TRENTON

The battered Americans hatch a bold plan to turn the tide of the War of Independence

- DAVID SMITH

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, USA 26 DECEMBER 1776

As 1776 drew to a close, the rebel army under George Washington had suffered a string of demoralising defeats. Worse than that, they had often proved unable to stand against the larger British army, led by General William Howe. The Americans had broken and run at the Battle of Long Island and during the British landings on Manhattan. They had suffered further defeats at White Plains and Fort Washington and the campaign had apparently ended with Washington in full retreat, scrabbling to hold together the remnants of his army.

As Christmas approached, the British settled down for a winter in New York and made plans for their 1777 campaign. Howe prepared an overwhelming combination of operations and the revolutionary cause looked to be on the verge of dying, but while Howe made his plans for the following year, Washington had ideas to act much sooner.

Why did Washington attack the British at Trenton?

When the British ended their offensive operations for the year, they went into 'winter quarters'. This included an extensive string of posts in New Jersey, intended to encourage loyalists in the colony to feel confident enough to join the British cause. The posts were also necessary to ensure Howe could find enough forage for his horses. Howe was aware that he was stretching his resources thinly, nevertheless he believed the rebel army was a spent force and did not deserve the respect that he would have shown a more accomplished enemy.

Washington was in the depths of despair, knowing that his army was on the brink of complete collapse and seeing no hope of support from the local population. His numbers had dwindled to around 3,500 and only the Delaware River was between him and the British. As the weather worsened, the river would freeze and Washington feared the British would then cross it in force to hunt down his tiny army.