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Thomas Paine | Writer and Revolutionary Video | PBS LearningMedia

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In January 1776, Thomas Paine published a document that sparked the American fight for independence from England. His political pamphlet, called Common Sense, showed the colonists that they could be free from the tyranny of a king by creating an independent nation where they could justly and fairly govern themselves.

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Learn about the biography of Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense and Founding Father during the Revolutionary War.

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Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775-76 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Written in clear and persuasive prose, Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage common people in the Colonies to fight for egalitarian government. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution, and became an immediate sensation.

It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places. In proportion to the population of the colonies at that time (2.5 million), it had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history. As of 2006, it remains the all-time best selling American title, and is still in print today.

The pamphlet was one of the bestselling works of the 18th century in America. Thomas Paine wrote in a style that was easy for most people to understand, instead of the hard to understand writing common in the Enlightenment Era. He also referenced the Bible and used idioms that many of the Protestant colonists understood.

The document was an important part of the American Revolutionary War. It lead to the Declaration of Independence, which the Second Continental Congress wrote and signed into law later that year. Common Sense helped by creating mass support for the American Revolution.

It led to the declaration of independence written by Thomas Jefferson.

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Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775-76 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Written in clear and persuasive prose, Paine marshaled moral and political arguments to encourage common people in the Colonies to fight for egalitarian government.

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On July 4, 1776, the members of the Continental Congress assembled at the State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to take up a matter of vital importance. Two days earlier…

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What was the Declaration of Independence? Video

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What was the Declaration of Independence? Video

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The History of the Declaration of Independence

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Student's Guide to the Declaration of Independence

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Student's Guide to the Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence is an important part of American history. In the years leading up to the colonists deciding to write the Declaration of Independence, they were under the control and rule of England. The colonists in America were already in a war against England, fighting for their independence. Some important men in the new American government decided that they had to write a letter to tell the world that they were an independent nation. Five men were chosen to work together to write this letter, which became the Declaration of Independence.

The main purpose of this declaration was to outline America's reasons for wanting independence from England. The colonists had already separated themselves from England as much as they could. They had taken steps to create a separate government and military. The colonists had even made their own currency that they used instead of British money. The five men who worked on this project were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Thomas Jefferson was the man who wrote the letter. He explained that a group of people have the right to come together for change if a government is exerting too much control. Thomas Jefferson also made a point about a government needing the consent of the people it governs and wrote that England no longer had the colonists' consent to govern them.

Thomas Jefferson and the other men in the group presented their letter to the American congress on June 28, 1776. The men who were part of the Continental Congress of America had some differing opinions about this letter. Some men liked it right away, but others thought it was important for the new country to have alliances with other countries before they made this formal declaration of their independence. The Continental Congress did agree that a unanimous vote was needed, so they met to discuss the declaration for several days. On July 2, 1776, they voted on the Declaration of Independence. All of the colonies voted for the declaration except one. New York abstained from voting, which means that it opted not to cast a vote, because its representatives hadn't been given permission from the state to vote yet.

The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence officially on July 4, 1776. This was a very important moment in American history because it signified America's official separation from England. Since this date, America has continued to celebrate its independence with summer picnics, parties, parades, and fireworks. With these annual celebrations, America also continues to uphold and value the principles outlined in the original Declaration of Independence. One of the main principles is that everyone was created equal with rights to have a life of freedom and happiness. The founding fathers did not think that the government should be able to have unfair power over the people of a country. This unfair power might involve restricting rights to own property or to make statements. America continues to function as a country thanks to the vision of the men who worked to institute its government.

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Kid's Guide to the Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence is an important part of American history. In the years leading up to the colonists deciding to write the Declaration of Independence, they were under the control and rule of England. The colonists in America were already in a war against England, fighting for their independence.

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American Revolution: Declaration of Independence

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American Revolution: Declaration of Independence

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Kids learn about the Declaration of Independence major event in the American Revolutionary War.

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Revolutionary War: The Home Front | The American Revolution, 1763 - 1783 | U.S. History Primary Source Timeline | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress

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Defining a “home front” in the Revolutionary War is difficult because so much of the thirteen states became, at one time or another, an actual theater of war.

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample

The Continental Army was a military force of American colonists established by a resolution made during the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. It was formed through the efforts of the original 13 colonies against British rule and was headed by George Washington as Commander-in-Chief.
See the fact file below for more information on the Continental Army or alternatively, you can download our 27 page Continental Army worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Historical Background

On April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War broke out during the British encounter at Lexington and Concord. Prior to the war, colonial revolutionaries from the original thirteen colonies relied upon the militia.

As disparity and conflict between British rule and American colonists intensified through the years, colonists began to propose ideas of creating a colonial army for potential encounters.

After the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774, training of militiamen increased. Richard Henry Lee, a colonist, proposed the establishment of a national militia but the First Continental Congress rejected his idea.

The Establishment and Structure of the Continental Army

On June 14, 1775, in need of a unified militia, the Second Continental Congress officially created the Continental Army. It initially consisted of ten companies of riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, all serving for a year's enlistment.

A day after, the Congress unanimously elected George Washington as the Continental Army's Commander-in-Chief.

They also adopted the existing forces in the colonies of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The troops were organized into 39 regiments of infantry wherein each regiment was composed of eight companies with 728 soldiers headed by a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, a major and a captain.

Washington arrived in Philadelphia on May 9, 1775. He had a good military reputation from the French and Indian War. He accepted his appointment without any compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

Initially, Washington organized the New England Army into three divisions, six brigades and 38 regiments. In 1776, after a year of enlistment, the army was organized into 36 regiments with eight companies each, while the enlistment period was extended to three years.

By 1777, Congress allowed Washington to raise an additional 16 battalions wherein one-battalion regiments would come from each of the 13 colonies. Hence, the army was still supported by local militias under each states' authority.

State regiments were supplied with food, shelter, clothing, pay and equipment by their own state. Moreover, the number of soldiers required were in proportion to state's population.

Upon establishment, soldiers of the army had no uniforms. The Continental Congress immediately adopted brown as the official color of uniforms. It was replaced with blue or gray after a shortage of brown cloth. It was not until 1779 that Congress adopted an official uniform.

The absence of uniforms created problems because soldiers were unable to distinguish their commanders. As a remedy, the use of cockade was introduced. A cockade on the hat determines the commander's rank. Field officers wore pink or red, while captains wore buff or yellow and junior officers were pinned green.

Furthermore, black cockade were worn by commanders, which were then changed to black and white, known as the 'Union Cockade' after the French alliance.

Weapons during the Revolutionary War included rifles, muskets, bayonets, pistols, knives, tomahawks, sabers, axes, swords, cannons and polearms.

Commander George Washington relied on his generals to win the war, including Major Generals Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, Israel Putnam, Brigadier Generals John Thomas, Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph Spencer, John Sullivan and Nathanael Greene.

Battles of the Continental Army

The Continental Army had a great advantage in terms of having soldiers highly skilled in guerrilla warfare. They knew places, shortcuts and land terrain. Moreover, each soldier was fighting for their independence and freedom, which served as the grandest motivation.

Later in the war, countries like France, Spain and the Dutch Republic joined as allies of the Americans.

Despite several advantages, the Continental Army was short of money, supplies, weapons and medicine. Congress had no source of wealth compared to the crown-funded British Army. In addition, the British Army was equipped with some of the most trained leaders and skilled soldiers.

Aside from the Redcoats, the British were supported by German mercenaries known as Hessians.

On October 13, 1775, Congress established the Continental Navy followed by the Continental Marines in November.

All in all, there were 36 major Revolutionary battles and over 100 minor battles. Major battles included the Siege of Boston, Battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Saratoga, Monmouth, Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse and Yorktown.

End of the War

In 1781, the surrender of the British Army at Yorktown marked the unofficial victory for the Continental Army. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally ended the war and the British Government recognized American sovereignty over the thirteen colonies.

After the victory, Washington became the first President of the newly established republic.

Continental Army Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Continental Army across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Continental Army worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Continental Army which was a military force of American colonists established by a resolution made during the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. It was formed through the efforts of the original 13 colonies against British rule and was headed by George Washington as Commander-in-Chief.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Continental Army Facts

Major Battles

Army Generals

War of Independence

Thirteen Colonies

Commander-in-Chief

Continental Army Codes

To Independence

Army Artillery

Lettering Revolution

End of British Rule

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Link will appear as Continental Army Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 25, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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Continental Army Facts, Worksheets, Information & Famous Battles

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The Continental Army was a military force of American colonists established by a resolution made during the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. It was formed through the efforts of the original 13 colonies against British rule and was headed by George Washington as Commander-in-Chief.

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The Continental Army and the British Army were significantly different in their organizational structure, levels of experience, and funding. The Continental Army was an undisciplined, unprepared fighting force with makeshift uniforms and sloppy tactics (at least at the beginning of the war). The British Army was the world's elite fighting force and fresh of victory of the globe-spanning Seven Years War against France and her allies. What caused the Continental Army to prevail in the Revolutionary War?

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Scroll down to see the differences between the Continental Army and the British Army.

The Duke of Wellington famously said that "our army is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth" and that they enlisted "from having got bastard children, some from minor offenses, many more for drink." Napoleon said the British army was "an army of lions commanded by jackasses." But was this true?

The "Average" British Soldier

1. 23 years old, 5' 6" in height. Farmers were most common, followed by weavers and shoemakers.

2. Most had joined voluntarily, but a few had been forced into the army by "press gangs."

3. Some enlisted because they were out of work. Others wanted to get out of their boring farm lives. Others joined in order to avoid death sentences or prison. Some were tricked into enlisting.

4. Most were Scottish or Irish. English recruits made up only about 30% of the army.

5. Only a third of enlisted men could read and write.

6. Most received an enlistment bonus equivalent to $100 US today. This rose to the equivalent of $800 today.

7. They were paid only 8 pence a day, but they had to pay for their uniform and equipment, so they actually received much less. Some took extra jobs on the side. Scott asks if the British had a large standing army - did England heavily conscript during wartime?

Organization

1. The regiment was the basic unit. It was also the highest official unit, although regiments were sometimes grouped together into brigades on an basis. Each regiment had its own number to identify it. Many regiments had their own history, and there was a lot of regimental pride.

2. Each regiment was divided into 8 battalion (or "regular") companies, 1 "grenadier" company, and one "light infantry" company. A company had about 60 men and were led by a cannon.

3. Grenadiers started as grenade experts, but evolved into an elite force.

4. Light infantry had lighter and less equipment so they could move quicker. They were often used as "skirmishers" (kind of like scouts).

Training and Leadership

1. Recruits trained in their regiment, although the training was mainly drill, with very little physical training.

2. Each regiment had its own distinctive color for lapels and cuffs, as well as to have the number of the regiment stamped on the buttons.

3. Discipline was very strict. Beatings and floggings were frequent and severe, with up to 1000 lashes.

4. Officers were drawn mainly from "gentlemen", including the aristocracy, the gentry, clergy, and politicians. Many officers were Scottish and Irish, just as with the enlisted men.

5. There was no military academy. Most officers simply bought their office. The higher the rank, the higher the cost (but even the lowest rank was very expensive).

Uniforms and Equipment

1. Full body red wool coat with a divided rear skirt and turned back cuffs.

2. Sleeveless white vest and white knee breeches.

3. Black three-cornered hat.

4. The primary weapon was the "Brown Bess," a smoothbore, muzzle-loading, single shot, flintlock. 75 caliber musket.

1. Musket: 3.5 foot long barrel with no rifling. The maximum range was about 80 yards, and the muzzle velocity was relatively low. It

2. Muzzle Loading: it had to be loaded from the muzzle (the business end).

3. 75 caliber: The ball was round and one-half inch in diameter. When it entered a human body it crushed bones and tore up muscle and organs.

4. Single shot: The solider had to empty a paper cartridge into the muzzle, drop the ball in, and ram it down with a ramrod.

5. Flintlock: When the trigger was pulled, it allowed a hammer with a screwed-down piece of flint to strike a movable frizzen. This created a spark which ignited a small amount of gunpowder in a pan below the frizzen. The flash set off the powder in the barrel which forced the ball out.

6. (Describe process of loading musket) A good soldier could get off three shots a minute.

5. Officers generally did not use muskets. Instead they used flintlock pistols and swords.

Tactics

1. The point of firing at the enemy was to mass the firing to disrupt the enemy. "Accuracy by volume." Individual accuracy was not stressed (in general).

2. More key to warfare than shooting was the use of the bayonet in charges. A line of soldiers above all else to push the enemy back.

3. Dead and wounded were usually left on the field, with the exception of officers. There was no organized medical corps.

Continental Army

1. At first, the largest unit was a militia company. These companies elected their own officers and initially did not adhere to traditional military discipline.

2. Over time, they were grouped into regiments and were made more "regular" along the British model.

3. By the summer of 1775, the militias organized into armies specific to each colony, each with its own generals and other senior officers. But officers from one colony did not usually obey orders from officers of other colony. Units often came and went as they pleased.

4. Uniforms (when troops had them) were similar to British ones, except they were blue and buff (especially after 1779) or blue and red. Militia tended to not have uniforms, especially at first. After the French joined the war, they began sending brown uniforms with red trim.

5. Muskets and other equipment were similar, except that they increasingly used French muskets and gunpowder, which were superior to their British equivalents.

6. Most continental soldiers were of British descent, although descended from other European nations. Also, Native Americans fought on both sides, as did African-Americans. Most Continentals were farmers.

7. The average age was 21 for the American-born but 29 for foreign-born (14% of whom were transported convicts who were sent to the colonies as indentured servants).

8. In other words, many of the men who joined the Continental Army did so for financial reasons. The bounties were a big draw.

9. Officer positions were given on the basis of merit; they were not sold as in the British army. Many American officers had been traders beforehand.

Cite This Article

"The Continental Army and the British Army" History on the Net
© 2000-2021, Salem Media.
March 24, 2021 <https://www.historyonthenet.com/continental-army-british-army>
More Citation Information.

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The Continental Army and the British Army - History

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Loading... The Continental Army and the British Army were significantly different in their organizational structure, levels of experience, and funding. The Continental Army was an undisciplined, unprepared fighting force with makeshift uniforms and sloppy tactics (at least at the beginning of the war).

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Comparing Continental and British Armies

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The Soldiers of The Continental Army: The Revolutionary War in Four Minutes

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Washington Commands the Continental Army | History

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Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 1776, during the American Revolution, American troops won an important battle in the city.

Government is the largest employer in Trenton by far. Many other people in the city work in health care, trade, and other service industries. Factories in Trenton make medicines, metal products, and pottery.

The first Europeans to settle in the area that is now Trenton arrived in 1679. In 1714 a businessman named William Trent established the town. It was later named Trenton in his honor.

The battle of Trenton took place in December 1776, during the American Revolution. General George Washington led American troops across the Delaware River. The next day they launched a surprise attack on British troops in Trenton. The Americans won the battle.

Trenton was the temporary capital of the United States in 1784 and again in 1799. It became the capital of New Jersey in 1790. Population (2020 census), city, 90,871.

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Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 1776, during the American Revolution, American troops won an important battle in the city. Government is the largest employer in Trenton by far. Many other people in the city work in health care, trade, and other service industries.

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The Battle of Trenton was a small but crucial American Revolutionary War battle that took place on the morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey. After General George Washington crossed the Delaware River north of Trenton the previous night, he led the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers stationed at Trenton. After a short battle, almost two-thirds of the Hessian force was captured with few losses to the Americans.

Before the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army had suffered several defeats in New York and had been forced to retreat through New Jersey to Pennsylvania. Morale (confidence during hard times) in the army was low. To end the year on a positive note, George Washington-Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army-designed a plan to cross the Delaware River on the night of December 25-26 and surround the Hessians' garrison.

Because the river was icy and the weather was severe, the crossing was dangerous. Two groups of soldiers were unable to cross the river, leaving Washington with only 2,400 men under his command in the attack. This was 3,000 fewer than he had planned to have. The army marched 9 miles (14.5 km) south to Trenton. The Hessians, thinking they were safe from the Americans' army, had lowered their guard and had no long-distance outposts or patrols. Washington's forces caught them off guard. After a short but fierce resistance, most of the Hessians surrendered and were captured. About one-third escaped across Assunpink Creek.

Even though the battle did not involve a large number of soldiers, the victory inspired patriots and sympathizers of the newly formed United States. Because so many were questioning whether or not the revolution would be successful just a week earlier, the army had seemed like it was about to collapse. The dramatic victory inspired soldiers to serve longer and attracted new recruits to the ranks.

Background

In the 1760s, the American colonies started a revolution because they wanted to become independent from English rule. The English wanted to remain in control of the American colonies. This is what had begun the Revolutionary War in 1775. By 1776, American soldiers had been fighting the British for over a year, and the morale was extremely low. The Americans had been pushed out of New York by the British and their hired Hessian auxiliaries (a group of soldiers who are serving a nation at war but are not part of the regular army). The Continental Army had been forced to retreat across New Jersey. Ninety percent of the Continental Army soldiers who had served at Long Island were gone. Soldiers had deserted, feeling that independence from England was no longer possible. Even Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, had expressed some doubts, writing to his cousin in Virginia, "I think the game is pretty near up."

At the time, a small town in New Jersey called Trenton was occupied by four regiments of Hessian soldiers (numbering about 1,500 men). The Hessian soldiers were commanded by Colonel Johann Rall.

On December 20, 1776, about 2,000 troops led by General Sullivan arrived in Washington's camp. They had been under the command of Charles Lee and had been moving slowly through northern New Jersey when Lee was captured. That same day, an additional 800 troops arrived from Fort Ticonderoga under the command of Horatio Gates. Washington's army now contained 2,400 men. The infantry divisions were commanded by Major Generals Nathanael Greene and John Sullivan. The artillery division was under the direction of Brigadier General Henry Knox.

Intelligence

George Washington had placed a spy named John Honeyman, posing as a Tory, in Trenton. Honeyman had served with Major General James Wolfe in Quebec at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759, and had no trouble being able to pose as a Tory. Honeyman was a butcher and bartender who traded with the British and Hessians. This helped him to gather intelligence (collect facts about an opposing army) and to convince the Hessians that the Continental Army was in such a low state of morale that they would not attack Trenton. Shortly before Christmas, Honeyman arranged to be captured by the Continental Army. They, of course, had orders to bring him to Washington unharmed. After being questioned by Washington, he was imprisoned in a hut to be tried as a Tory in the morning, but a small fire broke out nearby, enabling him to "escape." This plan allowed Honeyman to give Washington any news he had without the Hessians suspecting anything.

During the week before the battle, the U.S. sent small groups of soldiers to ambush enemy cavalry patrols. The U.S. soldiers captured despatch riders and attacked Hessian guards.

The U.S. plan depended on being able to attack at the same time from three different directions.

General John Cadwalader would cross at Dunk's Ferry and start an attack against the British garrison at Bordentown, New Jersey, to block off British reinforcements from the south and to create a diversion.

Washington's main-attack force of 2,400 men would cross the river 9 mi (14 km) north of Trenton and split into two groups. Generals Greene and Sullivan would begin attacking before dawn. Sullivan would attack the town from the south and Greene from the north. Depending on the success of the operation, the Americans would possibly follow up with separate attacks on Princeton and New Brunswick.

General James Ewing would take 700 militia across the river further south at Trenton Ferry, seize the bridge over the Assunpink Creek, and prevent enemy troops from escaping.

Washington ordered Ewing and his Pennsylvania militia to try to get information on Hessian movements and technology. Ewing instead made three successful raids across the river. On December 17 and 18, 1776, they attacked an outpost of jägers, and on the 21st, they set fire to several houses. Washington had soldiers constantly watching all possible crossings near the Continental Army encampment on the Delaware River because he believed William Howe would attack from the north if the river froze over.

Hessian moves

On December 14, 1776, the Hessians arrived in Trenton to set up their winter quarters. At the time, Trenton was a small town with about 100 houses and two main streets: King (now Warren) Street and Queen (now Broad) Street. Carl von Donop, the Hessian Colonel Johann Rall's superior, had marched south to Mount Holly on December 22 to fight with some New Jersey militia there on December 23.

Donop despised Rall and did not want to give command of Trenton to Rall while he was in Mount Holly. Rall was known to be loud and unfamiliar with the English language, but he was also a 36-year soldier with a great deal of battle experience. His request for reinforcements had been turned down by British commander General James Grant, who thought the American rebels were poor soldiers. Despite Rall's experience, the Hessians at Trenton did not admire their commander.

Trenton did not have city walls or fortifications, which was normal for U.S. settlements. Some Hessian officers had suggested to Rall that it would be wise to fortify the town, and two of his engineers had advised that a redoubt be built at the upper end of town and fortifications be built along the river. The engineers even drew up the plans, but Rall disagreed with them. When Rall was again urged to fortify the town, he replied, "Let them come...We will go at them with the bayonet."

As Christmas Day approached, Loyalists and deserters told the Hessians that the Americans were planning to come across the river and that they were preparing rations for the soldiers. This news worried Rall. He acted like a confident leader, but he secretly wrote letters to his superiors to tell them that he felt as if the Americans could attack at any moment. He asked that British troops come to help by establishing a garrison in Maidenhead (now Lawrenceville). He felt that because Trenton was "indefensible," a nearby garrison would help defend the roads from Americans. The British denied his request.

The main Hessian force of 1,500 men was divided into three regiments led by Knyphausen, Lossberg, and Rall. That night, they did not send out any patrols because of the severe weather.

Crossing and march

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Day, Washington and his soldiers began to cross the Delaware River. Each soldier carried 60 rounds of ammunition (bullets) and three days of rations for the battle. The soldiers, with John Glover in command, began to cross the river in Durham boats. The horses and artillery crossed on large ferries. Though several men fell overboard during the crossing, no one died, and all the artillery pieces made it over in good condition.

The rain had changed to sleet and then to snow as temperatures dropped. This put the entire mission behind schedule. The crossing into New Jersey, which was supposed to be completed by midnight, was not completed until 3:00 a.m. Washington realized that it was too late to be able to attack Trenton before dawn.

At 4:00 am, Washington's soldiers began to march toward Trenton. Along the way, several civilians joined as volunteers and led as guides (such as John Mott) because of their knowledge of the land. The soldiers marched to Birmingham (now West Trenton) together and then split forces. Greene's force headed east to approach Trenton by the Scotch and Pennington Roads. Sullivan headed southwest to approach by way of River Road.

Many of the troops did not have boots, so they were forced to wear rags around their feet. Some of the men's feet bled, turning the snow to a dark red. Two men died on the march. As they marched, Washington rode up and down the line, encouraging the men to continue. General Sullivan sent a courier to tell Washington that the weather was wetting his men's gunpowder. Washington replied, "Tell General Sullivan to use the bayonet. I am resolved to take Trenton."

About 2 miles (3 km) outside the town, the main companies were startled by the sudden appearance of armed men, but they were American. The men, led by Adam Stephen, had not known about the plan to attack Trenton and had attacked a Hessian outpost. Washington feared that his element of surprise was taken and shouted at Steven, "You, sir! You, sir, may have ruined all my plans by having them put on their guard!" The attack on the Hessian outpost ended up working in Washington's favor. In the event, Rall thought the first raid led by Adam Stephen was the attack which Grant had warned him about, and that there would be no more action that day.

At 8:00 a.m., Washington led an assault on a Hession outpost at a copper shop on Pennington Road, about one mile northwest of Trenton. As the Hessian commander of the outpost, Lieutenant Andreas Wiederholdt, left the shop, an American fired at him but missed. Wiederholdt immediately shouted, "Der Feind!" (The Enemy!) and other Hessians came out. The Americans and the Hessians exchanged fire and the Hessians began to retreat from the outpost. The Americans were able to drive the Hessians, who were joined by other companies of Hessians and using houses as cover, to the outskirts of town. One of the companies that joined Wiederholdt's men was posted near the Delaware River. This left River Road into Trenton open. Washington ordered the escape route to Princeton to be cut off, sending infantry in battle formation to block it, while artillery formed at the head of King and Queen Streets.

Leading the southern U.S. column, General Sullivan entered Trenton by the abandoned River Road and blocked the only crossing over the Assunpink Creek to cut off the Hessian escape. Sullivan briefly paused his advance to make sure Greene's division had time to drive the Hessians from their outposts in the north. Soon after, Sullivan's men continued their advance. Lieutenant von Grothausen was stationed, with jägers, at the home of Philemon Dickinson. The Hessians were driven back and the 20 British dragoons also fled. Some tried to swim across the creek, while others escaped over the bridge which had not yet been cut off. As Greene and Sullivan's columns pushed into the town, Washington moved to the high ground north of King and Queen Streets so that he could see the action and direct his troops. By this time, U.S. artillery from the other side of the Delaware River had come into action, destroying the Hessian positions.

When the alarm sounded, the three Hessian regiments who were stationed at Trenton began to prepare for battle. Rall awoke to find that the rebels had taken the "V" of the main streets of the town. This is where the engineers had recommended building a redoubt. Rall ordered his regiment to form up at the lower end of King Street, the Lossberg regiment to prepare for an advance up Queen Street, and the Knyphausen regiment to stand by as a reserve for Rall's advance up King Street. On both sides of town, the U.S. cannons and soldiers fired too much for the Hessian soldiers to be able to fight back. The Hessian soldiers fell back and fled to a field. Many were lost to grapeshot and musket fire. Sullivan led a column of men to block off the escape of the troops across the creek.

Hessian resistance collapses

The Hessians in the field attempted to reorganize and make one last attempt to retake the town so they could make a breakout. Rall decided to attack the U.S. flank (the sides or back of the formation of soldiers) on the heights north of the town. Rall yelled "Forward! Advance! Advance!" and the Hessians began to move, with the brigade's band playing fifes, bugles, and drums to help the Hessians' spirit.

Washington, still on high ground, saw the Hessians approaching the U.S. flank. He moved his troops to assume battle formation against the enemy. The two Hessian regiments began marching toward King Street but were caught in U.S. fire that came at them from three directions. Some Americans had taken up positions inside houses where civilians joined the fight against the Hessians. The Hessians' formations broke, and they began to scatter. Washington led his troops down from high ground while yelling, "March on, my brave fellows, after me!" Most of the Hessians retreated into an orchard with the Americans in close pursuit. Quickly surrounded, the Hessians were offered terms of surrender, to which they agreed.

Although ordered to join Rall, the remains of the Knyphausen regiment mistakenly marched in the opposite direction. They tried to escape across the bridge but found it had been taken. The Americans quickly swept in, defeating a Hessian attempt to break through their lines. Surrounded by Sullivan's men, the regiment surrendered, just minutes after the rest of the brigade.

Casualties and capture

The Hessian forces lost 22 who were killed in action; 83 were wounded and 896 were captured - including the wounded. The Americans suffered only two deaths during the march and five wounded from battle. Two important U.S. officers were wounded while leading the charge down King Street: William Washington, cousin of General Washington, and Lieutenant James Monroe, the future President of the United States. Monroe was carried from the field bleeding badly after he was struck in the left shoulder by a musket ball, which severed an artery. Doctor John Riker clamped the artery, preventing him from bleeding to death. Other losses experienced by the Patriots from exhaustion, exposure, and illness in the following days, however, may have raised their losses above those of the Hessians.

Rall was mortally wounded in the battle and died later that night at his headquarters. All four Hessian colonels in Trenton were killed in the battle. The Lossberg regiment was effectively removed from the British forces. Parts of the Knyphausen regiment escaped to the south, but Sullivan captured about 200 additional men, along with the regiment's cannon, supplies, approximately 1,000 arms, and much-needed ammunition. The Americans also captured the Hessians' entire store of provisions-tons of flour, dried and salted meats, ale, and other liquors, as well as shoes, boots, clothing, and bedding-things that were as much needed by the ragtag Continental forces as weapons and horses. The captured Hessians were sent to Philadelphia and later Lancaster. In 1777, they were moved to Virginia.

On December 28, after the Hessians' surrender, General Washington interviewed Lieutenant (later Colonel) Andreas Wiederhold, who detailed the failures of Rall's preparation. Washington soon learned, however, that Cadwalader and Ewing had been unable to complete their crossing, leaving his worn-out army of 2,400 men isolated. Washington realized he did not yet have the forces to attack Princeton and New Brunswick.

By noon, Washington's force had moved back across the Delaware into Pennsylvania, taking their prisoners and captured supplies with them. Washington would follow up his success a week later in the Battle of the Assunpink Creek and the Battle of Princeton.

This small but crucial battle, as with the later Battle of Cowpens, had an effect that was much greater than its size. The Patriot victory at Trenton gave the Continental Congress new confidence, as it proved that colonial forces could defeat regulars. Soldiers re-enlisted in the Continental Army, and fear of the Hessians decreased. The writings of Thomas Paine and more successful actions by the New Jersey Militia also helped gain colonial support for the rebellion.

The Trenton Battle Monument, standing at "Five Points" in Trenton, endures as a tribute to this U.S. victory. The crossing of the Delaware River and the battle are reenacted by local enthusiasts every year (unless the weather is too severe on the river).

Eight current Army National Guard units (101st Engineer Batallion, 103rd Engineer Batallion, A/1-104th Cavalry Regiment, 111th Infantry Regiment, 125th Quartermaster Company, 175th Infantry Regiment, 181st Infantry Regiment, and 198th Signal Batallion) and one currently-active Regular Army Artillery battalion (1st Batallion, 5th Field Artillery) originated with U.S. units that participated in the Battle of Trenton. There are thirty current units of the U.S. Army with colonial roots.

In 1851, German-American artist Emanuel Leutze painted the second of three paintings depicting Washington crossing the Delaware. At the time of its first exhibition, it gained much attention in Europe and the United States. Leutze hoped it would bring revolutionary feelings in Germany. After six months in Germany, the painting was shipped to New York City where the New York Mirror newspaper praised it with the words, "the grandest, most majestic, and most effective painting ever exhibited in America." It is currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is "one of the most famous American paintings." The painting is the centerpiece of the collections in the American Wing. It is still one of the most recognizable paintings at the Metropolitan. It is central to the canon of American historical art images, remaining just as popular now as when it was first exhibited.

Images for kids

In Spanish: Batalla de Trenton para niños

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The American Revolution for Kids - Winter 1776, Battle of Trenton - American Revolution for Kids

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For Kids: The British and the German soldiers (called Hessians) did not expect George Washington to cross the Delaware River. It was the winter of 1776. It was freezing. And the river was full of big chunks of ice and wild currents of water. On the British side, no one was patrolling the rive…

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Scroll to "Fighting for Independence" Section

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Scroll to "Fighting for Independence" Section

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The American Revolution was the war in which Great Britain’s 13 American colonies won their independence. The colonies became a new country, the United States. The revolution…