The Battle of Trenton

 249 years ago today, at a low ebb of the Revolutionary War for the Americans, George Washington set out a plan to turn the tide of the war by making a surprise attack on Hessian soldiers in Trenton. On Christmas night the general, 2,400 soldiers and 18 cannons crossed the icy Delaware River by moonlight. The troops approached Trenton from two directions and surrounded the Hessians.

image via American Battlefield Trust

The resounding victory helped save the Revolutionary cause and create momentum towards winning the Battle of Princeton a week later. As a child in Bucks County Pennsylvania, I have vague memories of getting up early on a cold day to watch the Reenactment at nearby Washington’s Crossing on Christmas Day. 

More on the battle and video content can be seen here on the PBS American Revolution’s web site.