Hist ory Corner
9 | The Blue Um brella Jan- Feb
Battle of Trenton
by Sam V.
Christ m as Eve, 1776 t urned out t o be m uch m ore of an event ful night t han t he Brit ish and t heir m ercenaries expect ed. Sir William Howe and t he Brit ish forces had badly beat en t he Am ericans back all t he way t o Pennsylvania. Hope was bleak, st rengt h was waning, and t he light t hat sparked t he revolut ion looked like it was st art ing t o fade. However, George Washingt on wasn? t done; and he caught a lucky break as Jack Frost breat hed his cold breat h across t he cont inent and held it in his icy grip.
Alt hough William Howe was a great General, he and his m en didn? t like fight ing in cold weat her. They also liked t o part y. The Brit ish figured t hat t hey had suppressed t he rebels enough t hat t hey could finish t hem off in t he spring. A large num ber of Hessian m ercenaries were enjoying a wild Christ m as Eve Part y in Trent on, New Jersey
along t he Delaware River. Many of t hem were so busy enjoying t heir part y t hat t hey never suspect ed t he danger.
I n what som e people have considered an incredibly clever and brave m ove,( and ot hers a foolish one) George Washingt on m ust ered his t roops for a surprise at t ack. Loading around 2,400 m en int o sm all boat s, Washingt on and his m en set off for t he New Jersey side of t he river. Tem perat ures were well below freezing, and t he river was full of t reacherous ice.
Hist ory Corner
Washingt on and his m en reached t he ot her side of t he river very early Christ m as m orning.
The Hessians were caught com plet ely by surprise and were quickly defeat ed. Washingt on and his m en t ook over 1,000 Hessian prisoners. While not a vict ory t hat great ly affect ed t he Brit ish; t he bat t le reinvigorat ed t he Am ericans. Hope was reborn, st rengt h was replenished, and t he light of t he fire of rebellion began t o burn bright er t han ever. Am erica was back in t he fight.