“Washington at the Battle of Trenton,” engraving by Illman Brothers, from painting by E.L. Henry, 1870. Christmas of 1776 marked the first major victory for the Continental Army.
What Battle happened on Christmas night?
Washington hoped that a quick victory at
Trenton
would bolster sagging morale in his army and encourage more men to join the ranks of the Continentals come the new year. After several councils of war, General George Washington set the date for the river crossing for Christmas night 1776.
What happened during the Christmas 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 happens on Christmas night and the next day of 1776?
During the American Revolution, Patriot General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey.
Where was the surprise attack on Christmas Eve 1776?
On the night of December 25, 1776, General George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River. They launched a surprise attack on
Hessian forces in New Jersey
.
What Battle was fought on Christmas Day in the Revolutionary War?
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. The famous Crossing of the Delaware led to
the Battle of Trenton
and a string of victories that revived the cause.
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.
Which famous singer died on Christmas Day?
Famous Christmas Day deaths:
1.
Eartha Kitt
, the singer famous as the voice in ‘Santa Baby', died in 2008.
What War ended Christmas Eve?
On December 24, 1814, after four months of negotiations in Ghent, Belgium, delegates from Great Britain (left) and the United States (right) signed a treaty to end
the War of 1812
.
Did George Washington cross the Delaware River?
On
December 25, 1776
, General George Washington and a small army of 2400 men crossed the Delaware River at McConkey's Ferry, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on their way to successfully attack a Hessian garrison of 1500 at Trenton, New Jersey.
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 Day?
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 is a Hessian trooper?
Hessians (US: /ˈhɛʃənz/ or UK: /ˈhɛsiənz/) were
German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War
. … The Revolutionaries often called the hired German soldiers “Hessians” and denounced them all as “mercenaries” who were not fighting for their native land.
Who hired the Hessians?
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 the biggest traitor in US history?
Benedict Arnold
, the American general during the Revolutionary War who betrayed his country and became synonymous with the word “traitor,” was born on January 14, 1741.
How did George Washington led America to victory?
After crossing the icy Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, Washington led
his forces in an attack upon the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey
. Washington's lightning attack surprised the Hessians and led to the capture of almost two-thirds of the 1,500 man force – at the cost of zero American combat casualties.
