Twas the night of Christmas, when across the Delaware,
Came Washington and his troops, quietly, with care,
Their mission: to surprise Hessian troops bent on destruction,
Of all the brave patriots fighting to form a new nation.
The weary, worn, and ragged troops fought the icy river,
In their state of disrepair, the cold wind made them shiver,
But they soldiered on through the winter night,
And surrounded the enemy by the first morning’s light.
A thousand were captured by Washington’s men,
And though the war was far from over then,
The news of the victory flew everywhere,
Weary hearts were lifted and hope was in the air.
The Winter of ’76
Leading up to the crossing of the Delaware, Washington and his troops had faced defeat after defeat as the British advanced throughout the colonies. The winter of 1776 had proved to be long and hard and many of Washington’s men did not have adequate clothing or footwear for the brutal cold. Congress, fearing the British, had fled Philadelphia for Baltimore.
British Major General William Howe had moved his men into temporary winter encampments because he saw no clear way to attack Washington and he also knew that enlistments in Washington’s army were up at the end of the year. If he waited long enough, Washington’s army would disintegrate.
Washington knew he only had a little time before enlistments were up and he would no longer have an army. His men had fought alongside him for an entire year in harsh conditions and most were more than ready to go home and be with their wives and children. They believed in what they were fighting for, but the hard months had worn on them and their farms and businesses had suffered in their absence.
Washington had to make a decision. As December came to an end, he knew he had one chance to boost morale of both troops and the people of America. If he didn’t act, hope would dwindle fast along with his army and the Revolution would likely be over.
Heading Across the River
So, with only five days left in his men’s enlistment, Washington made a bold move. The British, unable to raise enough troops to try to stop the revolution from among their own people, had hired Hessian troops, trained mercenaries who fought in multiple wars for the British. They were brought across to America and stationed by the British Major General Howe across the Delaware river from Washington’s troops. However, Howe did not expect Washington to try anything in the middle of winter.
The Hessian commander also felt at ease. Although local militias had been harassing troops for the past few days, a fierce winter storm had blown in on December 25, and he expected no trouble from anyone. He was in for a surprise.
On the evening of Christmas, 1776, Washington and 2,400 troops crossed the Delaware in a bold move. A howling wind and icy sleet made conditions miserable. Added to that was the fact that the river was clogged with ice chunks that had to be navigated. By God’s providence, however, every single man, all of the horses, and the artillery, arrived safely on the other side.
Washington strategically split his forces to surround the Hessian outpost in Trenton, New Jersey. Early the morning of December 26th, they attacked. The Hessians, after a night of celebrating, were caught totally unaware. The ragtag group of patriots bravely fought on. Among them were young founding fathers whose names would soon echo down the corridors of history. James Monroe, a young 18-year old, was second-in-command to Washington and would later become president of the United States. Alexander Hamilton was only a year or two older and led an artillery company.
The inspiring thing about these young men is that their youth did not disqualify them from using their talents and skills from stepping into leadership positions and doing it with passion and excellence. They proved that even those who are young can make a difference and do incredible things.
Ultimately, Washington and his troops captured almost 1,000 Hessian troops and won a small victory that nonetheless bolstered morale and brought hope to patriots everywhere. Suddenly, it again became a possibility that they might become a free and independent nation.
A Renewed Hope
Several days after the victory at Trenton, enlistments for Washington’s troops ended. Many men still planned to leave, even after seeing success for the first time in months. Washington gathered them together and said, “My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do, and more than can be reasonably expected; but your country is at stake, your wives, your houses and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty, and to your country, which you probably can never do under any other circumstances.”
His heartfelt appeal convinced half of his men to stay, allowing them to win another major victory three days later.
Without their courage and bravery, it is likely that the Revolution would have been lost. But their actions that Christmas night and over the next month brought them through a difficult time and one-step closer to becoming one of the most free and prosperous nations ever.
The Beginning of a Nation
On July 4th, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. It’s incredible to look back and see where we’ve come from and the courage and bravery of those who fought to create a nation that would love liberty and whose people would live in freedom. Today, because of what they fought for and the ideals they promoted, we live in the freest, most prosperous nation in the world.
But it doesn’t end here. We must continue to live out our freedoms and protect them. At Patriot Academy, our mission is to encourage Americans to know their rights, to understand what the Constitution and Declaration say, and to live out their freedoms and responsibilities as citizens of the United States. We are excited to hold a celebration for America’s 250th! If you are interested in learning more about how we are preparing for this incredible birthday celebration, you can learn more HERE.
