Without these triumphs, the rebellion that had begun so bravely could not have gone on. They are noted as the first successes won by washington in the open field. The battles of trenton and princeton were seminal events in american history and therefore world history. Trenton and princeton battle in the american revolution. Washington hoped that a quick victory at trenton would bolster sagging morale in. Battle joined creating the united states exhibitions. On january 3, 1777, continental army soldiers under the command of general george washington defeated a force of british troops near princeton, new jersey. A history text book written for high school students.
The second battle of trenton occurred on 2 january 1777. The battle of trenton was a small but pivotal battle during the american revolutionary war, which took place on the morning of december 26, 1776, in trenton, new jersey. Ketchum graduated from yale unviersity and commanded a subchaser in the south atlantic during world war ii. John cadwalader in a letter from an officer of distinction dated pluckemin, 5 jan. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. This is identified as among the best series of articles produced by the wikipedia community. The effect of the battle of trenton and the battle of princeton was to clear most of new jersey of british troops. Battle of princeton george washingtons mount vernon. Genl ewing was to have crossed before day at trenton ferry, and taken. The following feature originally appeared in the dec. As director of book publishing at american heritage publishing company for twenty. From the battles at lexington and concord in spring 1775 to those at trenton and. The british government was unable to recruit sufficient british troops to fight the american revolutionary war. The battles occurred over a span of nine days december 26, 1776january 3, 1777 and are notable as the first successes won by the revolutionary general george.
In the afternoon the rains came on, and the roads turned into bogs of. From george washington to john hancock, 5 january 1777. The battles of trenton and princeton, december 25, 1776 january 3, 1777 by mark maloy washingtons force planned to cross the river at mcconkeys ferry, located about nine miles upriver from trenton. I purchased mine in 2008 at the reenactment of the battle of trenton at the gift shop in the old barracks museum. The battles of trenton and princeton were a boost to the morale of the patriot. Charles crider, ella nadeau, emma schechter, madeleine peel, maisie ryle, sal suarez. A new historic manual concerning the three battles at trenton and princeton, new jersey, during the war for american independence, in 1776 and 1777. After general george washingtons crossing of the delaware river north of trenton the previous night, washington led the main body of the continental army against hessian auxiliaries garrisoned at trenton.
The battles of trenton and princeton, december 25, 1776 january 3, 1777 emerging revolutionary war series mark maloy. The battle of princeton january 3, 1777 was a small battle in which british forces near princeton, new jersey on the night of january 2, 1777 george washington, commanderinchief of the continental army, repulsed a british attack at the battle of the assunpink creek in trenton. Battle of princeton has been listed as one of the warfare good articles under the good article criteria. After a brief battle, almost twothirds of the hessian force was captured, with negligible. Battle of princeton project gutenberg selfpublishing. It is a tale of unimaginable hardship and suffering that culminated in the battles of trenton and princeton.
Since august 1776, british forces under general william howe had been driving the continental army south out. Nobody knows how long the battle lastedreports range from a half hour to nearly twobut at the end of. The battle of princeton was a battle of the american revolutionary war, fought near princeton. The battle of princeton took place on january 3, 1777. Washingtons attack plan included three separate river crossings, but only one. Living in this area, most of us know a little about the battles. C more soldiers enlisted in the continental army d the morale of the continental army suffered. In the fall of 1776, washington was in desperate straits, having been defeated in long island, and having to retreat from new york city, which being. General lord cornwallis had left 1,400 british troops under the command of lieutenant colonel charles mawhood in princeton. George washingtons army reached the new jersey shore at 3. Internet archive bookreader the battles of trenton and princeton. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it battle of princeton is part of the new york and new jersey campaign series, a good topic.
When george washingtons army captured the hessian garrison of trenton, new jersey, on 26 december 1776, and parried the british relief column at princeton on 3 january 1777, it won victories that marked the turning point of the revolutionary war. The victories of trenton and princeton restored the failing spirits of the people, and, what was hardly less important, produced a deep impression in europe in favor of the colonies. Washingtons vision for victory unfolds, covers the victories from late december 1776 to early january 1777 at the battles of trenton and princeton. He soon returned in a final push that drove the americans off the harlem. A week following the battle of trenton in january 1777 he left his campfire burning as a decoy and slipped away and defeated a smaller british detachment at princeton. Both trenton and princeton have been viewed as relatively minor victories for the americans, but in terms of building morale and fueling enthusiasm in the badly demoralized continental army, the importance of. The authors attention detail makes this one of the most referenced books about the battles at trenton and princeton. There was considerable sympathy in britain for the cause of the american colonists and many considered the american revolutionary war to be a proxy civil war between the privileged british establishment and the ordinary british citizen.
The action was part of a larger campaign to regain momentum following a string of defeats in the. Washington had proved himself to be a strong leader and his victories reenergized the revolutionary cause, leading some 8,000 recruits to join the continental. These battles in the war of american independence are noted as the first successes won by washington in the open field. This book originally was published in 1898 and was only reprinted in a limited production run in 2001. December 26th commander colonel johann rall and his hessian garrison of 1,500 men, arrived in trenton, nj. Battles of trenton and princeton, 177677, in the american revolution, a series of engagements won by the continental army against hessian and british forces in new jersey.
That night, he evacuated his position, circled around general lord cornwallis army, and went to attack the. Memorandum in general robert andersons letter book, in stryker, battles of trenton and princeton. Overview of trenton and princeton by phd students from stanford, harvard, and berkeley trenton and princeton dec 25, 1776 jan 3, 1777 in the american revolution. The battle of trenton was a small but pivotal battle during the american revolutionary war. William howe had forced the american army out of new york and hounded it across. For readers who want to know how the battles actually happened, the books. An inside view of the battles of trenton and princeton. In the summer the stretch of the delaware river north of trenton, new jersey, is as alluring as any place in the country. For readers who want to know how the battles actually happened, the books are valuable for their careful construction of events. Pennsylvania historical and museum commission, 1976.
Samuel smiths books on trenton and princeton are highly accurate monographs, based on careful research in american primary materials and excellent use of hessian transcripts. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. The country, which had lost heart, and become supine and almost hostile, revived. Although both sides suffered the many horrific aspects of eighteenthcentury warfare, americas critical military victories and her determined diplomacy won her. The increasing sense of desperation, even hopelessness, of the american cause is so beautifully built by ketchum that our knowing how things turned out somehow. Following close upon a series of defeats, their effect upon his troops and the population at large was marked.
The battles of trenton and princeton internet archive. The battles impressed upon the european powers that the americans were able to confront the british army and the decisive intervention of france and spain in. The battle of princeton was a battle of the american revolutionary war, fought near princeton, new jersey on january 3, 1777, and ending in a small victory for the colonials. Trenton and princeton dec 25, 1776 jan 3, 1777 in the. The battles for trenton and princeton ketchum, richard m. General george washingtons army crossed the icy delaware on christmas day 1776 and, over the course of the next 10 days, won two crucial. Why were the battles at trenton and princeton significant. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. The volume of fire was so intense the british advance guard was forced to pull. From the battles at lexington and concord in spring 1775 to those at trenton and princeton in. David hackett fischer, washingtons crossing oxford. A number of oneyear enlistments were running out and washington faced the real problem of commanding an army with no men in it. The battles of trenton and princeton are connected, and part of a campaign against the british forces in nj, during the american revolution during the 17761777 winter. Battle of trenton project gutenberg selfpublishing.
Not only did the americans gain badly needed guns and ammunition, but they also gained a big morale boost. Battle of trenton timeline by garrett urhammer on prezi. The book on the pivotal moment in the war of independence far better than 1776 or washingtons crossing at showing how the revolution hung by a thread before trenton and princeton. Stryker, the battles of trenton and princeton boston. Most of the key events took place right here in trenton, and in nearby locations including pennington, ewing, west trenton, princeton, hamilton, and lawrenceville. Selection from chapter 4 the crossing, christmas 1776.
Following a surprise attack at trenton early in the morning of december 26, 1776, general george. French soldier who served under george washington in the american revolution 17571834, french soldier who served under george washington in the american. Selection from chapter 4 the crossing, christmas 1776 part of victory or death. View the following pages for a more detailed description on the battle of princeton. Since august 1776, british forces under general william howe had been driving the continental army south out of new york.
An inside view of the battles of trenton and princeton new york. Haven page images at hathitrust the washingtons crossing sketch book. Robert andersons letter book, in stryker, battles of trenton and princeton. Washington was able to attack and defeat the troops at princeton and get out before general cornwallis could arrive with reinforcements. From george washington to john hancock, 27 december 1776. In the initial volume of the revolution trilogy rick atkinson recounts the first. The battles of trenton and princeton were great victories for the americans. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Medium complexity game of the battles of trenton and princeton during the american revolutionary war. General william howe english general who commanded the english forces at bunker hill. Battle of trenton wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
While creating national military forces and a confederated government, americans won notable victories in battles at boston, saratoga, trenton, princeton, cowpens, and yorktown. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. His attack across the delaware into trenton and his subsequent attack and victory at princeton gave the american army a very needed morale boost. Despite this, they continued to push, recapturing their cannon. Revolutionary war part 7 battles of trenton and princeton. Battle of trenton journal of the american revolution. Battles of trenton and princeton board game boardgamegeek.
I think those hessians should have held back on the celebrating. New years day 1777 brought mild weather to princeton, thawing out the frozen ground. On the night of january 2, 1777, washington repulsed a british attack at the battle. A study of the second battle of trenton and maneuver w dtic. Mercers troops advanced, pushing back the british light troops.