John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – Motivation matters – The Battle of Trenton 26 December 1776 – A bold, desperate Christmas gamble that changed history (Part 1 of 2)

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We’ve all chuckled at the smug memes boasting like this one. But there is a lot more to the story.

Christmas day in 1776 passed with no deaths, but it was a miserable day for the insurrectionist Continental forces under George Washington. The next day, December 26, 1776 was the eventful day that paid off. But, how were men motivated to do what they did?

 

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English born Thomas Paine(1737-1809) could be called “the father of the American Revolution,” and perhaps deserves credit for victory at the Battle of Trenton. He was a fascinating guy, a “staymaker” (corset maker) by trade but occasional privateer, grocer, customs tax collector, school teacher, designer of iron bridges, and political activist with rebellious, radical political philosophies. He fled England to avoid debtor’s prison, after meeting Benjamin Franklin who connected him with Philadelphia associates. Paine arrived in Philadelphia in November 1774, sick with typhoid, but eventually recovered and became editor of the new Pennsylvania Magazine, the first commercially successful magazine in the colonies. As “…a publication [which] should become a ‘nursery of genius’ for a nation that had ‘now outgrown the state of infancy,’ exercising and educating American minds, and shaping American morality” it touched on many political topics. An early issue even had an article on the abolition of slavery. Thomas Paine’s popular essays clearly shaped public opinion, or at least fueled the debates, and stoked the desire for liberty. (Source and further information on Paine)

Open rebellion in the American colonies actually began on April 19, 1775 by forcibly repulsing the King’s Army attempts to seize arms and ammunition. The rebellious colonials had certainly not defeated the most powerful military and naval forces in the world at that time, but did far better than either side expected. Remarkably, they had avoided utter defeat, and continued to at least partially win some engagements such as Bunker [Breed’s] Hill, and successfully besieged Boston.

Insurrectionist Redoubt on Bunker Hill, waiting for the British attack, by Don Troiani, 2000.

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This was done by people who showed up, mainly as volunteer militia forces. People who “make things happen” as opposed to the other people who “watch things happen,” or the least involved who merely “wonder what happened.”

 

Bunker Hill was a taste of what Patriot forces could do: bravely stand up to regulars under repeated waves with good small unit leadership. But in the end, logistics were the determining factor as they exhausted their ammunition and were forced to retreat from their position, made worse by the lack of skilled commanders to coordinate reinforcements or replacement troops to hold their hasty fortifications . Repeated attacks had cost the British attackers a shocking 268 dead and over 800 wounded, before they drove the locals from the field. Despite this success, the Brits lacked the will and fresh forces to occupy the field and returned to Boston. The total patriot losses were only about 500, mostly wounded. Hostilities were serious, and people on both sides were dedicated to their causes.

The remainder of 1775 saw Boston besieged by the colonials, while acts of revolution took place as far away as Ninety-Six, SC and Great Bridge, VA. Colonial forces advanced on Montreal and Quebec, Canada but discovered that colonists in the Great White North showed no interest in fighting for independence. A Navy and a Marine Corps were established on paper and slowly grew.

In January, 1776 Thomas Paine published (anonymously) a 47 page pamphlet “Common Sense” which became an instant “influencer” and topic of discussions across the colonies, advocating for Independence from British rule, setting the agenda for that year. This was immensely popular, selling unprecedented numbers, and causing spirited discussions in taverns and elsewhere, building support for self rule.

Since 1775, “My A** Rides In Navy Equipment.” Marines landing in Nassau, Bahamas.

The Bahamas in March are a nice place to go for a boat ride. Pennsylvania in December, not so much.

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Militarily, in 1776 naval forces engaged the Brits in the Bahamas, and the Brits departed from Boston. Fighting continued in the Carolinas, and elsewhere. Independence was declared on July 4, 1776. New York was the major city in the colonies, and Washington attempted to fortify it with an army that was too small, too untrained, and too ill-equipped. The British forces from Boston and the home islands concentrated against New York in a massive fleet, dispersed on the numerous waterways, and slowly forced Washington’s forces from Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan and White Plains to fortifications at Fort Washington on the NY side of the Hudson River and Fort Lee on the New Jersey side, and then out of those strong points. Control of Lake Champlain was ceded to the British after a valiant battle at Valcour Bay. In almost every case, the Colonial forces could not defeat the British, but slowed British advanced and inflicted casualties, before retreating to fight again another day in another place. But, “winning by not losing” takes a toll on morale, strength and supplies.

While British Imperial reinforcements steadily poured in, struggling militias straggled in and out of the Continental lines for short terms around Boston or New York. Many were farmers, and untended crops would result in starvation or ruin for them, their families and neighbors. Likewise merchants and tradesmen could ill afford endless duty away from home. A marvelous soldier’s record “Private Yankee Doodle” by Joseph Plumb Martin really gives a feel for life in the ranks.

Worse, the militias, and the small number of more or less “Regular” Continental soldiers with longer enlistments were exceedingly poorly supported by their fractious and feeble new Congressional government. Congress had little ability to raise funds, less to procure essential supplies and almost no means to distribute supplies to where they were needed. Arms were mostly what men brought with them, or captured, or were occasionally delivered from European agents or supporters. Cannon were desperately scarce and almost unique in their ammunition needs. Powder mills were few and small. Communications moved at the speed of horseback, or slower by sail. Grand strategy was impossible, and even tactical success was difficult under the conditions.

Military success was as much by luck as skill, with few officers having more than a smattering of military knowledge, sometimes self-taught from reading. The obese 25 year old Boston book seller, Henry Knox was an outstanding example, who had ventured to the wilds of Fort Ticonderoga and returned, to everyone’s amazement, with a huge supply of cannon and ammunition, just in time for the Siege of Boston. He earned the position as Washington’s Chief of Artillery, and continuously worked minor miracles “adding dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl” for the duration of the war.

But the year 1776, despite the bold Declaration, had been one of repeated setbacks as Washington’s troops retreated from one place to the next, the mice hunted by the British cat. For most of military history, the “fighting season” ends in late fall to resume in the spring, with armies settling in to “winter quarters” trying to survive and maybe become better prepared for the next year. As winter began in late 1776, the British set up several winter outposts across New Jersey to protect their new headquarters in New York. 

Washington’s battered and demoralized force had retreated across New Jersey to Pennsylvania as winter began to set in, with many enlistments due to expire in January. As Christmas approached, Washington decided it was essential for his tired troops to attack the Hessian mercenary troops already in winter quarters in Trenton. A victory might rally his demoralized forces and keep the war alive. But, a defeat would extinguish the American Revolution, and its leaders would be hung as traitors. 

He planned a three prong attack using his army as the main force, with smaller militia commands crossing a several miles to the south. They would cross after dark on Christmas night (25 December) march the 10 miles to Trenton and attack at dawn. In the end, the two militia prongs were unable to make the crossing, so it was all on Washington’s forces. 

Washington’s Plan, with Ewing’s Crossing (Red) and Cadwalader’s Crossing (Blue)
south of Washington’s Crossing (Green). Library of Congress
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It would take more than a snarky meme to motivate his men to fight again. 

Only six months earlier, “lives, fortunes and scared honor” had been earnestly pledged by men of standing, privilege, and wealth, no longer willing to submit to oppression by a government too far removed geographically and too disinterested in the problems in the daily lives of those who bore the burden of government demands, taxes and policies. Thomas Paine’s writing had helped motivate them.

Now, Thomas Paine delivered a broadside which saved the day. No, not a naval broadside of cannon fire, but the paper type, a large sheet printed on one side dated December 19th or December 23rd 1776. Barely two years after arriving in America, his broadside “The American Crisis” (noted as “By the Author of COMMON SENSE”) fervently laid out the challenges and rewards of continuing the fight for freedom. Washington got copies and ordered it read aloud to his entire army, prior to embarking on the Trenton attack. This inspiring piece boosted morale and commitment to the Revolutionary cause among citizens and soldiers. Here is the memorable opening -

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine

patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that

stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like

hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder

the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we

esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven

knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if

so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an

army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has the right (not only to TAX)

but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner is

not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the

expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

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Stirring words, but were they enough!

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To be continued in Part Two where we go over the river the through the woods to the Hessian’s houses.