THE
BATTLES
AT
TRENTON
December 26, 1776
January 2, 1777
The First Battle of Trenton
December 26, 1776
The March to Trenton
After crossing the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, General George Washington led approximately 2,400 Continental soldiers on a surprise attack against the Hessian garrison stationed in Trenton, New Jersey.
The Unexpected Attack
The Hessian forces were caught off guard and quickly overwhelmed. In less than an hour of fighting, the Americans secured a decisive victory, capturing nearly 900 Hessian soldiers along with valuable weapons and supplies.
The Unexpected Attack
The Hessian forces were caught off guard and quickly overwhelmed. In less than an hour of fighting, the Americans secured a decisive victory, capturing nearly 900 Hessian soldiers along with valuable weapons and supplies.
Victory & Renewed Hope
The victory at Trenton was a turning point for the struggling Continental Army. After months of defeats and retreats, Washington's success restored morale and renewed hope for American independence.
The Battle of Assunpink Creek
The “Second Battle”
January 2, 1777
Just one week after Washington's victory at Trenton, British forces under General Charles Cornwallis advanced toward the town, determined to defeat the Continental Army.
Washington positioned his troops along the southern bank of Assunpink Creek, where a narrow bridge provided an important defensive position. Throughout the afternoon and evening, British and Hessian troops launched repeated attacks, but American forces held their ground.
I’ll Be Better By Morning…
As darkness fell, Cornwallis called off the attacks, confident that he could defeat Washington's army the following morning. However, Washington knew his position was vulnerable and that remaining could leave his army trapped between the British and the Delaware River.
Outmaneuvering Cornwallis
That night, Washington quietly withdrew his army.
He left small groups of soldiers behind to keep campfires burning and maintain the sounds of an occupied camp to conceal his movements.
Rather than face Cornwallis in another direct battle, he marched his troops around the British forces toward Princeton, where they would win another important victory on January 3, 1777.
THE
9TH PENNSYLVANIA’S
HISTORICAL CONNECTION
Was the 9th Pennsylvania at the Battles of Trenton?
No. The 9th Pennsylvania Regiment had not yet been organized when the Battles of Trenton took place.
Although the regiment was authorized by the Continental Congress on September 16, 1776, it was not organized until the spring of 1777, several months after the victories at Trenton and Assunpink Creek.
The regiment would later serve under Colonel Richard Butler and participate in major campaigns of the American Revolution, including the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
However, other Pennsylvania soldiers played important roles in Washington's victories during the Ten Crucial Days.
Pennsylvania Soldiers at Trenton
Second Battle of Trenton
Pennsylvania troops again played an important role when British forces under General Charles Cornwallis advanced toward Trenton.
Colonel Edward Hand and his Pennsylvania riflemen helped delay the British advance, buying Washington valuable time to prepare his defenses along Assunpink Creek.
Additional Pennsylvania forces joined Washington's army during this stage of the campaign, including troops serving under General Thomas Mifflin and Colonel John Cadwalader. These forces included:
Pennsylvania Continental soldiers
Philadelphia Associators, and
Militia from several Pennsylvania counties.
First Battle of Trenton
Several Pennsylvania units participated in Washington's surprise attack against the Hessian garrison at Trenton.
Among them were:
1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, commanded by Colonel Edward Hand.
Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, whose remaining soldiers served under Major Ennion Williams.
German Battalion, commanded by Colonel Nicholas Haussegger, which included soldiers recruited from Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The 9th Pennsylvania Today
Although the original 9th Pennsylvania Regiment did not fight at Trenton, our modern reenactment unit proudly participates in the annual commemorations of these important battles.
Members of the modern 9th Pennsylvania join fellow reenactors in portraying soldiers of the Revolutionary War, helping visitors experience the sights and sounds of these historic engagements.
Our participation honors the Pennsylvania soldiers who fought during the Ten Crucial Days and helps preserve the stories of the men whose service contributed to American independence.
Experience The Battles of Trenton for Yourself
Step back in time and experience two of the most important victories of the American Revolution!
Each year, the Battles of Trenton are brought to life through historical reenactments in downtown Trenton, New Jersey.
The event is hosted by the Old Barracks Museum. Both battles are reenacted on the same day, with the First Battle of Trenton typically taking place in the morning and the Second Battle of Trenton (Assunpink Creek) later in the afternoon.
Visitors can watch reenactors recreate these historic engagements in the very city where they occurred, bringing the events of the Ten Crucial Days to life.