July 4 had seen the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the permanent break with Britain. But on the military side, the war had gone very badly for Washington's army.
Following disastrous battles in New York City, the American forces fled the island, which was then occupied by the British until the end of the War. Washington came up with the daring plan to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night , and attack the Hessian soldiers at Trenton. Hessians were German mercenary troops hired by the British to fight in the American Revolution.
The attack occurred early on the morning of December 26 and would become known as the First Battle of Trenton. See next several entries. The statue was purchased by the city of Trenton in , and it was erected in Trenton's Cadwalader Park in It was moved to this location in Roebling Building 20 W. State St. While Washington's army were preparing for their crossing of the Delaware, the Hessians stationed in Trenton had no idea that the following morning would bring a surprise attack, the First Battle of Trenton.
That house no longer stands, but a plaque on the N. Warren Street side of the Mary G. Roebling Building identifies this as the site of the house of Abraham Hunt. Broad St.. This monument commemorates the American victory at the first Battle of Trenton on December 26, Hessian troops had occupied Trenton since December 14, , while Washington's army encamped on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, following their retreat across New Jersey beginning in Fort Lee on November On the morning after the famous Christmas night crossing of the Delaware River by Washington and his troops, the Americans surprised the Hessian Troops stationed in Trenton.
Washington's plan was to arrive at Trenton before dawn, under the cover of darkness, so as to surprise the Hessians. Sunrise was at a. Fortunately for Washington's army, the surprise had been maintained, despite their late arrival in daylight. The Hessians were caught off guard by the attack and defeated decisively. The often repeated legend that the Hessians were unprepared for the attack because of drunkenness the night before appears to be untrue.
Most of the fighting was centered in the area running roughly from this monument south a half mile down, between Warren Street then called King Street and Broad Street then called Queen Street. American artillery was positioned at the site where the monument now stands.
As it was the high ground, it offered an excellent position for the cannons to fire down on the Hessian positions. The American victory cost only several American casualties but inflicted substantial casualties to the Hessians: 22 dead, 83 wounded, and approximately taken as prisoners of war. After being mortally wounded, he was taken to the house of Stacy Potts on King Street now Warren Street , which he had been using as his headquarters.
He died there the next day. St Mary's Church now stands at the site of that house. See Site of Colonel Rall Headquarters entry below. The victory at the first Battle of Trenton turned around the face of the war. After months of defeat and retreat for the American Army, this victory changed the morale of both the army and the country. It was followed up over the next ten days by additional victories at the Second Battle of Trenton see entry below on this page and the Battle of Princeton.
The earliest intentions to build a monument to the Battle of Trenton date back to However, it took a half century for the monument to become a reality. Work finally began on the Trenton Battle Monument in ; it was unveiled on October 19, , the th anniversary of the American Victory at the Battle of Yorktown.
The dedication ceremony was a major event in Trenton, with speeches and a parade. In an article several days before the dedication ceremony, The New York Times indulged in a bit of hyperbole, stating, "The indications are that it will be the greatest day in the history of New Jersey.
Then-President Grover Cleveland the only President to have been born in New Jersey was expected to attend and speak, but he did not. The monument, which stands feet high, was designed by John H. The monument contains three bronze sculptures by William O'Donovan. One is a statue of George Washington which stands atop the monument, looking and pointing out towards the site of his victory.
The other two are the Continental soldiers who stand at the entrance. These were sculpted to represent two actual Revolutionary War soldiers. Where the St. Rall had taken up his quarters here when the Hessians first occupied the city on December 14, The Colonel had apparently chosen a very nice house for his headquarters.
The following description of the house was written in and makes it clear that the house was a quite impressive one for the time:. Fighting took place in the areas around the house during the Battle of Trenton.
The house retained bullet marks from the fighting for as long as it existed. When the house was demolished in , a window pane with a bullet hole from the battle was preserved; it is now displayed at the Old Barracks Museum.
See entry for Old Barrack Museum lower on this page. Rall himself was mortally wounded in the Battle of Trenton. He died the following day, in the house that once stood here. See next entry. See the One State Street entry lower on this page.
Hessian Commander Johann Rall, who died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Trenton, is buried in this cemetery. So is Abraham Hunt, the man whose house Rall had been entertained in on the night before the Battle of Trenton. See Abraham Hunt House Site entry above on this page. Other American Revolutionary War veterans known to be buried here include:.
Chambers Robert Chambers. John Fitch - , who served as New Jersey's official state armorer during the Revolutionary War, operated his gun shop at this site. He then served in the militia in Buck's County, Pennsylvania. In , Fitch was held for at time as a prisoner of war by the British in Canada. John Fitch died by suicide sometime between June 25 and July 18, John Fitch is better known to history for his role in the development of steamboats.
As the markers at this site note, Fitch's commercial steamboat ran between Trenton and Philadelphia in , the first to operate on an advertised, regular schedule. A small monument dedicated specifically to John Fitch's accomplishments with steamboats can be found on Rt 29 South in Trenton, just before the intersection with South Warren Street.
The monument, which overlooks the Delaware River, has a plaque which reads, "This commemorates the genius, patience and perseverance of Lieutenant John Fitch inventor of the first steamboat. It made successful trips between Philadelphia and Trenton in and docked near this site. A museum in Warminster, Pennsylvania is dedicated to Fitch's accomplishments in the field of steamboats.
See the John Fitch Steamboat Museum's website for more information: www. Michael's Church North Warren St. Michael's Church was built in It was located in the center of the fighting during the First Battle of Trenton. Prior to the Battle, Hessians had used the building as a barracks during their occupation of Trenton. It was later used by the Continental Army as a hospital. The church had been touched by the politics of the war even before this. The church was then Anglican Church of England , and a split in the congregation between those of loyalist and revolutionary sentiment led to a resolution by the vestry on July 7, , to suspend church services for an indefinite period of time.
The next day the Declaration of Independence was read publicly in Trenton from the court house steps. See the Declaration of Independence Reading Mural entry above on this page. David Brearley Jun. There were four signers for New Jersey. John's Episcopal Cemetery in Elizabeth. There is a plaque on the front of the church marking the route General Washington took from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts in to assume command of the Patriot Army. He passed through Trenton on June 23, and he would arrive in Cambridge to take command of the army on July 3.
Another plaque marking Washington's route is located in New Brunswick. The Old Barracks served multiple functions at different times during the Revolutionary War: as a barracks, as an army hospital, and to hold prisoners of war. It is now a museum. See the Old Barracks Museum website for more information about visiting the museum, and about upcoming events. This house was built in by William Trent, from whom the town of Trenton takes its name. After Trent's death in , the house passed through several owners.
Washington's force did not reach the east bank until around 3 am. Washington's men then marched to Trenton. The Hessians attempted to form in the town but were under heavy artillery fire from the front and rear. The Americans occupied the houses and shot down the Hessian gunners and foot soldiers, during which Colonel Rahl was fatally wounded.
Podcast Mount Vernon Everywhere! Learn More. Washington's Crossing. General Washington retreated across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. George Washington's plan to attack Colonel Rahl at Trenton. George Washington Crossing the Delaware. Surrender of Colonel Rahl of the Hessian Army. Previous September 21, Next. General Washington retreated across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania After losing the Battle of Long Island to the British, they were chased until the British were satisfied that the American forces have lost.
George Washington Crossing the Delaware It was a cold dark night and the river was running with flowing ice. Attack of George Washington's army against the Colonel Rahl of the Hessian army The Hessians attempted to form in the town but were under heavy artillery fire from the front and rear. Back to Main menu Center for Digital History.
Metro Area. Estate Hours 9 a. Once the troops — many lacking warm winter clothing and shoes — crossed the river, they marched nine miles to the town of Trenton. The Hessian soldiers were celebrating Christmas in a traditional German style, never expecting an attack on the morning of December The Americans managed to capture more than men and their weapons and accouterments, and lost only two soldiers.
British General Howe was so stunned by the outcome of Trenton that he sent for General Cornwallis, who was about to board a ship for England, to return to New Jersey to command the army. For the American cause, Trenton was a great morale booster, and General Washington became an overnight hero. They had gotten very little sleep in the days and nights leading up to the attack on Trenton… Do you lend in credence to this?
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