What Battle did Washington fight on Christmas Day in 1776?
Battle of Trenton
George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River
| Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Emanuel Leutze, 1851 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Night of December 25–26, 1776 |
| Location | Present-day Washington’s Crossing National Historic Landmark, Pennsylvania and New Jersey |
| Participants | George Washington, Continental Army |
| Outcome | Battle of Trenton |
What did George Washington’s army do on Christmas 1776?
On December 25, 1776, General Washington, leading the soldiers into battle for the first time in the war, crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, surprising and overwhelming the Hessian force that was celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey.
Who were the German mercenaries?
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.
What Battle was fought on Christmas Day?
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. The famous Crossing of the Delaware led to the Battle of Trenton and a string of victories that revived the cause.
How many battles did Washington win in the Revolutionary War?
While he lost more battles than he won, Washington employed a winning strategy that included victories at the Battle of Trenton in 1776 and Yorktown in 1781….Revolutionary War.
| Start: | April 19, 1775 |
|---|---|
| Winner: | The United States |
Where did the war on Christmas take place?
Just after dark on Christmas Day, an army of 2,400 Continentals under the command of George Washington crossed the frigid Delaware River to surprise a party of Hessian troops quartered downstream at Trenton, New Jersey. After landing undetected on the hostile shore, the rebels marched all night in freezing rain to reach their objective.
Why did Washington win the Battle of the Potomac?
The factors in Washington’s favor were clear: The weather was so bad that no one believed the Continentals would attempt a river crossing followed by a forced march, much less at night. The Continentals were numerically – and perceived to be qualitatively – inferior to the British Army.
How many people died in the Christmas Battle?
On Dec. 23 of that year, two Latvian brigades launched a daring attack on elements of the Kaiser’s 8 th Army in what became known as the Christmas Battle. As many as 40,000 troops supported by 200 guns stormed the German lines. More than 10,000 died in the week-long offensive.
How many Hessians died in the Battle of Christmas?
The fighting lasted about an hour. Four Americans had been killed and ten-times as many Hessians lay dead in the snow. Some 900 enemy prisoners were rounded up, along with weapons, ammunition, and other desperately needed stores.