The Battle of Trenton was fought on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War campaign for New Jersey. In a surprise attack, the Continental Army led by George Washington attacked the winter quarters of a brigade composed primarily of German troops from Hesse-Kassel in Trenton, New Jersey.Ketchum, pp. 239–255 The Hessian brigade was under the command of Colonel Johann Rall; he died of wounds sustained in the battle, and about two thirds of his men were taken prisoner.Ketchum, pp. 255–268 It was the first major victory after a long string of defeats that had resulted in the loss of New York City, and was a significant boost to American morale.Fischer, p. 257Ketchum, pp. 273–275 It was followed by two more American victories, first in a second battle at Trenton on January 2, 1777, and then on January 3 at Princeton.Fischer, pp. 287–343
Most of the German brigade comprised three Hessian regiments: those of Rall, von Lossberg, and von Knyphausen. The remainder of the brigade consisted of artillery corps attached to each regiment, a detachment of Jäger, and a small company of British dragoons. The attacking American army consisted of units from the Continental Army, including companies of its artillery, and a few companies of militia. Additional units were intended to also participate either in the attack, or in diversions to draw attention from the main thrust; these units failed to cross the icy Delaware River and did not participate in the action.
Hesse-Kassel and British Army
After the war broke out in 1775, the British government realized that it would need more troops than it could raise on its own to fight the war, so it sought to hire troops from willing third parties in Europe.Fischer, p. 52 All of these hired troops came from German principalities of the Holy Roman Empire. The single largest contingent, with more than 12,000 arriving in North America in 1776, came from the Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel.Eelking, p. 23 The garrison that was quartered at Trenton was a brigade of about 1,400 men, almost all from Hesse-Kassel, under the command of Colonel Johann Rall. The brigade was composed of three regiments, each of which had an artillery company attached. Also included in the brigade were a company of Hessian Jäger (basically light infantry) and a small company from the British 16th (Queen's) Light Dragoons.Fischer, p. 396
The Hessian regiments were named for their formal commanding officers. Since many general officers were also commissioned as colonels of regiments, they were often not present with the regiment, or were busy with their other duties even if the regiment fell under their higher-level command. Since Rall commanded the entire brigade, his regiment's operations were directed by its lieutenant colonel, as were the regiments of Lieutenant Generals Wilhelm von Knyphausen and Friedrich Wilhelm von Lossberg, the second and third ranking general officers in the North American forces of Hesse-Kassel after Lieutenant General Leopold Philip von Heister.Eelking, pp. 283–284
The information in this table is based primarily on the reports of surviving Hessian officers submitted during inquiries into the disaster demanded by Frederick II, the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel,Ketchum, pp. 325–326 with some estimates provided by David Hackett Fischer and other historians. The reported strengths do not include the 28 regimental officers. The casualty figures are from an official Hessian return (a formal report on the unit's strength) that also does not include officers. Officers killed or who died of their wounds included Col. Johann Rall and Maj. Friedrich von Dechow, the acting commander of the Knyphausen regiment.
Hessian and British unitsUnitCommanderUnit sizeCasualtiesNotesRall's BrigadeCol. Johann Rall1,35417 killed78 wounded868 capturedGrenadier Regiment RallLt. Col. Balthasar Brethauer (acting)51212 killed10 wounded290 capturedThis regiment was the "regiment of the day" and had consequently been on alert.Fischer, p. 240 It was part of a counterattack to recover some Hessian guns that had been abandoned, during which Rall went down with a mortal wound.Fischer, p. 248Fusilier Regiment von LossbergLt. Col. Franz Scheffer (acting)3454 killed55 wounded260 capturedLossberg's regiment managed to regroup with Rall in an orchard east of town, and participated in the counterattack to retrieve the Hessian guns. It suffered the highest number of killed and wounded; "lost in this affair 70 killed and wounded".Fischer, p. 249Fusilier Regiment von KnyphausenMaj. Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow (acting)4291 killed13 wounded310 capturedStryker, p. 408This regiment attempted to escape to the south across the Assunpink Creek, but was blocked first at the bridge and then in attempts to ford the creek.Fischer, pp. 251–252 Fifty of its men swam across the icy creek and reached Princeton ten hours later.ArtilleryLt. Friedrich Fischer6 guns total; personnel are counted with their assigned regimentsCasualties are counted with their assigned regimentsMany of the artillerymen escaped across the Assunpink Creek bridge after abandoning their guns early in the battle.Lt. Johann EngelhardtJägersLt. Friedrich von Gröthausen50 estimatedStryker does not report any casualties for this unit.This company retreated across the Assunpink Creek bridge after skirmishing with the van of Sullivan's division.Fischer, p. 254British 16th (Queen's) Light DragoonsNone listed18 estimatedStryker does not report any casualties for this unit.This company was stationed near the Assunpink Creek bridge and escaped across it early in the action.Fischer, p. 253Totals1,38222 killed83 wounded891 capturedUnit size includes 28 officers not counted in rank and file. Casualties include the following officer casualties: 5 killed, 5 wounded, 23 captured. Captured includes the wounded; the entire Hessian officer corps was captured or killed.Fischer, p. 405Unless otherwise cited, the information in this table is provided by Fischer, p. 396.
Continental Army
Washington organized his army into two columns for the attack on Trenton. After crossing the Delaware River, Brigadier General Adam Stephen's troops guarded the bridgehead while the remaining troops crossed. The divisions marched together for several miles before taking different roads into Trenton.Fischer, p. 222 Stephen's men led Major General Nathanael Greene's division southward along an inland road (which was accompanied by Washington and his entourage), while Major General John Sullivan's division followed a road along the river, intending to prevent the Hessians from retreating across the Assunpink Creek.Fischer, p. 230
Most of the figures in this listing are derived from a return prepared by George Washington on December 22, 1776, four days before the battle. Historian David Hackett Fischer includes estimates made by either himself or other historians for strength counts that were not provided in Washington's return. The counts include all officers and musicians, in addition to the rank and file marked as present and fit for duty.Fischer, pp. 390–393 Washington required everyone to carry muskets, including officers and musicians who did not normally carry them.Fischer, p. 207 Also, a few Marines under Major Samuel Nicholas were in the battle.Fischer, p. 330
American casualties in the battle were very light, and are therefore not listed in the table below. Two Virginia officers, Capt. William Washington and Lt. James Monroe of the 3rd Virginia Regiment, were injured, as was James Buxton, an ensign in the 4th Virginia Regiment.Fischer, p. 221 (Monroe, the future United States president, suffered a wound to the neck that very nearly killed him. His life was saved by a doctor who volunteered his services to the army as it marched through New Jersey that morning.)Fischer, p. 247 Two privates are known to have died in the battle, and one account includes mention of two men dying from exposure on the march. The most pessimistic estimate of American casualties lists four killed and eight wounded,Fischer, p. 406 although Fischer points out that many more American troops probably died of non-combat causes (including illness, hypothermia, malnutrition, and exhaustion) in the days and weeks following the campaign of late December and early January.Fischer, p. 255
Continental ArmyUnitCommanderUnit sizeNotesCommander-in-ChiefGen. George WashingtonWashington rode with Greene's division, and observed the battle from high ground above the town near the artillery companies.Commander-in-Chief's GuardCapt. Caleb Gibbsabout 75This unit's assigned task was the protection of Washington and his papers.SecretaryLt. Col. Robert Hanson HarrisonWashington's aides-de-campLt. Tench TilghmanLt. Col. Richard CaryLt. Col. Samuel Blachley WebbAdjutant GeneralCol. Joseph ReedReed accompanied militia Brig. Gen. John Cadwalader's brigade in its failed crossing of the Delaware.Fischer, p. 215Quartermaster GeneralCol. Stephen MoylanCommissary GeneralLt. Col. Joseph TrumbullPaymaster GeneralCol. William PalfreyMuster Master GeneralCol. Gunning BedfordDirector of the General HospitalDr. John MorganChief EngineerCol. Rufus PutnamGreene's DivisionMaj. Gen. Nathanael Greene2,690Washington rode with this division.Stephen's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Adam Stephen541This brigade served as bridgehead and advance guard,Fischer, pp. 220, 222 and formed part of the center of Greene's line for the attack, along with Stirling's brigade.Fischer, p. 2354th Virginia RegimentLt. Col. Robert Lawson229Col. Thomas Elliott was absent.Stryker, p. 3535th Virginia RegimentCol. Charles Scott1296th Virginia RegimentCol. Mordecai Buckner191Stirling's BrigadeBrig. Gen. William Alexander (Lord Stirling)673This brigade formed part of the center of Greene's line for the attack, along with Stephen's brigade.1st Virginia RegimentCapt. John Fleming185No field officers were present.Stryker, p. 3511st Delaware RegimentCol. John Haslet108Col. Haslet was one of several men that fell into the Delaware during the crossing.Fischer, p. 2193rd Virginia RegimentCol. George Weedon1811st Pennsylvania Rifle RegimentMaj. Ennion Williams199Col. Samuel Miles and Lt. Col. James Piper were captured in Battle of Long Island. According to Stryker, this unit included the remnants of Atlee's Pennsylvania State Musketry Battalion (decimated at Long Island),Stryker, p. 350 while Fischer places those remnants with the 6th Virginia Regiment.Mercer's BrigadeBrig. Gen. Hugh Mercer838This brigade lined up on Greene's right for the attack.20th Connecticut RegimentCol. John Durkee3131st Maryland RegimentLt. Col. Francis Ware163Col. John Stone was recruiting in Maryland.Stryker, p. 3525th Massachusetts RegimentMaj. Ezra Putnam115Fischer lists Col. Israel Hutchinson in command; Stryker says Hutchinson and Lt. Col. Benjamin Holden were absent.Bradley's Battalion, Connecticut State TroopsCapt. Benjamin Mills142Fischer lists Col. Philip Burr Bradley in command; Stryker indicates all field officers were absent.Maryland and Virginia Rifle RegimentCapt. Alexander Lawson Smith (Maryland element)