The Battle of Trenton

In the winter of 1776, General George Washington and his troops were facing daunting odds as they pinned their hopes on successfully defending the new Constitutional government and its ideals as the world's first declared democracy. Imagine the odds. The Americans had yet to win a single battle against the mighty British forces and their vast resources, money and time were running out. Ultimately, General Washington and his troops only ever won five contests in the Revolutionary War -- the Battle of Trenton was the first victory on December 26, 1776.

Low morale was a significant problem. General Washington led a conscription army for hire, whose soldiers served the Colony's interests more as mercenaries than as patriots. No funds were available in our young government's coffers which could pay for the soldiers' salary, food or arms.

General Washington left only a few soldiers to tend the all night fires, a move that the Hessian regiments defending British interests mistakenly believed were a signal that the Americans would not dare to cross the icy Delaware river. As the Hessians slept, the majority of American soldiers joined their leader in the crossing, a moment immortalized in the painting by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, Crossing the Delaware, which is now a part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In the morning the Hessians woke up to find themselves surrounded and out flanked. The stunning success of Washington and his troops set the stage for success at the Battle of Princeton, just a week later.

General George Washington went on to become the first President of the United States under the Constitution. At the first Battle of Trenton, Americans suffered only two casualties and four wounded, one of whom was a young Lieutenant James Monroe. Monroe rose swiftly through the ranks of Washington's Army and ultimately was sworn in as the fifth President of the United States.