Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - The Battle of Trenton

Episode Date: December 25, 2024

In the winter of 1776, things did not look good for the Continental Army.  Everything got off to a great start in 1775, but this year saw a series of defeats at the hands of the British.  Things were looking so bad that many Americans thought that the revolution was effectually over.  If Washington was to keep the revolution going, he needed a miracle.  He needed a Christmas miracle.  Learn about the Battle of Trenton and the Christmas attack that kept that revolution alive on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed MasterClass Get up to 50% off at MASTERCLASS.COM/EVERYWHERE Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! ButcherBox New users that sign up for ButcherBox will receive 2 lbs of grass-fed ground beef in every box for the lifetime of their subscription + $20 off your first box when you use code daily at checkout! Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Ben Long & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the winter of 1776, things did not look good for the Continental Army. Everything got off to a great start in 1775, but this year saw a series of defeats at the hands of the British. Things were looking so bad that many Americans thought that the revolution was effectually over. If Washington was to keep the revolution going, he needed a miracle. He needed a Christmas miracle. Learn more about the Battle of Trenton and the Christmas attack that kept the revolution alive. on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. What if your perceptions about the past were wrong?

ThruLine is a podcast that takes you back in time to uncover the parts of the story that may have gone unnoticed. It effectively turned day into night. And how it shaped the world now. Time travel with us every week on the ThruLine podcast from NPR. While many Americans like to think of the revolution as a glorious victory, It was anything but. If you could go back and run the revolution again ten times,

there's a good chance the Americans might lose nine of them. That's because the Americans were outgunned and outclassed. The British Army was more experienced, better equipped, better trained, and had a much larger population to pull from. And on top of all that, the British Navy was the greatest on earth. The revolution got off to a good start in 1775. The colonists performed well at Concord and Lexington, and then successfully laid siege to Boston.

During the winter of 1775 and 1776, the Green Mountain Boys, led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold, captured the British-held Fort Ticonderoga in northern New York. They brought back British cannons to Boston, which was a huge win. Realizing their position was untenable, British General William Howe evacuated the city on March 17, 1776, marking an early and significant American victory in the War of Independence. enthusiasm amongst the colonists for the war was high in light of their success, resulting in the Declaration of Independence in July.

One of the reasons why the Americans were victorious so early was because the British simply weren't prepared and weren't ready for a full-blown revolution. However, after Boston, the British were able to regroup and get their act together. The Continental Army marched south to New York to meet the British, and that was when things started to go south. The Battle of Long Island, which took place on August 27th, was the first major engagement after the Declaration of Independence and the largest battle of the Revolutionary War. Following the British evacuation of Boston, General William Howe launched a massive campaign to seize New York City a strategically vital location. The British landed on Staten Island and then attacked American defenses on Long Island with approximately 32,000 troops and naval support. General George Washington, with about 10,000 Continental troops, defended Brooklyn Heights but was outmaneuvered when the British executed a flanking maneuver.

The battle ended in a disastrous defeat for the Continental Army, with heavy losses, including over a thousand captured. However, Washington successfully evacuated his remaining forces across the East River to Manhattan under the cover of night and fog, avoiding complete destruction. After retreating from Long Island, Washington established defensive positions in northern Manhattan. Following skirmishes on September 16th, British forces attempt to provoke and intimidate the Continental Army into a route. The Battle of Harlem Heights began when an American Scouting Party engaged British troops near present-day Morningside Heights. Washington counterattacked

with disciplined resistance, eventually forcing the British to retreat. In late October, as the British continued their campaign to secure New York, Washington's forces withdrew north to White Plains to avoid encirclement once again. General Howe pursued with his army and October 28th, the Battle of White Plains occurred when British forces attacked a key American defensive position on Chatterton Hill. Despite a valiant defense, the Americans were ultimately driven off the hill by superior British numbers and firepower. November 16, 1776 was another devastating defeat for the Continental Army during the New York campaign. Located on Manhattan's northern tip, Fort Washington was a key American stronghold intended to block British access up the Hudson River.

Despite General Washington's hesitation, the fort's commander, Colonel Robert Magaugh, was ordered to hold the position against advancing British and Heshen forces under General William Howe. The British launched a coordinated assault on Fort Washington from multiple directions, overwhelming the fort's defenses. After intense fighting, Maga surrendered, and approximately 2,800 American troops were captured, a significant long. of both manpower and morale. This defeat, coupled with the subsequent fall of nearby Fort Lee, forced Washington's army into a retreat across New Jersey and then across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. So by December 1776, the Continental Army was in dire straits. The soldiers were

demoralized, supplies were scarce, enlistments were nearing their end, and some soldiers were deserting. The British, for their part, believed the American resistance was collapsing. General Howe did not pursue the Americans and didn't feel particularly rushed given it was winter. Traditionally, armies didn't fight in winter because it was too difficult. Given the Continental's lack of supplies, the winter would probably reduce their numbers even further without the British having to fire a shot. Howe had stationed a group of Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, to hold the town for the winter. Hesian mercenaries were German soldiers hired by the British Crown to fight against the American colonists during the Revolutionary War.

They primarily came from the German state of Hesse Castle, which was known for its professional and disciplined military. The term Heschen became a general label for all German troops in British service, although they hailed from several different regions. They were especially disliked by the colonists. At this point, Washington needed to do something. Not only was the morale of the army low, but the colonists were also starting to lose faith. Washington devised a daring plan to cross the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, March 10 miles to Trenton, and attacked the Hessian garrison at dawn. His goal was to catch the Hessians off guard, as they were expected to be in a relaxed state after Christmas celebrations.

Also, Washington had heard rumors that the British were preparing a crossing of their own as soon as the river froze over. On the night of December 25th, Washington led approximately 2,400 troops across the Delaware River in freezing conditions. The crossing was arduous, delayed by icy waters and a snowstorm. However, the main force successfully reached New Jersey before dawn. The artist Emmanuel Loitsa immortalized this crossing in his 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware. The plan was for Washington's force to march to Trenton from the north. Two other detachments under General's Ewing and Cadwallader were to block potential British reinforcements and provide support. However, they could not cross due to the weather, leaving Washington's force as the only one

across the river. After crossing the river, the soldiers embarked on a nine-mile march south to Trenton in the early hours of December 26th. Despite the freezing weather and snowstorms, which soaked their clothing and equipment, the army maintained discipline and cohesion. Along the way, Washington's forces were bolstered by the leadership of officers such as General John Sullivan and General Nathaniel Green. The difficulty with crossing and the march delayed Washington's forces, eliminating the possibility of a pre-dawn attack. Despite these hardships, the Continental Army arrived outside Trent and launched their attack around 8 a.m.

The harsh weather actually worked to their advantage, as a.m. that discouraged Heshen patrols and heightened the element of surprise. Washington divided his forces into two columns. One led by Green approached Trenton from the north, while Sullivan's column moved along the river to block escape routes from the south. The Continental Army entered town, catching all the Hesian troops completely off guard. Under Colonel Johann Rall,

the Hessians were unprepared for an attack, having been lulled into complacency by a period of relative calm from both the storm and the holiday. and as she being noted that Rall was concerned about an attack. Local loyalists and some deserters had warned him that the Continental Army was preparing to attack Trenton. Publicly, Rall dismissed the concerns, but privately he was asking the British for reinforcements, as he said Trenton wasn't defensible. The British denied his request, but many Heshan officers had the same concerns as Rall by Christmas.

The Americans advanced rapidly, their movements aided by fog and the element of surprise. Heshen sentries were quickly overwhelmed, and the streets of Trenton erupted into chaos as the Continental Army surged into the town. The initial charge was led by Washington himself, who was at the front of his troops. The Hessians, numbering about 1,400 troops, were caught off guard. Many were still waking up or assembling in their barracks when the attack began. Colonel Rawl attempted to organize a defense, rallying his troops and leading a counterattack, but the Americans' disciplined assault and effective use of artillery quickly broke the Heshen resistance. The Continental Artillery, positioned strategically to dominate key streets and intersections in Trenton,

played a crucial role in suppressing Heshen movements and forcing them into confined areas. As the battle progressed, Sullivan's forces secured the Southern Bridge over a Sunpink Creek, cutting off the Hesians' primary route of retreat. Encircled and outgunned, the Hesian troops began to falter. Colonel Raul was morally wounded during the fighting, further demoralizing his men and disorganizing their efforts. By mid-morning, with no hope of reinforcement or escape, the Hessian surrendered. The engagement lasted less than two hours and ended in a decisive American victory. Washington's forces captured more than 900 Hessian soldiers along with their weapons, ammunition, and supplies.

They also suffered another 22 killed and 83 wounded. The Americans suffered minimal casualties, with only two soldiers dying from exposure during the march and a handful of wounded in combat. The defeat damaged the reputation of the Hessian forces, which were previously considered near invincible and highlighted the vulnerability of British Allied troops. Trenton marked the beginning of an American counteroffensive. Recognizing the psychological advantage, Washington planned a follow-up attack to capitalize on the British and Hessian disarray. Washington's forces held Trenton against British counterattacks in the Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777. That night, Washington executed another bold maneuver, slipping his army past the British and attacking their rear at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. The victory at Princeton further solidified the American resurgence, forcing the British to withdraw from much of New Jersey and giving the Continental Army control of this key territory.

To put it simply, everybody loves a winner, and Washington really needed a win, and that is exactly what he got in Trenton. The victory at Trenton revitalized the spirits of the Continental Army and the American public after the series of crushing defeats earlier in 1776, including the loss of New York City and the capture of Fort Washington. Soldiers, many of whom were on the verge of leaving the army as their enlistments expired, were now inspired to re-enlist. Washington leveraged the victory to persuade both soldiers and new recruits to continue supporting the revolutionary cause. These battles prove that the Americans could defeat professional European forces, giving hope to those previously discouraged by setbacks. The defeats at Trenton and Princeton force

the British commanders to reevaluate their strategy in the colonies. The British shifted focus to consolidating their hold on key cities and maintaining defensive positions rather than pursuing aggressive campaigns to try to crush the rebellion. Although it would be over a year before France formally entered the war, the American victories in late 1776 and early 1777 showed that the revolution had staying power. These successes helped convince foreign powers that the Americans were capable of sustaining the fight for independence.

There were still more than four years of fighting that had to be fought until the Battle of Yorktown, but those years of struggle might never have happened, if it wasn't for one brilliant attack on Christmas night in 1776. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Benji Long and Cameron Kiever. I want to give a big shout out to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon, including the show's producers. Your support helps me put out a show every single day.

And also, Patreon is currently the only place where Everything Everywhere Daily merchandise is available to the top tier of supporters. If you'd like to talk to other listeners of the show and members of the Completionist Club, you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server. Links to everything are in the show notes.