*After his defeats in New York, Washington withdrew into Pennsylvania.  Congress itself abandoned Philadelphia.  Washington’s army was down to 5,000 men, about a quarter the size it had been in the summer, and many men’s enlistments were about to run out—most soldiers only signed on for a few months or a year.  As the year came to its close, Washington expected to have an army of about 1,400 men in the New Year.

*At this time, Thomas Paine began writing the series of pamphlet he entitled The Crisis, beginning the first volume with the words

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; but 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 consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

*The British had also moved into New Jersey, as had their Hessian mercenaries, although as the weather worsened, General Howe moved back to New York City, leaving New Jersey to his subordinates. 

*Some of the New Jersey militia harassed the British and Hessians (particularly as stories of rape and pillage by the Hessians spread), preventing them from sending out as many patrols as they should have, thus limiting their intelligence.  However, the commander of the Hessians occupying Trenton, Colonel Johann Rall said that it was not necessary to build earthworks or other defences, stating that the bayonet would be enough.

*Encouraged by the success of several small raids against the British and Hessians in New Jersey, and knowing that his men outnumbered the Hessians in Trenton, Washington planned a daring night attack across the Delaware River.  He would cross on Christmas night, hoping the catch the Hessians tired from their Christmas celebrations at dawn on the 26th.

*Washington turned to Colonel John Glover of Marblehead and his fishermen to ferry his men across the river.  They did so in large boats confiscated from the local population.  They also used ferries to carry the cannon and horses across the river.

*Bad weather, including ice in the river, slowed their crossing, and they did not arrive on the Jersey shore until 3 AM (instead of Midnight).  Some of Washington’s men did not manage to cross at all due to the weather.  However, a blizzard hid the approach of Washington’s soldiers from the Hessians while local patriots were able to guide Washington’s men to Trenton.

*The Hessians were caught off guard, although a sentry managed to sound the alarm, and the Hessians were able to form a line that provided some resistance.  However, they were not able to hold off the American forces, particularly as American artillery began firing into their ranks--some of the artillery was commanded by Alexander Hamilton, who had to keep his finger over the touchhole of his cannon to keep it from freezing over.  Miscommunication led to the Hessians splitting their forces until they finally fell apart as Colonel Rall was mortally wounded. 

*22 Hessians were killed, 83 seriously wounded, and 896 captured.  A few managed to escape because they were on the far end of the town from where the attack began.  Washington only lost two men killed and five wounded (one of whom was Lieutenant James Monroe, who was wounded in the shoulder and nearly bled to death—he carried the bullet in his body for the rest of his life), although many men died the next day of illness, exposure, and exhaustion.

*Although this was not a large battle, and Washington crossed back into Pennsylvania shortly after the end of the battle, it offered a great lift to American morale, encouraging re-enlistment and breaking the Hessians’ reputation as unbeatable killing machines.

*The Battle of Princeton a week later was another small, but important, American victory.  On 29 December, 1776, Washington again crossed the Delaware and re-occupied Trenton, this time with fresh soldiers who had been unable to cross with him the last time. 

*British General Cornwallis, who outnumbered Washington 8,000 to 6,000 moved to trap him against the River, leaving the town of Princeton unguarded in the process.

*Washington left a few men behind to hold Cornwallis’s men in place, and marched the bulk of his army to Princeton, where he rapidly defeated most of the force defending the town. 

*Unlike at Trenton, he did not capture the majority of the British, as they managed to break through Washington’s lines with a bayonet charge and escape (with their dragoons covering their rear).  A few holed up in Nassau Hall of Princeton University until Alexander Hamilton fired a few cannon shots into the building, forcing the British to surrender (and shooting the head out of a portrait of King George II.  Partly as a result of his work at Trenton and Princeton, Hamilton was soon appointed to Washington’s staff and served as his aide for most of the rest of the war.

*Washington captured numerous wagons full of supplies and further increased American confidence, even though he soon fell back to a defensive position further from the British lines.  Although he had not lost many men, Cornwallis withdrew his men from parts of New Jersey.

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