The british retired to winter quarters in the hopes that either winter, or. 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. After general george washingtons crossing of the delaware river north of trenton the previous night, washington led the main body of the continental army against hessian auxiliaries garrisoned at trenton. Even though this was a great victory for them, they could not yet move on. Battle of princeton january 3, 1777 in princeton, new jersey. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. John cadwalader in a letter from an officer of distinction dated pluckemin, 5 jan. The battles of trenton and princeton internet archive. If you are going to read only one book on these battles, this is the one to read. The battle of princeton was a battle of the american revolutionary war, fought near princeton, new jersey on january 3, 1777, and ending in a small victory for the colonials.
A new historic manual concerning the three battles at trenton and princeton, new jersey, during the war for american independence, in 1776 and 1777. Most of the key events took place right here in trenton, and in nearby locations including pennington, ewing, west trenton, princeton, hamilton, and lawrenceville. The battles of trenton and princeton were seminal events in american history and therefore world history. Almost entirely covered by modern development, urbanized revolutionary war battle sites such as brooklyn or germantown are tough to locate and visualize. Since august 1776, british forces under general william howe had been driving the continental army south out. After general george washington s crossing of the delaware river north of trenton the previous night, washington led the main body of the continental army against hessian. A contemporary account of the battles of trenton and princeton 1906. The battles of trenton and princeton were a boost to the morale of the patriot cause, leading many recruits to join the continental army in the. From george washington to john hancock, 5 january 1777. Battles of trenton and princeton board game boardgamegeek. The battle of princeton january 3, 1777 was a small battle in which british forces near princeton, new jersey on the night of january 2, 1777 george washington, commanderinchief of the continental army, repulsed a british attack at the battle of the assunpink creek in trenton. The week before christmas, the british had looked invincible. A week after the battle at trenton, washington left a few men to tend some campfires and fool the enemy again. Internet archive bookreader the battles of trenton and princeton.
Most of the hessian force was captured, with little loss to the americans. He quietly marched his army to princeton, where they suprised and beat a british force. Selection from chapter 4 the crossing, christmas 1776 part of victory or death. There was considerable sympathy in britain for the cause of the american colonists and many considered the american revolutionary war to be a proxy civil war between the privileged british establishment and the ordinary british citizen. They are notable as the first successes won by the revolutionary general george washington in the open field. Coming at the end of the ten crucial days which saw the wellknown night crossing of the delaware river and two battles in trenton. The british lost roughly 20 killed, had roughly 60 wounded, and had about 200 soldiers captured by the continental army. American revolutionthe battles of trenton and princeton. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Battle joined creating the united states exhibitions. On december 14, the hessians arrived in trenton to establish their winter quarters. Medium complexity game of the battles of trenton and princeton during the american revolutionary war. Selection from chapter 4 the crossing, christmas 1776 part. New jersey, trenton, burlington, princeto iso topic categories. Upon seeing the american force, mawhood formed up his men across the edge of an orchard which mercers troops were passing through. The book was one of the first to detail the action from all sides. Beginning in 1775 through to 1783, odonnell draws readers in to the drama of not just the famous battle of brooklyn, but numerous other battles.
Battle of trenton guidebook battle of princeton hidden. Following a surprise attack at trenton early in the morning of december 26, 1776, general george. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Us access only a new historic manual concerning the three battles at trenton and princeton, new jersey, during the war for american independence, in 1776 and 1777. The battle of princeton was fought on january 3, 1777 in the revolutionary war. Battle of trenton wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The winter soldiers is the story of a small band of men held together by george washington in the face of disaster and hopelessness, desperately needing at least one victory to salvage both cause and country. George washington and 1,400 american soldiers defeated lt. Americans lost 30 killed and 75 wounded and the british lost 60 killed, 150 wounded, and 244 missingcaptured. This book originally was published in 1898 and was only reprinted in a limited production run in 2001. These victories followed shortly after a series of defeats. The battles of trenton and princeton were important. Throughout the last part of the summer and the entirety of the fall of 1776, the british army, lead by general william howe was making a push through new york towards the south, taking control and pushing the continental army along the way. When george washingtons army captured the hessian garrison of trenton, new jersey, on 26 december 1776, and parried the british relief column at princeton on 3 january 1777, it won victories that marked the turning point of the revolutionary war.
Internet archive bookreader the battles of trenton and princeton internet archive bookreader the battles of trenton and princeton. Washington advanced to princeton by a back road, where he pushed back a smaller british force but had to retreat before cornwallis arrived with reinforcements. I purchased mine in 2008 at the reenactment of the battle of trenton at the gift shop in the old barracks museum. While creating national military forces and a confederated government, americans won notable victories in battles at boston, saratoga, trenton, princeton, cowpens, and yorktown. Ketchum tells the tale of unimaginable hardship and suffering that culminated in the battles of trenton and princeton. If you do the tour, i highly recommend printing out the pdf of the guides to the battles of trenton and princeton because there is lots of great information there. The first reenactment starts at the battle of trenton monument and. Revolutionary war part 7 battles of trenton and princeton. Washingtons vision for victory unfolds, covers the victories from late december 1776 to early january 1777 at the battles of trenton and princeton. This video explores george washingtons crossing of the delaware and the fateful battles of trenton and princeton. The effect of the battle of trenton and the battle of princeton was to clear most of new jersey of british troops. Mar 22, 2011 the battles of trenton and princeton by. The british government was unable to recruit sufficient british troops to fight the american revolutionary war. Jan 01, 1973 the book on the pivotal moment in the war of independence far better than 1776 or washingtons crossing at showing how the revolution hung by a thread before trenton and princeton.
Plan of the battles of december 1776 and january 1777 in the region of trenton, new jersey, during the american revolutionary war. Washington had proved himself to be a strong leader and his victories reenergized the revolutionary cause, leading some 8,000 recruits to join the continental army in the coming months. Battle of trenton project gutenberg selfpublishing. General lord cornwallis had left 1,400 british troops under the command of lieutenant colonel charles mawhood in princeton. Overview of trenton and princeton by phd students from stanford, harvard, and berkeley trenton and princeton dec 25, 1776 jan 3, 1777 in the american revolution. A prime example of exemplary scholarship, fishers book is the most comprehensive and accurate portrayal of the battles for trenton and princeton.
The battle of trenton took place on december 26, 1776, after washingtons famous crossing of the delaware at night to surprise a hessian garrison which had been holding trenton for the british. The last unit of the 4th brigade was left to hold princeton with another 400 men. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. George washingtons army was disintegrating after a series of defeats around new york city, and may of his mens enlistments were due to expire at the end of the year. Battle of trenton, december 26, 1776 at trenton, new jersey. A brief narrative of the ravages of the british and hessians at princeton in 17761777. Living in this area, most of us know a little about the battles. Mar 04, 2020 the victory of the battle of trenton encouraged the americans to push ahead in the fight for independence. The old barracks museum, also known as old barracks, in trenton, mercer county, new jersey, united states, is. The battles of trenton and princeton are connected, and part of a campaign against the british forces in nj, during the american revolution during the 17761777 winter. Although both sides suffered the many horrific aspects of eighteenthcentury warfare, americas critical military victories and her determined diplomacy won her. The battles of trenton and princeton in what is now new jersey took place in 177677 during the american revolution.
Battle of princeton george washingtons mount vernon. The battle of princeton gave washington his first victory against the british regulars on the field. Both battles are reenacted on the original battlefields. In a new book, national park service historian mark maloy takes on this challenge for the pivotal battles of trenton and princeton during the period of december 25, 1776 through january 3, 1777.
From george washington to john hancock, 27 december 1776. The battles of trenton and princeton, december 25, 1776 january 3, 1777 by mark maloy washingtons force planned to cross the river at mcconkeys ferry, located about nine miles upriver from trenton. Those wonderful days to say that the battles of trenton, culminating in the brilliant stroke at princeton and the march to morristown, marked a turning of the tide of war in favor of the continental cause is to state what must be admitted by the student of those wonderful days in new jersey. The success of these two battles pretty much recovered new jersey for the colonists. Includes the trentonprinceton operations, and washingtons crossing of the delaware river on christmas day 1776 one of the. Trenton and princeton dec 25, 1776 jan 3, 1777 in the. The battle of trenton took place on december 26, 1776, during the american revolutionary war after general george washington s crossing of the delaware river north of trenton, new jersey. Battle of princeton project gutenberg selfpublishing. The two battles of trenton trenton historical society, new.
Trenton and princeton battle in the american revolution. Memorandum in general robert andersons letter book, in stryker, battles of trenton and princeton description begins. That night, he evacuated his position, circled around general lord cornwallis army, and went to attack the. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather allowed washington to lead the main body of the continental army against hessian soldiers garrisoned at trenton. The battles of trenton and princeton by stryker, william s. The revolutionary war battle of trenton took place on the morning of december 26, 1776, in trenton, new jersey. I think those hessians should have held back on the celebrating. The american revolution for kids and teachers battle of. On december 23, 1776 thomas paine wrote these are the times that try mens souls. Thanks to the battles of trenton and princeton, philadelphia would not be captured by the british. The increasing sense of desperation, even hopelessness, of the american cause is so beautifully built by ketchum that our knowing how things turned out somehow.
Since august 1776, british forces under general william howe had been driving the continental army south out of new york. The culmination of ten crucial days that started with an perilous delaware river crossing, the battles of trenton and princeton provided a much needed victory for american forces and were a turning point in the war. Source for information on trenton and princeton, battles of. From george washington to john hancock, 27 december 1776 skip navigation. They had a decisive victory that helped turn the war back to the americans favor. Mar 01, 2018 the british group was marching from princeton to trenton to reinforce general leslies 2nd brigade.
The patriot resource american revolutionary history includes battles, dates, documents, events, people and timelines of the american revolutionary era as well as hollywood films set during the period. Trenton, princeton, camden, cowpens, guilford courthouse and yorktown. He was successful and this was a pivotal battle for the colonists as it helped to lift their spirits and move on with their quest for independence. Jun 05, 2015 with the help of the hidden trenton website, hubby learned a lot about our areas history and took us on a tour driving and walking. Battles of trenton and princeton, historical, physical, kbattle, physical features, american revolution, inlandwaters, location, unknown, 17761777 source. There were calls for washington to be replaced, and the continental army seemed on the verge of dissolution.
Oct 05, 2017 join kristopher white of the american battlefield trust as he dissects the battle of princeton, the third and final battle of the ten crucial days and a turning point in the american war effort. History american revolution on december 25, 1776 george washington and the continental army crossed the delaware river into new jersey in a surprise attack on the british. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Although the battles of trenton and princeton already get a lot of notoriety, it really is hard to overstate how important they were to the american cause. The battle extended more than a mile away to the college of new jersey now princeton university. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The authors attention detail makes this one of the most referenced books about the battles at trenton and princeton. It is a tale of unimaginable hardship and suffering that culminated in the battles of trenton and princeton. They were forced to withdraw because of the many prisoners they held captive, to strengthen their troops for future battles, and because they did not have any.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The battles of trenton and princeton were important because they were two of the first battles won by george washington during the revolutionary war. On jan 3, 1777, washington engaged in the battle of princeton, which he also won. Aug 26, 2014 the winter soldiers is the story of a small band of men held together by george washington in the face of disaster and hopelessness, desperately needing at least one victory to salvage both cause and country. Most of washingtons troops were going to leave soon. The battle of princeton took place on january 3, 1777. Did the battles of second trenton and princeton matter. The author made extensive use of public and private papers on both sides of the ocean, records, remembrances of locals and others. The journal and order book of captain robert kirkwood of the delaware regiment of the continental.