Why were they Crossing on Christmas night

We start at Washington's Crossing (McConskey's Ferry) on the west side of the Delaware in Pennsylvania. The year is 1776, Christmas night just 6 months after the Declaration of Independence. Washington has lost 5 battles, the weather is brutal cold, and most of his men are about to end their one year enlistment on Dec 31. Everyone expects the war to be over and for the Americans to go down in defeat, or at least to take a hiatus for the winter. The Continental Congress has not provided enough funds to outfit the army-many men have rifles, but no bayonets, some only have muskets. Few have decent clothing and the food if there is any. So Washington must come up with a daring plan that will keep the congress and the citizens supporting this war.

In in one of the most famous entreaties of the era to encourage the soldiers to re enlist,  Thomas Paine writes in his pamphlet The Crisis:

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”

If words are not enough, Washington offers his men 10$ if they will stay an extra month ( the usual pay for one month is $5). 

On the other side of the river, New Jersey is occupied by British outposts and their Hessian troops, battle hardened fighters who had been hired out by their German princes to fight in this faraway war.They are not mercenaries per se as they have no choice of whether or where to fight. Outposts are strung north and south from Bordentown on up through Trenton Lawrenceville (Madienhead) and Princeton.

Washington not only needs to win a battle, but he must  push the British out of the Jerseys if he is to have any hope of not losing the entire war.

His plan is to put 2400 men into 45-60 feet long Durham boats and to enlist the ferrymen to ferry the, horses, artillery and guns across the river at midnight at three different locations along the river. However, because ice blocks the water that night, only Washington is able to cross successfully in time.

Getting across is not even the hardest part of the journey. From there, the men have to march 10 miles in snow to the outpost at Trenton.   The story that has been told is that the 1200 Hessians (natives of Hesse) have been up all night drinking and are unprepared to fight or that they were warned about an attack and ignored it. What is truer is that these professional soldiers were always on guard and ready to fight. The general in charge Gen. Johann Rall has been warned about an possible attack which he assumes will be similar to the small scale attacks that were done by Jersey Militiamen throughout the war. And indeed, there is such an attack, so he is satisfied that the warning was true and has been dealt with.

Lining up at the Old Barracks Museum

What he doesn't anticipate is an actual army coming his way in the early morning from the north down Pennington Road/Kings Highway. Ragged yes, but ready and willing to fight with  artillery which could shoot cannon up to a mile.

The British and Hessians are trained to fight in the open and so many rush to the orchard to the east of town expecting this to be the meeting place. But General Rall has not made plans for where to congregate with his men, so there is confusion in the ranks. Trenton is an outpost of small farms, enabling the soldiers to hide between houses. .  By this time, the other two Continental divisions that had been held up are now available and attack from the south trapping the Hessians from both ends of town. All are overwhelmed by the attack.

The Americans continue to have the advantage. When Gen Rall is injured on horseback and then dies from his wounds, the First Battle of Trenton is over.

Washington has captured 900 Hessian prisoners, 300 have escaped north. Two Americans are wounded. The Continental Army has won their first battle, but still need to forge ahead to capture the other outposts controlled by the British.

Hessian soldiers

First, What to do with the prisoners? Washington marches his men back 10 miles back to the Delaware and crosses back to ferry the 900 Hessian prisoners to Pennsylvania. 
The prisoners  are sent to the Shanandoahs and the Potomac. When there is a prisoner exchange, many choose to stay, seeing a good life of freedom. Eventually many settle in Western Pennsylvania where there are German speaking farmers, wealthy and thriving. In the end some 3500 chose to stay in the continental US. 

The Americans regroup for several more days before returning across the river for the next crucial battle in Trenton.