Battle of Trenton
1776- Known as Washington's memorable Christmas attack on the Hessians
Christmas Campaign
Attacked Hessians on Christmas Day, 1776
Washington ordered troops to cross the Delaware River and take the enemy by surprise
Took Trenton at bayonet point because Hessian troops had no forts build around the camp
The Hessians were all asleep after a hard night of partying
The Americans wona complete victory
Washington attacked when he did because half of his army was going home on December 31
The British viewed the American troops as ragged, unprepared, and greatly outnumbered because they had no central government to unite them
Because the weather was so nasty (snow, freezing rain, snow and hail), the British troops did not send out the normal predawn patrol
Washington was determined to take Trenton so they did at 8AM moving in too quickly for the Hessians to even get dressed or make formations
So the Hessians surrendered
The Battle only took 90 minutes
Americans:
4 men were wounded
2-3 froze to death
Hessians:
868 are captured
106 are killed or wounded
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