Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month December 1776
The Retreat Across New Jersey and the Battle of Trenton
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
After the loss of Fort Washington and Fort Lee morale was at it's lowest, not only for the soldier, but for the non-combatants who supported them. Desertion was rampant, yet as the force leaned out what remained of the Army became tougher and more dedicated and persistent in their resolve.
General George Washington, not knowing Howe's intentions, left his army in three parts with the intention that Lee would protect the Hudson and Heath protect New England. December found Howe in full pursuit of Washington who was retreating southward from town to town. Short of everything but courage, the little army was not trying to defeat the British but to fight rear guard actions to deny them an advance before Washington could find a safe haven in which to survive the winter.
All across New Jersey they destroyed bridges, and removed or destroyed boats to slow the British advance. These tactics were costly to the British with little cost to the Continentals whose morale was strengthened. A strategy began to take shape. Not capable to meet the enemy on the field, they began to exact a high price for any advance made by Howe's forces while preserving their own army to fight another day.
The Army could see results, civilians could not. There was a growing civilian belief that the Army could not survive; an opinion shared by Howe, as he viewed Washington's effectiveness as dying on the vine simply for the lack of logistics. Howe thought that if Washington eluded him and could not be brought to a decisive battle on the field then he would be finished off by the winter by lack of supplies and cover. Things now appeared so bleak for Washington's army that civilians in the occupied zone rushed to swear allegiance to the King and Congress fled from Philadelphia to Baltimore.
Washington's force was finally reinforced by what remained of Lee's command under Cadwallader. The army's effective strength was now, possibly, equal to one third of Howe's, certainly not sufficient to engage Howe in a decisive battle.
Howe, a master of European warfare, is said to have spoken of the cowardice of an army that would not stand and fight. The patriots, by no means warriors in the European sense, had learned from Indian raids the value of Indian tactics. British troops not trained in marksmanship when going into battle, fired their weapons against the opposing army then advanced with fixed bayonets. Americans who had learned to shoot to kill game fired their weapons with the intent to bring down an enemy. Such tactics in the retreat were not only distasteful to the British but deadly in their results.
Washington crossed the Delaware River carrying all boats with him, temporarily denying Howe passage. Winter was setting in and Howe felt that by establishing a series of garrisoned towns that Washington would be locked out to perish in the cold while his own army could settle in comfortably for the winter.
Howe might have thought that Washington was finished, but the sterling qualities that later made him the Father of His Country began to show.
Washington, temporarily safe but not knowing Howe's plans, could not afford to rest on the Pennsylvania side. Given time Howe could use wagons to bring up boats to cross the river and engage him. While the army rested, Washington considered their situation. With Howe's army divided and appearing to be in winter quarters, he felt if the occasion arose and a quick victory could be gained that it might secure their position and supplies for the winter, restore the Army's credibility and rebuild civilian morale.
The soldiers were much improved in health and spirits by the short respite from constant marching and fighting. The army that even in early November had been without proper clothing and foot ware was now even more miserably clothed. Yet, their spirits buoyed by a vision of freedom from King George III and the liberty to run their own lives, were ready and willing to fight.
Washington thought the best time to attack would be when Howe's troops were least prepared. Believing this to be over Christmas Day he planned to strike the Hessian forces at Trenton before dawn on December 26, then move on into New Jersey against other garrisons.
Dividing his force into three parts he set off in the dead of night. Marbleheaders who had rescued the troops from Long Island now put the force across the Delaware in boats despite ice flows and wind and sleet from a developing storm which slowed movement and added to the troops' discomfort.
Delays placed the troops in Trenton in broad daylight. The storm, now a raging blizzard, was an asset by making the battle more chaotic. Patriot soldiers accustomed to independent action were at an advantage against Europeans, trained to fight as a unit. The plan to surround the town and let none escape to allow a surprise attack on other towns was foiled. Failure of Eweing and Cadwalader to cross the river allowed some Hessians to escape to warn garrisons in other towns.
The net result of the battle was the capture of almost a thousand men, their arms, field pieces, wagons, horses, and all supplies without the loss of one American. The large van created by prisoners and captured supplies required Washington to return to the safety of Pennsylvania.
Recrossing the Delaware was even more difficult than the original passage. The storm was now in full fury and the river caked with ice flows that impeded the boats' progress. The many difficulties encountered may be assessed by noting that three men froze to death in the boats during the recrossing.
References: Christopher Ward’s “The War of the American Revolution”; James Thomas Flexner's "George Washington, The Indispensable Man "; Encyclopedia Britannica "The Revolutionary Years".
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