Trenton
December 26, 1776
On December 23, 1776 Thomas Paine wrote "these are the times that try men's souls." George Washington's army was disintegrating after a series of defeats around New York City, and may of his men's enlistments were due to expire at the end of the year. The only thing saving his army was winter and the Delaware River. The British retired to winter quarters in the hopes that either winter, or renewed hostilities in the spring, would end the rebellion.
After asking his men to stay for one last effort, Washington devised a daring plan to stun the British, capture supplies, and renew American morale. The plan was to ferry his army across the Delaware on Christmas, and strike at the Hessian garrison at Trenton. Initially devised as a three pronged attack, a Nor'easter and ice choked river turned back two of Washington's columns. Only the main army, with Washington at its head, made the arduous crossing nine miles to the north of Trenton.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/trenton
