And notwithstanding the extended Appearance of the Enemy on the other Side, made at least in part, to divert our Attention from any particular point, as well as to harrass us by Fatigue, I cannot divest myself of the Opinion that their principal Design is to Ford the River somewhere above Trenton...As Washington and his army were slowly pushed towards Pennsylvania by the British, orders had gone out to round up all of the boats along the Delaware River and bring them to the Pennsylvania side, effectively "trapping" the British army on the Jersey side of the Delaware. However, the river was freezing over and once frozen solid it would allow the British army to cross the river without boats. The problem was also getting severe because the enlistment for the current soldiers was soon to end on December 31 and many soldiers were becoming disenchanted and no longer wanted to fight a losing battle. Washington realized this and this caused even greater urgency. On December 12 he wrote to the Continental Congress pleading for more men for his army:I shall remove further up the River to be near the main Body of my small Army, with which every possible Opposition shall be given to any further Approach of the Enemy towards Philadelphia.
Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 12, 1776
As General Armstrong has a good deal of influence in this State and our present force is small and inconsiderable, I think he cannot be better employed than to repair to the Counties where his interest lies to animate the People, promote the recruiting service and encourage the Militia to come in. He will also be able to form a proper Judgement of the places suitable for Magazines of Provision to be collected. I have requested him to wait upon you on this subject, and if General Smallwood should go to Maryland on the same business, I think his presence would have a happy effect. He is popular and of great Interest and I am persuaded would contribute greatly to the State's furnishing her Quota of Men in a little time.A December 24 letter also summarized his urgency for action before the current enlistment expired:Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 12, 1776
The necessity of collecting a body of Troops, to supply the place of those, whose term of inlistment expires on the first of next month, obliges me to press you to march for ward, with as much Expedition as possible...In a letter dated December 22, 1776 Washington wrote:
In the first, I have every reason in the world to fear a disappointment; in the latter, I find myself woefully deceived. It is easier there fore to conceive, than describe, the situation I am in, left or shall be, in a very few days, with only a very few Southern Regiments (reduced almost to Nothing) to oppose Howe's Main Army, already posted in such a manner as to pour in his whole Force upon us, so soon as the frost affords him a passage over the Delaware, and our numbers such, as to give no effectual opposition.That same day, Washington wrote from his headquarters in Bucks County to the militia of Northampton County, PA, appealing for further assistance in preventing the British from taking Philadephia.Thus Circumstanced, it is a matter of concern to me, that in my last, I directed you to take back any of the Militia designed for the support of the Army under my Command, and have to request, that, instead of ordering the return of any of those that were destined for this Department (by order of their respective States) that you will hasten them on with all possible expedition, as I see no other chance of saving Philadelphia, and preventing a fatal blow to America, in the loss of a City from whence so much of our Resources are drawn.
Letter George Washington to Joseph Spencer, December 22, 1776
Sir: The Council of Safety for this State, have by their Resolve of the 17th. Instt. impowred me, to call out the Militia of the County of Northampton, to the Assistance of the Continental Army under my Command; that by our joint endeavours, we may put a stop to the Progress of the Enemy, who are making preparations to advance to Philadelphia, as soon as they can Cross the Delaware either by Boats or upon the Ice...Washington was working very diligently to recruit enough men to keep an army together. Here is yet another description of Washington's needs to obtain more men for his army:I most earnestly intreat you Sir, and the rest of the Gentleman of your Committee, to exert your influence among the people of the County and endeavour to make them turn out generally, in defence of their Capital; which will most assuredly fall a Sacrafice, unless the Militia of the Province contribute Largely to its defence. Those who are so far lost to a love of their Country, as to refuse to lend a hand to its support, at this critical time, may depend upon being treated, as their baseness and want of Public Spirit, will most justly deserve.
Dear Sir: The unfortunate mode adopted by Congress for the appointment of Officers under the New Establishment, has been big with every Evil; and among others with the most shameful delays; In short, so much confusion and uncertainty attend, the appointments, for want of an arrangement of the Officers, that I do not see whether we are like ever to recover from it; this has determin'd me in the present exigency of our Affairs, to encourage, by every means in my power, to raising of Men for Continental Service, and as your Camp may be a proper place to set a Work of this sort on foot, I wish you would select such persons as you shall judge fit to Command Companies in the first place, and likely to raise them in the next, and promise them in my Name, that if they can raise Companies upon the Continental terms, and establishment, or even if they can Ingage Fifty privates, I will immediately, upon a certificate thereof from you, take both Officers and Men into pay, allow the Officers the Dollar and third for every man they enlist, and the Men their Bounty of twenty Dollars &ca.In preparation for the crossing, Washington had members of the Massachussettes militia come to the river. These were professional boatmen who would be able to navigate the ice-choked waters of the Delaware. In a letter dated December 21, 1776 Washington wrote:Letter George Washington to Samuel Griffin, December 24, 1776
I have ordered Genl. Heath to join me with as many of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Militia as can be spared.In the same letter he can be found urging the recipient of the letter to continue on with his duties, for if he retired due to his poor state of health it might give away the fact that the Continental Army was facing much trouble, as can be seen here:Letter George Washington to Alexander McDougall, December 21, 1776
I think with you, that tho' your State of Health may require a Resignation, that this is not a proper time to make it. Our Enemies would probably attribute it to the late unfavourable Aspect of our affairs, and therefore I would advise you to try, whether a little rest might not contribute to the Cure of a disorder, which is generally brought on by Colds and Fatigue.Washington was sure that he had to act fast, for he was sure that the British were preparing to take Philadelphia:Letter George Washington to Alexander McDougall, December 21, 1776
If I had not been well convinced before of the Enemy's Intention of possessing themselves of Philadelphia, so soon as the frost will form Ice hard enough to transport them, and their Artillery across the Delaware, I have an intercepted Letter which puts the matter beyond a doubt.In the evening of Decmber 25, 1776 Washington wrote the following letter stating his intentions to cross the river:Letter George Washington to Israel Putnam, December 25, 1776
McKonkey's Ferry, Six o'clock P.M., December 25, 1776.At two other locations along the Delaware River the Continental army was supposed to cross. However, because of the terrible conditions they were not able to do so. Although Washington was not able to see at the time how important his success was, he was aware that it did cause the British army to retreat somewhat. However, he seemed disappointed that the other sections of the army were not able to cross the river:Dear Sir: Notwithstanding the discouraging Accounts I have received from Col. Reed of what might be expected from the Operations below, I am determined, as the Night is favourable, to cross the River and make the attack upon Trenton in the Morning, If you can do nothing real, at least create as great a diversion as possible.
Had it not been for the unhappy failure of Genls. Ewing and Cadwallader in their attempts to pass on the Night of the 25. and if the several concerted attacks, could have been made, I have no doubt but that our views would have succeeded to our warmest expectations. What was done, occasioned the Enemy to leave their Several Posts on the Delaware with great precipitation.He further stated this is another letter:Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 29, 1776
We should have made the whole of them prisoners, could Genl. Ewing have passed the Delaware at Trenton and got in their Rear, but the Ice prevented him.Washington did, however, in another letter hint that he realized the importance of the successful crossing when he wrote:Letter George Washington to Alexander McDougall, December 28, 1776
I hope that the late success at Trenton on the 26th. and the consequences of it, will change the Face of Matters not only there but every where else.It was only Washington's army that successfully crossed, although the condition of the crossing were quite severe.Letter George Washington to Alexander McDougall, December 28, 1776
The peculiar distresses to which the Troops who were with me were reduced, by the severities of Cold, rain, Snow and Storm, the charge of the Prisoners they had taken, and another reason that might be mentioned, and the little prospect of receiving further succours, on account of the Season and situation of the River...Washinton was pleased with the crossing, though, and described it as follows:Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 29, 1776
I have the pleasure to inform you of the success of an enterprize, which took effect the 26th. Instant at Trenton; On the night of the preceding day, I cross'd the Delaware with a detachment of the Army under my Command, amounting to about 2400; the difficulties arising in the passage of the River, prevented my arriving at the Town so soon as I expected, by which means the attack did not commence till eight O'Clock; when our Troops pressed forward with so much Ardor, and Spirit, as never to suffer them to form completely, about Seven hundred of the enemy ran away in the begining of the action; the rest amounting to 1000 including 31 Officers, after making a feeble opposition, laid down their Arms and Surrendered themselves prisoners of War. We have taken about one thousand stand of Arms, four Standards and Six pieces of brass Artillery, with some other Stores.A much more detailed description of the event can be found in a different letter written to the Continental Congress detailing the success of his mission:Letter George Washington to William Maxwell, December 28, 1776
Head Quarters, Newton, December 27, 1776.The surprise attack at Trenton was a success and it re-ignited the dwindling hope that was left in the Continental Army. Partially through the success of that campaign, and also through bribery, Washington convinced his army to stay on when the new year began and to continue fighting for at least six weeks, at least temporarily keeping his army together past the new year of 1777.Sir: I have the pleasure of Congratulating you upon the success of an enterprize which I had formed against a Detachment of the Enemy lying in Trenton, and which was executed yesterday Morning. The Evening of the 25th I ordered the Troops intended for this Service [which were about 2400] to parade back of McKonkey's Ferry, that they might begin to pass as soon as it grew dark, imagining we should be able to throw them all over, with the necessary Artillery, by 12 O'Clock, and that we might easily arrive at Trenton by five in the Morning, the distance being about nine Miles. But the Quantity of Ice, made that Night, impeded the passage of the Boats so much, that it was three O'Clock before the Artillery could all get over, and near four, before the Troops took up their line of march.
This made me despair of surprising the Town, as I well knew we could not reach it before the day was fairly broke, but as I was certain there was no making a Retreat without being discovered, and harassed on repassing the River, I determined to push on at all Events. I form'd my detachments into two divisions one to March by the lower or River Road, the other by the upper or Pennington Road. As the Divisions had nearly the same distance to March, I ordered each of them, immediately upon forcing the out Guards, to push directly into the Town, that they might charge the Enemy before they had time to form. The upper Division arrived at the Enemys advanced post, exactly at Eight O'Clock, and in three Minutes after, I found, from the fire on the lower Road that, that Division had also got up. The out Guards made but small Opposition, tho' for their Numbers, they behaved very well, keeping up a constant retreating fire from behind Houses. We presently saw their main Body formed, but from their Motions, they seemed undetermined how to act. Being hard pressed by our Troops, who had already got possession of part of their Artillery, they attempted to file off by a road on their right leading to Princetown, but perceiving their Intention, I threw a body of Troops in their Way which immediately checked them. Finding from our disposition that they were surrounded, and that they must inevitably be cut to pieces if they made any further Resistance, they agreed to lay down their Arms. The Number, that submitted in this manner, was 23 Officers and 886 Men. Col Rall. the commanding Officer with seven others were found wounded in the Town. I dont exactly know how many they had killed, but I fancy not above twenty or thirty, as they never made any regular Stand. Our loss is very trifling indeed, only two Officers and one or two privates wounded. I find, that the Detachment of the Enemy consisted of the three Hessian Regiments of Lanspatch, Kniphausen and Rohl amounting to about 1500 Men, and a Troop of British Light Horse, but immediately upon the begining of the Attack, all those who were, not killed or taken, pushed directly down the Road towards Bordentown. These would likewise have fallen into our hands, could my plan have been compleatly carried into Execution. Genl. Ewing was to have crossed before day at Trenton Ferry, and taken possession of the Bridge leading out of Town, but the Quantity of Ice was so great, that tho' he did every thing in his power to effect it, he could not get over.
This difficulty also hindered General Cadwallader from crossing, with the Pennsylvania Militia, from Bristol, he got part of his Foot over, but finding it impossible to embark his Artillery, he was obliged to desist. I am fully confident, that could the Troops under Generals Ewing and Cadwallader have passed the River, I should have been able, with their Assistance, to have driven the Enemy from all their posts below Trenton. But the Numbers I had with me, being inferior to theirs below me, and a strong Battalion of Light Infantry at Princetown above me, I thought it most prudent to return the same Evening, with my prisoners and the Artillery we had taken. We found no Stores of any Consequence in the Town. In justice to the Officers and Men, I must add, that their Behaviour upon this Occasion, reflects the highest honor upon them. The difficulty of passing the River in a very severe Night, and their march thro' a violent Storm of Snow and Hail, did not in the least abate their Ardour. But when they came to the Charge, each seemed to vie with the other in pressing forward, and were I to give a preference to any particular Corps, I should do great injustice to the others. Colonel Baylor, my first Aid de Camp, will have the honor of delivering this to you, and from him you may be made acquainted with many other particulars; his spirited Behaviour upon every Occasion, requires me to recommend him to your particular Notice. I have the honor &ca.
P.S. Inclosed you have a particular List of the Prisoners, Artillery and other Stores.
Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 27, 1776
I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Continental Regiments from the Eastern Governments, have, to a Man, agreed to stay Six weeks beyond their Term of Inlistment, which was to have expired the last day of this Month; For this extraordinary mark of their Attachment to their Country, I have agreed to give them a Bounty of Ten Dollars pr Man, besides their pay running on. I hope this noble Example will be followed by the four Regiments under your Command; promise them the Same Reward and endeavour to work upon them by every Means in your power; let them Know the Militia are pouring in from all Quarters and only want Veteran Troops, to lead them on. (13) Since our Success at this place on the 26th., the Enemy have evacuated all the Country below, they went off in the greatest hurry and Confusion.These events have been described as a "turning point" of the Revolution, for it revitalized the Continental Army in their campaign to defeat the British. But at the time is was business as usual and the army needed to continue their campaign to defeat the British:Letter George Washington to Morristown, New Jersey, Detachment Commanding Officer, December 30, 1776
I have the pleasure of Congratulating you, upon the success of an enterprise which I had form'd against a detachment of the Enemy, lying in Trenton, I some time ago mentioned to you, the importance of attacking the Enemy's detached posts when it can be done with a good prospect of success, the best of consequences must result from their being harrassed on every occasion on that Quarter.Letter George Washington to William Heath, December 27, 1776