads slick with ice and snow. The Hessians will surely see us coming Their senturies would have to be blind to miss more than two thousand of us approaching Trenton in broad daylight The last thing we want is a fight on the open road