On the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington would conduct an offensive operation against the three Hessian regiments who were wintering their forces in the town of Trenton, New Jersey. Although this engagement would not cause any significant material or troop damage to the British Army; it would have a lasting impact by being the battle that legitimized the Continental Army as being capable of facing a superiorly trained and equipped enemy whilst maintaining minimal loses. The battle’s aftermath was a result of General Washington’s ability to take advantage of key terrain and the poor quality of Hessian defenses, by utilizing the element of surprise through weather and terrain, and the Hessians inability to recognize the …show more content…
To conduct his assault he would cut off any possible Hessian routes of retreat and seize key terrain to gain a tactical advantage. He posted MG James Ewing would take a ferry with his 700 militia and assume control over the bridge to over Assunpink Creek. Washington also assault a poorly garrisoned outpost on the northwest side of Trenton. Finally, Washington gained control of the high ground overlooking the town for his gun placements to effectively target Hessian ranks. These conditions that General Washington created are what help lead to the Continental victory. Washington had effectively created a kill zone within the town of Trenton. He blocked all major routes of escape so the Hessian would be encircled. By seizing the high ground Washington was able to create the best vantage point for his guns. He could target and destroy squads of Hessians while still maintaining a high level of protection. By encircling the Hessian he forced them to fight in his conditions. By understanding the enemy situation Washington was able to prepare the battlefield so that it supported his operations. Washington saw the threat forces lack of preparation and used it to his advantage when he moved to take the Hessians only defensible points. For these reasons, Washington’s success in seizing key terrain and staging his forces to an advantageous position are to be considered as a major effecting factor that lead to an American
Valley Forge- Dec. 19 1777-June 19 1778. Valley Forge was the a winter camp for the continental army. This winter was one of the toughest winters the army faced. They lacked enough food and supplies that they need most. Washington had the toughest job: keeping the army together.
Knowing Britain 's force was stronger George Washington came up with a plan to escape from the redcoats. His plan was to go around the side of Cornwallis’s camp instead of reversing the way he came in by crossing the river into Trenton. General Cornwallis new Washington 's
Therefore, the british could’ve attacked from just about any location they wanted to. Later in the war, the Hessians were quickly shot, most wounded or killed. In total of all of the Hessians, 22 were killed, 92 were wounded, 918 captured, and 400 of the Hessians found a way to escape the war. On all top the that, 2 American were somehow frozen to death and 5 were wounded. After this big battle in Trenton, The American Colonists took away prisoners, and supplies but withdrew from the Next war which was the Battle of Princeton.
The Battle of Trenton was a significant battle in the American Revolution. The reason for this is General George Washington decided that on December 25, 1776 he and his men would cross the Delaware River and attack the Hessians. Washington tricked and trapped the Hessians by attacking them from behind. Since the battle lasted less than an hour, Washington and his army defeated the Hessians. These are some key points on why the Battle of Trenton was so significant.
This battle wasn’t really Washington’s great strategy but Benedict Arnold’s great strategies. The battle of Saratoga was really two battles at the same location. It starts off with Burgoyne taking over Fort Ticonderoga, but after taking the fort he moved slowly to his next destination allowing the survivors to regroup with Washington, General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold. When Burgoyne heard of this he attacked and Arnold led a group of troops to block a flanking column which eventually flanked them. Burgoyne retreated and attacked later and Arnold even after being told not to by General Gates took several key points and forced him to surrender.
The Battle of Trenton. As soon as George Washington’s famous Delaware River crossing, he and the Continental Army marched into Trenton, New Jersey. This March included horses, guns, wagons, and soldiers. The group stretched for nearly a mile long.
This battle took place after a demoralizing defeat at Long island. George Washington was forced to retreat all the way across New Jersey back in Pennsylvania. Due to the cold and harsh winter and the defeats in the previous wars, the Continental Army was one the verge of abandoning the rebellion act. Therefore George Washington needed to find something to build up the spirit in his troops. As such he then decides to cross back over the Delaware River and attack the Hessians (German hired troops) at Trenton, New Jersey.
In the movie, George Washington makes an arcane decision to cross the Delaware River to separate the troops from the other British command and attack the Hessians on the other side of the river. Hugh Mercer, Henry Knox, and almost everyone else besides Gen. John Glover was skeptical of this decision because the troops weren’t well trained and ready for this type of battle that Washington was proposing, which wasn’t a very propitious argument according to others. The Battle at Trenton would be the first time that the army attacked someone first, which was a huge step into the foreseen. However, on the day after Christmas, 1776, George Washington’s coherent plan led him and the continental Army to war and this resulted in them defeating a formidable garrison of Hessian mercenaries. If the Americans hadn’t taken action on this day there might have been an inevitable fate of the U.S. losing the war for freedom from
Washington was an amazing leader with many problems and still had victories. He trained a group of men who were not fit for war. The colonial army consisted of farmers and commoners, not highly trained fighters. They fought with Washington for freedom. With how poorly these men were prepared for way, the outcome should be totally different.
The future of America lie on his shoulders. He showed no weakness, doubt or fear of what was ahead of him and his troops. He told them while all eyes were focused on him, “Gentlemen this event is now in the hand of God” (Beck 192). His faith in God, while being focused on the task at hand is what made his troops follow him to victory. While crossing the Delaware River it was an icey and horrific night, Washington was to march to Trenton to attack the British on Christmas Eve.
General George Washington had a major impact in the American Revolution. Washington was one of the main generals in the war. He knew that the only way to get rid of the British was to fight them. He made the colonists fight, by giving them reasons like freedom, no taxes, and no more control, etc. Sadly Washington 's troops were poorly trained, and lacked food and supplies, but his motivation kept them going.
Washington most likely wouldn’t have won the battle without Espionage. Espionage (spying) during the Revolutionary War was important because they used the Culper Spy Ring, both sides used it, and there are a lot of famous spies. In the Revolutionary War, they had spies that used the Culper Spy Ring. The ring was used for sending private messages to Washington about the British army.
In the book 1776 by David McCullough, the second part is the aptly named Fateful Summer, where we learn the many disheartening mistakes made by the fledgling American army. We start off with the point of view of the American army. We watch as General Washington and his army flee to New York, which was vastly underdefended. It also happens that the British army fled to New York. The battles that occurred in New York showed just how inexperienced Washington and his army were.
Once Trenton was taken, The British planned an immediate counter to the Americans and planned to take Trenton back. Thus the battle for the bridge at Assunpink Creek, also known as the Battle of the Assunpink Creek, started. However, the Americans once again were successful against the British and Hessians. General Washington further marched his army towards Princeton but still wanted to
This act of treating his military as little less then property rubbed many the wrong way, and this soon backfired on Wilhelm, many other Princes of Germany who followed similar guidelines. Throughout the duration of the American army, the Hessians were present in just about every major battle, ranging from the first battle in the Battle of Long Island, to the infamous Battle of Trenton where over one thousand Hessians lost their lives. The Hessians suffered a major blow not only to their pride, but also the loss of