What Battle happened in December 1776?

What Battle happened in December 1776?

the Battle of Trenton
General George Washington’s army crossed the icy Delaware on Christmas Day 1776 and, over the course of the next 10 days, won two crucial battles of the American Revolution. In the Battle of Trenton (December 26), Washington defeated a formidable garrison of Hessian mercenaries before withdrawing.

What happened during the Christmas Day of 1776?

On this day in history, December 25, 1776, George Washington crosses the Delaware River on Christmas Day with the Continental Army on their way to attack the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. The attack had been planned in secret and was a “Hail Mary pass” from Washington to save the failing American Revolution.

What war was going on in 1776?

Revolutionary War
In the first eighteen months of armed conflict with the British (the conflict would not become a “war for independence” until July 4, 1776), Washington had begun to create an army and forced the British army in Boston to evacuate that city in March 1776.

What happens on Christmas night and the next day of 1776?

George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River, which occurred on the night of December 25–26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, was the first move in a surprise attack organized by George Washington against Hessian forces (German auxiliaries in the service of the British) in Trenton, New Jersey, on the …

What country did the Hessian soldiers come from?

German
The term “Hessians” refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. They were principally drawn from the German state of Hesse-Cassel, although soldiers from other German states also saw action in America.

Who was our first national spy master?

Washington the Spy Master George Washington knew need for effective intelligence gathering and developed a number of spy rings and other secret agents. Washington was also particularly adept at supplying the British with misinformation that purposely misled his enemies as to his true intentions.

What happened on the morning of December 26 1776?

At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington’s Continental Army reaches the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey, and descends upon the unsuspecting Hessian force guarding the city.

Did they celebrate Christmas in 1776?

Christmas 1776 During one of the darkest moments of the American Revolution, Gen. George Washington led his army over the frozen Delaware River on the evening of December 25, 1776.

Did George Washington have a Christmas tree?

There was no Santa Claus and no Christmas tree—a custom brought later by German immigrants. The Christmas season lasted more than a week and it was a time of celebration and general inebriation. Washington gave his servants—and, yes, slaves—four days off to mark the holiday in broad Mount Vernon-wide celebration.

What did George Washington do on Christmas night in 1776 that was unheard of at that time?

1. Washington crossed the Delaware River so that his army could attack an isolated garrison of Hessian troops located at Trenton, New Jersey. After several councils of war, General George Washington set the date for the river crossing for Christmas night 1776.

When did the Revolutionary War start and end?

In the first eighteen months of armed conflict with the British (the conflict would not become a “war for independence” until July 4, 1776), Washington had begun to create an army and forced the British army in Boston to evacuate that city in March 1776. The major question after their evacuation was what they would do next.

What was the mood of the British in 1776?

It was that way in 1776, from the decision for independence to the military disasters that followed. In early December, British commanders believed they were very close to ending the rebellion, and American leaders feared that they might be right. Yet three months later the mood had changed on both sides.

Why was there a shortage of soldiers during the Revolutionary War?

Due to lack of funds for the war effort, much of the burden of financing military operations was passed on to the states. Voluntary enlistment, short enlistment periods, and extremely harsh conditions contributed to the Army’s difficulties retaining soldiers.

How did the British defeat the Continental Army?

These mistakes and Britain’s far superior naval power led to decided British victories on Long Island and on Manhattan. Had the British commanders been a bit more aggressive, their naval power might have put the Continental Army at great risk of total defeat.