2.BattleofTrentonBackground:Bytheendof1776,theBritishthoughtthewarwasaboutover,andtheywerevictorious.GeneralGeorgeWashingtonknewhehadtodosomethingquick.LateonDecember25, 1776, Washington’s army crossed the ice-choked Delaware River in small boats.Immediately following his famous crossing of the Delaware River,Washingtonmarched theContinental Army to Trenton,New Jersey. The army’s forces included horses, guns,wagonsandsoldiers,stretchingfornearlyamile.Theweatherwasworsethanithadbeencrossingtheriver, but the army continued to proceed as Washington rode up and down the columnpressing hismen to carry on. The ice and rocks cut through theirworn-out shoes, and oneofficerreportedthatthetroops’gunsweretoowettofire.WhenAmericansreachedTrenton,theyfoundtheHessianssleepingofftheirChristmasfeasts.CaughtcompletelyoffguardbytheAmericans, the Hessians quickly surrendered. All told, 22 were killed, 92 wounded, 918captured and 400 escaped. TheAmericans suffered two frozen to death and fivewounded.The news of Washington’s victory electrified the Patriots, and marked a turning point forAmericansintheirconfidenceinWashingtonandhisContinentalArmy.Source:WashingtonCrossingtheDelaware(1871),anoiloncanvaspaintingbyGeorgeCalebBingham.NightofDecember25–26,1776,Washingtonstandsattheapexofapyramidoffigures,onhorseback.ArtistBinghamportraysWashingtonandhiscrewridingonabroad,flat-bottomedraftboat,throughicywaters.