Washington Crossing the Delaware : Victory in Trenton NJ, Dec.1776 Painting by Emanuel Leutze 1851.
2 - Battle of Trenton...Source: Washington Crossing the Delaware (1871), an oil on canvas painting...
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2. Battle of Trenton Background: By the end of 1776, the British thought the war was about over, and they were victorious. General George Washington knew he had to do something quick. Late on December 25, 1776, Washington’s army crossed the ice-choked Delaware River in small boats. Immediately following his famous crossing of the Delaware River, Washington marched the Continental Army to Trenton, New Jersey. The army’s forces included horses, guns, wagons and soldiers, stretching for nearly a mile. The weather was worse than it had been crossing the river, but the army continued to proceed as Washington rode up and down the column pressing his men to carry on. The ice and rocks cut through their worn-out shoes, and one officer reported that the troops’ guns were too wet to fire. When Americans reached Trenton, they found the Hessians sleeping off their Christmas feasts. Caught completely off guard by the Americans, the Hessians quickly surrendered. All told, 22 were killed, 92 wounded, 918 captured and 400 escaped. The Americans suffered two frozen to death and five wounded. The news of Washington’s victory electrified the Patriots, and marked a turning point for Americans in their confidence in Washington and his Continental Army. Source: Washington Crossing the Delaware (1871), an oil on canvas painting by George Caleb Bingham. Night of December 25–26, 1776, Washington stands at the apex of a pyramid of figures, on horseback. Artist Bingham portrays Washington and his crew riding on a broad, flat-bottomed raft boat, through icy waters.
Transcript of 2 - Battle of Trenton...Source: Washington Crossing the Delaware (1871), an oil on canvas painting...
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.
